Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Firm Transitions with Corey Walen
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Firm Transitions with Corey Walen episodes
- MUST LISTEN: "My Transition Was a Grand Slam—Why & How" – with Nic Nielsen (101)
Most financial advisors don’t fear change, they fear the mess they remember from the "Old Days": Paperwork flying, NIGOs stacking up, clients calling nonstop, and a team living on no sleep. I got to sit down with well known advisor, Nic Nielsen to reality-check that story and show what a modern financial advisor transition can look like as an independent.
Nic walks us through two very different chapters of his career: Initially moving from SunTrust to independence in 2018, then making an independent-to-independent move from LPL to Raymond James (this year).We get specific about the prep work that actually matters, what a great transition support person looks like, and why operational capacity like asking the question: “How many accounts can you open per day?” can make or break your client experience. Nic also shares the communication strategy that kept clients calm: A simple letter that reframes the move simply as a back-office vendor change, not a dramatic business reinvention.
We also talk about the mindset shift advisors miss: Clients are anchored to outcomes and experience, not the firm name on the front of the jersey. If you deliver strong planning and keep friction low with tools like e-signatures, many clients barely feel the transition at all. Along the way, I share what I'm seeing across the RIA space, where some moves can be as simple as updating ADV details when custody stays the same.
If you’re weighing independence, an RIA launch, or a move between independent broker dealers, this is a MUST LISTEN. You'll get insight as to the questions to ask, the red flags to notice, and the steps that turn “PTTSD” into a clean sprint.---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
41 min - State of the Union (100)
Why do so many successful financial advisors feel trapped?
This is a State of the Union of the financial advisor transition market.
---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
17 min - How This $100M Advisor Found The Right Path Through Supported Independence – with Kirk Licata (099)
Kirk Licata, CFP® spent 12 years at the same RIA before deciding it was time for more ownership and control over his business. In this conversation, Kirk breaks down the exact process that led him to leave, partner with RFG Advisory, and launch Licata Financial Design in Atlanta.
• Why Kirk didn't leave for the money, and what actually drove the decision
• The 3 pivotal questions he asked himself before making any move
• What it's like evaluating bare-bones RIAs vs. big W2 platforms vs. everything in between
• Why the Schwab-to-Schwab transition took 2 weeks instead of 4 months
• What advisors get wrong about non-solicits and equity ownership
• His honest advice for advisors who are starting to have doubts about their current firm
If you're a financial advisor wondering whether you have real ownership and control in your current situation, this episode will give you a clearer picture of what's out there and how to evaluate it.---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
31 min - Why Are So Many Advisors Switching Firms Right Now? – with Brett Waterfield & Travis Boak (098)
Recruiting is running hot right now, and we keep hearing the same question from advisors and even friends outside the business: "Why are so many financial advisors changing firms right now?"
A few members of the Bridgemark team joined me on today's episode.
Brett Waterfield, Travis Boak, and I dive into what’s actually driving the surge, based on constant conversations with advisors across the wirehouse, broker dealer, hybrid, and RIA landscape.
A big theme is autonomy. Not “less compliance,” but the ability to run your business like an experienced professional: Hire staff when growth demands it, stop fighting needless friction, and serve clients with more flexibility in investments, lending, trust services, and tax-aware planning. We talk about what “outgrowing your firm” looks like in real life, from staffing hurdles to platform restrictions that quietly limit who you can serve and how you can scale.
Technology and AI are now core to the decision. We get specific about what modern RIA platforms are demonstrating: Integrated systems, AI-driven meeting prep, automated notes into the CRM, and workflows that kick off planning and follow-ups right after a client call. The goal is simple: give advisors time back, close silos across tax and estate planning, and improve the client experience without losing control of what goes out the door.
We also cover the human side: Culture, turnover, feeling like a number, and marketing constraints that make it hard to differentiate with newsletters, podcasts, LinkedIn, or a niche message. Then we zoom out to consolidation and M&A, including why plan B thinking matters and how enterprise value and succession planning are reshaping what “the best firm” even means.
Find Brett and Travis on their podcast, The Advisor Strategy Room---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
57 min - How Elite Advisors Are Using Record Transition Deals to Build Long-Term Value – with Jeff Nash (097)
We break down why recruiting and transition packages are hitting record highs and how to think about them without sacrificing clients, tools, or service. We share how elite advisors use forgivable-loan economics to invest in growth, build enterprise value, and solve real succession and acquisition challenges.
• Record-high transition offers
• Going backward on platform for a check?
• Treating your practice like a business and getting educated on options
• How forgivable loans function as growth capital
• Upfront money for hiring, marketing, and practice acquisitions
• Real scenarios: Financing business succession while preserving ownership
• Wirehouse choices beyond in-house sunset programs---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
29 min - Helping Financial Advisors Navigate the Evolving RIA Marketplace – with Jeff Nash (096)
The RIA landscape is evolving faster than ever and many financial advisors are already behind.
Jeff Nash joins me to break down what’s happening inside the rapidly expanding RIA space:
• Why the broker dealer industry continues consolidating
• The explosion of new RIA platforms and service models
• How private equity and venture capital are reshaping wealth management
• The differences between aggregators, integrators, and platform providers
• Why more wirehouse advisors are exploring independence
• The pros and cons of starting your own RIA
• New transition deal structures advisors should understand
• How technology, AI, and outsourced support are changing advisor economics
Whether you're at a wirehouse, regional firm, independent broker dealer, or already in the RIA space, this conversation will help you better understand the opportunities and risks emerging across the industry.
