Independent advisors

As private equity muscles into wealth management's fastest growing niche, it's injecting Wall Street business practices into financial planning.

The 15-year veteran advisor explains how she identified and built her practice’s base of clients.

Consolidation, an aging broker workforce, pivots by advisors away from Wall Street wirehouses and a move to fee-based services are driving the slow but steady trend.

Rather than look for an exit, the network of fee-only planners needs additional funding for new services, new technology.

The wealthtech’s strategy is backed by a survey on what fundamentally drives financial advisors and their clients.

At the IMPACT 2021 conference, CEO Walt Bettinger and head of advisor services Bernie Clark shared plans to grow the firm’s market share of independent advisors.

While every firm has unique needs, there are several common paths to take.

An ex-executive with a firm acquired by the network three years earlier will lead FSC Securities as it seeks to grow in a competitive industry.

Some independent advisors worry the enterprise deal will slow innovation at the wealthtech company.

The move can help firms reach smaller investors and offer greater portfolio customization, the custodian says, joining peers in offering the share slices.