The lawsuit: how it started and felt

With Dylan Ripley & Todd Vincent – Managing Partners and Financial Planners, Cedarwood Financial Partners

Overview

Todd Vincent and Dylan Ripley join Mindy Diamond to share the reality of leaving Edward Jones, defending a two-year lawsuit, and still nearly doubling their business. A candid look at resilience, and what really happens when the firm pushes back.

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.

Watch…

https://youtu.be/G5-oAHz5kWQ

About this episode…

For many advisors considering change, the concern about legal retaliation from their firm often lingers in the background.

But what if you move and that fear comes to fruition? What will it do to your business? And what if – instead of derailing you – it ultimately becomes a catalyst for growth?

Every transition comes with some risk and uncertainty—even when you dot every “i” and cross every “t.” And a non-Protocol move adds an extra layer of complexity.

This episode’s guests, Todd Vincent and Dylan Ripley, learned all that firsthand.

Todd spent nearly 30 years at Edward Jones, and Dylan built his career there over more than a decade, eventually partnering with Todd in a multi-office practice overseeing close to $1B in assets. Over time, they realized they could do more for their clients – and grow the business faster – if they stepped outside the traditional firm model.

In exploration, they liked the idea of having a support partner rather than building their own RIA and ultimately opted for Commonwealth Financial Network to launch Cedarwood Financial Partners.

The transition itself went smoothly—that is, until they found themselves navigating a lawsuit from Edward Jones that lasted nearly two years.

In one of our most candid episodes yet, Todd and Dylan walk through that experience with Mindy Diamond, sharing:

• The choice to leave Edward Jones—and what specifically motivated them to consider change.
• The initial transition—and when they learned they had “poked the bear.”
• The reality of defending a lawsuit—and how they worked through it.
• The value of messaging—and how partnering with a marketing firm was a gamechanger.
• Nearly doubling their assets under management, despite the lawsuit—and what key traits drove their success.

It’s an episode that answers the question on every advisor’s mind, “What happens if the firm sues me?” and does so with candor and grace. Listen in to learn how resilience drives what comes next: how advisors can steady themselves, rebuild momentum, and grow on the other side of a challenge.

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

Top Tips for Setting Your Business Up for Success Years Before a Move
Whether you’re just exploring what’s out there or actively conducting due diligence, these insights will help you position your business and team for success, whenever the time is right.

How to Avoid the Dreaded TRO: Legal Strategies for Advisors in Transition
As TROs and lawsuits make headlines, two top attorneys who represented Merrill breakaways OpenArc, share how advisors can minimize risk, protect client relationships, and make a clean move with confidence.

Dylan Ripley
CEO / Financial Planner

After serving his clients at Edward Jones for almost ten years, Dylan Ripley co-founded Cedarwood Financial Partners in 2022 following a tabletop discussion on how he and his partner could better serve their clients, scratching out their vision on a napkin. From that initial napkin chat, he began diligently working to make this vision a reality through extensive research and sweat equity.

Dylan holds a Bachelor of Business Management from the Carlos Alvarez School of Business at The University of Texas–San Antonio. After joining Edward Jones, he earned the Accredited Asset Management Specialist certification through the College of Financial Planning.

He has a passion to serve others and does so through his service to clients and his community involvement. He is a current member of the Rotary Club of Temple, serving on the board for two years. He’s also a small group leader at his church and active in local Chamber of Commerce events. Most recently he was asked to serve on the advisory board for the Salvation Army of Bell County.

Dylan and his wife, Cayleigh, have three children. When he’s not serving his clients or community, he can be found experiencing the world with his family, chasing kiddos around a ball field, golfing, or attending any live concert he can.

Todd Vincent
Chairman / Financial Planner

Todd Vincent co-founded Cedarwood Financial Partners after serving his clients at Edward Jones for twenty-six years. Prior to Edward Jones, Todd served four years in the U.S. Army as a field artillery officer with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.

Todd earned his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Economics from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He also holds a Master of Theology (ThM) from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Todd and his wife, Stefanie, have three young adult children. As a family, they are active in their community and their church. They are an adventurous family who loves travel and outdoor activities. They reside on a 142–acre game ranch they share with others who desire rest, renewal, and recreation. Todd’s favorite hobbies include camping, hunting, and riding his Harley-Davidson.

Todd specializes in finding creative methods to produce retirement income and efficient wealth transfer strategies.