Realta Wealth Names Alternative Investments Vet Scott Smith New President
Realta Wealth, an independent hybrid broker-dealer and registered investment adviser, has appointed Scott S. Smith as its new president. Smith, a seasoned veteran of the alternative investments and wealth management industries, has been tasked with leading the firm’s next phase of growth, with a focus on expanding its adviser network and strengthening its alternative investments platform.
Smith joins Realta as it continues its search for a new chief executive officer. In February of this year, Kevin M. Keefe departed to helm Independent Financial Group after two years as Realta’s CEO, during which the firm rebranded from CoastalOne. Following Keefe, Elizabeth Legacy briefly served as interim CEO before leaving for TradePMR.
Smith brings over two decades of experience in financial services, having held leadership roles in wealth management, broker-dealer operations, and real estate. His background includes serving as CEO and chairman of the board of FactRight from 2012 to 2019, where he helped establish industry standards for due diligence and risk assessment of alternative investments. He also served a three-year term on the board of the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives, or IPA.
More recently, Smith briefly served as a principal at Lamplighter Capital Advisors LLC this year and consulted for a few years prior. He was also a strategic adviser at Buckler from 2024 to 2025, and CEO at Flatirons Asset Management from 2022 to 2023. Prior to Flatirons, he served in similarly brief senior executive roles with Capview Partners and Waypoint Residential.
Early in his career, Smith directed the alternative investment strategy for Ameriprise Financial from 2010 to 2012, where he focused on integrating private real estate solutions into its adviser platform.
“Realta is at a pivotal moment, combining the entrepreneurial independence advisers’ value with the institutional-grade resources they need to thrive,” said Smith. He expressed his excitement to work with the firm’s team to deliver innovative solutions and build a platform that makes Realta a destination for “growth-minded advisers.”
In his new role, Smith will oversee the growth of Realta’s adviser community, enhance operational efficiency, and advance the firm’s capabilities in both traditional and alternative investment strategies. His leadership is expected to be key in reinforcing Realta’s reputation as a trusted partner for independent advisers.
Smith holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri Columbia School of Law.
Headquartered in Wilmington, Del., Realta Wealth is an independent broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving financial professionals and their clients nationwide. The firm offers a comprehensive range of services that include traditional and alternative investments, 1031 exchange strategies, practice management support, and a robust supervisory and operational framework.
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