Valuations are high. Private equity capital continues to flood the market. Advisory firm owners are hearing about eye-popping multiples and wondering if now is the time to sell, acquire, or bring on a partner.

In this episode of ContrastingViewpoints, Ray Sclafani and Mark Hurley are joined by Wayne Hewett of Live Oak Bank to discuss what advisors should consider before chasing a headline valuation. The conversation explores the role of debt versus equity, internal succession planning, next-generation ownership, and the importance of understanding your firm's growth story before making a major capital decision.

Wayne shares lessons from working with advisory firms across the country and explains why the best decisions start with a simple question: What's your why? Whether you're planning for succession, evaluating acquisition opportunities, or exploring growth capital, this episode offers practical guidance for advisors who want to build enterprise value intentionally. 

Wayne Hewett is a Senior Loan Officer in Investment Advisory Lending at Live Oak Bank. With more than 20 years of experience in financial services, including running his own advisory practice and consulting on succession and acquisitions, Wayne helps advisory firms navigate growth, ownership transitions, and access to capital.

About Our Hosts:

Mark Hurley

Mark Hurley is CEO of Digital Privacy and Protection, a cybersecurity specializing in serving clients of financial advisory firms and other professionals. Prior to that, he was CEO of Fiduciary Network, an acquirer of minority interests in RIAs. From 1998 to 2004, he was CEO of Undiscovered Managers, a mutual fund company that was sold to JP Morgan Asset Management. He began his career as an investment banker in the financial services division of Goldman Sachs, where he specialized in asset management. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. 

To learn more about Mark Hurley and Digital Privacy and Protection visit dpripro.com

Ray Sclafani

After 20 years at AllianceBernstein, Ray Sclafani founded and heads ClientWise, the premier coaching and training company exclusively serving the financial services industry. Ray’s passion for serving leaders, advisors, and companies in the financial services sector is reflected in ClientWise and its unique coaching programs and team of credentialed coaches that help advisors and companies find the next level of professional excellence and financial success with greater focus and ease. 

Ray’s experience as a seasoned specialist in coaching and training in the financial sector mirrors his long and profitable history in the industry. In his 20 years at AllianceBernstein, Ray was one of the company’s top sales professionals and executive leaders. His knowledge of how to create and execute on highly successful sales plans and build long lasting client connections was later utilized as founder and Managing Director of the Advisor Institute at AllianceBernstein. 

As a complement to his coaching skills, he also holds a Master’s Certification in Neuro-Linguistics from the International Association for Neuro-Linguistic Programming and has participated in The Strategic Coach® Program for 17 years. 

Ray’s book, You’ve Been Framed: How to Reframe Your Wealth Management Business and Renew Client Relationships, was published by Wiley in 2015. Ray holds a BA from Baylor University. He lives in Flower Mound, Texas with his wife and true life partner, Beth. Their two sons and Beth continually inspire his work and his passion for excellence. 

To learn more about Ray Sclafani and ClientWise visit www.clientwise.com