With M&As in the RIA space increasing, many firms are rapidly changing hands with little to no expert guidance on how to successfully execute a merger or acquisition. In 2017, a record number of M&A deals closed in the advisor space – 168 transactions, or a 22% growth over 2016. Aside from a fifth straight year of record highs in M&A activity, the size of the acquired firms has also increased, with average acquisitions involving wealth managers exceeding $1.01 billion in assets under management. For many advisors, it only takes a handful of missteps during a merger or acquisition to jeopardize their business, but with so much unknown, advisors need a guidebook for success. A significant and often overlooked component to a successful RIA merger or acquisition is the thoughtful integration of technology. This comprehensive guide walks you through the steps of strategy, assessment, implementation, adoption and growth, all while considering how to best inspire and galvanize a firm’s most valuable asset – its people. Combining the real-life experiences of a life-long financial advisor with the expertise of a 15-year operations director and founder of a large RIA ops network, this book takes real M&A experiences of the financial services industry and offers best practices, tools and resources to help advisors make smart decisions about technology integration that elevates the firm’s goals and solidifies its future success.

Financial planning is a young industry. The International Association of Financial Planning—one of the predecessors to the Financial Planning Association—was formed less than forty years ago. But as the profession's first tier of advisers reaches maturity, the decisions that may be part of transition planning for their firms loom large. A sale? A partner buyout? A merger? No matter what the choice, its viability hinges on one critical issue—the value of the firm. Unfortunately, many advisers--whether veteran or novice—simply don't know the worth of their practice or how to influence it. That's why How to Value, Buy, or Sell a Financial-Advisory Practice is such an important book. It takes advisers carefully through the logic and the legwork of coming to a true assessment of one of their most important personal assets—their business. Renowned for their years of experience helping advisers tackle the daunting challenges related to the valuation, sale, and purchase of advisory firms, Mark C. Tibergien and Owen Dahl offer guidance that's essential and solutions that work.

Oversold and Underserved explores the characteristics of the mass affluent market, highlighting a population who need and want the services financial planners can provide, and who can also be profitable for planners. Then, it offers ideas about how best to serve them, so that they can be the cornerstone of a targeted and thriving practice. From how to most effectively set up your office and staff to how to tap the wisdom your clients can offer, the author offers a formula that can determine whether your clients¿ needs are being met, a practical philosophy about nuts-and-bolts financial planning, and an innovative and energetic approach to marketing that you¿re unlikely to find in other titles.

Finally, together in one place, a comprehensive step-by-step process for launching your career as a financial planner. Here is everything you need to know - from getting the right credentials to getting the right clients. Over the next few decades, billions of dollars will be changing hands as millions of Baby Boomers retire. Learn how you can play an important role in ensuring the financial health of future generations! The 8th edition of So You Want to Be a Financial Planner is chock full of actionable tips to jump-start your career, including dozens of valuable new resources from proven business models and state of the art technology. Over 100 current links point the way to blogs and websites of giants in the industry, putting you on the cutting edge of today's thriving financial planning profession. Follow updated case histories from more than two dozen successful financial planners. You'll see yourself in one of their stories and know the steps to take to start your journey, while circumventing the mistakes they made. Learn which organizations will enhance your career, and which to avoid. Discover how to navigate the regulatory jungle with usable 'how to' guidance, including specific sources to get you educated, registered and up and running a profitable business as soon as possible.

If you want to take control of your financial future and unlock thedoors to financial success, you must have a plan that will allowyou to find good investments, reduce taxes, beat inflation, andproperly manage money. Whether you're new to financial planning or a seasoned veteran,this updated edition of Ernst & Young's Personal FinancialPlanning Guide provides valuable information and techniques you canuse to create and implement a consistent personalized financialplan. It also takes into consideration the new tax rules thataffect home ownership, saving for college, estate planning, andmany other aspects of your financial life. Filled with in-depth insight and financial planning advice, thisunique guide can help you: * Set goals * Build wealth * Manage your finances * Protect your assets * Plan your estate and investments It will also show you how to maintain a financial plan inconjunction with life events such as: * Getting married * Raising a family * Starting your own business * Aging parents * Planning for retirement Financial planning is a never-ending process, and with Ernst &Young's Personal Financial Planning Guide, you'll learn how totailor a plan to help you improve all aspects of your financiallife.

Do you want to become a million-dollar financial advisor, boost client satisfaction, and dramatically expand your business? This book provides all the answers and strategies you need to do just that. Complete with proven techniques, expert insights, and practical tips to maximize your profitability, The Financial Advisor’s Success Manual will show you how to break the cycle of moderate growth by teaching you how to: Develop a differentiation strategy Define and implement your six core client-facing processes Balance the cost of services with the value delivered Enhance client loyalty Perfect your personal marketing and sales approach You didn’t start your financial services firm with a goal of modest gains. So don’t settle for that! By implementing the methodologies and strategies in this manual, you can grow your business beyond your wildest expectations--all while serving your clients better.