Financial Advisor Loans

SkyView serves as a trusted advisor to growth-oriented RIAs and independent advisors seeking financing.

$ 1+ billion

Funded

Zero loan loss

25+

network bank partners

Wealth Management Loans

Financing solutions exclusively for financial advisors.

SkyView focuses on providing guidance and financing solutions exclusively for independent and registered investment advisors (RIAs) looking to grow their practices.

Through our SkyLender Marketplace®, we partner with over 25 regional and community banks nationwide that actively lend to advisory firms. Our Credit Team understands the credit policies of all of our bank partners and will facilitate a partnership with the bank best suited to finance your transaction, delivering competitive rates, terms, and conditions.

Your growth initiatives require customized financing solutions. We’re here to help.

Speak with a Financing Expert

Transactions We Finance

Acquisitions & mergers
Internal successions & partner buy-ins
Debt restructures
Working capital for growth
Dividend recapitalization
Wirehouse breakaways

Loan Structure

SkyView’s standard conventional loan structure*

SkyView secures conventional bank financing for financial advisor loans rather than SBA loans required for industries and applicants with less financial veracity. Average loan terms include the following:

* This does not constitute a commitment to lend. The fee, rate, terms, and conditions are for informational purposes only and will require formal credit underwriting and approval.

Loan Types

Conventional vs. SBA loans for RIAs.

Advisor loans can be financed through a conventional or SBA loan structure. A significant majority of SkyView borrowers retain conventional financing (non-SBA); however, our Team will help you determine the best loan structure for your transaction.

	Conventional RIA Loans (Non-SBA)	SBA RIA Loans
Rate	Fixed for the entire loan term Variable rates available	Predominantly variable rates
Collateral	No liens on home or personal property required	Liens on home or personal property required
Documentation	Approximately 27–35 documents required to close	Over 150 documents required to close
Time to close	30 – 60 days	60+ days
M&A Deal Flexibility	Flexible use of proceeds: Allows for partial and tranche sales	Restrictive transaction structures: Seller must sell 100% of practice
Seller Role	Seller can remain with the firm post-transaction in any capacity	Sellers must fully depart within 12 months
Pre-Payment Penalties	Yes	None
Origination Fee	2%	None
SBA Guarantee Fee	None	3%
Application Fee	None	None

Conventional RIA Loans (Non-SBA)
Rate	Fixed for the entire loan term Variable rates available
Collateral	No liens on home or personal property required
Documentation	Approximately 27–35 documents required to close
Time to close	30 – 60 days
M&A Deal Flexibility	Flexible use of proceeds: Allows for partial and tranche sales
Seller Role	Seller can remain with the firm post-transaction in any capacity
Pre-Payment Penalties	Yes
Origination Fee	2%
SBA Guarantee Fee	None
Application Fee	None

SBA RIA Loans
Rate	Predominantly variable rates
Collateral	Liens on home or personal property required
Documentation	Over 150 documents required to close
Time to close	60+ days
M&A Deal Flexibility	Restrictive transaction structures: Seller must sell 100% of practice
Seller Role	Sellers must fully depart within 12 months
Pre-Payment Penalties	None
Origination Fee	None
SBA Guarantee Fee	3%
Application Fee	None

Estimate how much you could qualify for with conventional financing

Calculate My Borrowing Capacity

A Borrower-First Approach

Why financial advisors choose SkyView

SkyView is dedicated to delivering tailored financing solutions for independent and registered investment advisors, backed by extensive industry knowledge and expertise. We advise financial advisors on both M&A and financing, offering bespoke solutions from a myriad of bank partners.

ADVISOR-FOCUSED EXPERTISE

We work exclusively with financial advisors and have funded over $1.2B+ in advisor loans across 500+ transactions. Our clients receive financing advice from a Team that understands the nuances of your wealth management practice.

BORROWER ADVOCACY & SUPPORT

Your dedicated Relationship Manager advocates on your behalf, negotiating terms, managing timelines, and keeping your deal on track throughout the entire process.

IN-HOUSE UNDERWRITING & CLOSING

Our Credit Team collaborates directly with you to build a deal structure accommodative to bank financing and works directly with lenders to communicate the veracity of your financing request, resulting in a more efficient loan origination to close timeline.

MULTIPLE LENDING INSTITUTIONS

Our SkyLender Marketplace® allows lenders to compete or collaborate on advisor financing requests, ultimately pairing the best bank for each borrower’s unique financing request.

FLEXIBLE LOAN SOLUTIONS

Access to 100% bank financing, zero out-of-pocket expenses, longer repayment periods, and lower monthly payments.

Get Pre-Approved for Financing

Our Process

The SkyView financing process.

Whether you're planning an acquisition, succession, or advisor loan refinance, our loan process is designed to be clear, efficient, and easy to understand, from Pre-Approval through funding.

Pre-approval

Submit our no-obligation pre-approval questionnaire. Our Credit Team reviews your information and responds within 48 hours.

