Craig Stuvland

Craig Stuvland is the founder and CEO of tru Independence, a Portland, Oregon-based platform serving independent RIAs and breakaway advisors. The company says it provides an open-architecture platform with services across operations, compliance, technology, business management, and advisor support.

Stuvland has been active in the investment industry since 1980. Before founding tru Independence in 2014, he spent 14 years at Common Sense Investment Management, where he served as President and COO. According to tru Independence, he helped lead growth from $200 million to a peak of $4.5 billion while overseeing strategy, management, research due diligence, institutional client relationships, consultants, and business development.

Earlier, Stuvland spent 16 years at Crabbe Huson Group. tru Independence states that he helped build the firm from $30 million to a $5 billion enterprise that included separately managed accounts, mutual funds, and a trust company. He served as President of Crabbe Huson’s family of mutual funds, Executive Vice President of Crabbe Huson Group, and a board member of both entities.

Stuvland holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon. His firm bio says he previously held Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses.

• Public sources do not verify Craig Stuvland as an active personal angel investor writing seed-stage startup checks; the available evidence points primarily to his role building and supporting independent wealth-management businesses.
• Through tru Independence, his focus is on advisor independence: helping breakaway advisors and established RIAs build or improve independent firms while retaining control of their brands and businesses.
• tru Independence describes its model as a full-service support platform for advisors who want operational efficiency, fiduciary support, technology, compliance infrastructure, and business consulting.
• In a 2014 tru Independence announcement, Stuvland framed the opportunity around RIAs “becom[ing] self-sustaining entrepreneurs” with the resources to grow while focusing on clients.
• In a 2025 AdvisorHub article, Stuvland wrote that successful wealth-management M&A depends on cultural alignment, thorough due diligence, and, where appropriate, brand autonomy.
• In private markets, Stuvland has emphasized using partnerships such as Opto Investments to give tru-affiliated RIAs access to alternatives including private credit, private equity, real estate, and venture capital.