Every recruiter promises to find you the right firm. Here's how to tell who's actually working for you.
Most advisors only ever hear pitches - from firm recruiters paid to close them, or third-party recruiters paid by a handful of firms. Before you trust anyone with a career-defining move, compare how the model actually works.
Continuum vs. a typical recruiting firm
| A typical recruiting firm | Continuum Search Group | |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays them | The firm that hires you - often the one paying the highest fee. | The firm you join pays - and our fee is the same whichever firm you choose, so we have no reason to steer you. |
| The options you see | The two or three firms they have contracts with. | The full landscape: 50+ independent BDs and RIAs - including the option of staying where you are. |
| How firms are evaluated | The pitch deck and the size of the transition check. | The 6C Alignment Framework - culture, community, compatibility, capability, compensation, capital - with economics modeled over 3, 5, and 10 years. |
| The data behind it | Recruiting headlines and firm marketing. | 23,000+ SEC-reported advisor moves tracked in our public Market Intelligence - which firms are actually gaining and losing advisors. |
| After you sign | The relationship usually ends at the finder's fee. | Negotiation on your behalf, transition management, and 180 days of post-placement support. |
| If staying is your best move | You'll rarely hear it - no move, no fee. | 40% of advisors who take our alignment assessment confirm they're already in the right place. We tell them so. |
To be fair: some traditional recruiters are excellent, and a firm's internal recruiter can be the right call when you already know where you're going. The comparison is about incentives - ask any recruiter these six questions and see what comes back.
“Rick helped me see past the transition check and focus on what really mattered for my practice long-term. Best career decision I've made.”Pete R., Financial Advisor - transitioned from an insurance BD to an independent BD/RIA
Don't take the table's word for it.
The movement data is public - see which firms are gaining and losing advisors before anyone pitches you. And if you just want an independent read on your current platform, the alignment check is anonymous and takes five minutes.
Explore the Movement Data Take the 5-Minute Alignment CheckAlready talking to a recruiter? Get a second opinion.
It costs you nothing, it's confidential, and if their deal is genuinely your best option, we'll say so.
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