Intake call & initial document collection

Relationship Manager and Underwriter work with advisors to understand the proposed transaction. Subsequently, our Team provides a document request list that’s seamlessly uploaded to our secure VDR.

Term sheet execution

In conjunction with our Team, draft a term sheet of rate, term and conditions requested by the advisor and proceed to signing the term sheet outlining the proposed loan terms.

Bank partner selection

SkyView presents your opportunity to our network of bank partners and pairs you with the lender best aligned to fund your current loan and well-aligned with your future M&A needs.

Closing document collection

Our Team provides a clearly defined list of documents required to close. Advisors upload to our secure VDR and complete final underwriting steps.

Closing & funding

Receive the capital you need to grow your practice along with a bank partner to propel your practice to the next level in the future.

Post-Closing Support: Our Team remains available after closing, ensuring you have a long-term partner for your ongoing success and growth initiatives. We are readily available to meet our borrowers’ unique needs at any time.

Acquisition Financing FAQs

How do I finance the acquisition of a financial advisory practice?

Most advisory practice acquisitions are financed through conventional bank loans or SBA loans. Conventional financing is the more common path for well-qualified buyers, offering up to 100% financing, fixed interest rates, no home equity lien, and a faster close. SkyView helps advisors structure their financing request and connect with bank lenders experienced in advisor practice acquisitions. Subject to lender approval.

Can I buy a financial advisory practice with no money down?

In many cases, yes. Conventional bank financing for advisory practices can cover up to 100% of the negotiated purchase price for well-qualified borrowers. This means no out-of-pocket down payment is required in qualifying transactions. Terms vary based on borrower qualifications and lender approval. This does not constitute a commitment to lend.

How much can I borrow to acquire a financial advisory practice?

Lenders typically finance between 70% and 100% of the purchase price, depending on borrower qualifications and deal structure. SkyView typically funds loan amounts that range from $1 million to well into the tens of millions for larger RIA transactions.

What do banks look for when underwriting an RIA acquisition loan?

Lenders primarily evaluate recurring revenue, AUM, client retention, practice cash flow, and whether the post-acquisition entity can support debt service. Borrower creditworthiness and the deal structure also factor in.

SBA vs. Conventional FAQs

Should I use an SBA loan or a conventional loan to buy a financial advisory practice?

For most advisor acquisitions, conventional financing offers more flexibility and fewer restrictions. Conventional loans close faster (30–60 days vs. 60+ for SBA), require far less documentation, do not require a lien on your home, and allow partial sales and the seller to stay with the firm post-close. SBA loans require the seller to exit within 12 months and limit deal flexibility. Most SkyView borrowers use conventional financing. Our team can help you evaluate which structure fits your transaction.

Do SBA loans require collateral for a financial advisor practice loan?

Yes. SBA loans typically require liens on personal property, including your home. Conventional loans facilitated through SkyView's bank network generally do not require personal property collateral for well-qualified borrowers.

Succession and Partner Buy-In FAQs

How do junior advisors finance buying into a practice?

Bank financing has become a common solution for internal succession. Junior advisors can access conventional loans to purchase equity from a founding or retiring partner, removing the burden of self-funding a large purchase. SkyView facilitates these transactions through its bank partner network.

What financing options exist for internal succession at an RIA?

Options include conventional bank loans, seller financing, or a combination. Conventional bank financing through SkyView allows successors to fund a purchase without requiring the seller to carry the note, which reduces risk for both parties and accelerates equity transfer.

What is partner buy-in financing for financial advisors?

Partner buy-in financing allows an advisor to borrow capital to purchase an ownership stake in a firm, either as a new partner or to increase an existing equity position. SkyView facilitates these transactions through conventional bank financing.

SkyView FAQs

What is SkyView Partners?

SkyView Partners is a correspondent lender that works exclusively with independent financial advisors and registered investment advisors (RIAs). SkyView helps advisors access conventional bank financing for acquisitions, internal successions, partner buy-ins, debt refinancing, wirehouse breakaways, and other growth initiatives.

Is SkyView Partners a lender or a broker?

SkyView is neither a bank nor a direct lender. SkyView acts as a borrower advocate, helping advisors by structuring, underwriting, and presenting their financing request, then connecting them with the bank lender in its SkyLender Marketplace® best suited to fund the transaction.

What is the SkyLender Marketplace?

The SkyLender Marketplace® is SkyView's proprietary network of 25+ regional and community banks that actively lend to financial advisory firms. It allows lenders to compete or collaborate on financing requests, giving borrowers access to competitive rates and terms.

How is SkyView Partners different from going directly to a bank?

SkyView understands the credit policies of all its bank partners and matches each transaction to the lender best suited to fund it. Advisors benefit from SkyView's in-house underwriting support, deal structuring expertise, and borrower advocacy throughout the process rather than approaching multiple banks individually without industry-specific guidance.

Ready to propel your practice to the next level?

SkyView can help you secure financing that is aligned with your long-term goals. Get started today.

Get Pre-Approved for Financing