You've spent decades
building it.Let's make sure
the move protects it.

Usually sooner than advisors think — but not for the reasons recruiters give you. The best time is when your firm has stopped growing with you: payout that no longer scales, technology that's quietly costing you clients, or a culture shift you never signed up for. It's rarely about chasing a check. If you spend more energy working around your firm than serving your clients, that's your signal — and the move itself is far easier than the years spent waiting.

More than you fear — and usually far more than advisors expect. Retention comes down to the relationship you've built and how the move is handled, not the logo on your card. Done right, most advisors keep the large majority of their book. Done sloppily, you leak clients you never needed to. The planning is what protects the number.

More than the rule-of-thumb multiples floating around — and it depends on more than revenue. Recurring vs. transactional, client age, growth rate, and how transferable the book is all move the number. External buyers consistently pay more than internal succession deals, and most advisors are surprised once it's actually taken to market. Before you accept anyone's first offer, it's worth knowing what you're really sitting on.

Depends which "independent" you mean — there are about six versions, and only one asks you to build everything yourself. Joining an established RIA or a supported-independence platform gives you the economics and ownership without the operational headache. The "more work" fear usually comes from picturing the hardest path. The right model often means more freedom and less administrative load, not more.

The move itself is fast — the decision is what takes time. Once you commit, a well-run firm-to-firm transition is typically measured in weeks, not months. The years advisors spend "thinking about it" are the real cost. Succession and outright sales run longer (often multi-year), but a straight move is quicker and cleaner than most people expect.

No — and you have more time and leverage than they're telling you. An acquisition is often the best moment to look, because your book is already in motion and the market knows it. Before you sign a retention package to stay put, understand what that package is actually worth versus what's available in the open market. Don't let someone else's deal make your decision for you.