Total Succession

A huge number of advisors are approaching retirement, but the next generation isn't entering the profession fast enough to replace them. If that wasn’t enough, many founders don't have succession planning in place. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour address the “succession planning crunch” with insights from Jackie Wilke, Duncan MacPherson, and Scott Danner. You'll discover why succession planning is abo...

When buyers evaluated Tyson Ray's practice in 2024, they asked one question: "What happens to client trust if you're not there?" That's where branding and succession planning often collide. Tyson and Kim Cochenour sit down with marketing expert Mike Saunders to explore how brand equity determines your exit value and why your brand drives your succession planning decisions. You'll discover the posi...

Advisors have more options than ever when it comes to succession planning, but those options only work when you start early and bring the right people into the conversation. Kim Cochenour shares insights from various industry experts to help ensure your exit isn't rushed, reactive, or forced. You'll hear why modern "rainmakers" focus on serving rather than selling, and why being methodical about y...

In the era of industry consolidation, many advisors have turned their firms into a "joyful prison," and succession planning is the key to breaking free on your own terms. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour sit down with Charles "Chuck" Failla to explore why taking a private equity check means trading 30 years of hard work for a boss, and what advisors need to consider before signing with a mega RIA. You'...

You might be really successful, but if you have success without succession planning... you're failing. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour reveal why thinking about legacy is essential for advisors at every stage, how your legacy lives within your firm's culture and team, and the critical question to ask yourself: "What will people say about me when I'm done?" You'll discover why starting your journey wit...

Founder dependence is often the largest obstacle to a successful succession plan, costing you your health, family time, and growth opportunities… but it doesn't have to be this way! In this episode, Kim Cochenour sits down with Mariana and Ivan Polic, a husband-and-wife team who took over a highly technical, founder-led business, eliminated founder dependence and sold it to a private equity firm i...

Industry consolidation is unlike anything we've seen before, and if you're not watching closely, your succession planning won't matter because you'll get caught in the chaos. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour reveal why the longer you wait for succession planning, the fewer options you have, and how consolidation is eroding advisors' negotiating power and their understanding of what their practice is ac...

Succession planning doesn't start with finding a successor… It starts with defining your vision and inviting your G2 to co-create the future of your firm. The mother-daughter duo of Bridget Venus Grimes and Marnie Bonner of WealthChoice reveal why soliciting feedback from next-generation advisors is non-negotiable for success and how coaching facilitated their transition. You'll discover the bigge...

You'll only exit your practice once… so will you lead it, or will it lead you? In this interview by Kary Oberbrunner, Tyson Ray pulls back the curtain on why most succession planning conversations miss the mark, sharing the hard-won lessons that led to his book Total Succession and the S.P.A.C.E. framework that keeps clients, team, and your legacy intact. Discover the critical questions every advi...

What if the biggest obstacle to successful succession planning isn't strategy but the unexamined money stories running in the background? The Hidden Heist author Bill Cates joins Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour to discuss how beliefs we formed about money around age seven secretly sabotage wealth transfer, client relationships, and your own financial psychology. Find out why understanding your clients...

Succession planning is often postponed, not because it's unimportant, but because taking care of clients always feels more urgent. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour unpack why "later" quietly becomes "now," how life events can force decisions before you're ready, and why clarity beats shame every time. Tune in to learn how to get started where you are and move toward an outcome that happens on your term...

Succession planning isn't just about stepping away, it's about who you become once you stop doing everything yourself. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour dive into the messy middle of succession planning, where identity, control, and clarity collide and founders are forced to evolve. You'll hear why succession is built through trial and adjustment, how to create a business that can live beyond you, and t...

Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour discuss Tyson's 20-year journey and reveal the raw truth behind his internal succession plan, and why he eventually chose the joy of client impact over the lure of a multi-million dollar buyout. You'll hear about common succession planning mistakes and the hard-won processes that finally ended Tyson's cycle of "burning through people", including the S.P.A.C.E. framework...

Succession planning succeeds or fails in just a few critical places, and most financial advisors don't realize where they're vulnerable. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour are joined by Jackie Wilke to break down the three make-or-break factors in succession planning, from redefining rainmaking to building leaders who can truly care for clients. You'll hear why succession is your final act of client serv...

Tyson Ray's new book, Total Succession, actually didn't start as a book idea… but as a responsibility. Kim Cochenour turns the mic on her co-host Tyson, to explore why succession is about far more than just retirement, and how identity, control, and legacy shape the decisions advisors struggle to make. Tune in to hear the personal moments, hard-earned lessons, and the S.P.A.C.E. framework behind T...

When a buyer comes calling, it can feel flattering, urgent, and surprisingly emotional, but an offer is NOT a succession plan. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour break down how advisors should think about succession when acquisition conversations start, from asking the right questions to understanding what you may be giving up beyond the numbers. You'll learn how to evaluate opportunities on your terms,...

Succession planning doesn't always go the way you expect… and when it falls apart, that moment can reveal the truth you've been avoiding. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour break down why plans derail, how to trust your gut over external pressure, and what founders should do when people or expectations start to crumble. You'll learn why a broken plan can ultimately protect your legacy, strengthen client...

Succession planning isn't just a business strategy, it's an identity shift. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour are joined by Brian Church to explore the emotional and practical realities founders face as they scale, surrender control, and redefine their best vocational life. You'll hear hard-won lessons from Advisory DNA's journey, why advisors must seek trusted community, and how letting go can actually...

Succession planning doesn't start with lawyers, valuations, or deal terms (or at least, it shouldn't!)... It starts at home. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour address the topic of deeply personal conversations advisors need to have with their spouse or partner long before any transition becomes real, from aligning on "age and number" to navigating fears about the future. They discuss how to get on the s...

Advisors are rethinking what they want their future to look like, and the old model of "go independent and grind forever" is losing its shine. Co-hosts Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour, along with Alex Goss of NewEdge Advisors, unpack the new realities of succession – from soaring valuations and G2 buyout challenges to burnout driving many advisors toward bigger, better-resourced firms. You'll hear abo...

When your business depends on you, it's not just exhausting… It's risky! Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour reveal the hidden traps that quietly drain your firm's value and share how real succession planning can protect your clients, your legacy, and your freedom. You'll learn what it means to de-risk your practice, so it can run – and THRIVE – even when you're not there. In this episode, Tyson Ray and K...

With a looming 100,000-advisor shortage, senior principals are failing to plan their own exit while misunderstanding what truly motivates the next generation of wealth managers. Nate Lenz, CEO of Concurrent, joins us to break down the entitlement mindset, the flaw of chasing rainmakers, and to share the key drivers of valuation that will help you with succession planning. Nate shares his successio...

Too many founders make a critical mistake when it comes to succession: seeking a successor who's a clone of themselves. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour break down why letting go of that idea is the key to building a sustainable legacy. Tune in to learn about the role of loyalty and the owner's responsibility to the next generation of advisors (G2), and to hear the hardest team-building lesson learned...

Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour are joined by Brittany Anderson of Sweet Financial to dive into why the so-called "Queen Bee Syndrome" actually kills value and impedes succession. Tune in to learn how to strategically identify your firm's leadership gaps, explore powerful external options, and find high-value next-gen advisors who are empathetic self-starters ready to lead their firm. Tyson Ray and Ki...

Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour dive deep into the topic of external succession. You'll hear what it means to sell your practice to an outside party (like an aggregator or private equity firm), and the difference between an integrator and an aggregator, as well as why you should consider exploring external succession. You'll walk away with more clarity and knowledge and a crucial reminder: You don't h...