From NASA scientist to Forbes Top Wealth Advisor: Paul Pagnato, CEO Founder of PagnatoKarp, shares his extraordinary breakaway story from financial advisor at Merrill Lynch to launching an independent practice at HighTower Advisors before forming the now $4B fee-only RIA firm.
By Louis Diamond – It’s not surprising that the RIA space often garners the lion’s share of attention both in the media and with advisors considering their next chapter. Who can dismiss the excitement around the ongoing growth fueled by what seems to be a constant flow of big teams breaking away from the brokerage world to build their own independent firms as either hybrid or fee-only RIAs?
In this special podcast episode, Vince Fertitta, breakaway Merrill executive who is now President of Sanctuary Wealth, joins the show to discuss the Merrill Lynch enhanced CTP and what it means for all Merrill advisors going forward.
By Mindy Diamond – Certainly, none of us are getting any younger—and no one wants to make their life more challenging as they edge closer to what could be the cusp of their career.
Prospective breakaways often ask, “How can an independent firm possibly compete on a technology level with the wirehouses?” Eric Poirier, CEO of Addepar, joins the show to answer that question and explores the role of fintech in independence.
By Allison Brunwasser – In a previous article, With Demand Comes Supply, Deborah Aronson discussed how service and platform providers have evolved to serve the needs of a growing population of prospective breakaways in the $50 to $150mm range—and advisors in this constituency who are seeking independence now have plenty of options to choose from. Yet with optionality often comes “choice overload”—that is, with all the available options, many advisors get stuck when attempting to discern one provider from another.
By Deborah Aronson – A new breed of service providers has emerged, designed to cater to the needs of a growing population of financial advisors who have their sights set on independence. For a population of advisors that previously had limited options in the independent landscape, a new world awaits.
By Wendy Leung – Many advisors dream of going independent for the freedom and flexibility to control their business, client service model and bottom line. What sometimes isn’t a part of this “dream” is the prospect of taking on the additional responsibilities that business ownership entails, while emptying your bank account to fund startup costs. The good news is that you don’t have to abandon your dream of independence. An evolved landscape has answered the call—with a vast ecosystem of capital, support and resources available to help you succeed in living out your dream of independence.
By Allison Brunwasser – An advisor’s choice to go independent is typically driven by a strong desire for greater freedom, flexibility and ownership. Yet with that desire comes what is for many the biggest hurdle in making the leap: Choosing between building your own firm with complete control and 100% equity, or joining an established firm with turnkey operations, infrastructure and an opportunity to gain an equity stake in a more mature business.
By Mindy Diamond – While you don’t need to have Jeff Bezos’ or Mark Zuckerberg’s level of entrepreneurial spirit, there are some key characteristics that most successful independent firm owners possess. The reality is that many independent firm owners will tell you that they weren’t compelled to leave their brokerage firm by some burning desire to be entrepreneurs.
