Build a Business That Doesn’t Need You
Advisors Plan for Everyone’s Retirement—Except Their Own
The 8 Laws of Transition Every Financial Advisor Should Know
Most financial advisors do not wake up one morning and wonder, “Am I ready to sell my practice?” More often, the question arrives gradually. Perhaps the firm has become more complex than it used to be. Perhaps the owner wants to reduce hours but does not want to retire. Maybe the next generation is not […]
Recasted EBITDA vs. SDE: How to Calculate True Practice Earnings for an RIA Valuation
When most independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) owners or broker-dealer principals first contemplate selling or planning a succession, their natural starting point is the most familiar document on their desk: the annual tax return or year-end Profit & Loss statement. They look at the bottom line: net income: or perhaps taxable profit, and assume that […]
The 2026 RIA Valuation Ceiling: Are Multiples Peaking?
For the past decade, independent financial advisors and RIA owners have enjoyed a golden era of transaction pricing. Driven by a massive influx of private equity capital, an aging advisor demographic, and highly resilient recurring revenue models, registered investment advisor valuations climbed steadily to unprecedented heights by 2022. Yet, as we navigate through 2026, a […]
How Financial Advisor Practice Valuations Really Work (And What Buyers Actually Look For)
For decades, succession planning in the wealth management industry was governed by simple folklore. Ask a retiring advisor what their business was worth, and they would likely quote a back-of-the-envelope rule of thumb: “A practice is worth two to three times top-line revenue,” or “It’s worth roughly two to three percent of total Assets Under […]
The Value of Broker-Dealer Business in a Fee-First World
Broker-dealer business valuation is changing. Broker-dealer firms were once the backbone of advisor distribution and client service, giving financial advisors the tools, products, and oversight needed to build practices. But the industry has shifted. The rise of fiduciary-first, fee-based models has redefined what clients expect from their financial advisors. Investors now look for transparency, ongoing […]
Breaking Away: Building Your Own RIA
Financial advisor breakaways are reshaping the wealth management industry. More advisors are leaving wirehouses and national firms to build independent RIAs or join fee-first platforms. The shift is driven by a mix of opportunity and frustration. Advisors want more freedom to serve clients on their own terms, without the bureaucracy, payout grids, and product pushes […]
Financial Advisor Succession Planning: What Advisors Should Know Before Selling Their Practice
The Art of Financial Matchmaking for Advisors: Finding the Right Successor
