CD Valet Launches Financial Advisor Marketplace, Giving RIAs a New, Independent Path to Organic Growth

New marketplace connects investors actively researching savings and investment decisions with independent RIAs at a moment when traditional referral channels are getting more expensive and harder to access.

SEATTLE, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CD Valet, the digital marketplace known for helping investors compare and choose certificates of deposit (CDs), today announced the launch of its Financial Advisor Marketplace, a new platform designed to connect registered investment advisors (RIAs) with investors who are actively evaluating how to save, invest, and plan for their financial futures.

The launch comes at a pivotal moment for advisory firms. Organic growth rates across the RIA industry have been slowing in recent years, and competition for qualified leads has been intensifying. At the same time, two of the primary channels advisors have historically relied on for new client acquisition are shifting in ways that raise costs and reduce access:

• Custodial referral programs are raising the bar. Custodian-run advisor referral programs have recently increased their minimum asset thresholds for participation, which will reduce assets under management (AUM) flows. This is narrowing the pool of firms eligible to receive referrals and pushing smaller and mid-sized RIAs out of a channel they've relied on for years.
• Digital lead generation is shifting to success-fee models. Platforms in the digital advisor-matching space have moved toward success-fee and AUM-based pricing structures, which can significantly increase the long-term cost of acquiring a client compared to flat-fee or subscription models.

Against this backdrop, CD Valet's Financial Advisor Marketplace is designed to give advisors an independent, objective alternative, one built to help firms re-ignite organic growth without ceding a percentage of client relationships in perpetuity or being priced out by rising custodial minimums.

"Advisors are being squeezed from both directions right now," said John Blizzard, Founder and CEO at CD Valet. "The channels that used to reliably deliver qualified prospects are either raising the barrier to entry or asking advisors to pay for that access indefinitely. We built this marketplace because independent advisors deserve an independent, objective place to be found, one that isn't gated by asset minimums and doesn't take a cut of every client relationship for the life of that relationship."

How the Financial Advisor Marketplace Works

CD Valet already attracts a large, engaged audience of investors actively comparing savings and deposit products. These are disciplined, do-it-yourself investors who, recognizing the growing complexities that arise from tax and estate issues, are ready for more expertise as they weigh bigger financial decisions related to retirement planning and investment management. The new Financial Advisor Marketplace extends that same diligence and intent toward advisor discovery, allowing visitors to:

• Search and compare independent financial advisors based on specialties, services, and credentials
• Review advisor profiles that emphasize transparency and objective comparison, rather than pay-to-play placement
• Connect directly with advisors best suited to their financial goals and life stage

For participating advisors and RIAs, the marketplace offers a straightforward, independent alternative to custodial referral programs and success-fee lead generation platforms. It is designed to support sustainable, organic growth rather than trading long-term client economics for short-term lead flow.

Why Now

Industry data continues to show that organic growth -- new clients won through referrals, marketing, and brand visibility -- has become harder to sustain for many advisory firms. As the two dominant growth channels available to advisors become more restrictive or more expensive, CD Valet believes the market is ready for a platform built specifically around independence and objectivity.

"Our Financial Advisor Marketplace is about giving advisors another organic growth door, one they control, that doesn't get more expensive as they grow, and that puts them in front of investors who are already in decision-making mode," adds Blizzard.

Advisors and RIAs interested in participating can learn more and express interest at https://www.cdvalet.com/advisor-partner-with-us

About CD Valet

CD Valet is a digital CD marketplace that features verified CD rates from federally insured banks and credit unions. With tens of thousands of CD offers tracked across the country, CD Valet gives savers a clear view of high-yield CD options. We also help savers build and preserve their wealth through our Financial Advisor Marketplace, where they can connect with experts in retirement, investment, tax and estate planning. Check out CD Valet's Best CD Rates by State Map and explore our many tools for savers. 

SOURCE CD Valet