Fred Paulman, Dick Burridge, and Dimitri Eliopoulos reminiscing on 20 years of history and celebrating the milestone.
The day began with a basketball game.
On an April morning in 2005, Fred Paulman and Dick Burridge laced up for a game of pickup basketball — something they had never done before and, as Fred points out with a laugh, have never done since. “It was all about nervous energy,” he says.
Just hours later, that adrenaline-fueled warm-up gave way to something far more consequential: The two walked into their office and resigned from their jobs.
“It was very cordial, very quick,” Dick recalls. But there was a twist.
“The toughest hurdle to launch was actually resigning to our boss on April Fool’s Day,” Fred says. “He really, truly did not believe that it was anything but an April Fools' joke.”
But it was no joke. That morning marked the first leap in what would become a 20-year journey — one rooted not in ambition for scale, but in a shared belief that clients deserved something better.
A Leap of Faith, Fueled by Frustration
The story of RMB Capital began long before that spring morning. Dick and Fred had spent years wrestling with a growing realization: The large institutions they worked for were no longer built for personal service.
“As the private bank got bigger and bigger, we became less important,”
Fred says. “We felt like we weren’t going to be able to drive client service and investment management the way that our clients had been accustomed to. It triggered a decision that we really needed to find an alternative.”
They explored joining another firm, hoping for more flexibility. But each option came up short.
“We looked at a lot of alternatives. Then we decided, maybe we just need to do this ourselves,” Dick explains.
“Once we knew we were going to go, it was full steam ahead,” Fred adds.
From that moment on, there was no turning back.
Building a Business on Heart
The lead-up to launching RMB Capital brought late nights, legal reviews, and moments of doubt. The duo built everything behind closed doors, keeping their plans from their team until the time was right.
That moment came within hours of resigning, when Dick and Fred made offers to nearly their entire former team to join them in their new venture.
“Within 24 hours, our entire team took the risk and joined us,” Dick says. “It was amazing confirmation on that first day.”
The new office was a flurry of DHL boxes and paperwork. But the atmosphere was electric. Within months, theyhad transferred nearly $450 million in client assets.
“Our vision when we launched RMB Capital was to create a great place for our team to work, grow the firm with high-quality people, and, at the end of the day, make a difference in the lives of our colleagues and our clients,” Dick says. “From Day 1, we never questioned whether we made the right decision.”
That passion fueled growth, and with it came growing pains. As assets ballooned past $1 billion, the team outgrew its space. “We had people sitting all over the place, cords duct-taped to the floor — it was chaotic, but it was exciting,” Fred remembers.
“We worked really hard, 10 or 12 hours every day, and almost every weekend. But it didn’t really feel like work,” Dick says. “We had fun in the office. We celebrated every day.”
The Power of Relationships
To Dick, there’s a clear throughline in the firm’s 20-year history: “The story of Curi RMB Capital is ultimately a story about people and clients that care about each other.”
“RMB Capital was never about numbers —it was always about relationships,” agrees Fred.
That foundation ran deep. “Clients would invite me to Thanksgiving, introduce me to their grandchildren — I even get emails from clients that end with ‘I love you,’” he shares.
That loyalty paid off. “The growth of RMB Capital, certainly for the first four or five years, was really fueled by word of mouth,” Dick says. “Our clients supported us. Without even soliciting referrals, they were recommending us to their friends and family.”
“It’s a true statement that we were close friends — and still are. That’s the mentality we celebrate with them,” he says.
The Great Recession in 2008 was a defining chapter. “I thank my lucky stars that we got the business set up and stabilized with some momentum a couple of years before that started,” Dick says. “Because we were so ready, and we had so much conviction in how to navigate downturns, our clients were prepared. That whole experience accelerated our growth and our reputation.”
Fred agreed, explaining, “When things get tough, that’s when we prove our worth. That’s our time to double down on our communication with clients and show them the value of what we do.”
A New Chapter — On Their Terms
That spirit of clarity and conviction continues to guide the firm into its third decade.
On Jan. 1, 2024, the firm entered a new era, merging with Curi Capital.
“I just can’t say enough about my excitement that we got our deal done,” Dick says. “We now have a partner that’s committed to building a great company for the long term — one that serves clients, employees, and partners.”
For Fred, it’s the culmination of decades of work. “Twenty years has gone by in a hurry,” he says. “I never would've thought that we would be as successful as we have been. That’s a little bit of a pinch-me moment.”
“Now I get to watch generations two and three of employees at this firm drive things forward,” he adds. “My biggest thing when I talk to our next-gen leaders is, ‘Think bigger. Keep thinking bigger.’”
Today, the founding values of RMB Capital still hold true for Curi Capital: integrity, trust, and a genuine love for people and relationships.
“I expect that 20 years from now, we will still have a great company that is generating wealth for its partners [and] creating opportunities for employees,” Dick reflects, “but, more than anything, just making a difference in our clients’ lives.”
20 Years of History
April 2005
Resignation & Launch of RMB Capital
April 2005
100% Team Retention in First 24 Hours
April 2007
Surpassed $1 Billion in AUM
October 2007
Moved to New Chicago Office
April 2009
Grew AUM Through Financial Crisis
January 2011
Expanded to the West
May 2012
Launched RMB Retirement Plan Solutions
July 2014
Surpassed 100 Employees
February 2015
Added Denver RIA Firm
May 2015
Expanded to the East
2016
Surpassed $5 Billion in AUA
July 2016
Acquired Family of Mutual Funds
September 2016
Named to Barron's Top 100 RIA's List for the First Time
May 2017
Added Lake Forest RIA Firm
June 2017
Added Institutional Asset Management Team
November 2017
Added Milwaukee RIA With Family Office Specialty
March 2018
Opened Minneapolis Office
September 2018
Added Chicago-Western Suburbs Wealth Management Team
October 2018
Added Milwaukee-Based Fixed Income Team
February 2019
Opened St. Joseph Office
2021
Surpassed $10 Billion in AUA
January 2024
Merger of RMB Capital and Curi Capital
The opinions and analyses expressed in the article are based on Curi Capital, LLC's research and professional experience. The information and data in this article do not constitute legal, tax, accounting, investment or other professional advice. Investors should consult with their trusted professionals prior to taking any action.
