TRANSITION TALK

Top 6 Ways to Grow Your Business

Posted by FP Transitions on Apr 11, 2022 2:30:00 PM

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Business growth is a never-ending, and ever-changing objective of all business owners; financial planners included. While the lingering social effects of the pandemic and the challenges of upscaling during the Great Resignation/ Reshuffle can make the task-at-hand seem insurmountable, there are still tangible ways that you can steer the course of your enterprise. Here are a few tips to help grow your financial planning business.

1. Invest in Human Capital
Most advisors have built their business from nothing into their single most valuable asset. Finding talent can be a challenge these days, especially with unemployment settling into lows not seen in over 50 years. Data from FP Transition's Valuation Database has indicated that businesses with multiple professionals accumulate assets at a higher rate than sole practitioners. As your business matures, it is imperative to invest in the next generation of talent, to keep the engine running while you begin to enjoy the reward for what you’ve built.

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Topics: Acquisition, Multi-Generational Ownership, Business Growth, Tip of the Week, Revenue Strength, Enterprise Strength, Business Value, Buying & Selling, Next Generation, Talent Recruitment, Building Your Team, Client Trust, Business Operations, Trends

Succession Planning Course Corrections

Posted by FP Transitions on Mar 29, 2022 12:30:00 PM

Course-Correction

Succession planning is a critical, foundational element in building a sustainable business. Incorporating new talent into your ownership structure is a process that takes continuous planning, evolution, and monitoring. When done correctly, succession planning ensures incredible employee culture, firm growth, and enduring business value. When the brunt of the planning is complete and documented with the help of partners like FP Transitions, firms have to stay focused as they begin executing their plan. Owners and next generation leaders must engage in transparent communication to navigate the inevitable bumps that can occur throughout the planning and execution of a succession strategy. The reality is, we’re all human. Life presents curves, and personal and professional goals can change. These anticipated bumps can necessitate larger course corrections in order to keep your plan on track.

Typically there are three areas where succession plans may need course corrections: if founder/owner plans change, if successor plans change, and if Plan B needs to be activated.

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Topics: Succession Planning, Selling Your Practice, Sustainability

An Unsolicited Offer to Buy – Is It Time to Sell?

Posted by Kem Taylor on Mar 22, 2022 7:45:00 AM

Unsolicited offer to Buy – Is It Time to Sell?Blog Image-01

The market for wealth management firms has dramatically changed. 20 years ago, people didn’t see resale value in these businesses. When an advisor retired, they hoped they’d find someone who would agree to take over their book. As the industry matured, sales slowly started taking place. It wasn’t easy – there were no standards for valuation or deal terms, no strategies for client retention, few financing options, and concerns about liability.

These days, those issues have mostly been resolved, providing for a real marketplace and more competitive deal terms for businesses. It’s a seller’s market, and in our open marketplace sellers often field 75 or more inquiries for a listing. Practices are being purchased by synergistic partner firms that are aligned from principles, staff and client standpoint. There are many more options for an advisor than existed 20 years ago.

EXPLORING YOUR OPTIONS

Every firm I have talked with in the last year – both large and small -- has received inquiries and offers If your business plans do not include selling, you could file the offer away for the future in a file that may well include other such letters. On the other hand, maybe the offer sparks your interest to learn more about what options you have in the current marketplace. Selling what you have built can be a good strategy when the time and circumstances are right.

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Topics: Selling Your Practice

Enhancing Your Successor Traits as a Woman in Wealth

Posted by FP Transitions on Mar 8, 2022 3:38:39 PM

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Enhancing Your Successor Traits as a Woman in Wealth 

Written by Jess Flynn, Communications Director at FP Transitions

Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data details that women comprise 47% of the workforce, but just 29% of senior management positions. While more women are entering the financial planning profession, they are joining in marketing, administrative, or other staff roles within financial planning firms and related organizations. There is still a large gender inequity between females in leadership at these firms, and it becomes especially apparent as we look at the number of female owners in the financial advisory space.  

As advisory firms continue to build profitable, transferrable and enduring businesses, one critical gap in this process has been around attracting and retaining diverse talent. While many firms have openly committed to embracing diversity, equity and inclusion within their firm, the effects of this are yet to be seen in the broader financial services community.

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Topics: Succession Planning, Culture, Next Generation, Sustainability, Women in Wealth

LLC vs. Corporation. Which entity structure fits your goals?

Posted by FP Transitions on Feb 23, 2022 1:32:32 PM

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LLC vs. Corporation. Which entity structure fits your goals?

Building a solid foundation for your business begins with selecting a legal entity and tax structure that will be most beneficial for your circumstances. When choosing the right entity for your business, it is important to identify both your short- and long-term personal and professional goals and consider the pros and cons of each option. Ultimately, a properly structured entity is foundational for growth and prosperity because cash flow and value are directly linked through a practice’s organizational and compensation structure. 

