Advisor Talk with Frank LaRosa

Most advisors say they want to exit. What they actually want is to stop doing the parts they hate. Scott Danner has had this conversation more times than he can count. The advisor says they want to sell. Then the deal falls apart. Not because the numbers were wrong but because nobody asked the right question at the start. Scott is the Executive Vice President and Head of Legacy at Steward Partners...

The firm advisors think they know is not the firm that exists today. And if you are going to say NO, at least know what you are saying no to. Frank LaRosa goes one on one with Brian Mora of Ameriprise for a candid conversation that challenges some of the most common misconceptions advisors carry about one of the largest and most innovative firms in the industry. Frank and Brian break down what $1....

Every firm says they have great culture. Very few can back it up. Raymond James can. And in this episode, they explain exactly how. Frank LaRosa sits down with Jodi Perry, Head of Advisor Recruitment and Business Development and Todd Ferguson, Chief Information and Security Officer at Raymond James, for a wide ranging conversation recorded live at the Ignite Conference. The group breaks down what...

Sometimes the money IS the right reason. And pretending otherwise might be the most expensive mistake you ever make. In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank challenge the conventional wisdom around advisor transitions and make the case that when the difference between two firms is not a few thousand dollars but millions, the economics have to come into play. Frank breaks dow...

Most advisors go into a transition focused on the upfront money. Very few are prepared for everything that happens after they walk out the door. Some surprises are good ones. Clients move faster than expected. Assets go up, not down. The income jump is real. But there are also things advisors consistently underestimate, overlook, and wish they had negotiated differently. In this episode of Advisor...

Waiting sounds reasonable. Until you run the numbers. Protect what you have built. Let the deferred comp vest. Move when the timing is right. But is waiting actually costing you more than you realize? In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank break down why 2026 may be the most opportune time in recent memory for financial advisors to evaluate a firm transition and why decidin...

The truth is, most financial advisors know they should be using AI. Very few know where to actually start. Too many tools. Too many platforms. Too much noise. But the advisors who take the time to learn it now will have a significant edge over those who wait. In this special edition of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa is joined by Chief Information Officer Sue Cheema, Chief Marketing Officer Brian Lutz,...

At first glance, these offers can seem attractive. Gain liquidity. Access growth capital or strategic support. Remain with your current firm. Continue building your business. But are these deals really as straightforward as they sound? In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank break down what financial advisors need to consider before agreeing to a minority equity sale - inclu...

Frank and Jon unpack: • Why today's competitive landscape means growth-motivated buyers must approach deals differently. • The three core reasons advisors pursue acquisitions - and which ones actually lead to long-term success. • How leverage, bank financing, and EBITDA-based lending really work in practice. • Why “fixer-upper” books may offer the strongest ROI. • How elite buyers win deals by und...

Frank and Rob dive into: • Rob’s path from UBS and Morgan Stanley to launching NewEdge Wealth. • How NewEdge Wealth and NewEdge Advisors differ and advisor profiles that may fit each platform. • How multi-custody and open architecture models can offer flexibility. • Perspectives of some advisors that have experienced business growth after joining the firm. •  The role of private equity and its inn...

In this Greatest Hits episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa sits down with Cetera CEO Mike Durbin for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about ownership structure, affiliation flexibility, M&A strategy, custody decisions, and what it really means to build a “forever home” for advisors. From private equity misconceptions to succession solutions, this episode explores how advisors can think strateg...

In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank break down the realities behind minority equity deals in advisory practices - including what advisors often misunderstand about control, exit clauses, valuation multiples, and long-term implications. Frank explains why even a 10–20% minority stake effectively creates a partner in your business - whether you think of it that way or not...

In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank take a grounded, advisor-first look at how AI is actually changing the profession - and why the future of advice is still fundamentally human. Rather than fearing AI, Frank explains why this moment closely mirrors the rise of online trading in the early 2000s - a shift that many believed would eliminate advisors, but ultimately made gr...

