The firm advisors think they know is not the firm that exists today.

And if you are going to say NO, at least know what you are saying no to.

Frank LaRosa goes one on one with Brian Mora of Ameriprise for a candid conversation that challenges some of the most common misconceptions advisors carry about one of the largest and most innovative firms in the industry.

Frank and Brian break down what $1.7 trillion in assets actually means for an advisor looking for stability in a consolidating market, why Fortune named Ameriprise one of the most innovative companies in America and how their AI-powered CFP brain is giving advisors back hours of time every single week by transforming how they prep for meetings, generate recommendations and summarize client conversations.

They also get into the numbers that matter most. Advisors who transition to Ameriprise are at 101% of their hiring assets after just 12 months, compared to the industry average of 91%. The conversation also breaks down how their digital transition process moved a billion dollar team onto the platform in just 16 days and why a firm telling you it takes six months to transition your book is a red flag you should not ignore.

The episode closes with the message Frank keeps coming back to: before you say no to Ameriprise, at least know what you are saying no to. Because the firm advisors think they know is not the firm that exists today.

Questions answered in this episode include:

Why are advisors surprised by what Ameriprise has become in the last 20 years?

What does $1.7 trillion in assets mean for the stability of the firm you choose?

How is Ameriprise using AI to help advisors grow their practices and serve clients better?

What is the CFP brain and how does it work inside an advisor's practice?

Why do Ameriprise advisors move 101% of their book after transitioning when the industry average is 91%?

How fast should a book of business actually move when an advisor transitions today?

What is the impact analyzer and how does it help advisors see the real financial difference of growing faster?

Chapters:

00:00 — Know What You're Saying No To: The Ameriprise Truth

01:04 — Why Ameriprise Surprises People: 1.7 Trillion and the Innovation Awards

03:00 — How Ameriprise Changed 20 Years Ago and Why It Matters Now

06:18 — Fortune, Time, and the Case for Innovation

09:18 — The CFP Brain: AI That Thinks Ahead for Every Client

10:07 — Meeting Summarization and Giving Advisors Their Time Back

12:52 — 101% vs 91%: Why More of the Book Moves at Ameriprise

15:37 — 16 Days, a Billion Dollars, and the Digital Transition Difference

Learn more about Elite and our resources:

Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com

Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors

https://elitemarketingconcepts.com

Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions

https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com

JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors

https://jedidatabasesolutions.com

Elite Wealth Management Insights Report

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

Every firm says they have great culture.

Very few can back it up.

Raymond James can. And in this episode, they explain exactly how.

Frank LaRosa sits down with Jodi Perry, Head of Advisor Recruitment and Business Development and Todd Ferguson, Chief Information and Security Officer at Raymond James, for a wide ranging conversation recorded live at the Ignite Conference.

The group breaks down what it really means to put the advisor in the driver's seat, why the freedom versus independence distinction matters more than most advisors realize and how Raymond James has been doing for 25 years what other firms are only now starting to talk about, including putting the advisor's ownership of their business in writing through the Advisor Bill of Rights.

The conversation also gets into AI and technology in a way you will not hear anywhere else. The group breaks down how Raymond James is investing $1 billion in technology to give advisors more time for the relationship side of the business, how their opportunities platform surfaces client service gaps before they become problems and what every advisor needs to know about protecting their clients from bad actors and digital fraud in today's environment.

Questions answered in this episode include:

Why is Raymond James a strong option for financial advisors right now regardless of where they are in their career?

What is the difference between freedom and independence at Raymond James?

What is the Advisor Bill of Rights and why does no other W2 firm offer it?

How is Raymond James investing $1 billion in technology to help advisors grow their practices?

Will AI reduce headcount in an advisory practice or expand its capacity?

What should advisors do right now to protect their clients from bad actors and digital fraud?

How does Raymond James approach advisor recruiting differently from other firms?

