Financial Advisor Transition Services
Changing broker-dealers or moving to an RIA is a 90-day project wrapped around a 20-year decision. We manage both sides of it: an independent read on whether and where to move, then the negotiation, paperwork, and client-retention work that makes the move hold - at no cost to you.
A transition, managed end to end
| Phase | Typical timing | What actually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Explore | Weeks 1–4 | Confidential discovery call, your 6C priority profile, and a map of the realistic landscape - 50+ BDs and RIAs plus the honest case for staying put. Your current firm never knows. |
| Decide | Weeks 4–10 | Meetings only with aligned firms, reference calls with advisors already there, and transition economics modeled over 3, 5, and 10 years - the payout grid and hidden costs, not just the upfront check. We negotiate on your behalf. |
| Move | Weeks 10–22 | Resignation-day planning, repapering strategy, client communication sequencing, and team logistics. A typical BD-to-BD move runs 60–90 days from signing to your first day. |
| Settle | Through day 180 | Post-placement support while accounts transfer and the new platform becomes routine - because a transition isn't done when the ink dries. |
Start exploring 4–6 months before your target move date. And if the right answer is staying where you are, that's a shorter project - about 40% of advisors who take our alignment assessment confirm exactly that.
The transition check is the loudest number and the least important one.
Upfront money is real, but it typically arrives as a multi-year forgivable note - with vesting schedules, production requirements, and repayment triggers - while payout, platform costs, and growth support compound every year. We model the full economics side by side so you can see what each offer is actually worth over the life of the deal - before you're in a room with someone paid to close you. For the deeper dive, read our take on transition checks or see how our model differs from a typical recruiter's.
Asked on almost every first call
Will my firm find out I'm looking? No. Nothing moves without your explicit permission, and most advisors explore while fully employed.
What does this cost? Nothing, ever. The receiving firm pays our fee after you land - and it's the same fee whichever firm you choose.
Do I have to be ready to move? No. Many advisors explore for 6–12 months, and some conclude they're already in the right place. Both are good outcomes.
Thinking about a move? Talk before you sign anything.
A confidential 30-minute call with Rick - mornings, evenings, or weekends. No pressure, no obligation.
Schedule a Confidential Call