Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG) announced the promotion of Chad Cristo to Head of Business Development for the West Region, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to growth and its long-term renewal strategy. In this role, Cristo will lead advisor recruiting across the Western United States, reporting directly to David Fischer, Co-Founder and CMO.
Cristo’s focus will be on attracting accomplished, independent-minded advisors to IFG by identifying and qualifying prospective candidates, building lasting relationships, and ensuring a seamless onboarding experience. With IFG headquartered on the West Coast and already home to its largest community of advisors, Cristo is strategically positioned to accelerate growth in a key region.
“Chad is exceptionally well-respected across the industry, and he brings a 30-year track record of building strong relationships and driving growth,” said David Fischer, Co-Founder and CMO. “His leadership, experience, and deep network of contacts make him the right person to take this role. We are excited for him to help lead the next chapter of IFG as we take the firm to new heights.”
Cristo joined IFG in 2022 as Senior Vice President of National Sales and Marketing, where he helped shape the firm’s product strategy and supported advisors in growing their businesses. His promotion underscores IFG’s number one priority: driving organic growth by investing in its recruiting team and expanding its national business development capabilities.
The announcement comes as IFG accelerates its renewal strategy. As a proven partner to accomplished independent advisors, IFG has a unique opportunity in the marketplace and is committed to building on its core strengths of service, autonomy, and community while pursuing growth with intention and urgency. The firm has the credibility, scale, and foundation to lead a new era of growth in the independent wealth management space and, importantly, to deliver even greater value for the financial professionals it serves.
This strategy is not about growth for growth’s sake; it is about focusing on selectivity and excellence, thoughtfully partnering with the most accomplished advisors in the industry. In doing so, IFG ensures its advisor community reflects the highest professional standards while continuing to expand its scale and reach.
“With massive consolidation reshaping the financial services landscape, the opportunity for a privately owned, independent, full-service advisory firm like IFG has never been greater. Advisors today crave the preservation of their independence. They want high-touch, white-glove service, where issues are resolved in minutes, not days. They want to eliminate bureaucracy, demand cutting-edge technology, and, most of all, they want to be treated like people, not numbers.
What sets IFG apart is that the Founders, Scott Heising and David Fischer, have remained unwavering in their commitment to a family-first, truly independent structure. In my new and expanded role, I have the incredible opportunity to help grow this organization, drive real impact, and preserve the independence that makes IFG such a special place,” shared Cristo.
With Cristo now leading business development in the West, IFG is set to expand its reach, enhance support for financial professionals, and continue its momentum as one of the industry’s most respected independent broker-dealers.
About Independent Financial Group
Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG) is a privately held independent wealth management provider based in San Diego, California. Founded in 2003, IFG supports more than 600 independent financial professionals in over 400 offices nationwide with a comprehensive suite of business solutions. IFG has been widely recognized as a leading independent broker-dealer. In 2025, Financial Advisor Magazine listed IFG as the 15th largest national independent broker-dealer and #2 for privately held broker-dealers based on gross revenue. Financial Planning Magazine ranked IFG 1st for women as a percentage of producing representatives in 2025 and 7th for financial advisor payout in 2024. InvestmentNews ranked the firm in the top 10 for payout and account assets in 2024. IFG is an eight-time winner of the Inc. 5000 list of “Fastest Growing Private Companies in the US” and the San Diego Business Journal ranked IFG #7 among the Largest Private Companies in San Diego in 2022 and 2023.