Total Succession

The financial advisory industry is facing unprecedented change as succession, consolidation, and private equity reshape the landscape. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour sit down with Wealth Enhancement Group's Dean Smith to explore what's driving the surge in M&A activity. If you're an advisor wondering how retirement and succession will impact your future or why you may be underestimating both the valu...

Is internal succession really the "ideal" advisors imagine it to be? Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour unpack the realities of selling to team members, family, or merging with another group – and why alignment alone isn't enough. If you care about protecting your clients, your team, and the legacy you've built, this conversation will help you see internal succession in a whole new light. In this episode...

What's the difference between a smart succession and a rushed exit? Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour are joined by Nick Arellano to discuss why treating your firm like a house sale is risky, and how valuation, growth, and planning shape your future. This conversation will help you approach succession and exit planning – something 40% of advisors will face over the next 5-7 years – with clarity, confide...

Are you choosing your successor out of clarity, or just comfort? In this episode, Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour unpack the hidden traps of succession, from mistaking loyalty for leadership to assuming one person can wear all the hats you do. Packed with hard truths and practical takeaways, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and help you build a succession plan that actually works. Tys...

What if succession wasn't the end of the road, but the start of something greater? In this episode, Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour sit down with Bryan Sweet of Sweet Financial to uncover the lessons from his 47-year journey. Hear about how early planning, team buy-in, and focusing on your unique abilities create a smoother transition – and how to approach succession not just as an exit, but as an opp...

Is your firm's future trapped inside your head? Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour explore why founders who keep critical knowledge, instincts, and processes to themselves risk slowing down growth – and putting succession at risk. From documenting systems to transferring decision-making skills, they share practical ways to build a business that lasts beyond the founder. Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour talk a...

How will AI, private equity, and shifting demographics reshape the future of financial advisors? In this episode, Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour sit down with Ray Sclafani of ClientWise to explore the intersection of technology, leadership, and succession in a rapidly changing industry. From building legacy firms to preparing the next generation of advisors, this conversation reveals what it takes to...

When it comes to succession, are you searching for a clone or the right complement? In this episode, Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour unpack why the best successors don't look just like you but bring different strengths that make the business stronger. From mentorship to letting go of control, they share real-world lessons on how to make succession a smoother, smarter transition. In this episode, Tyson...

What's REALLY holding advisors back from tackling their own succession plan? Duncan MacPherson joins Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour to unpack the mindset, systems, and blind spots that keep even the most well-intentioned professionals from preparing for the future. You'll walk away with insights on turning wisdom into value and making your business less dependent on you. Guest Duncan MacPherson, CEO...

Should you sell your practice to someone on your team or roll it up into a larger firm? In this episode, Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour dive into the emotional, financial, and cultural tradeoffs of internal vs. external succession planning. If you're looking for clarity on one of the most personal decisions you'll ever make as an advisor, this conversation will give you the questions, cautionary tale...

Think you're ready for succession? You might be closer than you think — or further than you realize. In this episode, Tyson Ray, Kim Cochenour, and guest Peter Campagna reveal the blind spots, surprises, and strategic moves that strong advisors need to navigate succession successfully, including what no one tells you about control, integration, and private equity. Advisors often think that they're...

What happens when an advisor spends their whole career focused on short-term gains and never plans for succession? Could you be making the same mistake without even realizing it? Tyson Ray shares a personal story that reveals the hidden risks of reactive decision-making and why thoughtful succession planning is critical not just for your exit but for your legacy. This episode of Total Succession S...

Are you treating your succession like a finish line — or a chance to rediscover your purpose? What if the next chapter of your business and your life could be just as meaningful as the one you're preparing to leave behind? In this episode, Tyson Ray, Kim Cochenour, and guest Rob Brown dive into purpose-driven succession planning, helping advisors shift from urgency and overwhelm to clarity, intent...

Most advisors make their succession plan without thinking about a key player: the client. What happens when clients aren't at the center of one's exit? And what are the benefits of including them in the process? In this episode, Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour unpack why a successful succession is about far more than just transferring ownership. Discover common mistakes many advisors make, how to thin...

Are you waiting for the "right time" to start your succession planning? Does the word "succession" feel more overwhelming than empowering? In this episode, hosts Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour welcome Ironstone Founder & CEO Andrea Schlapia to talk about how EOS transforms succession from an intimidating afterthought into a practical, energizing business strategy. Discover how structure, vision, and...

"What would happen to your business if you weren't around tomorrow?" That's the key question that Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour unpack in this episode. From the importance of succession planning to finding and training the next generation of advisors – they share insights that will help you future-proof your firm and build a lasting legacy. Tyson and Kim address the question "What would happen to my...

Today, the financial advisors' space is seeing the most robust M&A market in history. A tidal wave of succession planning deals is transforming the advisory landscape, yet many firm owners are unprepared… Hosts Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour welcome Mercer Advisors' Ted Motheral to break down the entire succession planning puzzle, discuss the importance of fit over size, and what drives today's high...

Succession planning isn't just for advisors who are ready to sell – it's for anyone who wants to build a stronger, more resilient business. In this episode, Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour explain why preparing your firm to run without you makes it more scalable, more valuable, and, ultimately, more sellable, whether you're years away from an exit or just starting to think about it. Tyson and Kim addr...

What does successful succession really look like in today's advisory landscape? Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour sit down with Dave Patchen to explore the complex dynamics of succession planning – from generational mindsets and private equity pressures to the systems that truly sustain a business. Whether you're planning to sell, pass the torch, or build a lasting legacy, this conversation will help yo...

If your business can't run without you, it's not built to last…it's as simple as that! Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour dive into the tough but necessary conversations around delegation, team building and preparing for succession. From letting go of control to right-sizing your client base, they reveal the mindset shifts every advisor needs to make to lead with vision – and eventually step back with co...

What if selling your advisory business wasn't the end, rather the beginning of something new? Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour sit down with SkyView co-founder Aaron Hasler to explore the emotional and strategic layers of acquisitions and succession planning. From preparing Gen 2 successors to avoiding common retirement pitfalls – it's a candid conversation about legacy, leadership, and what it really...

Stop your succession planning from becoming a list of regrets! Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour tackle the overlooked, yet vital, element of vision – revealing how advisors often miss defining their own "What's next?" Tune in to learn why, without this foundational piece, tactics are just numbers and how asking "What do I want to do when I grow up?" (even in retirement) is key to a fulfilling transitio...

The world of mergers & acquisitions can be hard to navigate. What should you think about before exiting? How can you get everyone on board, and how can you ensure that everything runs smoothly and leads to business success? In this episode, hosts Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour, alongside Freedom Street Partners founder Scott Danner, explore what it takes to successfully undergo mergers & acquisitions...

Succession planning. Every business needs it, yet most owners don't really think about it. But why is it important to carve out time for business succession planning? Co-hosts Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour talk about Tyson's own journey into succession planning, discuss who benefits from a well-planned succession, and what you can expect from future episodes of the Total Succession Show. As Tyson pu...

So you've built a business helping others plan their future. But what's the plan for yours? Your future deserves the same attention you give your clients every day. It's time to protect what you've built and prepare for what's next. Welcome to the Total Succession Show, your resource for learning how to exit confidently, be fully compensated, and keep your clients' interests first. Hosted by veter...