Building A $50 Billion Wealth Management Firm | Ben Wilson, PWL Capital

This series is a set of 1-on-1 conversations with the principals behind some of the fastest-growing wealth advisory firms in Canada. In this episode, I sit down with Ben Wilson, Head of M&A Architecture at PWL Capital, one of Canada’s most distinctive and fastest-growing independent wealth management firms. Following PWL’s partnership with OneDigital, a US financial services consolidator with more than 200 acquisitions, the firm is entering a new phase focused on acquisition-led growth.We discuss why PWL shifted from purely organic growth to M&A, what the firm looks for in acquisition partners, and how they are building an integrated independent wealth management platform in Canada. Ben also shares insights into the importance of culture, evidence-based investing, financial planning, enterprise value creation, and why PWL believes the future of wealth management will belong to firms that can scale without losing alignment.The discussion focuses on what actually matters when building through acquisition: cultural fit, advisor incentives, integration risk, succession planning, valuation frameworks, and maintaining organic growth while scaling nationally.About My GuestBen Wilson is Head of M&A Architecture at PWL Capital. He joined the firm in 2017 after beginning his career on the compliance side of the wealth management industry. Over time, he transitioned into advisory and leadership roles, helping build PWL’s client experience platform before moving into M&A leadership following the firm’s transaction with OneDigital.Ben holds a BCom from Carleton University and is both a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®). At PWL, he plays a central role in sourcing, structuring, and integrating acquisition partnerships across Canada.PWL Capital has become widely recognized for its evidence-based investing philosophy, financial planning expertise, and the global audience built through Ben Felix’s YouTube channel and the Rational Reminder podcast.Connect with Ben Wilson:• LinkedIn:   / ben-wilson  Learn more about PWL Capital:• PWL Website: https://pages.pwlcapital.com/your-nex...• PWL YouTube Channel:    / @pwlcapital  Follow PWL’s thought leadership:• Rational Reminder Podcast: https://rationalreminder.ca/• Ben Felix YouTube Channel:    / @benfelixcsi