Strategic & succession planning, M&A, compensation & equity plans for RIAs

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    • Consulting Services
    • Background
    • Media
    • FAQs
    • RIA Circle™
    • Contact
  • Consulting Services
  • Background
  • Media
  • FAQs
  • RIA Circle™
  • Contact

Expert RIA Consulting - Frequently Asked Questions

My Vision and my Why?

My why is to help move the profession forward in an ethical and honorable way. 


In a rapidly changing and consolidating marketplace, Independent Advisors struggle for unbiased advice and I want to shorten your learning curve and give you a competitive advantage. 

 

My How? 

It all started way back in second grade when my older brother agreed to teach me how to multiply and divide (a full year earlier than it was taught in school!) in exchange for me cleaning his room. I combined my aptitude for math with my desire to serve others (thanks to the Girl Scouts). Becoming a financial advisor seemed like a natural career choice, so I borrowed $322 from my folks, passed the NASD (now FINRA) tests, and got licensed before graduating from college. 


I then started as a financial advisor prospecting with friends, family and referrals as an independent contractor. 


My entrepreneurial foundation enables me to truly understand what it's like to walk in your shoes as a Financial Advisor and affords me a great deal of empathy for what you go through each day.   


My experience and expertise is focused on these value-enhancing services: 


  • Strategic Planning - helping you making better informed decisions
  • Succession Planning - both internal and external
  • Compensation & Incentives - both cash and equity plans, real and phantom
  • M&A Consulting; Buying, Merging, & Selling your firm - without the commission costs and conflicts of interests inherent with investment bankers
  • Valuations - often needed as a part of succession planning, equity sharing, M&A, etc.
  • HR & People Management; Attracting & Retaining the Best; Career Paths, Roles & Responsibilities, Decision-Making, Communication, Setting Expectations, Performance Management, Benefits, etc. 
  • Overcoming Growing Pains - Partner & team dynamics, financial stress, plateaus, leveling up, etc.    


Areas I don't consult on - other than industry trends and anecdotal learnings from clients and peers in the industry. However, I can refer you to the right consultant to help you.


  • Compliance
  • Technology, including AI
  • Operations 
  • Investment/Asset Management 
  • Recruiting Services & Executive Search


As a solopreneur, you can be assured that all consulting work is performed by me directly, and not an underling. 


As such, my client load maxes out at 12 clients at a time, with former clients having a preferential priority. While I'd love to be able to work with more clients at a time, quality control and high expectations take precedent in my work. Additionally, I don't have aspirations to grow the organization to one day sell it off. 


Consulting services are confidential. 

Consulting services are personal. 

Quality consulting services are worth > 10x - 100X the investment. 


I love this question and appreciate skepticism, as it is not easy to compare consultants' offerings. 


It is vital to me that you are completely delighted with my guidance, and thus the reason for my pricing model - so that you're not locked in to something in case we're not the right fit. 


We can discuss your specific concerns, if you'd like - kindly schedule an appointment here. 


Additionally, you're welcome to read the online reviews I received from clients over the years here. There are many more testimonials available on my LinkedIn page. 


While there are many pricing models out there, I found it is most fair to you (and to me) to charge by the hour. 


Let's take a look at an example: Say there are two offices who both need a strategic plan. One office has two partners, and another office has 5 partners. Often, designing and implementing a strategic plan is more labor intensive with numerous partners, depending on the personalities and relationships. Therefore, I believe it wouldn't be fair to charge those two firms the same amount. And that is an example of just one element of distinction - there are many. IMO, firm desires and dynamics are too complex for spread like peanut butter pricing.   

 

My hourly rate is $850/hour. Yes, it is a lot - or is it? For that rate, you have access to 35+ years of  Advisor and executive experience in the independent wealth management space covering IBDs, RIAs, custodians, and insurance services, with knowledge of all the business, compensation, and incentive models for Team Members/Employees, Financial Advisors, and owners from someone who is highly empathetic, unbiased, and can help you sort out partner issues and better manage your personnel, overcoming conflicts and office dysfunction - all personalized for you and your needs. 


