As a wirehouse advisor, do you feel like you aren’t able to do everything you want to do for clients? Do you feel like you are “wired for more”? It made sense to start your career there, but does it make sense to finish it there?

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“Money won’t make you happy…but everyone wants to find out for themselves.”—Zig Ziglar

If you and your spouse died tomorrow, do you know how much of your estate would go to the IRS?

Do you think of yourself as a steward or an owner?

Jeff Thomas, CEO of Archetype Wealth Management, and Matt Gilbert, Principal of GAP Advisors, share how valuations are higher than they have ever been.

Valuation matters, but is it only the bigger companies that get the big valuations? Can some of the smaller companies also get some of those decent-sized deals?

The reality is, if you don't plan your exit well or have a good team put together to execute the strategy, then you do have to make some trade-offs.

Jeff Thomas, CEO of Archetype Wealth Management, and Matt Gilbert, Principal of GAP Advisors, share how the current economic environment is impacting both business owners looking to transition and third-party buyers.

In my recent blog entitled “The Three Mega-Trends in the Wealth Management Business”, I made the case that three important things need to happen in this industry:

100% of businesses eventually change ownership.

Who is the next owner of your business?

In my blog “The Three Mega-Trends in the Wealth Management Business”, I made the case that three important things need to happen in this industry:

“The model is broken!”

For years, that’s what I said about the wealth management business.

In my blog  “The Three Mega-Trends in the Wealth Management Business”, I made the case that three important things need to happen in this industry:

There is never a dull moment in this market!

In last week’s video, we talked about how the market was deeply oversold and due for a bounce.

We certainly got that in spades!

After last week’s market sell-off, the Fed made an unprecedented move this morning.  It began what amounts to an “unlimited QE” plan to make sure the markets have plenty of liquidity. Unfortunately, this was not enough to inspire the markets to a positive close today. ...

The big financial news over the weekend was that the Fed cut rates by a full point and made additional moves to make sure financial markets have plenty of liquidity.Unfortunately, this was not enough to calm the market today.  The volatility continues and is likely to...

Well, it was another wild day in the markets.  Fear over the corona virus continues to grow.  We know this can be disconcerting—both in worrying about your personal health and your portfolio.

As the U.S. moves further toward a “stay home economy” for the coming...

Stocks sold off today, as the Coronavirus spread globally.  The S&P 500 fell 3.27%, with the other two major U.S. indexes both solidly in the red for the day.

The wealth management industry is having a reckoning right now.  The broker-dealer’s conflicts of interest are now obvious.  Consumers are demanding transparency.  However, the largest industry players continue to lobby to muddy the waters of disclosure.

Are you a financial advisor that doesn’t feel a strong alignment with your firm’s culture?

You are not alone.

“Fifty-two percent of senior female executives played sports at the university level, compare to 39% of women at other management levels”, said Debora Spar, a professor at Harvard Business School. [1]

re-tire

A 75 year-old client gave a keynote speech recently claiming that the last 10 years have been the most fulfilling of his life. He hasn’t had a salary or played golf once for 10 years.  So, why is he so happy?

I recently went on a wine tour that included a tasting from a winery called “7 Generations”.  Their brochure talked about being in the wine business for 180 years. 

Shirl Penney, CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners, created a flap in the wealth management industry last week when he warned advisors joining private equity (PE)-backed Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) about the possible negative influences of such ownership. [1].

A week ago, my first grandchild, Cameron, was born.  His mother, my daughter Ally, went to the hospital just as Jose Altuve hit a walk-off homer to send the Astros to the World Series!

When we describe our company to financial industry folks, we often use the shorthand description that we are building “the Chick-fil-A of wealth management”.  But, what does that mean exactly?

Well, what are the some of the first things that come to mind when you...

Are you a wirehouse advisor that desires greater autonomy?

If so, you are not alone.  According to Cerulli's "U.S. RIA Marketplace 2018" report, the desire for greater autonomy is the number one factor that attracts breakaway advisors to the independent channel.

What is your biggest challenge operating at a wirehouse?

• Changes in compensation?
• Insufficient staffing support?
• Firm culture?

“Let My People Go”

These are likely the four best-known words from the Book of Exodus uttered from Moses to Pharoah.

Over the last several years, wirehouse headcount has been falling in the single digit percentages, while RIA’s are growing at high single digit...

We had our company’s Investment Committee meeting last Friday and are releasing our “Monthly Market Commentary” today.  In light of the sell-off in stocks today, we thought we would offer this quick update of what happened along with our perspective.

Is the grass really greener for RIAs?  According to a recent article in Financial Advisor magazine, the answer is a resounding “Yes”, according to brokers. [1]

Here’s what SEC Commissioner Robert Jackson, Jr., said about the Regulations’ passing:

Goldman Sachs announced they were buying 14 year old RIA, United Capital, for $750 mm in cash on May 16, 2019.  The 220 advisors who sold to the independent RIA, United Capital, are about to work for Goldman Sachs.  How must those advisors feel about that?

“Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time?”

How do you answer that question when clients or prospects ask it?

It was a question I used to dread as an advisor at the wirehouse. 

April 25^th, 2019 marks Archetype’s two year anniversary as an independent company. Our team started Archetype after spending 25 years at the largest global brokerage firms—including the last 17 years at Morgan Stanley.

Well, our Firm did this week!  Why?  That’s easy:   We use a different scorecard than most firms.

Friends,

Greetings to you from soggy Houston!

Your Archetype team just wanted to reach out in the aftermath of hurricane Harvey