Key questions answered in this episode: What does it mean when financial advisors choose not to decide? Choosing to stay put - without evaluating alternatives - is still an active decision, often driven by comfort, fear, or overwhelm rather than strategy. Why do advisors delay firm transitions even when they’re unhappy? Two major factors show up repeatedly: the path of least resistance and paralys...

Frank and Stacey break down the critical difference between goals and purpose, why confusing the two leads to burnout, and how advisors who reconnect to their “why” build stronger client relationships, make better transition decisions, and enjoy their careers longer. Key questions answered in this episode: What is the difference between a financial advisor’s goals and their purpose? Goals define o...

Show highlights include:   -Why focusing only on upfront payouts can leave money on the table. -How growth-minded advisors evaluate leadership, technology, and firm culture. -What truly separates firms that say they help you grow from those that actually do. -Why due diligence matters more than most advisors realize. -The importance of viewing your firm as a long-term partner, not a temporary stop...

Show highlights include: -The difference between being a practitioner vs. a true business owner. -Why growing too fast can break your systems, operations, and culture. -How to scale without sacrificing your core values. -Why “making the right move” matters more than making the next move. -How to define your ideal client avatar beyond just AUM. -Why more RIAs are exploring M&A - and what’s driving...

Key Highlights: -How long it really takes to prepare and execute a successful move. -What you can - and can't - say to clients during a transition. -The emotional cost of waiting too long to leave. -Why your assistant should be part of the due diligence process. -Using the transition conversation to grow your book of business. -Legal tips for navigating non-protocol firms. -The value of having a t...

Show Highlights Include: -Why manual data entry remains one of the biggest (and most expensive) time drains in advisory firms. -How CRM integrations with custodians can reduce errors and eliminate redundant work. -Why note-taking and meeting documentation are critical for client experience, continuity, and scale. -How long onboarding timelines quietly delay revenue - and how some firms shrink onbo...

Key highlights from the episode: 0:00 – Introduction   4:00 – The emotional toll of moving your practice and why vague deal ranges make it worse   6:45 – Real examples of how inflated promises derail transitions and waste time   9:55 – What advisors should demand up front to ensure accurate pro formas and offers   16:30 – Why working with the right consultant can maximize your deal value and preve...

Key topics include: -The core differences between direct affiliation and OSJ / enterprise models. -Why payout percentages don’t tell the full financial story. -How scale, support, and service models impact long-term net income. -When outsourcing operations can accelerate growth - and when it doesn’t. -How larger teams and solo practitioners should think differently about affiliation. -Why affiliat...

Key topics covered include: -How to match CRM platforms to firm size, growth trajectory, and long-term vision. -Why integration and automation are critical to improving operational efficiency. -The differences in analytics, reporting, and dashboards across Redtail, Wealthbox, and Salesforce. -How clean, connected data enhances client experience and firm value. -Why advisors should “run their busin...

Show Highlights Include:  00:00 – Introduction & Why These Topics Matter Frank and Stacey explain why this episode focuses on the six themes that got the most traction from advisors in 2025. 03:28 – Data as an Asset and Its Impact on Valuation Why CRM, data quality, and accessibility now play a major role in how buyers evaluate advisory firms. 08:10 – Industry Consolidation and the LPL - Commonwea...

Show highlights include: -Why client experience and technology will be the primary differentiators for advisors in 2026. -What a true CRM “health check” looks like and why clean data is the foundation of everything. -How workflow automation and AI note-takers are reducing friction and reclaiming advisor time. -The tradeoffs between all-in-one platforms and best-of-breed technology stacks. -Why per...

Together, they explore practical decision points advisors should consider: • The real implications of the $100M AUM threshold and the trade-offs between state and SEC registration • When it may make sense to stay with an independent broker-dealer - especially if more than 20% of your revenue is still commission-based • Why some RIAs are now “breaking away again” and rolling into larger platforms o...