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Podcast

Independence for Financial Advisors

The 10 Most Valuable Insights from Breakaway Advisors

Posted by Mindy Diamond

A collection of the top words of wisdom from those who shared their journeys to independence during year 2 of this podcast series

As we kickoff the new season of this series – with over 2 years and 55 episodes in the bank – we recognize that the extraordinary wisdom shared by our guests in the last year alone warranted some additional exposure. Plus, most any advisor considering a move to independence is hungry to hear firsthand the experiences of those who went before them.

It’s these insights that reflect what we’re seeing in the industry at large. That is, the impact of the convergence of 3 distinct phenomena in the industry: changing advisor sentiment, the reshaping of client expectations, and powerful retention efforts at brokerages to further tie advisors to their firms.

It’s a “perfect storm” of sorts that’s driving change throughout the industry and influencing movement at levels we’ve not seen in over a decade.

So we curated conversations from nearly 20 hours of interviews to deliver the top 10 – a special all-in-one-place, “best of the breakaways” episode – featuring the most compelling and candid discussions with those who have made the leap. And given the quality of conversations we’ve had with our many guests over the year, culling the information in this episode to just 10 sound bites was no easy task!

In each, you will hear the motivations – the pushes and pulls – behind the choice to leave the wirehouse world. And even more importantly, the risks they took and the rewards they found waiting on the other side. Yet what’s most striking is how each describes the impact of this confluence of change.

It’s a compilation that offers answers to some of the top questions advisors ask us—and much more…

  • What drove this young top-rated advisor and his team to leave Merrill and how they addressed a succession plan for an advisor nearing retirement—Michael Henley, Founder and CEO, Brandywine Oak Private Wealth
  • How the desire to serve clients with greater freedom, flexibility and control proved to be more important than the deferred compensation they’d leave behind—Margaret Dechant, CEO and Founding Partner, 6 Meridian
  • How a change in culture at Morgan Stanley served as a powerful driver—Steve Schwarzbach, Founder and Managing Partner, Icon Wealth Partners
  • Why serving a niche client base – particularly offshore clients – could be better managed in the independent space—Lisa van Walleghem, CEO and Founder, MAXIMAI Investment Partners
  • How the uncompromising need to do what’s best for clients, build long-term value and satisfy a strong entrepreneurial spirit served as a powerful motivator—Paul Pagnato, CEO Founder, PagnatoKarp
  • How a strong entrepreneurial bent and the belief that there was “a better way” to serve clients drove these two UBS breakaways to build an independent business—Bryn Talkington, Managing Partner, and Doug John, Founder and Managing Partner, Requisite Capital Management
  • How spinning off from a broker dealer offered greater opportunity and translated into 3x growth—Rob Nelson, CEO and Founding Partner, NorthRock Partners

We also looked closely at what has become a growing trend of those who broke from the leadership ranks of the brokerage firms—and the motivations that drove their decisions:

  • Chris Dupuy, who, after nearly 3 decades with Merrill Lynch, was one of the first senior leaders to join the independent movement by choice, and now holds a key role with Rockefeller Capital Management.
  • Jim Gold who left his role at Morgan Stanley to create Steward Partners, the quasi-independent model in partnership with Raymond James.
  • And Rob Bartenstein, who left Morgan Stanley to build the independent model Kestra Private Wealth Services.

Plus, industry thought leader Josh Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management shares what every advisor should ask himself before he considers going independent—bonus content from what was the top episode of 2019.

These stories are inspirational and chock full of wisdom—painting a picture of a landscape that has been reshaped right before our very eyes. This is one episode you don’t want to miss.

Note: It is incorrectly stated in the episode that Rob Bartenstein hailed from UBS when he was actually with Morgan Stanley.

