1RDG’s recent rebranding, which highlights the breadth of services the financial center provides, is already having a positive impact on the firm according to John Rizzo, its managing partner.
“We’ve seen a difference already,” Rizzo said, noting that immediately following the launch the firm received calls from clients interested in the other services it provides. “The model is working.”
The Rochester-based financial center has expanded its offerings and increased its staff as demand for their services grows.
RDG+Partners and Employee Retention Solutions unveiled the 1RDG name in May. The financial center provides a range of management, compliance and advisory services.
The rebranding transitions the business from an accounting firm to a one-stop financial center, its leaders said.
The business has assisted clients from a range of sectors with various financial challenges, from repositioning a medical office’s processes to improve financial health to helping a growing IT firm scale for sale.
1RDG uses a collaborative approach to personalize financial strategies that align with one’s long-term goals, Rizzo said.
The firm saw a need in the market for such a comprehensive offering that allows businesses to access experts in various fields of financial services.
“We are a financial quarterback for our clients,” he said. “We aren’t just crunching numbers; we are taking a strategic approach.”
Some 60 percent of 1RDG’s client base is in the Rochester area but it also has clients across the country. It serves a range of industries, including construction, real estate, technology and medical, and companies at various stages, from start-ups and those in growth mode to mature firms and those in ownership transitions.
1RDG was founded as Rizzo and DiGiacco CPAs in Webster in 2005 by Rizzo and Brian DiGiacco, 1RDG’s partner, to serve boutique accounting services to assist small- to mid-sized businesses looking to grow their operations in central New York.
The business has since grown to include eight partners and roughly 80 employees. It has also expanded to offer its portfolio of services and expertise, including accounting, tax and estate planning, consulting, human resources, payroll and employee benefits.
1RDG’s clients can also benefit from services provided by their affiliate, RDG Capital Management. The services include private wealth management and retirement plan consulting. RDG Capital Management is co-located within 1RDG’s office space.
Kate Kenney, a partner with RDG Capital Management, said the affiliate – which launched at the end of February – met its one-year goal in its first 90 days of operation.
“It’s already exceeded our expectations,” she said.
The growth at 1RDG has been done in a way that allowed the company not to get too big, too fast, DiGiacco explained.
Its payroll arm of the business – RDG Payroll – was launched in 2020, while Employee Retention Solutions was introduced in 2022.
Additionally, mergers have been, and will continue to be, a focus at 1RDG. For example, in 2012, Whitney Baniewicz merged her CPA practice with what is now 1RDG and became a partner, and in 2017 the company merged with Kroner Gamble and Co., with Christopher Gamble becoming a partner at 1RDG.
DiGiacco agreed that collaboration among the service providers at 1RDG is key, adding that the team works closely to find the best solution for its clients.
“Many other firms are reactive,” he said. “We take a collaborative approach right from the start.”
Company leaders are also committed to Rochester.
The business has operated out of its 18,000-square-foot headquarters at 10 Winthrop St., the former location of the now defunct Hart’s Local Grocers, since 2022 when the company moved downtown from Pittsford, where it had been located since 2007.
1RDG bought the 42,000-square-foot building — of which 1RDG occupies the first floor — with the owners of REDD restaurant, located next door, which provided both with on-site parking.
Rizzo said 1RDG then put roughly $3 million into renovations for its space, which includes open workspaces, privacy booths, a kitchen, training room and event center.
He noted the firm’s employees play an integral role in its success and 1RDG places a priority on creating and maintaining a strong company culture.
The business, a regular on the local Top Workplaces annual list, offers a range of employee perks from flexible schedules and an in-house gym to mentorship programs and a competitive benefits package.
Cory Raggi, 1RDG’s chief operating officer, said the range of opportunities at 1RDG, coupled with the culture, help with the firm’s recruitment and retention efforts.
“We have a path here that doesn’t exist anywhere else,” she said.