In the wealth management world, there’s a clear and consistent career progression:
It’s a well-trodden path that tens of thousands of financial professionals follow, and for good reason. What’s notably absent is any significant flow in the opposite direction — and that speaks volumes.
So, why does the career trajectory flow one way and not the other?
1. The culture
One of the biggest surprises advisors encounter when joining an existing RIA is their culture. Unlike many broker-dealer environments, which can be cutthroat or overly sales-driven, RIA culture tends to be inclusive, collaborative, entrepreneurial, and deeply client-focused.
- No Advisor or staff is left with the feeling of being alone on an island
- No sales quotas, no internal competition
- RIAs foster a spirit of shared best practices
- Culture is built around values like transparency, long-term planning, and fiduciary responsibility, not around pushing product
That shift alone is often enough to make advisors say, “I could never go back.”
2. True independence and ownership
When advisors break away to join an RIA, they can gain full control over how they serve clients and run their business, even within an existing RIA.
- You decide your fee model
- You receive a state-of-the-art technology stack coupled with the choice to add more
- You select the investment strategies that best serve your clients
- Most importantly you own your book of business
RIAs don’t just advise, they build equity in something they truly own (Enterprise Value).
Once you’ve had that level of independence, returning to a Wirehouse or BD, where product shelves and compliance confinements dictate your every move, feels like giving up hard-won freedom and flexibility.
3. Better resources than ever before
A decade ago, leaving a big firm often meant giving up institutional-level tools and support. That’s no longer the case.
Today, RIAs have access to:
- Best-in-class custodians
- Turnkey asset management platforms (TAMPs) that rival any big-firm offering
- Innovative and integratable tech stacks, not limited proprietary tech stacks
- Back-office support from aggregators, platforms, and outsourced providers
- Marketing, compliance, and growth support
Advisors now get more support and better flexibility than they ever had at a broker-dealer without layers of fat or limitations.
4. Fiduciary status: clients know the difference
As an RIA, you are legally obligated to act in your clients’ best interest. That simple fact resonates more than ever with today’s investors. They’re savvy. They’re asking the hard questions. And they want an advisor who isn’t tied to commissions, product pushes, or hidden incentives.
5. It’s a lifestyle choice, too
Joining an RIA isn’t just a business decision — it’s a life decision.
- Balance of life is essential in the highest quality RIA’s
- Advisors control their business
- They choose with whom and where to work
- They scale on their terms, without pressure to grow beyond what fits their vision
- They create a workplace aligned with their values
This is why we enforce a “No Jerks Policy” during hiring. Culture matters. Life’s too short to work with people who don’t share your values or elevate your mission.
Why you rarely, if ever, see advisors go back
Once advisors experience the independence, support, and alignment that the RIA model offers, the thought of returning to a traditional broker-dealer can feel like going from high-definition back to black-and-white.
- Seize the opportunity to grow your net worth not your income
- Why give up control?
- Why surrender your brand?
- Why trade ownership for a paycheck?
The industry is evolving, and the RIA model is no longer a fringe option — it’s the destination of choice for the most growth-oriented, client-first, and entrepreneurial advisors in the business.
If you’re on the fence, ask yourself:
What kind of business — and life — am I really building?
