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
Starting as an M&A analyst in 1980s Wall Street, Elizabeth Miller has become one of the foremost thought leaders in the wealth management space.
As founder and president of Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC, Miller offers personalized investment management and financial consulting to elite families and individuals.
She will also serve as the 2025 chair of the Certified Financial Planner board of directors, which provides strategic leadership to the organization that certifies and upholds standards for approximately 100,000 CFP® professionals in the US.
Miller established her firm in Summit, NJ during the 2008 financial crisis.
“Not only did we receive our SEC registration on October 3, but I was also launching a firm with a vision for holistic wealth management serving multigenerational families. Both those priorities were rare at that time,” she says.
Today, as a leader of a growing wealth management firm and stepping into her position with the CFP board, her most significant challenges are related to human capital.
“I spend much more of my time developing my team, supporting their futures for both their and the organization’s benefit, through cultivating a culture that gets stronger and can become self-sustaining,” she says.
Articulating a vision and making it a reality are invaluable skills for the advisor.
“One day, I am helping a family realize their needs and then joining them on a path to legacy success. The next, I am analyzing the evolution in our industry and bringing my team along in the vision and changes needed to stay relevant and cutting edge,” she explains. “I have met many people who can see what should be done but have difficulty executing a plan and bringing others along.”
Launching her own firm during the start of a recession displayed Miller’s remarkable resilience and optimism.
“No path is without its stumbles and turns. I believe success has come from moving forward. I accept the struggles and failures and continually work to find positive next steps to wherever I am,” she adds.
Her early career experience with the CFA Society of NY and CFA Institute helped build her wealth management expertise before the industry had fully formed.
“As financial planning and wealth management become commonplace in our industry, I am always addressing peers and industry groups as a teacher, an advocate, and a leader for our next generation of talent,” she says. “I see the continual evolution in our industry toward greater client reach and expectations. Industry professionals must keep building their personal experience and expertise to meet growing client needs.”
Miller strives to encourage more women to join the wealth management industry.
“My career path has not been straight, but I have been able to be the wife, mother, and professional that I wanted to be. I want other women to see that no matter their personal life goals, our industry can be a great choice.”
18 Bank Street, Summit, NJ 07901
908 517 5881
liz.miller@summitplacefinancial.com
linkedin.com/in/liz-miller-cfa-cfp-5100096
summitplacefinancial.com
Elizabeth Miller, CFP®, CFA
President and Founder
Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC
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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
1987–1990
1992–1994
1994–2008
2008–present
2015–present
1987–1990: M&A Analyst at First Boston
1989–1990: Security Analyst in Proprietary Trading at First Boston
1987–
1990
Associate Portfolio Manager at Oppenheimer Funds
1992–
1994
Managing Director/Head of Equity Research/Portfolio Manager at Trevor Stewart Burton & Jacobsen
1994–
2008
Founder and President at Summit Place Financial Advisors
CFA Society Volunteer of Year, Emerging Business of Year, Money Manager of Year Finalist, 2024 Industry Advocate of the Year, Excellence Awardee 2024 Women to Watch
Incoming Chair of the board of CFP Board
2008–
present
2015–present: Founding Board Member at DCALTA - Defined Contribution Alternatives Association
2019–present: Chief Executive Officer at StepStone Private Wealth
2015–
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.