Many people think of the RIA model as an "independent" model.

This is accurate, as many pathways into the model are independent in nature.

However, some RIA models feature advisors affiliated as W2 employees. These come in many different flavors: partnership models, traditional grid payout models, buyout models, etc.

In this episode of the Transition To RIA question and answer series, I explain what these models are and when they may be a fit for your 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/what-is-a-w2-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.

For those that follow my content, I often rant about "TAMPs" and "hybrids."

Not that they aren't good solutions, but rather because our industry often uses those terms to refer to offerings that are sometimes not at all similar. (i.e., one "TAMP" provides one type of service, while another "TAMP" has a quite different model.)

It is safe to add "aggregator" to my rant list.

How some market participants define an "aggregator" firm can sometimes look nothing like how another defines it.

In the latest episode (#154) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series I explain the different models often defined as "aggregator" firms, so you can better understand if such a model fits your 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/what-is-an-ria-aggregator/

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.

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.