President & Chief Executive Officer, Equity Services, Inc.
A proven leader dedicated to elevating the advisor experience, driving strategic growth, and scaling organizations with excellence.
“I am honored to join ESI at such a pivotal moment in its journey. The organization’s growth, culture, and mission create an extraordinary foundation, and I look forward to partnering with our advisors and teams to build on that momentum.”
Alex David brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the wealth management industry, with a distinguished track record of driving growth, strengthening advisor relationships, and leading organizations through transformation.
He joins ESI from Raymond James Financial Services, where he served as Northeast Division Director, overseeing the firm’s flagship division—$100B+ in assets, 895 wealth managers, and 350 offices from Maine to Virginia. Under his leadership, the division set firm records, generating more than $100M in new production and over $14B in AUM in just 18 months.
Before Raymond James, Alex served as President & CEO of Stifel Independent Advisors, one of the fastest-growing businesses within Stifel Financial. During his tenure, he led a complete transformation of strategy, recruiting, supervision, and operations—quadrupling revenue to $60M and expanding AUM to $10B—while enhancing risk and technology infrastructure.
Alex also spent more than a decade at Wells Fargo Advisors, ultimately serving as Managing Director, Head of U.S. Branch Development, Marketing & PR. In that national role, he oversaw advisor recruiting, business development, and retention across independent channels, helping drive AUM growth from $30B to $105B.
Education
- Doctorate in Economics — Pace University
- Master’s in International Economics — Pace University
- BBA in Finance — Baruch College
- SIFMA SII–Wharton Executive Education Program
- Postdoctoral studies — Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Industry Engagement
- Board of Directors — Financial Services Institute (FSI)
- Chairman — Association for African American Financial Advisors (Quad A)
Leadership Philosophy
Alex is known for his relationship-first leadership style and his passion for empowering advisors. He believes in listening deeply, acting decisively, and building organizations where advisors feel supported, inspired, and positioned for long-term growth. At ESI, Alex will focus on strengthening the advisor experience, expanding access to innovative platforms and solutions, and advancing the firm’s mission to help advisors grow strong, enduring client relationships.
“Advisors today need a firm that listens, adapts, empowers and truly cares about them. My focus at ESI will be to elevate the advisor experience, expand opportunity, and help every practice grow.”
