Total Succession

What if succession planning started years before a sale, retirement date, or health event forced the conversation? David Adams joins Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour to explain how his own succession journey began with a much more immediate problem: he had built a successful advisory business that depended too heavily on him. Long hours, too many responsibilities, and an “accidental CEO” role eventuall...

What happens when the platform that helped you build an advisory business begins to limit the business you want to build next? In this short ICYMI conversation, Steve Voss and the hosts examine the tension between familiar comfort and the freedom that can come from reconsidering a firm’s structure, ownership, and future. Their starting point is a simple image: a blanket that feels reassuring until...

Financial advisors often begin a major business decision with structure: Which platform? What deal? What valuation? What does the transition package look like? Steve Voss makes the case for starting one step earlier. Before comparing options, an advisor needs to understand what they are actually trying to create. Steve joins Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour to explore the advisory business as an enterp...

Succession planning is not only about finding a buyer or maximizing a number. It is also about choosing the people, culture, and working model that can carry the business forward. In this ICYMI cut, Jackie Wilke explains why advisors should pay attention to cultural fit as closely as valuation, why next-generation professionals may work differently without working less, and why forcing an old oper...

Succession planning is changing. Advisors have more buyers, more enterprise support, and more ways to structure a transition than they did a few years ago—but more options do not automatically create a better outcome. In this episode, Jackie Wilke joins Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour to discuss what she is seeing across the advisor industry and why the best succession plans start long before a retire...

A profitable business is not automatically a sale-ready business. In this episode, Emily Stubbs explains how buyers evaluate risk, transferability, cash-flow quality, and owner dependence—and why cleaning up those issues early can create better operations, stronger financial visibility, and more leverage before a deal is ever on the table. Owners experience a business through years of sacrifice, g...

When it comes to succession, owners and buyers see enterprise value completely differently. Emily Stubbs of Visibility CFO joins Kim Cochenour to reveal what buyers actually look at first, why a good business isn't necessarily sale-ready, and the de-risking steps that protect your enterprise value. You'll discover why solving owner dependence five years early gives you more leverage, options, and...

Are you ready to step away from your business, or are you just running away from the stress? Success in a business exit isn't just about the final check; it is about finding purpose in your next act and ensuring your legacy is in good hands. In this episode of the Total Succession Show, we dive deep into the emotional and practical realities of succession planning for financial advisors. 🚀 Key In...

Selling your business is more than just a financial transaction; it is a major identity shift that many owners are completely unprepared for. In this episode of the Total Succession Show, Tyson Ray and Kim Kokenauer discuss the emotional and practical hurdles of stepping away from the company you built. Learn how to navigate the transition from being the primary decision-maker to finding a new sen...

Are you currently working in your financial advising firm, or do you actually own it? Transitioning from being the primary rainmaker to a true business owner requires a major shift in mindset and a strategic plan for what happens when you eventually step away. In this episode of the Total Succession Show, Tyson Ray and Kim Kokenauer discuss how to move toward your freedom date with confidence. Suc...

Is your business just a source of income, or is it a valuable asset you can sell? Many financial advisors are shocked to find that the offers they receive are based on complex math that could leave them working harder than ever just to get paid. In this episode of the Total Succession Show, Tyson Ray and Kim Kokenauer dive deep into the reality of business valuations and the common traps owners fa...

Is AI a threat to your advisory firm or the ultimate tool for growth? Join Tyson Ray and Kim Kokenauer as they explore how the most successful firms are navigating the intersection of technology and human connection. 🚀 In this episode of the Total Succession Show, we break down the current state of the financial services industry and what it really takes to prepare for a confident exit. We discus...

Are you considering an exit strategy but feel overwhelmed by the complex world of private equity and deal structures? It is time to clear up the misconceptions and look at the actual math behind modern wealth management acquisitions. Join Tyson Ray and Kim Kokenauer as they dive deep into the savvy world of private equity and private trades to help you plan a successful and confident exit. In this...

Are you struggling to figure out how to pass the torch without leaving money on the table or burdening your team with debt? Succession planning is more than just a retirement strategy; it is about rewarding your best talent and building a scalable legacy. In this episode of the Total Succession Show, Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour dive deep into the evolving landscape of business exits and internal t...

Are you an advisor who knows it is time to plan your exit but feels hesitant to let go of the professional reins? Succession planning is more than just a business transaction, it is a fiduciary responsibility to ensure your clients are protected and cared for long after you step away. In this episode of the Total Succession Show, host Tyson Ray and Kim Kochenour discuss the complex emotions and st...

Are you feeling like a prisoner in your current broker-dealer or wirehouse setup? The wealth management industry is seeing its most robust M&A market in history, and now is the time to decide how you will protect your legacy and maximize your firm’s value. Whether you are looking to exit soon or just want to build a more scalable practice, understanding the current landscape is essential for e...

Are you building for a distant future or for the life you want to live right now? Many business owners wait too long to plan their next chapter, but shifting your mindset from exiting to what is next can change everything. Welcome to the Total Succession Show with Tyson Ray and Kim Coconour. In this episode, we explore why the word “exit” feels so emotional and why it is time to change our languag...

Are you building a business that is ready to sell at a moment's notice, or are you just getting by? In this episode of the Total Succession Show, host Tyson Ray is joined by Kim Cochenour to discuss why you should always be prepared for an exit, even if you aren't planning to leave today. Learn how to transition from being the bottleneck in your business to creating a high value, scalable asset. T...

Is your succession plan sitting on a post-it note, or is it a documented strategy for the future? Many financial advisors delay planning because it feels emotional or scary, but treating your exit as a long-term business strategy is the key to protecting your legacy. Hosts Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour, are joined by special guests to discuss the realities of moving from a single-owner practice to a...

Building a team and making it work are two different things, especially when succession planning depends on your relationship with your next-gen advisor. Hosts Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour are joined by JAM Consulting Group’s Kaleen Barbera to discuss and explore the behavioral science behind effective teams. Feelings come before facts, asking before telling builds connection, and acknowledging dif...

It's a seller's market with higher multiples, but stretching for more money in your succession planning might lead to more suffering for you, your team, and clients. Emma Boston of Raymond James breaks down the four dimensions that drive practice value and why advisors must decide whether to put clients' interests first or maximize their payout. You'll discover why starting succession planning lat...

Why do advisors who excel at guiding clients through retirement planning struggle to start their own succession planning? Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour, along with Aaron Hasler and Andrea Schlapia, explore the three reasons why advisors don’t get around to it. You’ll hear about the #1 challenge for advisors, why and how “business exit” should be reframed, and why failing to treat succession planning...

Most advisors retire three years earlier than they expect, which means your succession planning needs to be ready three years earlier, too! Guest Jeremy Keil, author of “Retire Today,” joins Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour to explore how to apply retirement planning wisdom to your own exit. You’ll discover Jeremy’s five-step process, why being ready to exit early creates a more valuable business, and...

Succession planning works like retirement planning: the earlier you start, the more options you have. Kim Cochenour and Tyson Ray explore why advisors delay planning, how to reframe it as business strategy, and why you should ask, "What am I exiting toward?" instead of, "What am I exiting from?" You’ll hear insights from guest experts Andrea Schlapia, Ted Motheral, and Dean Smith. Kim Cochenour ki...

Many great advisors build great books but not scalable businesses, and when it's time to exit, they don't have succession planning in place. Vladislav “Vlad” Zherenovsky joins Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour to share patterns from 15 successful acquisitions. Dive in and hear more about why the industry is split, what makes firms sellable, and why you have more time than you think. Guest Vlad Zherenovs...