Why Mutual
Reinvention is what powers us
An entrepreneurial spirit is in our roots. Founded by a So-Cal floral shop owner in 1982, Mutual was created to address a need through collaborative and authentic service. First as Mutual Securities, Inc., then adding Mutual Advisors, and today as Mutual Group – we have evolved to serve Independent RIAs, Hybrid RIAs and everything in between. With over 40 years’ experience, we have deep expertise in brokerage, compliance, technology, and operations for advisors. Entrepreneurial to the core, we’re no-nonsense innovators with a nimble start-up approach. No egos, just results.
Our Mission
Mutual Group powers the success of independent fee-based financial advisors by delivering flexible, forward-thinking, and relationship-driven solutions across advisory and broker-dealer channels. Through our personalized support and collaborative relationships, we’re transforming the lives of our advisor community.
Perspective
that is insightful and straight up.
Knowledge
from deep strategic experience.
Flexibility
through real listening and learning.
At The Heart of Our Core Values
We understand that everyone’s life and business goals are different. However you define success, we’re ready to partner with you to achieve it. Supporting your growth as a fiduciary, your way. An authentic partnership, with the power to transform.
Personal
We build real relationships with the people we serve and the people we work alongside.
At Mutual Group, relationships come first. Our advisors are individuals building businesses that serve their communities, and we engage with them directly and personally.
Being personal means:
- Listening before acting
- Knowing our advisors and their businesses
- Having honest conversations
- Investing in relationships beyond transactions
Relationships are not a tactic for us – they are the foundation of how we work. We do not hide behind process, hierarchy, or email when direct conversation is required.
Authentic
We say the hard thing early and operate with no surprises.
We do not pretend to be perfect. Building something meaningful requires learning, adapting, and occasionally getting things wrong. What matters is how we respond.
Authenticity means:
- Communicating transparently, directly and respectfully
- Taking ownership and accountability when mistakes occur
- Speaking candidly in difficult conversations
- Making decisions grounded in long-term integrity
We strive to continuously improve while remaining honest about where we are and where we need to get better. Authenticity allows trust to grow – and trust allows us to move together faster.
Collaborative
Our best work happens together.
Serving independent advisors requires coordination across functions, processes, teams, disciplines, and perspectives. No single person or group delivers the Mutual Group experience alone. We value shared success over individual wins.
Collaboration means:
- Aligning around our mission
- Communicating clearly and frequently
- Holding one another accountable
- Partnering internally and externally to solve problems
- Engaging in healthy debate to reach better outcomes
Great outcomes come from shared effort and shared responsibility.
Knowledgeable
At Mutual Group, being Knowledgeable means mastering our craft and using that knowledge to help advisors build enduring, independent businesses.
Being Knowledgeable means:
- Deeply understanding the broker-dealer and advisory business, regulatory environment, and realities advisors face
- Continuously learning, improving, and adapting as the industry evolves
- Applying experience with sound judgment – not theory alone
- Designing solutions and making decisions with advisors’ long‑term success in mind
Our knowledge is not academic or abstract. It is practical, current, and applied. We measure our expertise by the value it creates for advisors. We do not rely on what we already know – we build on it, share it, and use it to serve.
Our mission
To transform the lives of our advisor community and power them towards success, enabling them to work smarter, and focus on what they love and do best.
Our vision
To be an aspirational B2B leader in our industry, powering a cultural shift towards truly authentic partnerships. To enlighten our community on simpler, smarter ways to achieve personal success, and transform lives for the better.
40 Years of Putting Personal First
Mutual Was Founded
Originally known as Cowles, Sabol & Co., Mutual Securities was an independent West Coast-based early entrant into the newly forming discount broker-dealer space.
Mutual began to provide broker-dealer services to the emerging independent financial professionals who were looking to operate entrepreneurial businesses serving investors.
Opened up our Hybrid channel to serve independent registered representatives who wanted to operate their own registered investment advisor.
Mutual Securities, Inc. sold its discount broker-dealer division to Muriel Siebert & Co.
Formed and launched Mutual Advisors – an independent, stand-alone registered investment advisor created to elevate advisors by providing a fee-only, custodian-based platform to support fiduciaries seeking leading RIA technology.
Launched our first-to-market Fee-Only Transformation Program, allowing advisors to move away from FINRA regulatory complexities and go fee-only.
Launched Practice Management Solutions.
Celebrating 40 Years of Powering Advisors’ Success
And as committed as ever to serving advisors dedicated to acting as fiduciaries.