When AdvisorHub reported that Ameriprise had raised its recruiter bounty to 16% of trailing 12-month production – the highest in the industry, well ahead of the typical 6% to 12% range – the reaction was predictable. "Recruiters cashing in." "Fees run amok." But that narrative misses the bigger story entirely. The 16% headline is about [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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% [...]
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, [...]
Succession planning is a powerful, value-creating lever, and a pivotal opportunity for RIAs. Over the next decade, more than 100,000 Advisors are expected to retire, representing approximately $12 trillion in AUM changing hands. Yet despite this looming wave of transitions, many firms remain woefully unprepared. A Cerulli Associates report indicates that one in three Advisors [...]
Financial advice has always been about relationships, but today those partnerships straddle two worlds: the human-to-human trust that experienced Advisors build, and the holistic, all-in experience today’s clients expect. Rapid adaptation and digital transformation are now imperative in the wealth management space. Investors demand seamless, tech-driven service while many firms still struggle to deliver a [...]
A recent Gallup poll showed 42% of Americans ages 18 to 29 head to social media for their financial information. The popularity of financial content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram is skyrocketing, with some #FinTok content boasting over 4 billion views. For tech-savvy Advisors looking to make the move to independence or build a [...]
