FAQs

The section contains answers to frequently asked questions about to Transition To RIA. For questions about the RIA model in general, please refer to the Videos page

1. Why was Transition To RIA started?
Brad Wales, founder of Transition To RIA, recognized a void in the marketplace. As the RIA model continued to be the fastest growing channel in the wealth management industry, there was no independent resource focused solely on helping financial advisors explore, and if applicable, navigate the transition of their practice to the model. Hence, the creation of Transition To RIA.
2. Will all of our interactions be kept confidential?
Yes. All conversations are strictly confidential. Only if and when we reach an agreed upon point where you’re ready to be connected to needed solution providers, our conversations will otherwise stay solely between us.
3. What do you charge for your service?

See the Pricing page for a full explanation.

4. What size advisors are you able to help?
While our expertise and resources have applicability to advisors and teams of all sizes, our “sweet spot” of where we put our full focus is into supporting advisors and teams between $50M and $1B in AUM. If you fall outside of that range, please see our Contact page for more info.
5. At what point in considering the RIA model should we contact you?
The earlier the better! There are several paths you could take to transition to the RIA model. Each with their own nuances, pros, cons, options, etc. It’s best to think those options through on the front end, before you get too far down a path that may or may not be best for you.
6. If we haven’t definitively decided yet on the RIA model, can you still help us consider it?
Certainly! That is a key part of what we help with. We help you understand how the model works, how it would look for your practice, and how it compares to other affiliation options. There is no prerequisite to have already decided on the RIA model to work with us. Helping you understand and think through your options is part of the value we provide.
7. Will the vendors you recommend we contact treat our referral differently?

Yes, in a good way!  Consider an analogy of otherwise identical prospective clients that get connected to your practice:

  • Prospective client #1 calls your main office line and asks to make an appointment to meet with you.
  • Prospective client #2 is introduced to you by one of your top existing clients.

Naturally, you will be responsive and provide value and service to each.  However, with prospective client #2, how you treat them will likely be communicated back to your existing client.  Hence, you don’t want to jeopardize your existing relationship (and source of referrals) and so are even more responsive and helpful to the referred client.

That is similar to when we help connect you to solution providers.  They are desiring for us to make such referrals, and want to protect their referral source by being absolutely responsive and helpful to the advisors we refer to them.

8. Are you familiar with employee and independent broker/dealer models?
Yes, we have years of experience from having worked previously in and around such channels directly. Further, as the hundreds of advisors we speak to each year are generally in those channels, we’ve developed and maintain years of ongoing insight into them.
9. Will you refer advisors to employee and independent broker/dealer models?
We help you understand everything there is to know about why and how to transition your practice to the RIA model. There are scenarios, though, where the RIA model is not a fit. When that is the case, we are happy to refer you to contacts that can help you explore alternative models that better align with the needs of your practice.
10. You give away so much info on your website, aren’t you afraid advisors won’t then reach out to you?
We provide as much helpful content on the website as we can. However, considering the importance to your career of navigating this process successfully, obtaining one-on-one expertise will always be critical.

As a comparison, there is endless content online on how to manage wealth. Yet, your clients turn to you as they understand and appreciate the value of working with a trusted expert, as opposed to trying to “Do-It-Yourself”.

Advisors that want and expect the best for their practice reach out to us for similar reasons.

11. Why is Brad always wearing the same style shirt?
This is by design. Some might assume he is taking inspiration from the likes of Steve Jobs (black turtle neck), Mark Zuckerberg (grey t-shirt), or Michael Kitces (blue button-down). As much as he respects such luminaries, his reasoning is far less sophisticated.

When he started the firm, he planned to have the RIA video explanatory series, which he continues with today. He also knew most of his interactions with advisors would be via zoom. He never wanted to have to think about what he was wearing in the last video he made, or what he was wearing the last time he appeared on a zoom with an advisor, etc.

Solution? Pick a particular outfit from the onset, and stick to it! Hence, the black polo.