Thinking about becoming a financial advisor? Learn how today.
Thinking about becoming a financial advisor? Learn how today.

About Christen Hailey

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So far Christen Hailey has created 21 blog entries.

How AI Is Reshaping Wealth Management Operations

AI has moved from buzzword to business reality. For Advisors and RIAs, the question is no longer whether AI will matter. It’s how fast your practice can use it to remove friction, improve service, and stay focused on the work clients actually value. The smartest use cases aren’t flashy. They’re operational, repetitive, and everywhere. Those [...]

By |2026-04-22T02:47:07+06:30April 22nd, 2026|Advisor Transitions, Breakaway Advisors, RIAs, Trends|Comments Off on How AI Is Reshaping Wealth Management Operations

From Underserved to High-Value: How Financial Advisors Can Win the Business Owner Client Segment

There's a paradox lurking in most advisory practices: business owners are among the wealthiest, most complex clients. And yet only 24% sought guidance from a financial professional in the past year, according to a 2025/26 Nationwide survey of small- and mid-sized business owners.   Another 24% said Advisor guidance would simply give them peace of mind. [...]

By |2026-03-27T04:06:35+06:30March 27th, 2026|Breakaway Advisors, RIAs, Trends|Comments Off on From Underserved to High-Value: How Financial Advisors Can Win the Business Owner Client Segment

Thinking About a Move? Use Values‑Aligned Investing to Future‑Proof Your Advisory Practice

The financial advisory space has never been more competitive, or more ripe for transformation. Fee compression, AI encroachment, tightening compliance, and clients with increasingly sophisticated expectations are pushing experienced Advisors to ask a fundamental question: Is it time to make a move? If you're considering a change, here's what most recruiting conversations miss: A higher [...]

By |2026-03-20T00:39:25+06:30March 20th, 2026|Advisor Transitions, Client Education, RIAs, Trends|Comments Off on Thinking About a Move? Use Values‑Aligned Investing to Future‑Proof Your Advisory Practice

Avoiding Advisory Firm Frankenstacks: What Growing Teams Want from a Platform Partner

It’s a familiar scene inside a fast-growing RIA: assets are up, referrals are strong, and new Advisors are being cultivated. Yet every week brings another tech headache: duplicate data entry, endless logins, and half-working integrations patched together with duct tape. Despite record AUM, teams still spend too much time troubleshooting instead of serving clients. As [...]

By |2026-02-26T02:11:01+06:30February 26th, 2026|Advisor Transitions, RIAs, Trends|Comments Off on Avoiding Advisory Firm Frankenstacks: What Growing Teams Want from a Platform Partner

10 Smart Questions Financial Advisors Should Ask Before Making a Move

Volatility, tighter margins, and rising client expectations are prompting many Advisors to reassess whether their current broker-dealer or firm is still the best long-term fit.  Industry studies show growing interest in independence, RIA and hybrid models, and Advisor-friendly platforms that offer more flexibility, technology, and better economics.  Experienced Advisor Transition Consultants report that teams who [...]

By |2026-02-21T02:56:11+06:30February 21st, 2026|Uncategorized|Comments Off on 10 Smart Questions Financial Advisors Should Ask Before Making a Move

How to Create a Women-Focused Growth Strategy for Your RIA — From Hiring to Client Engagement

Women are poised to inherit the majority of an estimated $84 trillion to $124 trillion in assets transferred by 2045, driven by longer life expectancies and intergenerational transfers. By 2030, women in the U.S. are expected to control $34 trillion in investable assets, and they increasingly act as primary financial decision-makers for their households and [...]

By |2026-02-05T00:53:41+06:30February 5th, 2026|Breakaway Advisors, Client Education, RIAs, Trends|Comments Off on How to Create a Women-Focused Growth Strategy for Your RIA — From Hiring to Client Engagement

Top Trends Driving RIA Growth in 2026

RIAs have solidified their role as a dominant growth engine in wealth management, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing in 2026. Fueled by shifting Advisor preferences, rapidly evolving client expectations, and transformative technology, the RIA sector continues to outpace traditional advisory channels in both innovation and market share. Institutional M&A activity remains vibrant [...]

By |2026-01-28T00:42:33+06:30January 28th, 2026|Advisor Transitions, Breakaway Advisors, RIAs, Trends|Comments Off on Top Trends Driving RIA Growth in 2026

Red Flags: How to Help Clients Spot Bad Financial Advice on Social Media

In a digital age where a 30‑second video can influence a life‑changing decision, today’s Advisors face a new challenge: helping clients separate sound financial guidance from harmful social media hype. Recent data shows that millions of Americans — especially younger investors — now rely on finfluencers from TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for financial advice.  According [...]

By |2026-01-06T02:51:41+06:30January 6th, 2026|Client Education, RIAs, Trends|Comments Off on Red Flags: How to Help Clients Spot Bad Financial Advice on Social Media

Lifestyle Practice or Scalable Enterprise? How Solo RIAs Can Compete in 2026

Solo RIAs face a hard truth in 2026: you can absolutely run a lifestyle practice, but standing still while client expectations and competitors scale up is increasingly risky.  The firms that thrive in the coming year will blend a sought-after personal touch with the systems, partnerships, and talent strategy of a true enterprise.  Approximately 87% [...]

By |2025-12-20T00:11:27+06:30December 20th, 2025|Advisor Transitions, Breakaway Advisors, RIAs, Trends|Comments Off on Lifestyle Practice or Scalable Enterprise? How Solo RIAs Can Compete in 2026

Building RIA Compliance Policies — SEC Marketing Rule Checklist & Best Practices

In March 2025, the SEC staff issued updated guidance on amendments to Rule 206(4)-1 (aka, the Marketing Rule), which became mandatory on November 4, 2022. According to the Kitces Report, it's a core part of how regulators evaluate your website, pitch decks, social content, and client communications. For RIAs and wealth management professionals, a clear, [...]

By |2025-12-10T03:47:58+06:30December 10th, 2025|Advisor Transitions, Compliance, Trends|Comments Off on Building RIA Compliance Policies — SEC Marketing Rule Checklist & Best Practices
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