When advisors start their own businesses, they often underestimate the importance of building an exceptional marketing strategy. Whether it be a wirehouse advisor going independent, an IAR transitioning to an RIA, or som[...]

Cognitive psychologists have identified ways that the Reflexive Brain reacts intuitively. While these intuitive behaviors are good for many parts of our lives, they can cause us to react illogically when our finances are[...]

Do you plan on leaving the fold of your broker/dealer or from under the wings of someone else’s investment advisory firm to your own RIA? From a compliance perspective, there can be dire consequences if you take one s[...]

Here’s the law: Fictitious Name Law — Doing Business As (DBA) Fictitious Business Name Statement (FBN). State law requires that every person, partnership, corporation, or other association, who transacts business und[...]

This is a great article that originally was published in a book Lyn Fisher and I wrote for John Peluso, President, Wachovia’s FiNET division (now WellsFargo Advisors Financial Network). The book is called “Independen[...]

This is a terrific educational article that will help you in advising your small business clients. You can also share the article with them. Much of the information provided will apply to your business as well. Poor mana[...]

A client came to our consulting firm with a desire to evaluate broker-dealers. As is typical with many advisor transitions, the impetus for change was created when the advisors’ broker-dealer was making a significant s[...]

A financial advisor’s job is to advise, to impart information, suggest alternatives, and provide solutions. To earn a living as a financial advisor, one must first acquire the ability to advise. [...]

Vital not only to their future, but to that of their company, an exit plan is a business owner’s best defense against the unexpected. Yet, some otherwise savvy entrepreneurs will delay the process due to fear of confli[...]

Let’s face it, as an independent financial advisor or RIA, your clients could easily replace you without changing their lifestyle one iota. From an asset allocation and portfolio management standpoint, they believe the[...]