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Podcast Episodes Mentioned

Ep. 33: A Diehard Merrill Advisor’s Journey to Independence—with Michael Henley of Brandywine Oak Private Wealth and Louis Diamond of Diamond Consultants

Ep. 42: How this $2.5 Billion Team Saw Past the Handcuffs of Deferred Compensation—with Margaret Dechant, CEO and Founding Partner of 6 Meridian

Ep. 43: Freedom from the Big Brand: Unencumbered Growth for an $800mm Team—with Steve Schwarzbach, Founder and Managing Partner of Icon Wealth Partners

Ep. 35: Independence for Advisors with an Offshore Client Base—with Merrill Lynch Breakaway Lisa van Walleghem, CEO and Founder of MAXIMAI Investment Partners

Ep. 54: How “Transparency” Propelled Growth from $1B to $4B in 8 Years—with Paul Pagnato of PagnatoKarp

Ep. 53: How This UBS Breakaway Team Increased Their Client Base By 50%—with Bryn Talkington and Doug John of Requisite Capital Management

Ep. 49: 3X Growth: How a Pivot from IBD to RIA Turned into a Nearly $4 Billion Slam-Dunk—with Rob Nelson, CEO and founding partner of NorthRock Partners

Ep. 37: Rockefeller Capital Management Demystified—with Chris Dupuy, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer

Ep. 36: A Best-of-All-Worlds Model: Full-Service Independence with Equity Upside—with Jim Gold, CEO and Founding Partner of Steward Partners

Ep. 38: A Model of Supported Independence That Fills the “Fear Gap”— with Rob Bartenstein, CEO of Kestra Private Wealth Services

Ep. 46: Michael Kitces on How to Differentiate and Grow in a Competitive Environment

Ep. 51: 5 Things Josh Brown’s Firm Does Differently—And How it Resulted in Over 100X Growth in 6 Years


This podcast is also available on…

Mindy Diamond on iTunes           Listen on Google Play Music           Diamond Consultants Podcast on YoutUbe

 

Browse other episodes in this podcast series…

 

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About Mindy Diamond

CEO – By counseling advisors on how to ask the right questions and “dig deep”, she helps them look at all of the opportunities available to find the one that allows them to reach their full potential. That is, to best serve their clients and live a life that is in sync with their own beliefs and values. Learn more...

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    WHAT OUR LISTENERS ARE SAYING…

    • Your podcast helped me a ton during my due diligence. There is no replacement for hearing from others who were successful leaving the wires. You are doing great things for the industry.

      Rory O’Hara
      Founder, Senior Managing Partner – Ausperity Private Wealth
    • A fantastic bundle of wisdom from one of the very best Curators of all things Wealth Management.

      Jim Dickson
      Founder - Sanctuary Wealth
    • I love the fact that you are talking a diverse group of people in our industry and educating us all. We are all doing our own thing, so it’s helpful listening to other interviews and hearing about different approaches to the business.

      Brock Moseley
      Founder, Miracle Mile Advisors
    • I didn’t realize what I could do until I heard what other advisors were doing. Then week after week, it was like the gaps were filled in. Without it, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to go independent. Even after transitioning, I still can’t wait for Thursday mornings to hear the latest interview.

      Jerry Davidse
      CEO, Presilium Private Wealth
    • Best new resource I have come across in a long while.

      Daniel Gude
      Senior VP at LPL Financial
    • I would say one of the best things I ever did was listen to your podcast. I listened to it a thousand times. There are so many aspects to explore. You’re driving blind until you actually engage a professional.

      Michael Henley
      Founder & CEO, Brandywine Oak Private Wealth
    • Fantastic Podcast and a must-listen for anyone considering Independence!

      Robert Walter
      President, Sanctuary Wealth
    • This is outstanding. Every team considering independence should listen.

      Chris Cooke
      Managing Partner, Cooke Financial Group
    • Every advisor at a brokerage firm should listen to this podcast. I’m convinced that most advisors don’t realize their real value. Do your research. You deserve your true value and going out on your terms. It’s your life’s work. Even if you don’t transition to independence, know your value and options in order to make an educated decision.

      Robert Harris
      Senior Wealth Advisor, Avidian Wealth Solutions

     

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