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One of the most persistent fears holding financial advisors back from making a move is the idea that transitioning firms inevitably means losing assets.

The logic feels intuitive. Assets were hard won. Relationships took years to build. Walking away from a platform must mean watching part of that book disappear.

But time and again, the data tells a different story.

This week, AdvisorHub reported on an advisor who transitioned to Ameriprise Financial and transferred 97 percent of assets within the first six months. After one year, that figure reached 107 percent.

That is not a typo. The advisor did not just replace what moved. He grew beyond it.

Stories like this are far more common than many advisors realize, and they expose what we often call the math myth of moving.

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As 2025 comes to a close, many financial advisors are reflecting on a year marked by rapid change and heightened uncertainty. Shifts in the political climate, ongoing economic questions, trade and tariff discussions, and broader cultural tension created an environment where clients needed more communication, more reassurance, and more perspective.

For many advisors, that meant more conversations, more face-to-face meetings, and more time spent doing the core work of advising. Clients were not just asking about markets. They were looking for clarity, context, and confidence during a year that often felt unsettled.

In many ways, 2025 reinforced why this profession matters. When the pace of change accelerates, clients turn to the people they trust to help them make sense of it. Advisors were asked to show up consistently, explain what mattered and what did not, and help clients stay grounded in long-term plans.

At the same time, years like this often prompt reflection. Not because something is wrong, but because alignment matters more when demands increase. As 2026 approaches, it makes sense to begin thinking beyond it.

One of the defining characteristics of the past year was speed. News cycles moved quickly. Policy discussions shifted direction. Markets reacted in real time. Clients felt it.

Advisors responded by leaning into relationships. They increased outreach, spent more time listening, and helped clients separate emotion from decision-making. For many, this deepened trust and strengthened client relationships.

It also required energy and focus. Some advisors came away from the year feeling supported by their current firm and structure. Others began to quietly question whether their platform, flexibility, or resources truly matched how they want to serve clients over the long term.

Those questions do not require immediate answers, but they are worth acknowledging.

A Faster Pace Changed the Work
One of the defining characteristics of the past year was speed. News cycles moved quickly. Policy discussions shifted direction. Markets reacted in real time. Clients felt it.

Advisors responded by leaning into relationships. They increased outreach, spent more time listening, and helped clients separate emotion from decision-making. For many, this deepened trust and strengthened client relationships.

It also required energy and focus. Some advisors came away from the year feeling supported by their current firm and structure. Others began to quietly question whether their platform, flexibility, or resources truly matched how they want to serve clients over the long term.

Those questions do not require immediate answers, but they are worth acknowledging.

Learn more at 3xEquity.com

Going along for the ride just because your broker dealer was acquired is not always the best solution

When LPL CEO Rich Steinmeier acknowledged that signing on Commonwealth advisors is taking longer than expected, he confirmed something we have been telling advisors for months. Surprise acquisitions create hesitation. They create questions. And they create a moment when doing nothing is almost never the smartest move.

It appears that many Commonwealth advisors are taking the same advice we laid out in our article Time to Hit Pause: Why Commonwealth Advisors Should Step Back Before Stepping Forward. They are slowing down, asking tougher questions, and resisting the idea that rolling with the acquisition is automatically the safest or smartest option.

The interesting part is that LPL remains a highly desirable destination. The firm has been running strong and the future looks bright. But even with that kind of momentum behind them, choice is still the ultimate superpower. High performing advisors are wired to make intentional decisions. They thrive on autonomy. They take ownership of their businesses. No one achieves long term success by assuming that someone else will simply figure it out for them.

So taking a look around, getting educated, and adopting a calm but firm “prove it to me” stance is not resistance. It is professionalism.

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It's too late to move...

We know. That is not the headline you expected from a transition consulting firm. But it is the truth. At this point in 2025, the runway for a clean, well-planned transition is simply too short. Could you still do it? Sure. We have helped advisors identify a new home and complete a move in as little as two weeks. But do we recommend it? No.

A transition is a major business and career decision. It deserves planning, thoughtful consideration, and coordinated execution. If you can avoid rushing, you should.

And relax, those outsized transition packages don’t seem to be drying up anytime soon. Broker-dealers will keep pulling out all the stops to win over top talent. Opportunities to level up your technology, product mix, and support systems have never been better. And the momentum behind advisor mobility continues to build.

A head start now can make everything in 2026 easier. If you are already ready to get started, you can complete our inquiry form now. Otherwise, here is how to use the rest of this year to set yourself up for a smoother transition, stronger offers, and a far more strategic move.

Learn more at 3xEquity.com.

Why top advisors are crossing the fence and how recent moves reinforce the trend

If you’re the kind of advisor who tracks moves, it should come as no surprise that AdvisorHub is reporting this week another move out of Edward Jones, this time a team managing more than $300 million in assets joining Ameriprise Financial in search of greater flexibility, independence, and support. For those following industry trends, this isn’t an isolated event. It is part of a steady pattern of high-performing teams leaving Jones for platforms that offer the technology, autonomy, and infrastructure needed to scale.

And though we don’t know the terms of this particular deal, with offers still topping 300 percent, this move likely provided a very nice payday for the team, another reminder of how competitive the recruiting landscape remains for top producers.

