Profitable Without Pretending

"I viewed it as a greater risk to stay comfortable."

That's Rob Sechan, co-founder of NewEdge Capital Group, on why he went independent.

By his own account, Rob started at Morgan Stanley in the mid-90s, spent 5 years at Lehman Brothers, and landed at UBS when Lehman failed. He says he was one of the larger advisors there, running a major family office practice, when he began to think, "Can I go independent?" Then he helped start something different: NewEdge.

In Episode 3 of Profitable Without Pretending, Eric Grinberg sits down with Rob to talk about:

• Why he saw staying comfortable as the greater risk, not the safer one
• "It's pretty good" vs. "it could be great," and why he thinks the first gets in the way of the second
• Why he thinks the industry is headed toward super RIAs, and why it reminds him of the prime brokerage business in the late 90s
• His answer to the private equity question
• The hire he credits with making NewEdge's brand well known
• Why he says "no one goes back"

Asked for the first step for advisors thinking about going independent, Rob started with 3 words: "Just get informed." In his words: "you can't afford to not get informed."

Conversation and opinions only, not financial or legal advice. Rob's views are his own.

Thinking about a move, or just getting informed? Revolt Financial represents financial advisors, not firms, and we hold 200+ firm contracts.
Book a confidential conversation here

Profitable Without Pretending is hosted by Eric Grinberg, CEO of Revolt Financial.

Conversation and opinions only, not financial or legal advice. Guest's views are their own.

Welcome to Episode 2 of "Profitable Without Pretending." Eric Grinberg and John Pierce sit down with Jeremy Straub — CEO of Coastal Wealth, a MassMutual-backed firm managing $22B in assets with 300+ advisors. From Jeremy's leap out of a Fortune 500 RVP role (seven figures to $40K his first year) to building one of the most diverse teams in financial services, to the real math behind PE exits — succession planning, EBITDA, and morning routines collide.

What you'll get in this episode

• The $40K year: leaving a seven-figure role to bet on yourself with a newborn at home.
• The FORD framework (Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams) for building relationships.
• The three-mentor model: same seat, same industry, outside your world.
• Inconvenience vs. problem: how stage 4 cancer reframed Jeremy's operating rhythm.
• Inside Coastal Wealth: MassMutual backing, 43 languages, international life cases, 88.5% top payout.
• The McKinsey model for scaling advisors into firm-within-a-firm operators — then facilitating $32M PE exits.
• Why PE buyers want platforms not books — and the 5-year buildout most advisors skip.
• Permanent partial equity vs. full PE exits vs. internal succession — what each path actually pays.

Who this is for?

Advisors thinking about succession, firm owners exploring PE deals, wirehouse advisors curious about independence, and entrepreneurs who want to hear how a $40K first year becomes a $22B platform.

Chapters:
0:00 – 2:09 Welcome & how John and Jeremy met at Ameriprise
2:09 – 6:07 Jim Stearns, mentorship & the mentor who gave more than he took
6:07 – 8:41 Three generations of mentorship & the correlation between success and risk
8:41 – 13:18 Jeremy's leap: RVP → $40K year — doubling down on your one skill
13:18 – 17:04 Ego, the three-mentor model & parrot vs. sponge
17:04 – 20:41 Sales as the foundation of every career — the periodontist with 18 PE exits
20:41 – 25:17 The FORD framework & breaking through social anxiety
25:17 – 33:06 Morning routines, journaling, cancer & inconvenience vs. problem
33:06 – 38:30 "Let the small fires burn" — superpowers vs. distractions
38:30 – 45:10 What is Coastal Wealth? MassMutual, 22B AUM, 43 languages & the new wealth push
45:10 – 52:05 AI, advisor shortage, firm-within-a-firm & W-2 vs. independent growth
52:05 – 1:01:06 EBITDA, succession, PE platforms & permanent partial equity
1:01:06 – 1:08:16 Takeaways: risk, choosing who you work with & doing business with friends

Subscribe for no-BS conversations with operators actually doing it.

