Knowledge and Insight
Take advantage of the wealth of information in the Knowledge and Insight Digest. Read curated and organized industry articles.
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Facing the succession planning crisis
Added on November 2013 in Plan for the Future
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Summary: While the precise statistics vary depending on the source, all studies point to the fact that less than 25% of advisers have viable succession plans in place. Looking at the demographics of our industry drives this point home further. According to Cerulli Associates Inc., across all channels, including RIAs and wirehouses, advisers who are at least 60 control more than $2.3 trillion in client assets. For advisers like these, there has never been an industrywide solution to help protect their clients, their employees and their families for the long term.
The Conversation: How Young Advisors Can Spur Owners to Succession Planning
Added on November 2013 in Plan for the Future
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Summary: Today, most owner-advisors launched their firms using well-established business and service models, taking on the challenges of a startup because they wanted to take care of their clients their own way. Consequently, most of today’s business management wisdom doesn’t really apply to independent advisory firms, with one major exception: the changing roles of firm founders and advisors who were hired as the firm grew.
Developing a Sustainable Business and Succession Plan
Added on November 2013 in Plan for the Future
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Summary: A new guidebook filled with practical information about virtually every aspect of developing a sustainable business and succession plan. Many firm owners are only a decade or so from retirement—and yet, fewer than 30% of independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) have even created a succession plan.Without an exit strategy in mind, advisors lack clear goals to guide their business planning efforts. This informative guidebook explains how you can address many of the key planning questions facing your firm.
Smart Recruiting Can Secure Your Succession
Added on November 2013 in Plan for the Future
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Summary: Industry observers say the extent to which independent advice firms can keep stealing market share from big-name rivals like Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley depends on their ability to transition to next-generation owners. Extending an established trend, indie RIA assets grew by 19% last year, while AUM at the four biggest brokerages were essentially flat, according to Cerulli Associates. Bigger RIAs can merge with approximate equals or acquire smaller firms to see them into the middle of the century. But for smaller RIAs, the best way forward may lie in smart recruiting.
Buying a Practice? 5 Important Valuation Questions
Added on November 2013 in Plan for the Future
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Summary: Practice acquisition (acquiring a retiring advisor's practice) is an incredibly lucrative way to grow your business exponentially, and as advisors age, there will be ample opportunity for younger advisors to acquire practices. In the next 10-15 years, there's going to be a glut of “for sale by owner” practices, but the simple fact is that they are not going to be worth the multiples that are being thrown around now. Here are five things to ask the selling advisor and the appraiser before you buy a practice.
