Total Succession

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...

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...