Louis Diamond (CEO of Diamond Consultants) joins David DeCelle to break down what really drives advisor transitions—and how top teams evaluate moves to independence, new platforms, or M&A opportunities. Louis shares the "consultative recruiting" model his firm has built over nearly 30 years, why freedom, flexibility, and control are the three core forces behind most breakaway decisions, and what a realistic timeline looks like from exploration to execution.

You'll also hear how Diamond Consultants structures compensation (including a refundable retainer approach), what their 7-step consulting framework looks like, and how advisors can avoid getting overwhelmed when independence opens up a "toy box" of tech, compliance, and infrastructure decisions.

What You'll Learn

• The difference between traditional recruiting vs recruitment consulting

• Why most advisor pain points trace back to Freedom, Flexibility, and Control

• How Diamond Consultants helps advisors compare 3–7 best-fit destinations (wirehouse, IBD, RIA, aggregators, etc.)

• How fees work: firm-paid recruiting model + when a refundable retainer comes into play

• A realistic view of the transition timeline: 6–12 months is common, longer for breakaways

• How many breakaway teams simplify tech decisions by plugging into existing RIA platforms

#FinancialAdvisor #RIA #AdvisorTransition #BreakawayAdvisor #WealthManagement #ModelFA #DiamondConsultants #MergersAndAcquisitions #SuccessionPlanning #AdvisorGrowth

Connect with Louis:

Website: https://www.diamond-consultants.com/team/louis-diamond/ LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisdiamond Email: [email protected]

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About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

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Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

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