Chapters:

01:02 – Welcome: Ignite Conference Edition with Jodi Perry and Todd Ferguson

02:03 – Why Raymond James Now: Flexibility Across Every Stage of an Advisor's Career

03:38 – Culture Is Experiential: What That Really Means at Raymond James

05:31 – Freedom vs Independence: Why W2 at Raymond James Is Different

08:29 – The Advisor Bill of Rights: Putting Ownership in Writing

10:46 – AI and Technology: How Raymond James Is Using a $1 Billion Investment

15:57 – Bad Actors and Cybersecurity: What Every Advisor Needs to Know

25:20 – Quality Over Quantity: How Raymond James Thinks About Growth

Learn more about Elite and our resources:

Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com

Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors

https://elitemarketingconcepts.com

Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions

https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com

JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors

https://jedidatabasesolutions.com

Elite Wealth Management Insights Report

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

Sometimes the money IS the right reason.

And pretending otherwise might be the most expensive mistake you ever make.

In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank challenge the conventional wisdom around advisor transitions and make the case that when the difference between two firms is not a few thousand dollars but millions, the economics have to come into play.

Frank breaks down the unicorn recruit concept, how asset based transition deals are creating massive opportunities for advisors whose AUM far outpaces their revenue, and why the transition window right now is unlike anything the industry has seen in decades.

He also explains why advisors should think like their wealthiest business owner clients when evaluating an opportunity, what they can do with that capital to grow their practice faster, and why getting a monster transition package is not selling your business but monetizing it without giving anything up.

Questions answered in this episode include:

What is a unicorn recruit and why do some advisors have more leverage than they realize?

What is the difference between an AUM based deal and a T12 based transition package?

Why are transition packages and practice valuations at all time highs right now?

Is it okay to make a move primarily because of the economics?

How can a large transition package help an advisor grow their business faster?

What should advisors be thinking about before a market downturn hits?

How do you know if you are leaving money on the table by staying where you are?

Chapters:

00:00 – When the Money IS the Right Reason to Move

01:04 – Welcome to Advisor Talk

02:20 – Why Most Firms Look the Same and Where the Difference Really Is

05:00 – The Unicorn Recruit: AUM Based Deals vs T12

09:00 – The $9 Million Question: When Economics Has to Come Into Play

13:00 – Think Like Your Wealthiest Business Owner Clients

27:14 – How to Reach Frank and Stacey

Learn more about Elite and our resources:

Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com

Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors

https://elitemarketingconcepts.com

Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions

https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com

JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors

https://jedidatabasesolutions.com

Elite Wealth Management Insights Report

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

Most advisors go into a transition focused on the upfront money.

Very few are prepared for everything that happens after they walk out the door.

Some surprises are good ones.

Clients move faster than expected. Assets go up, not down. The income jump is real.

But there are also things advisors consistently underestimate, overlook, and wish they had negotiated differently.

In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank do a post transition breakdown of the things advisors wish they had known going in, including what they underestimate about client loyalty, what they leave on the table in negotiations, and the operational realities that no one warns them about until it is too late.

Frank also breaks down the shrink to grow concept, why payout structure matters more than the upfront check long term, and why the first 30 days of a transition can make or break the entire move.

Frank and Stacey also discuss what separates advisors who have a smooth transition from those who struggle, and why the more preparation you put in before the move, the less stress you will face after it.

Questions answered in this episode include:

How many clients do financial advisors actually retain when they switch firms?

What do advisors consistently underestimate when making a move?

Should a financial advisor negotiate payout or upfront money?

What is the shrink to grow concept in financial advisor transitions?

What operational issues do advisors face in the first 30 days after a transition?

How should a financial advisor prepare their support staff before making a move?

What should advisors ask firms to include in their transition support package?

