Small Business

Reducing compliance risk is a top priority for any Registered Investment Adviser (RIA). As the regulatory landscape becomes more stringent, it’s critical to establish robust operational movements that not only meet these requirements but also provide a structured framework to navigate the complexities of the industry. In today’s entry, I’ll look at some key operational […]

Improving your Registered Investment Adviser’s (RIA’s) profitability requires a strategic approach that extends well beyond investment strategies. In fact, one often overlooked avenue lies in the realm of governing documents. Although they might not be sexy, these seemingly mundane documents hold the potential to transform your RIA’s profitability, shape its culture, and even influence your

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to exit planning is making sure your business won’t fall apart once you’re no longer leading it. Having a powerful, scalable organizational chart in place is one of the many ways that you can help prepare your team for an exit. Yet, one type of org chart

As you work toward the eight-figure exit, you’ll need to track and monitor your progress along the way. Without a system to track your RIA’s progress, you might as well be playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Unless you’re actively monitoring your firm’s performance toward your objectives, you’re really only hoping you reach your

Building a successful Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) requires careful planning and a dedicated team. Having grown multiple businesses that I sold for profit, I understand how important it is to have the right people on board. In my previous entry, I began looking at how to grow your team through the eight-figure exit. I’d like

In my last blog entry, I went over the importance of effective change management. Specifically, I discussed managing team expectations during a time of transition. But I feel that we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of that subject. As you enter into a transitionary period, it can be very easy to lose momentum. In

Change is inevitable in life and in business. Proper change management can be the difference between a seamless (mostly) and prosperous transition and an utter disaster. As an RIA owner working toward the eight-figure exit, successfully managing team expectations through a transition can help you maintain the momentum you’ve worked so hard to build. But

Have you ever considered firing yourself? It might sound funny, but this may be one of the best things you can do for your business. The sooner you begin the decentralization process, the sooner you can begin working toward your eight-figure exit. But how do you go about firing yourself? What happens to your RIA

Fostering collaboration and teamwork within senior management teams is essential for success in any business. This is especially true in the RIA space where withholding information between departments could be a costly mistake. The silo mentality can hinder communication, slow innovation, and lead to a fragmented company culture. In this entry, I will look at

We all want to make the eight-figure exit at some point in our careers. But have you considered the role your firm’s culture plays in this journey? You see, company culture has the power to make or break any business. There’s this misunderstanding—especially in the financial world—that we can only achieve greater profitability by cutting