What is Your Practice Really Worth?
Every Ameriprise advisor wonders about “the number,” but valuation goes far beyond the math. In this exclusive session for Ameriprise advisors, Kristen Grau and Ryan Grau shared how to think like a buyer, use valuation as a preparation tool, and set realistic expectations for a future sale or succession. Watch the replay to learn what drives value, what buyers really look for, and how to strengthen your firm’s position before it’s time to transition. Watch the Replay
Merger Support
A Landmark Merger in the Ameriprise Network Learn how SRG helped make it happen → Related Resources Merger Checklist View the checklist today → Thinking About a Merger? Start Here Read SRG’s top teaming advice for advisors preparing to merge → The Fine Print Podcast: Strategies for Building Enduring Wealth Leadership lessons for building a firm that endures → Grab A Valuation We offer a variety of solutions and turnaround times to fit your needs. Join myCompass Our membership club grants you inside tips and opportunities to grow. Review our Seller Services We’re here to ensure you secure the best buyer, price and terms.
Deal Support
Watch the Replay Related Resources The Succession Resource Group 2025 Advisor M&A Report Read our press release → 2025 M&A Infographic Download this infographic → Seller Readiness E-book Download this guide → Selling Your Practice with Expert Advocacy Hear real stories from advisors who’ve been there → Inside a Real-Life Succession Plan See how other advisors navigated their transition → Grab A Valuation We offer a variety of solutions and turnaround times to fit your needs. Join myCompass Our membership club grants you inside tips and opportunities to grow. Review our Seller Services We’re here to ensure you secure the best buyer, price and terms.
Deal Support
Related Resources 2025 M&A Infographic Download this infographic → Seller Readiness E-book Download this guide → Due Diligence Checklist Start Your Due Diligence the Right Way → Selling Your Practice with Expert Advocacy See how other advisors navigated their transition → Inside a Inside a Real-Life Succession Plan Explore Real Advisor Journeys → Grab A Valuation We offer a variety of solutions and turnaround times to fit your needs. Join myCompass Our membership club grants you inside tips and opportunities to grow. Review our Seller Services We’re here to ensure you secure the best buyer, price and terms.
Valuation
Related Resources Six Events that Require a ValuationSee if it’s time to value your firm → Your Guide to Increase the Value of Your BusinessStart growing your value today → 2025 Advisor M&A Review Check Out the Infographic→ Grab A Valuation We offer a variety of solutions and turnaround times to fit your needs. Join myCompass Our membership club grants you inside tips and opportunities to grow. Review our Seller Services We’re here to ensure you secure the best buyer, price and terms.
Year-End Entity Maintenance Checklist: Position Your Business for a Stronger Year Ahead
An RIA firm owner’s roadmap to increasing your firm’s value in a sustainable way that enhance your firm’s market value now and in the long-run. Succession Resource Group shares six ways firms can carve a path towards smarter growth, identifying levers for better business decisions that retain talented employees as well as ideal profit margins.
From Siloed to Synergized: How to Form an Ensemble the Right Way
Watch the Replay What Does It Take to Build an Ensemble That Actually Works? In this NM-focused session, SRG’s Ryan Grau (Valuations Director) and Nicole Frey (Director, Team Solutions) walk advisors through merging or consolidating practices the right way—why to merge, how to divide ownership fairly, and how to design compensation that keeps everyone whole. They compare common starting points (expense-sharing vs. fully separate practices), show how an equity-centric ensemble drives scale, continuity, and talent retention, and stress starting with a formal valuation. For Northwestern Mutual specifically, they explain assigning W-2 risk revenue to the entity, “trigger-event” risk if an agent departs, and SRG’s with-and-without valuation model to handle renewals. The replay covers pre-/post-merger cash-flow analysis, quick wins (grid bumps, cost reductions), entity choices (LLC vs S-Corp) including a two-tier LLC/S-Corp structure, governance and voting design, and ongoing entity maintenance. Grab A Valuation We offer a variety of solutions and turnaround times to fit your needs. Join myCompass Our membership club grants you inside tips and opportunities to grow. Review our Seller Services We’re here to ensure you secure the best buyer, price and terms.