We’ve written extensively about what’s behind these departures, from the cracks advisors see when they peer over the fence, to questions of whether the firm can pull off a Range Rover-style transformation, and the signals that tell advisors when it’s time to make a move.

This latest transition fits the pattern: experienced advisors reaching a growth ceiling at Jones and opting for a platform that promises both freedom and support. The trend is not slowing, it is accelerating.

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A Growing Shift Toward Independence, Alignment, and Open Architecture

Financial advisors are rethinking what they want from their broker-dealer relationship. Across the industry, more advisors are gravitating toward platforms that prioritize independence, transparency, flexibility, and advisor alignment. One firm that continues to appear on evaluation shortlists is United Planners Financial Services of America.

You might have read about a recent move highlighted in the news, where a well-known advisory group transitioned to a more flexible, advisor-centered broker-dealer. While every situation is unique, moves like these reflect broader priorities that many advisors are now considering.

At 3xEquity, we help advisors compare broker-dealers confidentially and on their terms. Here is a deeper look at why advisors are paying attention to United Planners.

Advisor motivations have shifted in recent years. Instead of prioritizing payout alone, advisors are now focused on having more control, more optionality, and more autonomy. They want to choose their technology and custodial platforms. They want a transparent cost structure. They want a broker-dealer that supports how they intend to grow their business over the next decade.

This shift is creating momentum toward firms that offer open architecture and multi-custodial flexibility, which has helped elevate firms like United Planners into the conversation for advisors exploring a move.

The Larger Trend Toward Independence

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Every week, headlines announce another advisor joining a new broker-dealer. The press releases all sound the same, filled with upbeat quotes about next-generation technology, enhanced support, and a culture of innovation. But beneath the polished language lies a different story.

As transition consultants, we read these announcements daily, and after a while, the sameness is impossible to ignore. They may tell you where an advisor went, but they rarely reveal why.

Here are three quick quotes from recent move announcements:

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For years, recruiting top advisors has been defined mainly by transition offers. Firms have gone to war with record-breaking deals, sometimes paying 300% to 400% of trailing twelve-month revenue to land top talent. But even the richest offers have their limits.

LPL Financial’s latest announcement signals a shift in the recruiting battlefield. Instead of raising the stakes with bigger checks, they’re attacking a less obvious but equally powerful lever: fees.

Beginning July 1, 2026, LPL will reduce fees across its Strategic Asset Management (SAM) and Model Wealth Portfolios (MWP) platforms. The move will streamline pricing and lower advisor costs, a rare combination in an era when many firms have quietly increased administrative and platform expenses.

“This isn’t just a pricing change, it’s a strategy shift,” said Chris Stacey, COO of 3xEquity. “It’s a smart play that rewards existing advisors while making LPL even more attractive to advisors in motion. They’re redefining how firms compete for talent.”

LPL seems to recognize that recruiting today isn’t just about the size of the upfront check. Advisors care just as much about their long-term economics, and lower fees translate directly into higher take-home income. In essence, LPL is saying, “What if we make it easier for you to keep more of what you earn?”

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Learn more and secure your own offers at 3xEquity.com.

LPL Financial’s acquisition of Commonwealth is more than a merger — it’s a masterclass in transition strategy. In this AdvisorTrends episode, we break down what happened, why it matters, and how it mirrors the experience of advisors who make successful moves every year.

Eighty percent of assets have already shifted to LPL, with a target of ninety percent retention by 2026. We’ll explore what those numbers mean, how transition teams drive that success, and why the ten percent that don’t move often create hidden opportunity.

You’ll also hear how one advisor we worked with hit ninety-four percent retention and then grew beyond it by leveraging new tools and support.

If you’ve ever wondered what a transition could really look like for your practice, this episode will give you the confidence — and the numbers — to see what’s possible.

READ THE STORY HERE

Another BD has done it...it's made a decision that impacts the careers of 120 of their advisors. In this reading of our most recent article we help unpack what happened and remind advisors that they ultimately choose their destiny. Learn more at 3xEquity.com.

It’s happened again. Another broker-dealer has decided to exit a channel, leaving advisors to ponder their next move. Stifel Financial recently announced that it will sell its independent brokerage unit, Stifel Independent Advisors, to Equitable Advisors, effectively ending its run in the independent space.

That means roughly 120 advisors, many of whom built their businesses under Stifel’s banner, now face a crossroads:Do they go along with the plan and find themselves at a new firm they didn’t choose?Or do they step back and see what the broader market holds?

We have little doubt these advisors are already in high demand. Their phones are likely ringing off the hook with calls from internal recruiters and competing firms eager to get the first bite at the apple. It might feel like a nice ego boost amidst the news that the culture they carefully adopted or adapted to has shifted underneath them.

Still, this is a moment to pause. Take a breath. Step back. Whatever phrase works for you. Because what you decide in the coming weeks will shape your career for years to come.

1. You are in the driver’s seat of your own career.The firm made its decision, now it’s your turn. You control the next chapter, not the other way around.
   
2. You are desirable to a lot of firms.Quality independent advisors are in short supply, and demand is strong. Firms large and small are competing to attract talent with better technology, higher payouts, and meaningful transition support.
   
3. Your next move is a long-term decision.While it’s tempting to react quickly, especially when recruiters are eager to make things easy, this is not the moment for speed. Take the time to explore all your options before you commit.
   

Simply put, you are a free agent.

You didn’t ask for this, but the ball is in your court.

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