It is important to consider I do not charge any add-on fees, nor office fees, nor success fees, and there won't be any double billing (two people on a call where you are charged for each of their hourly rates), nor percentage of revenue, nor equity stake - just a plain ol' hourly rate. What could be easier? 


With this approach, you can stay within your budget and feel confident that you are getting your money's worth. As with clients when they have advisory accounts, they can leave at any time if they aren't satisfied. As my client, you have that luxury, as well.  


While the process may vary depending on the project, here is an example for a strategic planning project: 


Much like the process you likely utilize when onboarding new clients to your firm - I use a  discovery, analysis, and report out with recommendations process, I have a 5-step process the majority of clients go through: 


1. When you're ready to get started, I'll send you a consulting agreement outlining the parameters of our work we will do together. 


2. After the agreement is signed, we'll schedule a discovery call so that I can fully understand your perspectives, desires, and firm's current positioning. If your firm has multiple owners, it is recommended to hold discovery calls with each partner to ensure each of their voices are heard. Sometimes, owners even request key personnel to participate in this process. Additional information is also gathered during this stage, such as your financials, employee census, etc.


3. After the discovery call(s) and analyzing your firm's information, I'll provide you with a SWOT analysis to discuss the industry perspective of your firm. SWOT stands for Strengths & Weaknesses that are internal to your firm, and Opportunities & Threats that are external to your firm. 


4. After the SWOT discussion, together, we'll go through a prioritization process to help you identify which areas you want to prioritize and work on first. This is a particularly helpful exercise with multiple partners/owners who may not be aligned at the beginning of our work together. 


5. The next step is to create a project plan to clarify roles, expectations, and provide an at-a- glance assessment map to show progress. I create actionable project plans to accomplish their objectives with milestones using a RACI Matrix: 


          R= Responsible for doing the work

          A = Accountable for the work

          C = Who you Consult with on a task

           I = Who you Inform once the task is done


I have no preconceived objective other than helping you realize the rewards you seek from your business - whether it be: a strategic plan and value (money), less headaches (focus), partner alignment & improved team dynamics (enjoyment), building a legacy (succession planning), etc. 


Ever have that feeling that you know something isn't quite right and yet its hard to put your finger on exactly what the issue is? I can help you uncover blind spots. 


Sometimes, employees aren't fully transparent with owner(s) of a firm/CEO/Partners, due to reaction and retribution fears, disdain for conflict, and simply they do not know how to have crucial conversations. I can be the liaison with your employees and partners to bring out how they are really feeling - if they feel overworked, unappreciated, and have quietly quit. 


Also, we may find that some folks are underutilized, bored, and are seeking more fulfillment. To paraphrase author Jim Collins - "it's about putting the right people on the bus, and then putting them in the right seats." You own the bus. I can be your bus driver. 


Additionally, most of us have blind spots. As your confidante and CEO whisperer, I'll uncover what those blind spots are, discuss the impact they are having on your team and your firm's value, and help you overcome them.   


Whatever it is, we'll find it together, at your pace.


My consulting services are customized to your needs. While there are definitely some norms  for certain business models and templates that I use, I believe that one size doesn't fit all and having unique attributes are a competitive advantage.


I will work with you, with who you are, your personality, your values, and your budget to help you reach your objectives. 


Think about the times you have seen the lightbulb come on when you're working with clients...


I get that same intrinsic reward feeling when I consult with Financial Advisors. I love helping to connect the dots for people. The images are portions of my large canvas paintings.


My childhood trauma caused decades of suffering. In my mid-50s, I learned about psilocybin therapy and gave it a go. It was so life changing for me, I wanted others to understand this wonderful medicine. Thus, I funded the documentary to help others to learn about both micro and macro dose healing and I'm also in the documentary as an unnamed patient. The film is available to rent and buy on over 60 on-demand platforms globally such as YouTube, AppleTV, DISH, PrimeVideo, GooglePlay, Roku, etc. You can watch the trailer HERE. 


This documentary has no direct impact on my Wealth Management Consulting work other than I find myself being more empathic and am able to connect the dots better than I was able to before the journey.  


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