Choosing a custodian to hold your client assets is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when transitioning your practice to the RIA model.

While it might at first seem as simple as picking from the “Big 3” (formerly “Big 4”) custodians, the reality is there are close to a dozen custodial providers to potentially choose from.

Differentiators amongst them include: AUM minimums, pricing, approach to technology, value proposition, service offerings, etc.

In the latest episode (#135) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series I discuss how these variables will factor into your custodial decision.

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-best-custodian-to-use-with-your-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.

In this episode (#134) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series we expand upon five critical ways advisors can make mistakes when transitioning their practices to the RIA model, and how to avoid them:

1. Not thoroughly researching the RIA model to understand if it is a fit for your practice;
2. Not thoroughly researching your options of how to transition into it;
3. Misjudging your client loyalty;
4. Not getting proper legal advice on how to navigate the departure from your current firm;
5. Not following a time-tested approach on how to navigate a transition successfully.

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-the-biggest-ways-to-screw-up-a-transition-to-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.

There is a well established process for how to breakaway from a wirehouse, to transition your practice to the RIA model.

This process has been refined within the industry over many decades, and thousands of transitions.

In this episode (#133) of the Transition To RIA question and answer series I outline the three main steps involved, and the variables within each step that are important to be aware of and consider

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-the-steps-involved-with-breaking-away-from-a-wirehouse-to-transition-to-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.

Attracting new clients is the lifeblood of any advisory firm.

One of the advantages of transitioning your practice to the RIA model is the increased flexibility (as compared to most captive advisor models) in how you can brand and market your services.

An example is the ability to establish paid referral relationships with, typically, centers of influence.

These are referred to as solicitor agreements.

But not all RIAs are created equal.

In this episode (#132) of the Transition To RIA question and answer series I explain when and how such arrangements are typically used.

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-solicitor-agreement/

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.

Being able to control your so-called “local expenses” as an RIA, or 1099 when joining an RIA, comes with additional responsibilities, but also significant benefits to match:

• Only pay for the resources you actually use.
• The ability to run as lean or extravagant of a practice as you wish.
• Determine the composition of your team.
• Benefit from controlling your local real estate footprint.

On this episode of the Transition To RIA question and answer series I expand on these benefits, and others, with respect to controlling your local expenses.

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-benefit-of-controlling-your-local-expenses-as-an-ria/

About Host: Brad Wales is the founder of Transition To RIA, where he helps financial advisors 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.

Should you consider joining a “roll-up” firm?

But what exactly are they rolling up?

All of your practice?

Some of your practice?

Do they take operational control of your practice?

Is this a succession play?

As I frequently lament about the term “hybrid” as well, the term “roll-up” is often used to describe different types of RIA firms, providing very different solutions for advisors.

In this episode (#130) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series I explain several different ways “roll-up” firms are structured and when it might appeal to you.

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-roll-up-firm/

About Host: Brad Wales is the founder of Transition To RIA, where he helps financial advisors 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.

“You won’t be able to use Alts (alternative investments) if you transition to the RIA model.”

“Ok, maybe that’s no longer the case….but you won’t have access to as many investment options as we have in the large broker/dealer world.”

“Well….maybe that’s no longer true either, but our large scale gets us better availability/pricing than the RIA space.”

“Damn it…..that’s no longer true either. You RIA folks now often have better options, pricing, etc. than we do!”

This progression is how using Alts in the RIA space has generally played out. While advisors at large wirehouse type firms once had the advantage when it comes to Alts, in most cases it is now the opposite.

In this episode (#129) of the Transition To RIA question & answer series, I explain how Alts are used in the RIA model and why it is often to your advantage.

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/can-i-use-alternative-investments-as-an-ria/

About Host: Brad Wales is the founder of Transition To RIA, where he helps financial advisors 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.

A benefit of transitioning your practice to the RIA model is gaining access to a wider array of investment solutions, technology offerings, and service providers.

But with some variables of your practice, you might desire to maintain a status quo.

Advisors that currently outsource their asset management to 3rd party models or managers often prefer to maintain similar solutions upon transitioning.

In this episode (#128) of the Transition To RIA question and answer series, I explain the variables and considerations involved with maintaining your existing approach to managing assets.

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/can-i-keep-using-the-same-investment-models-or-smas-that-im-using-now-if-i-transition-to-the-ria-model/

About Host: Brad Wales is the founder of Transition To RIA, where he helps financial advisors 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.