I hope this is helpful. If you're an elite advisor that could use the help of a non-biased transition consultant please reach out, I'd be happy to talk.---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
34 min - Why Top Advisors Are Quietly Leaving RIAs – with Bill Laird (095)
What makes a successful financial advisor leave a large RIA firm?
In this episode, I sit down with Bill Laird, founder of Riverside Wealth Advisors, to discuss why he chose to leave a major RIA environment and launch his own independent practice with NewEdge Advisors.
Bill shares:
✔ Why many advisors in the RIA channel feel they’ve lost control
✔ How compliance, equity, and bureaucracy pushed him to explore options
✔ Why he turned down large recruiting offers
✔ How he transitioned over $500M in assets
✔ What life and growth look like after the move
✔ Advice for advisors quietly considering a changeIf you’re a financial advisor wondering whether your current firm is still the right long-term fit, this conversation is packed with insight.
---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
41 min - 25 Years at Edward Jones, Couldn't Ignore It Anymore – with Alex Williams (094)
Are you really running your own business… or just being told you are?
In this episode, I sit down with Alex Williams, CFP®, a former 25-year veteran of Edward Jones who made the leap to independence in 2024.
After decades inside a major national firm, including leadership roles overseeing 60+ offices, Alex candidly shares what finally pushed him to explore independence, what surprised him during the transition, and what life actually looks like on the other side.
This is for ANY advisor considering transition, with questions:
“Should I stay or should I go?”
“What would independence actually look like for me?”
“Will my clients follow?”
What you’ll learn:
• The real limitations of “business ownership” inside big firms
• What triggered Alex to seriously consider independence
• The biggest fears advisors have (and what actually happens)
• Client transition reality (including what % followed)
• How his service model improved post-transition
• The truth about compliance, tech, and flexibility
• What advisors get wrong during due diligence
• Why the home office visit is the MOST important step
Key takeaway:
Independence isn’t for everyone, but most advisors have no idea what’s actually available to them.
If you’re a financial advisor considering independence, or just curious what life looks like on the other side, this is a great conversation.
I hope this is helpful. If you're an elite advisor that could use the help of a non-biased transition consultant please reach out, I'd be happy to talk.---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
39 min - All the Things: How This Bank Advisor Built a Turnkey Independent Practice – with Noah Geoghegan (093)
You can feel it when a financial advisor is ready to own the business, but also terrified of what comes with it: Leases, staffing, compliance, tech, bookkeeping, marketing, and the fear that clients might not follow. That tension sits at the heart of my conversation with Noah Geoghegan, who helped launch MG Partners after years in the bank channel and multiple merger waves that slowly changed how client service worked on the ground in North Carolina.
We dig into the moment independence stopped being a vague “someday” idea and became the right next step. Noah shares how consolidation can push firms toward top-down rules that don’t fit a local market, and why that eventually affects the client experience. He also gets candid about being an overthinker, the pressure of wearing every hat, and the mental load of comparing platforms while still doing the day job.
A big unlock for his team was discovering LPL Strategic Wealth Services, a turnkey support model that kept them focused on relationships while offloading major business ownership headaches. We talk through real examples like office space and lease negotiation, professional marketing support, planning and insurance resources, CFO and bookkeeping help, and a compliance approach that supports growth while staying in bounds. Noah also shares practical transition takeaways, why a deliberate drop in AUM can still improve take-home pay, how client communication improved with branded tech and approved AI tools, and how referrals and inorganic growth opportunities look on the other side.
If you’re a high-performing advisor exploring the independent path, subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more advisors can find these transition stories.---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
32 min - Launch Day Marketing For Advisors – with Kevin Nichols of Oechsli (092)
Clients will Google you the moment you announce your move. What they find next decides whether they feel calm and confident or start second‑guessing the transition. We dig into a launch-day marketing playbook built to win retention: A memorable name, a strong visual identity, a custom website with a clear hero message, and a polished launch video that reassures clients at scale.
Kevin Nichols, COO from Oechsli, shares what he’s learned from leading 150 brand launches for advisors: Why naming is harder than it looks, how a logo is only one piece of a visual system, and where advisors go wrong by cramming pages with details instead of sharpening the core promise. We talk through a practical process from discovery to design to build, and why the first version of your site should only do three things brilliantly: Communicate why you left, prove credibility, and make contact effortless.---
Contact & connect with me:
Text or Call: (908) 902 4903
Meet: https://calendly.com/coreywalen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywalen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyWalen
Website: https://www.coreywalen.com...
34 min
About Firm Transitions with Corey Walen
From the publisher's feed
Welcome to the Firm Transitions podcast. I'm Corey Walen and my goal is to make broker dealer and RIA due diligence easier for you. I've helped more than 1,000 high-performing financial advisors make…
successful transitions and on this podcast, I share conversations, stories, examples, and helpful guidance for those looking to make a change or simply seeking more information.
More shows like Firm Transitions with Corey Walen
Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer
4,044 Listeners
Odd Lots
1,967 Listeners
Notes on the Week Ahead
194 Listeners
Capital Ideas podcast
282 Listeners
Animal Spirits Podcast
2,032 Listeners
The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors
100 Listeners
The Perfect RIA
462 Listeners
The Compound and Friends
2,142 Listeners
Thoughts on the Market
1,297 Listeners
Kitces and Carl - Real Talk for Real Financial Advisors
244 Listeners
Advisor Talk with Frank LaRosa
89 Listeners
All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
10,124 Listeners
The Efficient Advisor: Tactical Business Advice for Financial Planners
133 Listeners
The Master Investor Podcast with Wilfred Frost
92 Listeners
The Ryen Russillo Show
2,967 Listeners