Videos

You ask, we answer. Below are videos in which we answer RIA related questions we are frequently asked by advisors. We generally add a new video about every two weeks. (Also available as podcast.)

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Good starting point:

#98 – Is the RIA model right for your practice?
#112 – What motivates advisors to transition to the RIA model?
#115 – How does an RIA payout compare to a broker dealer payout?
#121 – Do I have to drop my Series 7 if I go RIA?

Full list:

#139 – What time of year should I transition to the RIA model? (New! Added January 6, 2026)
#138 – What is a 1099 RIA model?
#137 – Why do advisors leave the wirehouse model for the RIA model?
#136 – What does the “portfolio management” tool in an RIA tech stack do?
#135 – What is the best custodian to use with your RIA?
#134 – What are the biggest ways to screw up a transition to the RIA model?
#133 – What are the steps involved with breaking away from a wirehouse to transition to the RIA model?
#132 – What is an RIA solicitor agreement?
#131 – What is the benefit of controlling your local expenses as an RIA?
#130 – What is an RIA “roll-up” firm?
#129 – Can I use alternative investments as an RIA?
#128 – Can I use the same investment models or SMAs that I’m using now if I transition to the RIA model?
#127 – What is the difference between an RIA and a broker-dealer?
#126 – What type of fees can I charge my clients in the RIA model?
#125 – How difficult is a transition to the RIA model?
#124 – What is an RIA-friendly broker-dealer?
#123 – What additional responsibilities come with your own RIA?
#122 – Is the payout in the RIA model really 100%?
#121 – Do I have to drop my Series 7 if I go RIA?
#120 – Are there “platform fees” in the RIA model?
#119 – How to make up for lost deferred comp when transitioning to the RIA model?
#118 – Is my practice too large to join an RIA?
#117 – How to solve for your remaining commission assets?
#116 – How to explain to clients your transition to the RIA model?
#115 – How does an RIA payout compare to a broker dealer payout?
#114 – What are the most stressful parts of starting an RIA?
#113 – Can I join a custodian’s client referral program?
#112 – What motivates advisors to transition to the RIA model?
#111 – What is the most time-consuming part of transitioning to the RIA model?
#110 – What is the most popular type of RIA to join?
#109 – What is the most exciting part about starting an RIA?
#108 – What is the difference between “reoccurring” revenue and “fee-based” revenue?
#107 – Are the economics better in the RIA model?
#106 – What is the real estate advantage of the RIA model?
#105 – Will my practice have a higher valuation in the RIA model?
#104 – Should I transition to the RIA channel at my multi-channel firm?
#103 – Should I avoid joining a private equity backed RIA?
#102 – What is the difference between a Super-OSJ and an RIA?
#101 – What is the difference between a hybrid RIA and a hybrid broker-dealer?
#100 – Seven questions about the RIA model Michael Kitces has never been asked. (w/ guest Michael Kitces)
#99 – What do advisors fear about compliance with the RIA model?
#98 – Is the RIA model right for your practice?
#97 – What type of RIAs should you not join?
#96 – What is the quickest you could transition to the RIA model?
#95 – Why is it harder to pick an RIA to join than a broker-dealer to join?
#94 – Why go RIA when wirehouses offer huge upfront checks?
#93 – What is the difference between a corporate RIA and an independent RIA?
#92 – How much cash should I have saved before transitioning my practice to the RIA model?
#91 – What is the payout if I join an RIA?
#90 – What website domain should I use with my new RIA?
#89 – How do I evaluate a potential RIA to join? (w/ guest Penny Phillips)
#88 – What are the three key decisions involved with considering the RIA model?
#87 – What is the most important software for a new RIA?
#86 – How to run a large RIA with only one person?
#85 – What could prevent an advisor from starting an RIA?
#84 – How much does it cost to start an RIA?
#83 – How much E&O coverage does my RIA need?
#82 – Won’t large RIAs have the same challenging compliance departments as broker-dealers?
#81 – Is broker-dealer technology better than RIA technology?
#80 – Can I take my employees with me if I transition to the RIA model? (w/ guest Richard Chen)
#79 – How do I explain the RIA model to clients?
#78 – Can I manage client assets myself as an RIA?
#77 – Why don’t more financial advisors transition to the RIA model?
#76 – Can I accommodate concentrated stock positions as an RIA?
#75 – What are 13 ways that RIAs have an unfair advantage?
