Brilliant in the Basics
The experienced team guiding high-impact hiring inside advisory firms.
With more than 75 years of combined recruiting experience, our team brings deep industry fluency and leadership-level judgment to every hiring decision.
Grounded in Real-World Experience
CMC was built by recruiting leaders who have spent decades inside wealth management firms — leading hiring efforts, guiding growth through expansion, and understanding firsthand how advisory teams are structured and scaled.
We’ve lived inside this industry long enough to know that no hire exists in isolation. Compensation, licensing, service design, leadership capacity all intersect. That broader lens shapes how we approach every search.
At CMC, hiring is treated as leadership work. Every engagement is approached with rigor and clarity, guided by a commitment to getting the fundamentals right for both the firms we support and the professionals we represent. Strong advisory firms are built on decisions that compound over time.
Experience, Measured
75+ Years
Combined recruiting leadership experience
72% Sourced
Time to fill across advisory searches
50% Repeat
Candidates identified through proactive outreach
45-Day Average
Firms who continue to trust CMC with growth
National Reach
Supporting advisory firms across the U.S.
The Principles That Guide Our Work
Our values are not aspirational language. They shape how we lead, how we advise, and how we operate. After decades inside wealth management recruiting, we’ve developed clear standards that guide how we serve our clients and represent professionals navigating meaningful career decisions.
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We believe strong outcomes are built on strong fundamentals. Clear role definition, thoughtful communication, disciplined vetting, and honest counsel are not enhancements to the process. They are what separate durable hires from short-term fixes.
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We understand that a hire influences more than a single role. It affects leadership bandwidth, client experience, and the firm’s ability to scale. We approach every search with that broader business impact in mind.
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We are deeply embedded in the wealth management industry. Our long-standing relationships and industry fluency give our clients access to aligned professionals and informed perspectives throughout the search process.
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We approach hiring with a long-term lens. That approach extends to firms navigating expansion and with professionals who are thoughtful about the next phase of their career.
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Recruiting cannot sit on the sidelines of a firm’s priorities. Strong outcomes require active partnership in defining the role, calibrating compensation, and aligning on expectations. When accountability is mutual, the process works the way it should.
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We recognize the weight of being entrusted with hiring decisions. The work affects firms, teams, and professionals alike. Being invited into that process, and into people’s careers, is not something we take lightly. That awareness shapes the care and discipline behind every search.
Meet the Team
Claire Myers Vitale
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
As Founder and CEO, Claire leads CMC’s vision while remaining closely involved in client partnerships and strategic search work. She works directly with advisory firms, RIAs, and financial services leaders to build and evolve their teams—often advising on organizational structure, hiring strategy, and compensation design before a search even begins.
Because she is deeply embedded in the wealth management industry, Claire often hears about talent movement before it becomes public—allowing CMC to stay ahead of the market and bring clients opportunities they may not otherwise see.
Prior to founding CMC, Claire served as Chief Recruiting Officer at a Fortune 100 financial services firm in San Francisco, where she led large-scale recruiting initiatives, supported multi-market growth, and advised leadership teams navigating organizational expansion.
Outside of work, Claire enjoys life with her husband Jon, a firefighter, their daughter, and the children who come into their lives through foster care. Their home is rarely quiet thanks to three dogs and a steady stream of family adventures.
Dawn McCluskey
Senior Recruiter
Dawn leads many of CMC’s searches within the wealth management and financial advisory space and is known for her ability to build strong relationships with both clients and candidates.
As a key partner throughout the hiring process, Dawn helps clients define the role, evaluate candidates, and navigate the final hiring decision. Known for asking thoughtful questions and offering candid feedback, she enables clients to make confident, well-informed hiring decisions.
Before joining CMC, Dawn served as Chief Recruiting Officer for Northwestern Mutual’s South Florida network, where she helped the organization earn numerous recruiting awards. That experience gives her a deep understanding of how advisory firms grow and the types of talent they need at different stages.
Dawn lives in Florida with her husband, Ed, a financial advisor, and their daughter. When she’s not supporting CMC clients, she enjoys traveling, staying active, and spending time with her family, often on the sidelines of a soccer game or planning their next trip.
Kari Aderhold
Senior Talent Partner
Kari plays a dual role at CMC, leading both recruiting engagements and the firm’s discovery process with prospective clients.
With more than 25 years of recruiting experience in the financial services industry, Kari brings deep market knowledge and a highly consultative approach to every conversation. She is often the first point of contact for firms exploring a recruiting partnership, guiding early conversations around role definition, compensation expectations, and what success will look like.
Once a search begins, Kari works closely with clients throughout the full recruiting process—from intake and candidate sourcing to interviews and offer negotiations—ensuring a seamless and well-structured experience. Her experience and judgment help ensure that the candidates presented are not only qualified but are strong long-term fits for the team and culture.
Based in Hudson, Wisconsin, Kari can often be found cheering on her kids at a hockey or soccer game, working toward new strength training goals, or enjoying time outdoors with her husband, Anthony, and their two dogs.
Rebecca Feeley
Senior Recruiter
Rebecca leads searches across both the wealth management and nonprofit sectors, bringing a structured, relationship-driven approach to every engagement.
With over 20 years of recruiting experience, Rebecca develops a deep understanding of each client’s organization, culture, and long-term goals. She then manages the full recruiting lifecycle—from sourcing and interviews to guiding both clients and candidates through the hiring process. Rebecca also leads retained searches and nonprofit placements, helping mission-driven organizations identify leaders and team members who will have a meaningful impact.
Her ability to build strong candidate relationships and consistently uncover individuals who align with both the role and the broader mission, makes Rebecca a trusted partner to CMC’s clients.
Before joining CMC, Rebecca served as Director of Recruiting at Northwestern Mutual Chicagoland, where she led hiring strategy and built strong partnerships across the business.
Rebecca lives in the Chicago area with her husband, Tim, and their three children. She values connection, initiative, authenticity, and excellence, and brings those principles into both her work and home life.
Melanie Collier
Chief Operating Officer
Melanie keeps the entire CMC operation running smoothly, ensuring both clients and candidates have a seamless experience throughout the recruiting process.
Often described as the team’s “air traffic controller,” Melanie manages the operational details behind the scenes—from coordinating search logistics and supporting client onboarding to managing documentation and keeping communication flowing across the team.
Her organization, reliability, and ability to anticipate what’s needed next allow the recruiting team to stay focused on what they do best: connecting great companies with great people. Simply put, every business owner needs a Melanie.
Before joining CMC in 2019, Melanie spent over a decade supporting executives and their teams, building the foundation for the structure and consistency she brings to the firm today.
When she’s not keeping everything on track, Melanie enjoys traveling to new destinations, getting lost in a good book, and spending time with friends and family.
Connect With Our Team
We’d love to learn more about your firm and what you’re building. Let’s talk about your next hire and how we can support you.
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