RESOURCES
Strategic insights for firm owners, advisors, and the teams behind them
Read practical guidance on advisory firm growth, recruiting, succession, M&A, continuity planning, and the transitions that define long-term enterprise value.
The Great Transition Is Coming (And Most Advisors Aren’t Fully Prepared for It)
April 20, 2026
Over the next 3–5 years, our industry is going to experience what I believe will be one of the most significant shifts in advisor movement we’ve ever seen.
Not because of markets. Not because of regulation. But because of timing.
Thousands of advisors are now entering years 4–6 of their forgivable note agreements with broker-dealers and large institutions.
And that matters. Because that’s the window where thinking changes.
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: The New Reality for RIA Practice Owners
April 9, 2026
Most advisors built their firms on relationships, consistency, and independence.
That model worked. But the industry is evolving—and quickly.
Today, two themes are dominating conversations across wealth management:
- Creating enterprise value
- Shifting toward a family office / multi-family office model
And whether advisors realize it or not, these trends are redefining what success looks like.
RIA M&A Is Not Slowing. It’s Consolidating Power.
February 24, 2026
Fidelity just reported:
🔥 276 deals in 2025 🔥 $796B in acquired assets 🔥 102 buyers (record high) 🔥 Top 20 firms captured 55% of all assets 🔥 88% PE-backed
Translation?
More buyers are entering the arena… But the capital is concentrating at the top.
Firms like Creative Planning and Mariner Wealth Advisors aren’t just acquiring — they’re positioning for mega-scale dominance.
The era of the “lifestyle RIA” quietly riding market beta and incremental growth?
That window is narrowing.
The Future of Independent Distribution
February 18, 2026
For decades, investment distribution followed a predictable script.
Large asset managers built captive wholesaling teams. Territories were assigned. Travel calendars were filled. Shelf space battles were fought. Advisors were saturated.
It was a volume game.
That model created scale — but scale is no longer the edge.
We are now entering the era of independent distribution architecture.
And the shift is structural — not cyclical.
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Helping independent RIAs evolve from successful practices into enduring enterprises.
With more than 30 years in the financial services industry, Adam serves as a strategic connector and advisor to RIA firm owners, leadership teams, and next-gen talent. His role is to help great people and great firms find the right fit for their next stage of growth.
As the founder of A.M. Guidance & Financial Services Consulting, Adam spent decades building relationships across the advisory landscape — from emerging RIAs to multi-billion-dollar enterprises.
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