Succession planning

This is the beginning of a relationship, so the process should more closely resemble a courtship begun on eHarmony than a purchase made via Craigslist.

For Victoria Collins and Jennifer Cagle, a succession plan was complicated by a pending public offering. One kept a valuable equity stake, the other got the client base.

The CFP Board has launched a new online portal intended to serve as a resource for people looking to start a career in financial planning.

For buyers, the cost of funds is low now. For sellers, valuations are rich. Cashing out now is an “easy case to make," says AssetMark EVP Michael Abelson. "Or they can keep riding the wave."

At TCI Wealth Management, Bob Swift wanted a succession plan that would let him distribute ownership but keep working. Here's the solution he developed.

Emphasis at the Women Advisors Forum in San Francisco is on smart strategies advisors can use to build their practices and support women in the industry.

Worries about a tidal wave of retiring advisors may be overblown, say some wealth management executives.

If you want a better talent pipeline, you should get closer to the institutions minting new CFPs. See how several firms are doing it.

"We have to continue to grow and we'll be looking at acquisitions, mergers, tuck-ins and roll-ups, all of the above," says Mark Allen, president of Nebraska-based Allen Capital Group.

Strong details and carefully executed plans make for a positive transition.

When it's time to give up control of your firm, will you know what to do?

What questions are advisors not asking when buying a firm?

A continuity plan should be simple and spell out how unexpected interruptions could affect the business and how to safeguard the firm, employees and clients.

As advisors look to mergers and acquisitions to fuel growth strategies and succession plans, firms need to look beyond the transaction itself and think strategically about how a combined firm will operate, experts said this week at the FSI's financial advisor summit.

The industry is losing about 3,000 to 4,000 advisors annually who aren’t being replaced, says Pershing CEO Mark Tibergien.

Should small and midsize RIAs be required to have a succession plan in place for their firms? State securities regulators are asking for input from practitioners as they wrap up the rulemaking process.

A new research paper identifies several elements tied to the most satisfied dealmakers. See the takeaways for advisors.

Discounted cash flow is the most important valuation method financial advisors can use, according to strategic consultant David DeVoe.

The number of transactions jumps to 16 in the second quarter, up from 13 in the first, with the average size of acquired firms rising to $1.18 billion.

As longevity increases, advisors must find smart new ways to prepare clients for the cost of an extended retirement.