Organic & Inorganic Growth | How to be Successful with Both with Jeff Concepcion (Ep.26)
Organic and Inorganic Strategies for Financial Advisors In the fast-paced world of financial advisory, understanding the avenues toward sustainable business growth is crucial. The Fine Print Podcast recently featured an insightful discussion between David Grau Jr. MBA, President of Succession Resource Group, and Jeff Concepcion, Founder & CEO of Stratos Wealth Holdings. Their conversation explored the dynamic interplay of organic and inorganic growth, offering strategies and perspectives that every advisor striving for long-term success should consider. Introduction to Industry Challenges David Grau Jr. opened the dialogue by underscoring the importance of leveraging both organic and inorganic growth to build durable firms. Drawing from market valuation insights and succession planning, he highlighted how striking the right balance between these two growth engines can transform a practice from a traditional advisory business into a sustainable enterprise. Understanding Organic Growth Organic growth emerges from within a firm and relies on refining internal processes, optimizing referral marketing, and nurturing client relationships. Jeff Concepcion emphasized that organic growth should not be overshadowed by inorganic efforts. Instead, it should be treated as the foundation of a healthy business, with inorganic strategies serving as a complement. He also noted that organic growth can be a relatively low-cost, high-return strategy when firms apply discipline and creativity—whether through referrals, alliances, or using technology such as data analytics to uncover new opportunities. Inorganic Growth: The Acquisition Pathway The conversation then turned to inorganic growth, including mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. While this path often promises rapid expansion, Jeff Concepcion cautioned that it requires significant resources and should not serve as a substitute for organic growth. Rather, inorganic strategies are most effective when layered onto an already thriving business. Balancing the Two Growth Engines One of the most compelling points raised was the challenge of balancing growth strategies in the context of succession planning. David described how founders frequently worry that successors lack the ability to replicate their growth momentum. The solution, he argued, lies in preparing the next generation of advisors not just to maintain the status quo, but to innovate and lead new growth initiatives. Actionable Insights for Advisors Throughout the conversation, Jeff Concepcion shared practical advice for advisors looking to compete in today’s evolving marketplace. He stressed the importance of reinvesting in the business—whether through upgrading technology, acquiring top talent, or building infrastructure that supports scalable growth. By reinvesting strategically, firms can strengthen their organic growth engines while positioning themselves to take advantage of inorganic opportunities when they arise. This dual approach, he explained, is what ultimately creates enduring enterprise value. Conclusion: The Path Forward Looking to the future, Jeff Concepcion predicted increased concentration in the industry, with a small group of firms becoming notably large and influential. At the same time, he pointed out that new entrants continue to emerge, keeping the market vibrant and competitive. For advisors, this underscores the importance of tailoring growth strategies—both organic and inorganic—to their unique business models and long-term goals. The clear takeaway from this episode of The Fine Print: the path to building a successful advisory business is paved with intentional reinvestment and a balanced approach to growth. Whether through referrals, technology, or acquisitions, advisors who embrace both strategies will be best positioned to thrive in an ever-changing financial services landscape.
The RIA & Advisor Dissolution Playbook
Download Your eBook! Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * FirstLast Phone Work Email *How Did You Hear About SRG? *— Select Choice —ConferenceDirect MailExisting/Past ClientGoogle AdWordsOtherReferralSocial MediaSeminar/WorkshopWebinarWebsite Download Dissolve Your RIA the Right Way. Dissolving your RIA is rarely simple. It requires thoughtful coordination across legal, tax, compliance, and client transition steps. Each stage, from initial exit planning and regulatory filings to employee communications, financial wind-down, and document retention, brings unique requirements and potential risks. In this comprehensive playbook, SRG outlines the essential phases of an orderly dissolution, supported by detailed checklists, timelines, and best practices drawn from decades of industry-specific expertise. You’ll learn how to structure the process to minimize regulatory exposure, protect client relationships, and reduce the likelihood of costly missteps. This guide also covers special considerations for RIAs and registered reps, including employee obligations, custodial transitions, tax reporting, and post-dissolution compliance. By following this structured roadmap, advisors can ensure they exit with clarity, safeguard their legacy, and complete the dissolution process efficiently and with confidence. Created by SRG’s team of expert consultants, Kristen Grau, CPA, CVA, CEPA, Nicole Frey, CFP® and Parker Finot, this playbook distills years of hands-on experience guiding advisors through complex transitions—providing the tools, structure, and peace of mind to navigate one of the most significant business decisions with precision and care.
Succession & Next-Gen Leadership: Insights from Industry Veterans
In this session, two founders and CEOs — David Grau Jr. of Succession Resource Group and Jeff Concepcion of Stratos Wealth Partners — shared candid insights on succession planning. They discussed when and how to start the process, stressing that early preparation leads to stronger outcomes and continuity. The conversation covered strategies to protect and maximize enterprise value before transition, giving owners practical ways to future-proof their businesses. A major focus was preparing next-gen advisors for leadership, with actionable steps they can take now to be ready for ownership. For both current owners and emerging leaders, this replay offers experience-driven guidance on navigating succession successfully. Watch the Replay Host David Grau Jr. MBA CEO/President Paper-plane Linkedin-in Host Jeff Concepcion President of Stratos Wealth Partners Linkedin-in