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Transition To RIA Podcast

Transition To RIA Podcast

By: Brad Wales
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The Transition To RIA Podcast is named by Kitces as a Top Podcast for Financial Advisors! Brad Wales, founder of Transition To RIA (TransitionToRIA.com) discusses WHY and HOW to transition your financial advisory practice to the Registered Investment Advisor ("RIA") model. This question/answer style podcast pulls directly from the hundreds of RIA related questions Brad has been asked over the years. With 20+ years industry experience, including direct RIA related roles in compliance, finance and business development, Brad has become the go-to expert for everything financial advisors want to learn and understand about the RIA model. Transition To RIA is completely independent of any one solution, thus Brad is able to provide impartial advice and guidance across all of the possible pathways into the model.Copyright 2026 Transition To RIA Podcast Career Success Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Q153 - What Are Red Flags To Look Out For In The RIA Model?
    Jul 23 2026

    All affiliation models have pros and cons. They all have red flags to watch out for as well.

    The RIA model is no exception.

    Case in point: when someone predominantly touts the "100% payout" of the model.

    Yes, with your own RIA, you retain 100% of your client fee revenue. But when someone loudly touts the top line without also explaining the expenses required to generate that revenue, that is generally a red flag.

    On this episode (#153) of the Transition To RIA question and answer series, I address this and other red flags in the RIA model to be aware of.

    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-are-red-flags-to-look-out-for-in-the-ria-model/

    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.

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    26 mins
  • Q152 - Should I Join A Hybrid RIA?
    Jul 9 2026

    Every couple of years, a buzzword seems to rise up to become the industry's token topic.

    There was an era when "TAMP" was the sexy talk of the day.

    About 10 years ago, "hybrid" was all the rage.

    While these terms are still used today, past hype has sometimes caused confusion about when and how to use them.

    Case in point, should you join a "hybrid" RIA?

    But what does "hybrid" really even mean? After all, it's often used to describe several different logistical scenarios.

    In this episode (#152) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series I clarify what a "hybrid" RIA is, and when it might be a fit for our practice.

    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/should-i-join-a-hybrid-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.

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    17 mins
  • Q151 - What Licenses Do I Need For The RIA Model?
    Jun 25 2026

    In most scenarios, passing the Series 65 exam is the prerequisite to become licensed as an Investment Advisor Representative.

    However, there are scenarios where the 66, a CFP, or maybe even a 7 are still applicable.

    It's important to understand how your practice profile, both today and going forward, impacts the licenses you may need in the RIA model.

    In this episode (#151) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series, I break down the licensing scenarios to be aware of.

    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-licenses-do-i-need-for-the-ria-model/

    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.

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    21 mins
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