M Financial Group just made a strategic hire that could reshape how high-net-worth individuals access life insurance and executive benefits. On November 10, 2025, the Dallas-based financial services firm appointed Greg Webster as Vice President of RIA Channel Development—a newly created role targeting registered investment advisor (RIA) partnerships.
Webster brings 35 years of wealth advisory experience, most recently as President & CEO of Eagle Strategies LLC, the investment advisory arm of New York Life Insurance Company. His track record spans executive roles at HSBC, Guardian Life Insurance, and Headwaters Group.
Why does this matter to you? If you’re a corporate executive, business owner, or work with a financial advisor, Webster’s appointment signals expanded access to specialized insurance products through RIA channels—historically an underserved distribution path for executive benefits.
The RIA Channel Gap M Financial Wants to Fill
Here’s what most people miss about life insurance distribution: Registered investment advisors (RIAs) manage trillions in client assets but often struggle to integrate life insurance and executive benefit solutions into their practices.
The numbers tell the story. M Financial Group operates a network of 140 Member Firms across the United States and United Kingdom, serving high-net-worth individuals, corporate executives, and Fortune 1000 companies. Yet traditional insurance distribution models focus heavily on broker-dealer channels, leaving RIAs with limited product access and support.
Webster’s role directly addresses this gap. As VP of RIA Channel Development, he’ll build infrastructure to connect M Financial’s executive benefit and life insurance expertise with RIA practices nationwide.
What Changed in the RIA Landscape
Two industry shifts created this opportunity:
- RIA growth accelerated post-2020, with thousands of advisors transitioning from broker-dealers to independent registered investment advisory models seeking greater client control and fee transparency.
- Executive compensation complexity increased dramatically. Deferred compensation plans, equity-based pay, and tax optimization strategies now require sophisticated life insurance solutions most RIAs can’t access independently.
- Client demand shifted toward holistic planning that integrates investment management, tax planning, estate strategies, and executive benefits under one advisor relationship.
M Financial Group recognized that RIAs need specialized distribution partners who understand both the investment advisory business model and complex insurance product design. Webster’s appointment suggests they’re betting heavily on this channel.
Greg Webster’s 35-Year Track Record: Why It Matters
Webster isn’t a traditional insurance executive. His background spans both the advisory and insurance sides of wealth management—a rare combination that matters for RIA channel development.
At Eagle Strategies LLC, he led an investment advisory firm managing assets for high-net-worth clients while navigating New York Life’s insurance ecosystem. That dual perspective—understanding both RIA operational challenges and insurance product complexity—positions him uniquely for M Financial’s expansion goals.
His prior roles at Guardian Life Insurance and HSBC further demonstrate experience integrating insurance solutions into wealth advisory practices. For RIAs considering partnerships with M Financial, Webster’s appointment signals the firm understands their business model challenges.
What High-Net-Worth Clients Should Expect
If you work with an RIA or manage executive benefits for a company, Webster’s appointment could affect your insurance options within 6-12 months.
Expect your financial advisor to gain access to:
- Specialized life insurance products designed for executive compensation strategies, including split-dollar arrangements, executive bonus plans, and supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs) that traditional carriers rarely offer through RIA channels.
- Advanced underwriting capabilities for high-net-worth individuals with complex health histories or estate planning needs that require customized policy design beyond standard term or whole life products.
- Corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) and bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) solutions for business succession planning, key person coverage, and corporate tax strategies that smaller RIA practices couldn’t previously access.
The practical impact? Your advisor may proactively recommend insurance strategies they couldn’t implement before due to distribution limitations.
M Financial Group’s Strategic Positioning
Founded in 1978, M Financial Group operates as a design and distribution company—not a traditional insurance carrier. This structure matters because it allows the firm to work with multiple insurance companies while providing specialized expertise to Member Firms.
The company’s 140 Member Firms serve niche markets: corporate executives at Fortune 1000 companies, successful entrepreneurs with liquidity events, and high-net-worth families requiring sophisticated estate and tax planning.
Webster’s appointment extends this model specifically to RIAs—a logical expansion given industry consolidation trends. As more financial advisors transition to RIA models, they need insurance distribution partners who understand fee-based compensation structures and fiduciary standards.
Competitive Landscape Context
M Financial Group isn’t the only firm targeting RIA channel development, but Webster’s hire suggests aggressive expansion plans. Competitors like Independent Financial Group and Nationwide Financial have built RIA insurance platforms, yet executive benefits remain underserved.
The difference? M Financial’s focus on high-net-worth and corporate executive markets positions them for premium product distribution rather than mass-market term insurance—a higher-margin, more specialized segment where RIAs need expert support.
Should RIAs and Corporate Clients Pay Attention?
If you’re an RIA, this hire signals M Financial Group is building infrastructure to support your practice—potentially offering product access, compliance support, and advanced case design capabilities you can’t afford to build independently.
For corporate benefits professionals, Webster’s appointment hints at expanded executive benefit solutions available through your existing financial advisory relationships. That matters if you’re designing retention packages, succession plans, or deferred compensation strategies.
The timeline? Expect announcements around new RIA partnerships, product launches, or training programs within the next 6-12 months as Webster builds out the channel infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Greg Webster and why does his appointment matter?
Greg Webster brings 35 years of experience in wealth advisory, most recently as President & CEO of Eagle Strategies LLC, New York Life’s investment advisory arm. His appointment as VP of RIA Channel Development at M Financial Group matters because he’s tasked with expanding access to executive benefit and life insurance solutions through registered investment advisor (RIA) channels—a historically underserved distribution path for complex insurance products serving high-net-worth clients.
What is M Financial Group’s RIA channel development strategy?
M Financial Group’s RIA channel development strategy focuses on building partnerships with registered investment advisors to expand distribution of specialized life insurance and executive benefit products. The firm’s network of 140 Member Firms already serves high-net-worth individuals and Fortune 1000 companies, and Webster’s role will extend this expertise specifically to RIA practices that need access to complex insurance solutions for executive compensation, estate planning, and corporate benefit strategies.
How will this appointment affect high-net-worth insurance access?
High-net-worth individuals working with RIAs should expect expanded access to specialized insurance products within 6-12 months, including split-dollar arrangements, supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs), corporate-owned life insurance (COLI), and advanced underwriting for complex estate planning needs. Previously, many RIAs struggled to offer these solutions due to distribution limitations—Webster’s role aims to eliminate those barriers.
What companies has Greg Webster worked for previously?
Webster’s career spans executive roles at Eagle Strategies LLC (President & CEO), New York Life Insurance Company, HSBC, Guardian Life Insurance, and Headwaters Group. This background gives him experience integrating insurance solutions into wealth advisory practices and understanding both RIA operational challenges and complex product design—critical for building effective RIA distribution channels.
Bottom Line: What This Hire Signals
Greg Webster’s appointment as VP of RIA Channel Development represents more than a routine executive hire—it signals M Financial Group’s strategic bet on RIA channel expansion for executive benefits and high-net-worth life insurance.
For RIAs, this creates potential access to specialized products and support infrastructure previously unavailable to independent practices. For corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals, it means your financial advisor may soon offer insurance solutions they couldn’t provide before.
The appointment takes effect immediately as of November 10, 2025. Watch for partnership announcements and product launches as M Financial Group builds out this channel over the next 12 months.
Original announcement: PR Newswire – M Financial Group Welcomes Greg Webster