Derek Bruton

Derek Bruton is the Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Modern Wealth Management, where he leads the firm’s national M&A and Partnership Development strategy. In this role, he oversees Modern’s national inorganic growth initiatives while mentoring and leading the firm’s Partnership Development Team.  

A 35-year veteran of the financial services industry, Derek brings a rare combination of M&A expertise, RIA operating experience, and leadership across custodial and broker-dealer platforms. Before joining Modern, he served as Senior Managing Director at Gladstone Associates, where he led more than a dozen RIA and broker-dealer transactions and guided several large institutions through strategic growth and business optimization initiatives. Derek also played an active role in industry thought leadership, appearing frequently in wealth management media and authoring several white papers on M&A trends, valuation, and sustainable growth strategies. 

Earlier in his career, Derek held executive positions with Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and LPL Financial. He helped recruit more than 10,000 financial advisors and advised over 20,000 firms and institutions on growth, succession, and transition strategies. His broad understanding of business models, compensation structures, and advisor ecosystems has made him an experienced advisor and respected industry voice. 

Derek graduated from Stanford University and completed executive business management coursework at Harvard University. He played collegiate basketball for Stanford and professional basketball in Japan. 

On the personal side, Derek lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and two grown children. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys playing tennis and gardening in his spare time.