The Mysteries of UBS: Deciphering What Drives its Wins and Losses
By Barbra Herman – UBS advisors describe a culture defined by wins and losses—and they are asking tough questions about what the future holds.
How Rising Above the Minutiae Can Offer a New View on Opportunities
By Barbra Herman, InvestmentNews – When considering a move, it’s critical to strike the right balance between satisfying specific, objective criteria for immediate needs while taking a wider perspective of longer-term goals and shared values.
Why are so Many Merrill Advisors Moving: Bracing for the Next Chapter
By Barbara Herman, InvestmentNews – With so much movement by top advisors, even diehard Merrill folks, who have been the industry’s most loyal over the years, are asking: “Why are so many people moving and what am I missing by staying?”
In Pursuit of Autonomy: The 10 Key Areas in Which Advisors Desire More Control
By Barbara Herman, ThinkAdvisor.com – The desire for greater control and flexibility has become the single most powerful driver of advisor movement and change. This concept of “wanting greater agency over their business lives” cuts across all business models and has never been more prevalent.
Due Diligence: A Path to Self-Discovery, Not a Destination
By Barbara Herman, WealthManagement.com – In this industry, due diligence is customarily thought of as exploration in search of a destination. But what if exploration had value in its own right—separate from finding a new home and irrespective of the outcome? What if exploration was also a “thought process”—an opportunity to revisit goals and priorities, to reassess important aspects of the business and test assumptions?
How to Uncover a Firm’s Culture in a Time of Virtual Due Diligence—and Beyond
By Barbara Herman – The search for a “better culture” has emerged in recent years as one of the single greatest drivers of advisor movement. Yet the term “culture” itself can evade simple definition. Culture can encompass an organization’s system of values and priorities, and influence every decision. It’s the undercurrent that directs, either subtly or overtly, the choices made and the paths taken.
Partners at an Impasse: 4 Paths to Consider When Advisors Become Divided on their Futures
By Barbara Herman – The strength of even the most successful partnerships may be tested when advisors consider changing firms. Many get stuck, reaching an impasse that can lead to a loss of momentum in both the business as well as the exploration process. Here are 4 paths to consider.
If you could hit the restart button on your business, what would you change?
By Barbara Herman, WealthManagement.com – It’s impossible to come through what the world has endured over the past few months without being changed in some way. Yet people are incredibly resilient, demonstrating an ability to reinvent themselves and rethink both their behavior and mindset when circumstances require it.
Surviving Due Diligence: 10 Tips for Financial Advisors
By Barbara Herman – It’s quite evident that the industry landscape has expanded dramatically—and an advisor in exploration mode has more to consider than ever before. As a result, it may be a daunting task for most to face the prospect of performing due diligence. Nonetheless, there is value in periodically exploring to gain an understanding of the legitimate options that exist—whether you’re thinking of moving or not.
“I hate what’s going on at my firm, but…”
By Barbara Herman and Allison Brunwasser – We’re accustomed to having advisors speak candidly and confidentially to us, sharing the things that annoy or disappoint them most about their firms, the industry and about being an advisor. But over the past 6 to 12 months, advisors have become more vocal about areas of discontent. That is, more seem to openly admit that they’re not happy with their firm.
