When I explain to advisors they likely will want legal advice regarding navigating their departure from their current firm, I sometimes hear a range of responses:

• “My buddy left the firm last year, and I’m just going to follow what he did.”

• “I’m already independent, so none of that applies to me.”

• “I made a transition 7 years ago, so I already have it figured out.”

In reality, most advisors, regardless of their current affiliation model, have at least one (if not multiple) reasons to need such advice: non-solicits, non-competes, Reg SP, broker protocol, deferred comp, forgivable loans, RSUs, taking team members with them, etc.

On this episode (#145) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series I explain why and how such legal advice is part of a typical transition.

Come take a listen!

P.S. Prefer video? You can find this entire series in video format on Youtube. Search for the TRANSITION TO RIA channel.

Show notes: https://TransitionToRIA.com/when-do-you-need-legal-advice-as-part-of-an-ria-transition/

About Host: Brad Wales is the founder of Transition To RIA, where he helps financial advisors between $50M and $1B understand everything there is to know about WHY and HOW to transition their practice to the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) model. Brad has 20+ years of industry experience, including direct RIA related roles in Compliance, Finance and Business Development. He has an MBA and has held the 4, 7, 24, 63 & 65 licenses. The Transition To RIA website (TransitionToRIA.com) has a large catalog of free videos, articles, whitepapers, as well as other resources to help advisors understand the RIA model and how it would apply to their unique circumstances.

I often encounter a phenomenon with long-tenured advisors.

As they've been born and bred at a broker-dealer, they simply assume they always need a broker-dealer.

And these are advisors whose practices have become nearly, if not entirely fee-based.

Yet their ingrained DNA tells them a broker-dealer is still required.

So when considering transitioning their practice to an independent model, they only consider broker-dealer solutions.

That is a classic case of the tail wagging the dog.

With a predominantly fee-based practice, they need an RIA, not a broker-dealer.

On this episode (#144) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series I explain how an RIA compares to an Independent Broker-Dealer, and why if you have a primarily fee-based practice you should not let the tail wag the dog.

Come take a listen!

P.S. Prefer video? You can find this entire series in video format on Youtube. Search for the TRANSITION TO RIA channel.

Show notes: https://TransitionToRIA.com/how-does-an-ria-compare-to-an-independent-broker-dealer/

About Host: Brad Wales is the founder of Transition To RIA, where he helps financial advisors between $50M and $1B understand everything there is to know about WHY and HOW to transition their practice to the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) model. Brad has 20+ years of industry experience, including direct RIA related roles in Compliance, Finance and Business Development. He has an MBA and has held the 4, 7, 24, 63 & 65 licenses. The Transition To RIA website (TransitionToRIA.com) has a large catalog of free videos, articles, whitepapers, as well as other resources to help advisors understand the RIA model and how it would apply to their unique circumstances.

What is the minimum AUM needed to have your own RIA?

Beware of anyone that gives you an immediate answer, with an immediate AUM figure to that question.

There are often bias or ulterior motives behind such quick declarations.

While the regulatory answer is $0 AUM needed to start an RIA, there are reasonable arguments to be made regarding at what AUM level it begins to make sense to do so.

But even then, what makes sense for one advisor, might not make sense for another.

On this episode (#143) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series I discuss the variables involved with what size your practice should be before considering starting your own RIA.

Come take a listen!

P.S. Prefer video? You can find this entire series in video format on Youtube. Search for the TRANSITION TO RIA channel.

Show notes: https://TransitionToRIA.com/what-is-the-minimum-aum-needed-to-have-your-own-ria/

About Host: Brad Wales is the founder of Transition To RIA, where he helps financial advisors between $50M and $1B understand everything there is to know about WHY and HOW to transition their practice to the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) model. Brad has 20+ years of industry experience, including direct RIA related roles in Compliance, Finance and Business Development. He has an MBA and has held the 4, 7, 24, 63 & 65 licenses. The Transition To RIA website (TransitionToRIA.com) has a large catalog of free videos, articles, whitepapers, as well as other resources to help advisors understand the RIA model and how it would apply to their unique circumstances.