#74 – How can I reduce or eliminate my real estate office expense as an RIA?
#73 – What is a “Corporate RIA?”
#72 – How to calculate your true net broker/dealer payout?
#71 – What is a “Supported Independence” RIA model?
#70 – Can I have foreign clients as an RIA?
#69 – How to generate the highest income with your RIA?
#68 – What are mistakes to avoid when trying to recruit advisors to join your RIA?
#67 – How would I improve the wirehouse brokerage model?
#66 – Should you change affiliation models during challenging market conditions?
#65 – Mistakes advisors make when transitioning to the RIA model.
#64 – What do I think of “IAR-only” channels at broker-dealers?
#63 – What are the largest expenses of running an RIA?
#62 – Should I join an independent broker-dealer first or should I go straight to the RIA model?
#61 – What should I do with my legacy commission business?
#60 – How does a wirehouse compare to an RIA?
#59 – What is an RIA technology stack?
#58 – What is an Outsourced Chief Compliance Officer? (w/ guest Jeff Chapman)
#57 – What is a TAMP?
#56 – What is the Broker Protocol? (w/ guest Eric Siber)
#55 – How much revenue does a broker-dealer generate from their advisors?
#54 – 10 questions on the future of the RIA model. (w/ guest Bob Veres)
#53 – How to choose a custodian for your RIA?
#52 – How to structure the legal ownership of an RIA? (w/ guest Richard Chen)
#51 – Should I join an existing RIA?
#50 – How to offer insurance solutions as an RIA? (w/ guest Tim Rembowski of DPL Financial Partners)
#49 – How long does it take to transition to the RIA model?
#48 – Why should an RIA use LinkedIn? (w/ guest Sara Grillo)
#47 – 10 reasons to NOT start an RIA?
#46 – How do I obtain Errors & Omissions insurance (“E&O”) as an RIA? (w/ guest Scott Shannon of Windermere Insurance Group)
#45 – How to charge for financial planning? (w/ guests Lucy Robeson & Isabelle McGrail of AdvicePay)
#44 – What is the minimum amount of assets under management I should have before I start my own RIA?
#43 – How to run the business side of your own RIA? (w/ guest Andrea Schlapia of Ironstone)
#42 – How to start an RIA?
#41 – How do I navigate the legal considerations of breaking away from my current firm to transition to the RIA model? (w/ guest Sharron Ash)
#40 – How does a broker-dealer grid payout compare to an RIA?
#39 – How do I start a podcast as my own RIA? (w/ guest Matt Halloran of ProudMouth)
#38 – Am I required to have a CFP designation to start my own RIA?
#37 – How do I create a marketing plan for my new advisory firm? (w/ guest Claire Akin of Indigo Marketing Agency)
#36 – How does an RIA custodian generate revenue?
#35 – What is a “Hybrid” RIA?
#34 – What kind of RIA compliance consultants are there to choose from?
#33 – Can an RIA charge performance fees?
#32 – How can I create my own upfront transition check?
#31 – What is the difference between fee based and fee only?
#30 – Is it possible to keep some of my legacy commission business?
#29 – How can I see a sample of another RIAs ADV?
#28 – What can I expect to happen during a regulatory exam?
#27 – Can I start as single custodian and then become multi-custodian later?
#26 – What conflicts of interest do you have to disclose as an RIA?
#25 – Should I buy an existing RIA or start my own?
#24 – What is a No Transaction Fee program?
#23 – What is the difference between Transaction Based Pricing & Asset Based Pricing?
#22 – Does my custodian send account statements to my clients?
#21 – Can I charge flat or hourly rate fees for financial planning as an RIA?
#20 – What is the minimum account size I can have as an RIA?
#19 – Will my custodian offer every mutual fund I might want to use with my clients?
#18 – Will I keep 100% of my clients if I start my own RIA?
#17 – As an RIA, can I use more than one custodian?
#16 – What is an advisory agreement and how do I create one?
#15 – Does the client or RIA pay the trading transaction costs?
#14 – What level of bottom line income can I expect to earn as an RIA?
#13 – Can I sell insurance as an RIA?
#12 – How much does an RIA compliance consultant cost?
#11 – Won’t I have to pay for doing my own compliance as an RIA?
#10 – Will I officially own my book with my own RIA?
#9 – What is the minimum AUM I must have to start an RIA?
#8 – How often will my RIA receive a regulatory exam?
#7 – Do I have to get Outside Business Activities approved as an RIA?
#6 – Can I have discretionary accounts as an RIA?
#5 – How long does it take to register an RIA?
#4 – How do I logistically setup an RIA?
#3 – What is the difference between an RIA and an IAR?
#2 – Do I need to register with the SEC or with my state?
#1 – Why should I consider starting my own RIA?

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