Corporate governance

Minority transactions are increasingly appealing to sellers who are wary of giving up the full control of their firms. But experts say the deals do come with strings.

The Ensemble Practice's annual RIA compensation survey suggests that firms are paying a pretty penny for financial advisors but reaping healthy profits.

Merrill wealth co-head Eric Schimpf says the firm does about as good a job as its rivals in drawing in net new assets. But given Merrill's relationship with Bank of America, "We can do better."

Deal structure, transition plans and dog and pony shows represent only a few of the thorny difficulties involved with branching into an acquisition strategy, experts say.

Big aggregators could feel the heat if private equity continues to fund $500M to $1B-AUM firms.

Resources and personal connections offer significant advantages. But financial advisors and other experts say they only get new RIAs part of the way.

The choice of buyer and the price get the most attention, but a possible merger of equals and the technology side of the transition could loom large in the strategy.

Much like deciding the right client headcount, choosing whether to fire a customer or turn away new business represents an important step in a firm's development.

Step away from the rote 30-second spiel. Instead, forge connections with advisory prospects based on trust, not tactics.

The question ties into so many of the factors that distinguish large and small firms, various client niches and decisions about whether or not to hire staff.

The fact that many financial advisors say they do not provide tax planning belies how much value they may add through that service, according to an expert.

Tips and tricks on building a successful niche: This week, Andrew Barninger of Personal Wealth Advisory shares insights on financial planning for business owners looking for an exit.

Some financial advisors may still hesitate to get on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok. But experts say growing firms need to be on the social platforms.

In a field with very high rates of attrition, financial planners are finding pillars of support in study groups as they work to reach more young customers.

Former Morgan Stanley broker Kathy Frazier sued the firm in 2015 and was later joined by six other Black plaintiffs who also alleged they had been systematically excluded from the best advisory teams and client leads.

It may be tempting to hire a "2.0 version" of a departing employee, but doing so risks reinforcing stale processes and mindsets.

Building a multigenerational practice speaks to some of the highest ideals of a planner's professional calling, speakers at a CFP Board conference said.

Client assets will always represent a key business metric. But $1 billion in AUM doesn't always add up to success — or to happiness.

A Cerulli report puts numbers to the channel's transformation. We have resources for advisors who want to better understand the space.