Connect
• Revolt Financial — https://www.revoltfinancial.com
• Coastal Wealth — https://www.coastalwealth.com
• Eric Grinberg — / revoltceo
• John Pierce — johnpierce.com

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Financial advisor recruiting, succession planning, EBITDA valuation, private equity RIA, Coastal Wealth, MassMutual, permanent partial equity, New Edge, wirehouse breakaway, firm within a firm, payout grid, practice acquisition, PE exit, life insurance, family office, FORD framework, morning routine, Five Minute Journal, CI Financial, phantom equity.

Questions this episode answers:

• What does a PE-backed family office model look like in financial services?
• How should advisors structure their business 5 years before selling?
• Why do PE buyers pay more for platforms than books of business?
• How do you decide between a full PE exit, partial equity, or internal succession?
• Why do captive advisors grow 30% more than independent advisors?

#profitablewithoutpretending #financepodcast #financialadvisors #ria #successionplanning #privateequity #coastalwealth #revoltfinancial

Thinking about a move, or just getting informed? Revolt Financial represents financial advisors, not firms, and we hold 200+ firm contracts.
Book a confidential conversation here

Profitable Without Pretending is hosted by Eric Grinberg, CEO of Revolt Financial.

Conversation and opinions only, not financial or legal advice. Guest's views are their own.

Welcome to "Profitable Without Pretending": real finance, real recruiting, no corporate spin. Host Eric Grinberg (CEO, Revolt Financial) sits down with co-host John Pierce; a 30-year industry veteran who's led recruiting at Merrill Lynch, Ameriprise, and Cetera—for an unfiltered debut on mentorship, EBITDA reality checks, and why the biggest teams don't chase checks. From John's new book (Unshakable Confidence) to Eric's $85M GDC year building Revolt Financial solo, to the crypto scams hitting every advisor's phone; this is how the game actually works.

What you'll get in this episode

• Why EBITDA—not top-line revenue—is the only number that builds generational wealth.
• The 100% payout myth: what "going independent" actually costs when you add up GAF, platform fees, and staffing.
• How to spot a self-serving mentor vs. one who actually has your back (and when to cut them fast).
• Insurance → wealth management recruiting: why insurance pros are often the most profitable hires.
• The real anatomy of moving a $20M+ team—negotiations, portability battles, and executive conversations advisors never see.
• Why the RIA standalone play is "the biggest con in America" without $500M+ in assets and a real EBITDA plan.
• Crypto, distributed ledger tech, and the texting scams every financial professional needs to watch for.

Who this is for?

Financial advisors, OSJ leaders, RIA principals, aggregators, and entrepreneurs in financial services who want honest, practical conversations about recruiting, transitions, firm economics, and building businesses that actually cash flow—without the boardroom filter.


Connect
• Revolt Financial — https://www.revoltfinancial.com
• Eric Grinberg — / revoltceo
• John Pierce — https://johnpierceauthor.com

New here? Subscribe so you don't miss upcoming guests.

Financial advisor recruiting, RIA transition, EBITDA valuation, independence vs wirehouse, independent broker-dealer, advisor leverage, practice growth, GDC, transition checks, third-party recruiter, OSJ economics, GAF fees, platform fees, grid payout, mentor vs coach, wealth management career, insurance to wealth management, crypto scams, distributed ledger, succession planning, private equity RIA, New Edge, Rockefeller, LPL, Cetera, Ameriprise, family office, advisor retention, practice acquisition, financial services entrepreneurship.

Questions this episode answers:
• What is EBITDA and why should advisors focus on it over gross revenue?
• Is starting your own RIA really worth it—and at what AUM does it make sense?
• What does a third-party recruiter actually do behind the scenes on a $20M+ team move?
• Why is the "100% payout" in independent channels misleading?
• What crypto education should every financial professional prioritize right now?

Thinking about a move, or just getting informed? Revolt Financial represents financial advisors, not firms, and we hold 200+ firm contracts.
Book a confidential conversation here

Profitable Without Pretending is hosted by Eric Grinberg, CEO of Revolt Financial.

Conversation and opinions only, not financial or legal advice. Guest's views are their own.