The Fine Print

Most advisory firm owners know they need to pay their people well. What's harder to figure out is whether they're paying them the right way; and in a market where the go-to compensation benchmarks have largely disappeared, even knowing how much to pay has become its own challenge. In this episode of The Fine Print, David Grau Jr. sits down with Julia Sexton, CVA, Director of Team Solutions at SRG,...

When you decide to sell your advisory business, you will be approached from every direction — aggregators, PE firms, broker dealers, and peers all ready to make an offer. The question isn't whether demand exists. It's whether you have the right team to make sure you're getting the most out of it. In this episode of The Fine Print, David Grau Jr., MBA is joined by Kristen Grau CPA, CVA, CEPA, Parke...

RIA valuations are at record highs, private equity is reshaping deal structures, and internal succession is evolving faster than ever. In this episode of The Fine Print, David Grau Jr. breaks down the real M&A data from 2025 and maps out what financial advisors should expect for the rest of 2026. David digs into the latest revenue and EBITDA multiples, explains why the most profitable firms do...

Most advisory firm owners think they're 80% done with a deal once they've found a buyer and shaken hands on a number. In reality, they may not even be in the first inning. In this episode of The SRG Exchange, SRG's consulting team and General Counsel pull back the curtain on what firm owners consistently get wrong about M&A, from timing and valuation methodology to entity structure and equity...

Regulatory scrutiny is evolving, and RIAs involved in acquisitions or succession transitions are starting to see a new area of exam focus: how the SEC’s Marketing Rule endorsement provision may apply to certain client transition communications. In this episode of The Fine Print, SRG General Counsel Todd Fulks is joined by Christine Ayako Schleppegrell, Partner at Morgan Lewis and former SEC attorn...

Employment agreements are often treated as a formality, until a key employee leaves, client relationships walk out the door, or a succession plan starts to unravel. In this episode of The SRG Exchange, SRG’s consulting team and General Counsel break down the real-world role of restrictive covenants in advisory firms, and why the biggest risk is often having no agreement in place at all. The group...

Entity structure is not just paperwork. It shapes how your firm grows, shares ownership, and eventually transitions. In this episode of The SRG Exchange, SRG’s consulting team and general counsel break down what advisors need to know about entities and entity maintenance, and why firms often outgrow the structure they set up years ago. You’ll learn: How entity design affects internal succession an...

What does a real contingency plan actually look like—and why are so many advisors still unprotected when something goes wrong? In this inaugural episode of The SRG Exchange, SRG’s consulting team sits down for a candid, unscripted conversation about one of the most overlooked areas in an advisor’s business: contingency planning. Pulling from real client experiences, the team breaks down what “good...

How do top advisors win at both organic and inorganic growth? In this episode of The Fine Print, SRG President David Grau Jr. sits down with Jeff Concepcion, Founder & CEO of Stratos Wealth, to unpack practical strategies for building a sustainable advisory business. From turning referrals into repeatable growth systems to competing in today’s crowded M&A market, Jeff shares actionable insights on...

In this episode of SRG's The Fine Print, host David Grau is joined by Saša Mirkovic from Inspire Network to explore the art of building self-leading teams. Saša shares his journey from financial advisor to a leader in developing teams that thrive independently. Discover the importance of transitioning from advisor to CEO, the concept of being a 'multiplier,' and the role of humility in leadership....

In this episode of The Fine Print, David Grau Jr., President of Succession Resource Group, unpacks the critical—yet often overlooked—relationship between valuation and deal terms in today’s advisor M&A landscape. Building on previous discussions around private equity and industry aggregators, David dives into the real mechanics of how deals are financed, structured, and negotiated. From histor...

David Grau Jr. discusses the increasing influence of private equity (PE) and industry aggregators on the valuations and consolidation trends within the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) industry. He explores historical developments, the rise of aggregators, how their unique deal terms to boost the appearance of value is impacting advisors, as well as the long-term implications for succession pla...

