Running It Back: What It Takes to Build a Multi-Billion-Dollar Firm—Twice

With John Krambeer, Founder and CEO, Validus Capital Overview Few advisors build a multi-billion-dollar RIA. John Krambeer has done it twice. In this candid conversation, the Validus Capital CEO reflects on his journey, how independence has evolved, and the hard-won lessons that guide him now.   Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.   About this episode… Some advisors break away once in their careers. John Krambeer has done it twice, each time building a multi-billion-dollar RIA. That kind of repeated success is rare in any industry—and in wealth management, it’s almost unheard of. Yet John’s journey provides a front-row seat to the evolution of the independent space, from its early pioneering days to the sophisticated and bespoke multi-family office models we see today. Long before “going independent” became popular, John left Merrill’s Private Banking & Investment Group (PBIG) in 2004 to launch Camden Capital. He was early to the RIA movement, betting on transparency, better reporting, and access to private investments when few advisors dared to break away and forge their own path. In 2022, John made the difficult decision to leave Camden and do it all over again—this time building Validus Capital, now a $2.5B multi-family office designed with hard-earned lessons in mind. In this conversation with Louis Diamond, John shares a candid look at: What it was like to break away in the early 2000s—and how platforms and support for independents have evolved since. Why he walked away from the first firm he built—and what drove him to take on the challenge a second time. The choices behind building Validus Capital today—and the firm’s approach to private markets and family office services. The hard lessons of growth—and what he wishes he had done differently the first time around. John runs back the game films to provide candid insights for prospective and current independent business owners. It’s a rare opportunity to learn from someone who not only helped shape the independent space but has proven that with clarity, conviction, and the right people, you can build lasting success more than once. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.   Related Resources The Best of the Best: 10 Ways Top Advisors Are Growing Their Businesses— A Special Industry Update A “Top 10” list of firm-level innovations and grassroots methodologies from some of the most successful advisors, teams, and firm in the business. Listen in to spark ideas designed to drive greater growth. Player or Coach? Why Every Advisor Eventually Has to Choose As advisory firms grow, founders often face a critical inflection point: double down on being a top producer or evolve into a leader who builds lasting enterprise value. Wealth Management Landscape at a Glance The wealth management industry offers more options than ever, making it challenging to identify and compare the various models. We created this “at a glance” continuum infographic—to help you navigate the different models and understand how their features stack up.   John M. Krambeer CEO & Founder John Krambeer is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Validus Capital and has served as a financial advisor to wealthy families and institutional investors for over three decades. Mr. Krambeer has extensive experience providing wealthy families with strategic investment advice, structuring portfolios to meet long-term objectives, and creating private investment vehicles across the alternatives landscape. Mr. Krambeer has spent his career working with both traditional and alternative investment managers, evaluating asset allocation strategies, managing long-term equity portfolios, and implementing options strategies for concentrated stock positions. Mr. Krambeer has been recognized by Barron’s as a Top 100 Independent Wealth Advisor four times and as one of America’s Top Financial Advisors seven times. Prior to founding Validus Capital, Mr. Krambeer founded Camden Capital in 2004 and served as its Chief Executive Officer and Partner. He led the firm’s investing activities and established its private fund platform. Before forming Camden Capital, Mr. Krambeer spent 16 years at Merrill Lynch, where he helped build the Private Banking and Investment Group. Mr. Krambeer is a member of the Advisory Board of FrontRange Capital Partners, Saybrook Fund Advisors, NewRoad Capital Partners, and Rosemawr Management. He is active in the community, supporting various philanthropic organizations, including serving as the Founder and President of the Southern California Rodeo Boosters, an organization devoted to helping junior high and high school students competing in the sport of Rodeo with scholarship support as they transition to college. Mr. Krambeer was an inaugural member of the Schwab Institutional Advisory Council for Advisors Turning Independent (ATI) – a sounding board for firms transitioning to independence in the evolving wealth management industry. Mr. Krambeer received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Woodbury University. Recognition Barron’s Top Wealth Managers 2014 – 2020, 2024-2025 Forbes/Shook Best in State Wealth Advisor 2025 Forbes/Shook America’s Top RIA Firms 2024 LA Times Visionaries 2021 LA Business Journal Leaders of Influence 2020 – 2021 Also available on your favorite podcast app and other media sites.