Profile
“Being true to who we are is key; we are purely a referral-based business. There is zero marketing or advertising”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
During her three decades in finance, Beth Lawlor has become well-known throughout the financial services industry and across U.S. Bank’s 70,000+ workforce for a being connector, lifting others up and developing top talent.
As president of private wealth and affluent wealth management at U.S. Bank, she cares deeply about her team and as a servant leader, is not afraid to get into the trenches with them to deliver the best experience for both clients and teammates.
Lawlor considers it a privilege to manage thousands of employees, truly leading and inspiring the team, motivating employees to maximize their potential and to thrive.
She says, “I always want to do more for my team. Sometimes it feels like there are just not enough hours in the day, but it’s all worth it. My business travel schedule is very challenging, as I am on a plane visiting our team and clients almost every week of the year, but being out in the local wealth offices throughout the country is where the magic happens so it’s critically important.
“I am a strong believer in leading from the front lines and being with those who keep the lights on. You can’t do that well and create a strong followership by sitting in a headquarters office. You need to be out with the people, inspiring them to be their best and meeting personally with our clients whenever possible.”
The past year has been a remarkable one. After three successful years leading U.S. Bank’s private wealth management business, she was promoted to her current role, where she leads two teams of more than 3,000 employees and over 400,000 clients comprising 95% of the company’s wealth businesses. This was a culmination of her extraordinary success in leading its private wealth management business, which serves clients with $3 million–$75 million and up in net worth.
In early 2025, her team plans to open a new office in Atlanta, GA, and recently expanded to Greenwich, CT; Short Hills, NJ; Charlotte, NC; Dallas and Houston, TX; Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando and Miami, FL.
Under Lawlor’s leadership, affluent clients now have access to products such as trust and estate planning, and referrals between the two wealth businesses are up threefold. She has been instrumental in delivering the entire firm to clients, offering them services they may need and a more holistic approach than ever before.
“It’s a responsibility and honor that I do not take lightly. I never operate with the attitude that I’ve arrived, as I’ve always strived to contribute and learn more,” she says. “I view my role as an ongoing achievement. It’s each day waking up to help shape the lives and careers of others and make a difference in people’s careers. I’ve served as a mentor for countless team members over the years, which has been incredibly rewarding.”
Lawlor also strives to leave behind a legacy of being a trailblazer, particularly for women. She has led the charge in hosting over 15 Women and Wealth events in 2024 and has developed a seminar that focuses on women and navigating careers among competing priorities and work/life blend.
“There are so few women of power and influence in the wealth industry,” she says. “That trend has been changing for the positive, but it is my obligation to carve out a path for other women and make it easier for them to break into such a robust industry with great long-term career potential. Wealth management is a noble profession. People want to earn a good living, but they also want to feel like they make a difference in the lives of clients and in our industry overall.”
Bryant Park, 1095 6th Ave., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10017
908 210 6555
beth.lawlor@usbank.com
linkedin.com/in/beth-lawlor
destinywealthpartners.com
Beth Lawlor
President, Private Wealth and Affluent Wealth Management
U.S. Bank
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“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
1991
1995
2014
2017
2020–present
Began his financial advisory career
1991
Founded Ruggie Wealth Management
1995
Established independent RIA that would become Destiny Wealth Partners, which currently manages $1.2 billion of assets
2014
Founded Destiny Family Office, which is experiencing its best year asset-wise and percentage-wise
2017
2020: Established Destiny Alternative Fund
2023: InvestmentNews Top 75 Fastest-Growing Fee-Only RIAS, USA Today “Best Financial Advisory Firms”
2024: InvestmentNews Awards RIA “Team of the Year” (10 or More Advisors), 7X Forbes/Shook Research Best-in-State Wealth Advisors (#1 N Florida), 12X Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors, Forbes Top 250 RIA Firms (#4 Florida), 2024 ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Award Finalist “Thought Leader of the Year,” 12X Financial Advisor Magazine Top RIAs, 2024 3X Family Wealth Report Awards Finalist, 9X Forbes Finance Council
2020–
present
Milestones
Milestones
ELITE WOMEN 2024 JUDGE
“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day,” he says.
While at the helm of a rapidly growing business and a family that includes two young children at home, Rakowski has learned to manage what he calls a “never-ending list of commitments” that consists of a new team member each month, a new interstate office and two to three new referral partners monthly.
“Our business is a human business, so investing genuine time in every person can be draining on a personal level. Balancing it all is a challenge,” he says. “Simply put, do what you say you will do, and act at all times with honesty and integrity, being respectful and empathetic. The financial outcomes are a byproduct of the human interactions we have.”
Attracting, retaining and delivering exceptional client outcomes and service starts with a sincere interest in their journey and remaining relevant to them as their lives and needs evolve, notes Rakowski. He points out that he and his team put in most of the work upfront in building meaningful relationships, which is a testament to its 99% client retention rate.
He says, “We are clear in the types of clients we work best with and our value proposition. We also look for a cultural alignment with all of our referral partners, and we are acutely aware of our strengths and how different we are from our industry peers.”
Rakowski recently opened a Queensland business and plans a foot in every other capital city. He strives to establish the brokerage as a national business with on-the-ground representation in every state by the end of 2025.