In this episode, David discusses strategies to keep top talent in the financial advisory industry and protect client relationships. He emphasizes the importance of creating a happy, healthy work culture and providing career tracks and mentorship opportunities. David also explores the use of equity-sharing programs to incentivize employees and build a sense of ownership. On the topic of protecting...

In this episode, David Grau discusses the importance of death and disability planning for independent advisors and small business owners. He emphasizes the need to separate succession planning from contingency planning and suggests dividing and conquering these two subjects. Grau explains the different agreements and funding mechanisms that can be used in death and disability planning, including l...

Finding talent can be hard. But you don’t always need to find it, with the right approach you can develop it within anybody. This episode is a continuation of David Grau Jr.’s conversation with Ray Sclafani, Founder and CEO at ClientWise, LLC. Join them as they’re dedicated to uncovering the secrets behind flourishing financial advisory firms as they explore the synergy of digital marketing, the p...

Finding talent can be hard. But you don’t always need to find it, with the right approach you can develop it within anybody. This episode is the first part of David Grau Jr.’s conversation with Ray Sclafani, Founder and CEO at ClientWise, LLC. Join them as they’re dedicated to uncovering the secrets behind flourishing financial advisory firms as they explore the synergy of digital marketing, the p...

Do you ever look at some of the industry’s most successful advisory firms and wonder, “Where are they finding top talent?” After looking under the hood, guess what we found? They don’t find top talent. They build it! Get ready to adapt to a new paradigm of talent management, as David Grau Jr. encourages listeners to rethink how they mentor, train, and compensate the next generation of talent. You...

Many Advisors dedicate their lives to building their companies. But what happens after they exit their business? The transition can be fraught with unexpected emotional challenges that are often overlooked! Get ready to address the “founder’s exit paradox” with David Grau Jr. and guest Jerome Myers, founder of DreamCatchers and The Myers Development Group. They shed light on the difficulties that...

Whether it’s M&A or succession planning, a critical challenge advisors face is navigating the lending process for equity purchases. It’s not just about the access to capital, but also the intricacies of the deal structure! Recognizing this struggle, David Grau Jr. sits down with Dustin Mangone and Aaron Racino from PPC Loan to simplify advisor financing. They highlight the current state of M&a...

Ever wondered how top financial firms plan for the future? Discover the secrets of scaling your financial advisory business in this engaging episode of The Fine Print. Host David Grau Jr. and guest expert Caleb Brown, co-founder of New Planner Recruiting, dive into effective succession planning strategies for independent advisors. Key Discussion Points: The pitfalls of succession planning  Underst...

Ever wondered how CRM can redefine your advisory firm? Join us on The Fine Print, where Rick Williamson, Director of Brand Experience at Redtail/Orion Advisor Technology, brings his dynamic personality and industry expertise to explore the transformative role of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems in enhancing advisory business value. Key Discussion Points: The Impact of CRM Systems: Ex...

Want to know what sets successful businesses apart?  Join us in the latest Fine Print episode, where Julia Sexton, Director of Strategic Organizational Planning at Succession Resource Group, unravels the complexities of strategic organizational planning. David and Julia’s conversations offer invaluable insights for independent advisors aiming to boost their business value, growth, and sustainabili...

Ever wondered why some deals soar while others sputter?  From backdoor metrics to surprising valuations, we’re spilling industry secrets. David Grau Jr. and Parker Finot from SRG invite you to join them as they unravel the mysteries of deal-making in the financial advisory world. Dive into the hidden metrics, unexpected valuations, and behind-the-scenes dynamics that shape business transitions. Li...

The financial advisory industry is currently facing a significant challenge. The average age of advisors is increasing, and there is a pressing need for new talent. Many advisors struggle with building a team and transitioning their businesses to the next generation. In this episode David Grau Jr. interviews Jon Randall, an advisor and consultant, about the importance of finding, training, and com...

Ever wondered why top financial advisors stay loyal to their firms or jump ship?  Dive into this episode where David Grau Jr. unravels the mysteries of compensation in the financial advisory industry. Discover the pitfalls of traditional revenue-based models and the power of intentional design in compensation plans. Don’t miss this deep dive if you want to ensure your business’s success! David dis...