Chapters:

00:00 – What Advisors Wish They Knew Before Leaving

01:07 – Welcome to Advisor Talk

02:26 – The Biggest Surprise: Client Loyalty Is Stronger Than You Think

09:01 – The Income Jump Is Real: What the Math Actually Looks Like

12:50 – What Advisors Wish They Negotiated Differently

15:41 – Shrink to Grow: Why Not Every Client Should Come With You

18:13 – Operational Realities Nobody Warns You About

23:54 – How to Reach Frank and Stacey

Learn more about Elite and our resources:

Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com

Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors

https://elitemarketingconcepts.com

Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions

https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com

JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors

https://jedidatabasesolutions.com

Elite Wealth Management Insights Report

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

Waiting sounds reasonable. Until you run the numbers.

Protect what you have built. Let the deferred comp vest. Move when the timing is right.

But is waiting actually costing you more than you realize?

In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank break down why 2026 may be the most opportune time in recent memory for financial advisors to evaluate a firm transition and why deciding not to decide is still a decision with real financial consequences.

Frank walks through why transition packages have reached historic highs, what is driving firms to be so aggressive in recruiting top advisors, and what advisors should actually be evaluating when they consider a move.

He also breaks down the real math behind W2 versus 1099, the tax advantages most advisors overlook when going independent, and shares real client examples of advisors going in both directions and why the right move is not always the obvious one.

Frank and Stacey also discuss what advisors should be asking themselves right now including one question that cuts through all the noise and gets to the heart of whether a move makes sense.

Questions answered in this episode include:

Why are financial advisor transition packages at historic highs in 2026?

Should a financial advisor wait for deferred comp before making a move?

What is the real financial difference between a W2 and 1099 advisor structure?

How should a financial advisor evaluate which firm is the right fit?

Is going independent always the right path for a financial advisor?

What is a unicorn recruit and why do some advisors have more leverage than they realize?

When does it make sense to move from independent back to a W2 or regional firm?

Chapters:

00:00 – Why Deciding Not to Decide Is Still a Decision

00:57 – Welcome to Advisor Talk

04:02 – Why Transition Packages Are at Historic Highs

11:44 – Why Firms Need to Recruit to Survive

16:08 – The Tax Advantage of Going Independent

20:33 – Why Waiting for Deferred Comp May Cost You Millions

25:44 – How to Evaluate Which Firm Is Right for You

30:18 – How to Reach Frank and Stacey

Learn more about Elite and our resources:

Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com

Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors

https://elitemarketingconcepts.com

Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers & Acquisitions

https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com

JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors

https://jedidatabasesolutions.com

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes:

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

Follow us on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/elite-consulting-partners/

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes:

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

The truth is, most financial advisors know they should be using AI.

Very few know where to actually start.

Too many tools. Too many platforms. Too much noise.

But the advisors who take the time to learn it now will have a significant edge over those who wait.

In this special edition of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa is joined by Chief Information Officer Sue Cheema, Chief Marketing Officer Brian Lutz, Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy Wade Shields, and co-host Stacey Frank for a wide-ranging roundtable on what AI actually means for financial advisors today.

The group breaks down how advisors can use AI to grow their business, serve clients more effectively, and free up time, including how to build custom GPTs, craft better prompts, and choose the right platform for the right task.

They also address the bigger picture: what AI will never be able to replace, why the human side of financial advising remains irreplaceable, and why advisors who ignore AI risk being left behind by the ones who embrace it.

Frank and the team also discuss how AI is changing the way advisors should think about their brand, their marketing, and the client experience, and why the advisors who lean into what AI cannot do will be the ones who win long term.

Questions answered in this episode include:

Will AI replace financial advisors?

How should a financial advisor start using AI in their practice?

What is the difference between ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini?

What is a custom GPT and how can advisors use one?

What is prompt engineering and why does it matter?

How is AI changing financial advisor marketing and branding?

What can AI never replace in the advisor-client relationship?

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Why AI Matters for Advisors

03:57 – How Firms Are Already Using AI to Scan Books of Business

07:03 – What AI Cannot Replace: Empathy and the Human Edge

11:23 – Prompt Engineering: How to Get Better Answers from AI

14:10 – Building Custom GPTs for Your Advisory Practice

22:37 – ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini: Which One Should You Use

44:08 – Why AI Will Not Replace Advisors But This Will

49:05 – How to Reach the Team at Elite Consulting Partners

Learn more about Elite and our resources:

Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com

Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors

https://elitemarketingconcepts.com

Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers & Acquisitions

https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com

JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors

https://jedidatabasesolutions.com

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes:

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

Follow us on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/elite-consulting-partners/

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes:

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

At first glance, these offers can seem attractive.