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Topics: Succession Planning, Organizational Structure, Business Growth, Tip of the Week, State of the Market, Exit Planning, Next Generation, Sustainability, Wealth Management, Valuation & Appraisal, Business Operations

Continuity Partner Matching, a Benefit of EMS™ Professional

Posted by FP Transitions on Feb 17, 2022 8:00:00 AM

Continuity Partner Matching, a Benefit of EMS Professional

Recently, a client told us that since she had implemented a formal continuity plan, her clients have felt more comfortable adding assets to their portfolios now that their tenure with her business is protected. This stability of continuity is an important cornerstone for continued business growth and client retention.

Currently, FINRA requires that member firms have a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) that is written and can be made available upon request. But it isn't just compliance; having a clear and written continuity plan reassures your clients' concerns about the security of their investments at your practice. 

FP Transitions has been helping financial advisors document, implement, and annually update their formal continuity plans for well over a decade. Now through our EMS™ Professional program, we are able to leverage our extensive network of advisors to help connect you to the right continuity partner for your unique business.

Single owner practices without written, actionable continuity plans and identified continuity partners, are at a disadvantage to larger businesses and firms with built-in succession plans.

As the owner and person that has built a trusting relationship with your clients, you know that it is crucial to protect their wealth as well as your business as a whole. The most challenging aspect of developing a continuity plan, however, is finding the right partner. Of course you want to be discerning when it comes to the person who is going to care for the business you’ve built when you no longer can. Fit is always the foremost consideration.

Introducing Continuity Partner Matching!

Searching for the right continuity partner within your immediate community and professional networks can force you into a partnership that isn’t the best match for your clients, or worse, can result in no partnership at all! Now FP Transitions is offering the ability to leverage the most extensive network of advisors in the industry, to help connect you to the right continuity partner for your unique situation.

The Continuity Partner Matching service, available to EMS™ Professional members, allows you to tap into our team of professional coaches and our network of over 30,000 advisors. We’ll guide you through the selection of interested continuity partner candidates based on specific time-tested criteria as well as your specific requirements.

Once you have identified the right person, business or firm, we’ll help you get the proper documentation and agreements in place to ensure the continuity of service for your clients in the event of death or disability, and help you to protect the value of the business you’ve built.

Please let us know if we can assist you in this vital step of growth in your business, and reassurance to your clients. If you are already an EMS™ Member, reach out to your representative to see how we can help. And if you are not an EMS™ Member, you can find out more about the program HERE.

 

 

 

 

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Topics: Continuity Planning, FP Transitions, Continuity Partner Matching, Enterprise

Addressing Sustainability – One step at a time.

Posted by FP Transitions on Feb 8, 2022 8:55:24 AM

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Topics: Continuity Planning, Webcasts, Multi-Generational Ownership, Organizational Structure, Business Growth, Tip of the Week, Business Value, Client Success, Sustainability, Client Relationships, Business Operations

The Sell and Stay® Strategy

Posted by FP Transitions on Jan 3, 2022 10:39:00 AM

The Sell and Stay™ Strategy

Everyone has a unique vision of their future; we’re all trying to forge a path with our careers to that end goal where we can take a big breath and simply enjoy the life we’ve earned. While we might have an idea of the specific journey we will take, it’s important to remain open to alternate routes and unexpected shortcuts along the way. The hardest step on this journey for most is that which takes them out of the professional world they’ve been a part of for many years.

Unique goals and unique journeys require a creative strategy. For financial advisors, the Sell and Stay® path offers flexibility and freedom for an exit from the industry. There are advisors in the industry who have built a team of advisors with next generation owners and have built an internal transition into the sustainability of their business. The majority of our industry, however, is still made up of single-owner practices. Luckily, Sell and Stay® offers them the option of a similar exit path.

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Topics: Succession Planning, Selling Your Practice, Exit Planning, Sell and Stay™

11 Places to Find Top Talent

Posted by Kem Taylor on Nov 29, 2021 7:57:00 AM

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Finding and recruiting talented professionals can be time consuming and intimidating. In this industry, online job boards like Indeed and Monster are not all that relevant. There are many other - better - places to locate up-and-coming talent. Whether you’re looking to recruit experienced advisory professionals, or fresh, new graduates, the following are 11 places for sourcing the best talent.

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Topics: Multi-Generational Ownership, Organizational Structure, Culture, Tip of the Week, Next Generation, Talent Recruitment, Sustainability, Building Your Team

KPIs. What are Key Performance Indicators, and how do you Leverage them?

Posted by FP Transitions on Nov 29, 2021 7:47:00 AM

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KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators

During a recent webinar hosted by FP Transitions, several attendees had questions about KPIs. Marcus Hagood Director of  Equity Management Solutions®at FP Transitions, and Mike McKennon, EMS™ Consultant at FPT, had previously hosted a webinar on KPIs, and many of those key points are featured in the following post.

Knowing the KPIs

The industry is flush with discussions of KPIs. Surely, you’ve heard the term before, or perhaps seen these indexes described as performance metrics, key variables or key success indicators. At FP Transitions, we use the term Key Performance Indicator; but ultimately, the data these terms convey is the same. KPIs are a unit of measurement leveraged to help you determine where your business is at, where you want to go, and will ultimately provide you with a road map of how you should proceed on your journey.

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Topics: Webcasts, Business Growth, Tip of the Week, Deal Structure, State of the Market, Sustainability, Benchmarking, Valuation & Appraisal, Business Operations

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