About
WISE is a research and advisory firm founded on the belief that wealth managers and trust companies deserve the type of high-quality data analytics that are common elsewhere—especially regarding growth, sales, pricing, staff productivity, and profitability.
Our Expertise
Founded by veteran industry analysts who have held leadership roles in organizations such as Corporate Executive Board, The VIP Forum, and Family Office Exchange. Our market expertise: includes high-net-worth, ultra-high-net-worth and our content expertise includes growth, profitability, sales, pricing, productivity, and industry trends.
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Our Approach
Not just data - insight from data. WISE improves upon existing business research and consulting services by using high quality data and empirical analyses to understand and enhance firms' performance.
Our Clients
We support banks and trust companies of all sizes across the United States, including national brands, regional and community banks, and independent trust companies.
Our Data
In total, we have data from more than 130 wealth management firms representing more than $4 trillion in assets. 1,700+ fee schedules from banks, trust companies and RIAs.
100,000 plus accounts, along with revenue, asset, householding, and other data from a cross-section of leading banks and trust companies.
Our Team
DAVID LINCOLN
Partner
In various capacities, David Lincoln has advised wealth management, family office and financial services executives for more than 20 years. David has written extensively on a broad array of wealth management issues and is a highly-demanded speaker at industry events and client meetings. David joined Family Office Exchange (FOX) as Managing Director in April 2007 to develop and lead the firm’s research practice. Prior to FOX, David was the Practice Manager for The VIP Forum of the Corporate Executive Board, which serves as a best practices research advisor to leading wealth management organizations. David has a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Columbia Business School.
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David’s wealth management-related areas of expertise include: ultra-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals; private banking, trust, brokerage and asset management; single and multi-family offices.
KAREN RUSH
Managing Director
Karen Rush has spent more than 20 years working with families and advisors in the ultra-high-networth space. Karen joined WISE as a Managing Director in May 2021. Prior to WISE, Karen was managing director of the family office and wealth advisor markets for Family Office Exchange (FOX), where she worked with family and advisor members to understand their objectives, providing guidance to help address their needs through the resources available at FOX. She also co-chaired FOX Advisor Councils and assisted in the development of new and enhanced service offerings for members. Throughout her career at FOX, Karen designed and implemented client service strategies and created and implemented educational programming.
Prior to joining FOX in 2005, Karen worked at a large, multi-generational single family office as the communications manager.   She worked directly with the family office and family members to produce family meetings, support the family governance process and develop educational programing for next generation clients. Karen received a B.A. in political science from Southern Illinois University.
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Karen's wealth management-related areas of expertise include: ultra-high-net-worth families; single family office and multi-family office best practice.
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Former Chairman and CEO, PriceMetrix
DOUG TROTT
Doug Trott has more than 35 years of executive experience in the financial services industry, as well as operational expertise in product development and a passion for growing businesses. Most recently, Mr. Trott was a Partner in McKinsey & Company's New York office. Earlier in his career, Mr. Trott co-founded and served as President, CEO and Board Chairman of PriceMetrix, a provider of SaaS data and analytics software to the North American full-service retail brokerage market, which he sold to McKinsey. Before founding PriceMetrix, Mr. Trott founded, grew, and sold The Taddingstone Consulting Group, a boutique strategy consulting firm.
Data Analyst & Database Administrator
ISAAC EVERITT
Isaac recently graduated with his Master of Science in Business Analytics from the University of Colorado Boulder. Isaac also received his Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Physiology from CU Boulder in 2017. In his free time, Isaac enjoys skiing, hiking, rowing, and live music. Isaac previously worked for several local tech companies in the Denver area. After spending 10 years in Colorado and exploring the West, Isaac has joined WISE in Washington, D.C.
SHEERIN GRYLOO
Manager Business Development & Operations
Sheerin joined WISE in March of 2020. She attended the College of William and Mary, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Economics with minors in Psychology and Art History, and now works to manage both member relations and the day-to-day operations at WISE. Sheerin is passionate about women’s advocacy work and serves on the board of a nonprofit looking to expand gender and racial diversity in the arts. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.
RYLIE WHISTLER
Data Analyst & Database Administrator
Rylie earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Information Management at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2020. She also recently earned her masters degree in Business Analytics through Boulder. She has passion for analytics and understanding what motivates people by analyzing research data. In her free time, Rylie enjoys laying in the sun, going to Disneyland, reading books, and listening to podcasts. Rylie resides in Oregon.
DAVID IRWIN
Partner
David Irwin has more than a decade of experience advising wealth management executives from firms of all sizes. He managed The VIP Forum, the Corporate Executive Board’s (now Gartner) wealth management practice. David holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and an MBA from the University of California Davis.
MIKE KOSTOFF
Partner
Michael Kostoff has served the financial services industry as a trusted advisor and consultant to executives for the past twenty years. In addition to co-founding WISE , Mike is Managing Partner of The Kostoff Group, an advisory firm focusing on the wealth management, private banking, investment management, insurance and retirement services businesses. Prior to founding The Kostoff Group, Mike managed the Financial Services Practice for the Corporate Executive Board, where he worked with the senior executives from over 600 firms spanning five continents. He managed programs across the financial services spectrum—including retail banking, commercial banking, private banking, wealth management, retirement services, investment management, insurance and operations. During this timeframe, Mike advised senior managers on a broad array of issues including business strategy, sales productivity and client management. Mike served as a member of the Corporate Executive Board’s Executive Committee for five years. During this period, the company grew its revenues over 30% per year and its net income over 50% per year. Mike received a Bachelor of Science with high honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College and a Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.