Gain liquidity.

Access growth capital or strategic support.

Remain with your current firm.

Continue building your business.

But are these deals really as straightforward as they sound?

In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank break down what financial advisors need to consider before agreeing to a minority equity sale - including how these deals can impact control, future valuation, exit flexibility, buyback terms, and the long-term economics of the business.

They also explain the difference between a minority equity sale and a transition loan, why net new asset growth plays such an important role in the outcome of these deals, and why some arrangements may appear appealing upfront but become far more complicated over time.

Frank and Stacey also discuss when selling a minority stake in an advisory practice may be a smart strategic move - and when it may create limitations that advisors do not fully recognize until much later.

Questions answered in this episode include:

What is a sell and stay deal for financial advisors?

Should a financial advisor sell 10% to 30% of their practice?

What are the risks of minority equity deals in wealth management?

How is a minority stake sale different from a transition loan?

How do these deals affect control, valuation, and future exit options?

When does it actually make sense to sell a minority stake in an RIA or broker-dealer practice?

Key Highlights:

00:00 Preview: The Long Game Firms Are Playing

01:24 Welcome to Advisor Talk

02:31 The Minority Stake Trend: What Is Actually Happening

03:57 Advisor Concerns and Due Diligence

06:38 You Now Have a Partner Whether You Like It or Not

07:13 Exit Clauses: Why You Must Have One

07:57 Smaller Firms vs Bigger Firms: What the Exit Looks Like

09:10 Buyback Multiples: The Real Math

11:04 The Boiling Frog: How Firms Gain Control Slowly

14:10 Why Firms Need You to Grow and What That Means for You

16:28 The 5% Net New Asset Reality

19:40 The Easy Button Trap: Why Advisors Jump Too Fast

20:37 Minority Stake vs. Transition Loan: Know the Difference

23:17 When a Minority Sale Can Make Sense

24:08 Final Advice: Know the Vision. Know the Exit.

25:53 How to Reach Frank and Stacy

Learn more about Elite and our resources:

Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com

Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors

https://elitemarketingconcepts.com

Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers & Acquisitions

https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com

JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors

https://jedidatabasesolutions.com

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes:

https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

Follow us on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/elite-consulting-partners/

Frank and Jon unpack:

• Why today's competitive landscape means growth-motivated buyers must approach deals differently.

• The three core reasons advisors pursue acquisitions - and which ones actually lead to long-term success.

• How leverage, bank financing, and EBITDA-based lending really work in practice.

• Why “fixer-upper” books may offer the strongest ROI.

• How elite buyers win deals by understanding the emotional side of selling a practice.

• The art of creating a safe landing place for sellers, their teams, and their clients.

• Why phased buyouts and seller glide paths often create better retention and better economics for everyone.

Jon also shares numbers, structures, and stories that demystify the math behind buying a practice - and the mindset required to scale from practitioner to true enterprise builder.

If you're a buyer, seller, or advisor considering M&A in any form, this episode is a blueprint you can’t afford to miss.

Resources:

Jon Kuttin’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathankuttin

Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com

Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors: https://elitemarketingconcepts.com

Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions: https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com

JEDI Database Solutions | Data Intelligence for Advisors: https://jedidatabasesolutions.com

Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/eliteconsultingpartners

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:08 Meet Jon Kuttin

04:42 What Makes a Buyer Truly Ready

13:56 Building Enterprise Value Through Acquisitions

17:20 Managing Risk, Liquidity & Debt Capacity

21:08 Where the Best Acquisition Opportunities Are

35:20 Why Seller Fit Matters More Than Price

42:02 Structuring Glide Paths, Partial Sales & Long-Term Transitions