Richey May vs BlackFin Group

What the rubric says

Richey May and BlackFin Group are both scored in Advisory & Consulting. Richey May carries an overall of 4, BlackFin Group an overall of 3. The widest gap between them is Functionality and depth, at 1.2 of a point. That axis measures whether it handles the messy loans and not just the clean file. Richey May takes it, 4.5 to 3.3.

Where the five axes separate

On Functionality and depth the record favours Richey May, 4.5 against 3.3. On Production impact the record favours Richey May, 4.4 against 3.3. On Adoption and support the record favours Richey May, 4.4 against 3.3. On Integrations and ecosystem the record favours Richey May, 3.2 against 2.3. On Return on spend the record favours Richey May, 3.7 against 3.5.

In Advisory & Consulting the rubric weights Integrations and ecosystem heaviest, at 30 percent. That is why the two overalls sit where they do.

How the weights turn axes into a score

Production impact carries 25 percent of the Advisory & Consulting score. It measures whether the tool moves volume, pull-through or cycle time. Functionality and depth carries 25 percent of the Advisory & Consulting score. It measures whether it handles the messy loans and not just the clean file. Integrations and ecosystem carries 30 percent of the Advisory & Consulting score. It measures how well it reaches the rest of the stack. Adoption and support carries 10 percent of the Advisory & Consulting score. It measures whether the team adopts it and gets unstuck. Return on spend carries 10 percent of the Advisory & Consulting score. It measures what the spend returns, which is not the same as being cheap.

Pricing posture

Richey May does not publish pricing. Its listed model is quote only, fee structure not published. BlackFin Group does not publish pricing. Its listed model is quote only, fee structure not published.

Deployment and who each one targets

Segment focus for Richey May: Independent mortgage banks of all sizes. Segment focus for BlackFin Group: Mid-market lenders and credit unions. The two entries name different buyers.

What each record credits

Richey May: Over 600 employees and 50 partners, the deepest bench here. Richey May: Lender compensation survey and peer benchmarking data. Richey May: Audit, tax, technology and cyber under one firm cuts coordination cost. Richey May: CPA independence rules impose real constraints on attest clients. BlackFin Group: Explicit published anti-conflict pledge, which few competitors offer. BlackFin Group: Tech Stack Navigator priced as an alternative to expensive RFP consulting. BlackFin Group: Broad practice spanning selection, implementation, AI and data. BlackFin Group: Published pricing on at least one advisory product, which is rare here.

What each record holds against them

Richey May: Sells SOC audits to the same vendors lenders ask it to evaluate. Richey May: Analytics offering rides on one named vendor platform. Richey May: Private equity backed since 2025, which changes incentives. Richey May: Owns acquired technology businesses, so it sits partly on the vendor side. BlackFin Group: Preferred Partners get recommended inside its own selection product. BlackFin Group: Named partners include LOS and verification vendors that would be selection candidates. BlackFin Group: Has taken vendor-side money as a training partner. BlackFin Group: Partner program economics are not disclosed.

Which one fits which shop

Best fit for Richey May: Lenders wanting one firm across audit, tax and technology. Best fit for BlackFin Group: Lenders wanting selection work at a lower price point.

What each entry concludes

Richey May: Richey May has a large bench, and the broadest service range. Richey May: That is both the appeal and the problem. Richey May: It sells technology advisory to lenders while selling SOC audits to the vendor population. Richey May: Its analytics product is built on a single named technology partner. Richey May: It publishes lender guidance on using SOC reports for vendor management. BlackFin Group: The sharpest tension in this category sits inside one firm. BlackFin Group: BlackFin publishes the most explicit anti-conflict pledge here, refusing revenue share and kickbacks. BlackFin Group: It refuses conflicted board seats too, and it attacks consultants with a vested interest in the outcome. BlackFin Group: Yet its Preferred Partners are described as qualified and recommended inside its own Tech Stack Navigator selection product. BlackFin Group: It has also taken money from a loan origination vendor as a training partner, all on the record.

The short answer

Richey May finishes ahead on the published rubric, 4 to 3. The margin comes mostly from Functionality and depth. Same rubric, same weights, no sponsorships.