Strategic Solutions for Financial Advisors
I work with you in confidence to understand where you are today, what you’re trying to accomplish long term, and what really matters to you in a potential move or transaction. From there, I help narrow the field and curate the right opportunities based on your goals, business model, and non-negotiables. In other words, I prevent you from wasting your most valuable resource - time.
Firm Transitions
Starting your search with the right firms will save you time on the front end, but the due diligence process comes with its own set of challenges and unknowns. Leverage my experience and insights to avoid pitfalls and get the most out of your offer.
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Riding shotgun, I’ll help you navigate the journey of due diligence, keeping your priorities at the forefront. As a recovering corporate recruiter myself, I know firsthand the sales techniques designed to highlight the strengths of a firm and downplay its weaknesses.
I’ll help you slow the process down, ask better questions, compare firms objectively, and understand all potential pitfalls before you make a decision.
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Every firm has its own, unique way of underwriting and structuring your offer. All of them will present headline numbers, but behind those numbers there are subtle, easy to miss nuances that could have an impact down the road. The good thing is, there is almost always more flexibility in negotiating than firms let on.
I’ll help you understand which levers can actually be pulled and give you insights into how different firms tend to underwrite and structure deals behind the scenes.
At the end of the day, the “best” deal isn’t always the biggest one. It’s the one that fits your business, your goals, and your long term vision. Partnering with me ensures your interests – and those of your clients – remain front and center throughout the due diligence and negotiation process.
Fundamentally, choosing a new firm is a big decision with a lot of moving parts. Put my experience to work for you.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Selling or merging your business is not something that happens overnight. Understanding the value of your business is only one small element of the deal. Here at Bridgemark Strategies, I can help you with the create and execute an effective plan.
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The real question is when should you begin planning to sell or merge your business? Timing is everything. Business valuations are based on profitability and growth rate. The best time to sell or merge your practice is when you have the proper amount of time to find a buyer and ensure a smooth transition, which can take years. Practices that choose to sell too late are more at risk of getting a reduced price.
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Merging your business with another firm or a larger PE backed firm can solve a lot of challenges for financial advisors. It can provide a monetization event which can de-risk the business as well as increase overall growth rate for the financial advisor – merging with another firm can also create a new set of problems.
When it comes to merging businesses, aligning each party’s Feel, Fit and Financials® is imperative. Partnering with me ensures your interests – and those of your clients – remain front and center throughout the due diligence and negotiation process.
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How can advisors take advantage of today’s all-time high valuations? Our experience has been advisors in their fifties or even in their forties have begun implementing their monetization and succession plan by selling and merging their practice. This strategy can increase the value of overall business and enhance the service you provide your clients, while increasing value creation for the advisor. Still, tens of thousands of financial advisors planning to exit their businesses do not have a succession plan.
Let’s get started
Selling your practice should be done with a plan that is implemented years prior to when you want to exit the business. Start today. I can help you position yourself to get maximum value for your practice.