Advisor Talk with Frank LaRosa
Advisor Talk with Frank LaRosa offers unfiltered guidance and advice for financial advisors, wealth management professionals, and entrepreneurs alike who are interested in maximizing both their business and personal potential. Informed by Frank's unique insights and his personal conversations with industry leaders, the dynamic discussion topics of Advisor Talk include business ownership, leadership, practice management, transition and recruiting, marketing and branding, as well as a host of financial services related topics related to wirehouse, regional, and RIA advisors, firms, and teams. Frank’s goal, and the goal of his team at Elite Consulting Partners, is now as ever to be th...
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Greatest Hits: M&A Masterclass with Jon Kuttin
<p>Frank and Jon unpack:</p> <p>• Why today's competitive landscape means growth-motivated buyers must approach deals differently.</p> <p>• The three core reasons advisors pursue acquisitions - and which ones actually lead to long-term success.</p> <p>• How leverage, bank financing, and EBITDA-based lending really work in practice.</p> <p>• Why “fixer-upper” books may offer the strongest ROI.</p> <p>• How elite buyers win deals by understanding the emotional side of selling a practice.</p> <p>• The art of creating a safe landing place for sellers, their teams, and their clients.</p> <p>• Why phased buyouts and seller glide paths often create...
Greatest Hits: Private Equity, Independence, and the Future of Wealth Management with NewEdge CEO Rob Sechan
<p>Frank and Rob dive into:</p> <p>• Rob’s path from UBS and Morgan Stanley to launching NewEdge Wealth.</p> <p>• How NewEdge Wealth and NewEdge Advisors differ and advisor profiles that may fit each platform.</p> <p>• How multi-custody and open architecture models can offer flexibility.</p> <p>• Perspectives of some advisors that have experienced business growth after joining the firm.</p> <p>• The role of private equity and its innovation in wealth management.</p> <p>• How advisors may use niche marketing strategies and referral initiatives to identify opportunities.</p> <p>Whether you’re exploring alternatives to a wirehouse or stay...
Greatest Hits: Cetera CEO Mike Durbin on the Future of Independent Financial Advisors
<p>In this Greatest Hits episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa sits down with Cetera CEO Mike Durbin for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about ownership structure, affiliation flexibility, M&A strategy, custody decisions, and what it really means to build a “forever home” for advisors.</p> <p>From private equity misconceptions to succession solutions, this episode explores how advisors can think strategically - not reactively - about their long-term growth.</p> <p>Mike shares insights from his 35-year career working directly with financial advisors, including leadership roles at Morgan Stanley and Fidelity, and explains why he returned to the independent spac...
Minority Stakes in Advisory Practices: Opportunity or Trap?
<p>In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank break down the realities behind minority equity deals in advisory practices - including what advisors often misunderstand about control, exit clauses, valuation multiples, and long-term implications.</p><p>Frank explains why even a 10–20% minority stake effectively creates a partner in your business - whether you think of it that way or not - and why advisors must think beyond the upfront check and consider the unwind scenario before signing anything.</p><p>They also explain the difference between taking a transition loan versus selling equity - and why on...
How Financial Advisors Should Actually Be Using AI
<p>In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank take a grounded, advisor-first look at how AI is actually changing the profession - and why the future of advice is still fundamentally human.</p><p>Rather than fearing AI, Frank explains why this moment closely mirrors the rise of online trading in the early 2000s - a shift that many believed would eliminate advisors, but ultimately made great advisors even more valuable.</p><p>This conversation centers on a critical idea:</p><p>Technology can provide data. Only humans can provide wisdom.</p><p>Frank and Stacey...
Should Financial Advisors Stay or Switch Firms? The Cost of Not Deciding
<p>Key questions answered in this episode:</p><p>What does it mean when financial advisors choose not to decide?</p><p>Choosing to stay put - without evaluating alternatives - is still an active decision, often driven by comfort, fear, or overwhelm rather than strategy.</p><p>Why do advisors delay firm transitions even when they’re unhappy?</p><p>Two major factors show up repeatedly: the path of least resistance and paralysis by analysis. Both create inertia that keeps advisors stuck.</p><p>Is transitioning firms as risky as advisors think?</p><p>Modern transitions are more automated, ef...
Why Do the Most Successful Financial Advisors Focus on Purpose Instead of Payout?
<p>Frank and Stacey break down the critical difference between goals and purpose, why confusing the two leads to burnout, and how advisors who reconnect to their “why” build stronger client relationships, make better transition decisions, and enjoy their careers longer.</p> <p>Key questions answered in this episode:</p> <p>What is the difference between a financial advisor’s goals and their purpose?</p> <p>Goals define outcomes; purpose defines motivation. Advisors who mistake goals for purpose often feel lost after achieving success.</p> <p>Why do advisors feel unfulfilled after hitting major milestones?</p> <p>Reaching AUM targets, exit v...
Are You Making a Transactional or Transformational Career Move?
<p>Show highlights include: </p><p>-Why focusing only on upfront payouts can leave money on the table.</p><p>-How growth-minded advisors evaluate leadership, technology, and firm culture.</p><p>-What truly separates firms that say they help you grow from those that actually do.</p><p>-Why due diligence matters more than most advisors realize.</p><p>-The importance of viewing your firm as a long-term partner, not a temporary stop.</p><p>If you’re considering a move - or even thinking about your future trajectory - this episode will challenge you to rethink what success really loo...
Don’t Just Grow… Grow the Right Way
<p>Show highlights include:</p><p>-The difference between being a practitioner vs. a true business owner.</p><p>-Why growing too fast can break your systems, operations, and culture.</p><p>-How to scale without sacrificing your core values.</p><p>-Why “making the right move” matters more than making the next move.</p><p>-How to define your ideal client avatar beyond just AUM.</p><p>-Why more RIAs are exploring M&A - and what’s driving the trend.</p><p>If you’re thinking about growth, transitions, acquisitions, or simply want to build a business that still fe...
Greatest Hits: Inside the Transition - What Really Happens When Advisors Move
<p>Key Highlights:</p><p>-How long it really takes to prepare and execute a successful move.</p><p>-What you can - and can't - say to clients during a transition.</p><p>-The emotional cost of waiting too long to leave.</p><p>-Why your assistant should be part of the due diligence process.</p><p>-Using the transition conversation to grow your book of business.</p><p>-Legal tips for navigating non-protocol firms.</p><p>-The value of having a transition project manager on your team.</p><p>Whether you're planning a move next month or just...
