Financial Advisor Succession Planning
Get Pre-Approved(Within 48 hours) Borrowing Capacity CalculatorWith over 100,000 advisors set to retire by 2025, the need for advisor legacy/succession planning services has accelerated dramatically. The maturation of conventional RIA financing provides advisors with the freedom and flexibility to implement a wide range of retirement glidepaths. SkyView provides tenured advisors with a wide array of retirement glidepaths customized to the legacy of their practice.
Wealth Management Sale Types
Sell and Remain
Complete sale, but seller remains engaged with clients for an indefinite period of time:
- Identify pre-sale, which clients or which type of clients the seller wants to work with
- Allow seller to adopt a work schedule for lifestyle goals (for example, work a few hours a day or take more frequent/extended vacations)
- Structure seller compensation based on post-sale role (asset gathering, service existing clients, business administration, portfolio management, mentor early-career advisors).
Tranche Sale
Sell a wealth management business in planned increments and merge the two companies:
- Buyer and seller collaborate to grow assets
- Buyer purchases less than 50% of the business, and seller retains control of the business
- Seller would sell the rest when ready to exit/retire
- Seller experiences a liquidity event
- Buyer has an equity stake in the firm that aligns with both parties’ interests and goals.
Partial Sale
A partial sale is when the practice owner sells less than 100% of their financial advisory firm. Today, partial sales have surged in popularity because of the freedom and flexibility they offer buyers and sellers. Some examples of these sales structures include:
- Internal sales – selling to employees.
- External sales – bringing on an outside, smaller buyer to join the practice.
- Tranche sales – scheduled sales over time to a larger enterprise.
Complete Sale
For an advisor who plans to fully exit the business:
- Planned transition over 12-24 months
Click here to learn more about the differences between partial and complete sales.
Considerations for RIAs: Succession Planning
Advisors can begin preparing clients for succession years before the senior partner starts reducing time at the office. Clients appreciate knowing who will be responsible for their investments in an unexpected event or retirement, after a planned succession, or for the generations that succeed them. Optimally legacy/succession planning occurs for years, not months, but there are several key considerations for a fruitful transition:
- Client Considerations – transition process, service model, and investment philosophy
- Firm Considerations – fee structure, geographic footprint, technology, personnel integration, culture
- Post-transaction relationship between the buyer and seller
Buyers and sellers should both know how RIA financing leads to successful transactions, and deal structures for RIA financing should be crafted early in the process. To learn more about this process, click here.
To start your succession planning, schedule a no-cost consultation with the SkyView Investment Banking Team.
FAQ's
Are advisors able to sell their wealth management practice and stay on to continue servicing their clients for a period of time post-sale?
SkyView often provides buyers with financing on transactions in which the seller remains involved in the practice in a mutually agreed upon post-transaction role. Conversely, advisor SBA loans require that the seller depart the practice entirely within twelve months of the transaction.
Does the seller need to stay on after the sale of their practice to help with the transition process?
A seller can fully exit the business immediately following the sale. However, most sellers choose to stay on during the client transition period to facilitate a successful migration of households.
What is a “tranche RIA sale”?
A tranche sale occurs when the buyer purchases a practice in planned tranches, or portions, over a scheduled period of time. The buying and selling entities are merged into one practice after the last tranche is purchased.
When should advisors start preparing for an RIA succession?
Advisors should start preparing an RIA succession plan early. To help with the transition if/when it occurs, advisors should keep their clients informed of their advisory practice succession plans.
What characteristics should buyers look for in prospective RIA successors?
- Client considerations – transition process, service model, and investment philosophy
- Access to financing via personal assets, private equity and/or bank financing
- Firm considerations – fee structure, geographic footprint, technology, personnel integration, culture
- Post-transaction relationship between the buyer and seller