Launching a breakaway Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm is a big leap forward. Going independent is often filled with opportunities. Still, making sure your new firm operates within the bounds of fair competition is equally important. Companies, old and new,...
Break Away From The Pack
Year: 2024
3 kinds of insurance necessary for a breakaway RIA firm
Starting a new registered investment advisor (RIA) firm can be a smart career move. A successful investment professional can go from an employee receiving a pittance based on their productivity to a main shareholder reaping the rewards of successful investment...
Is it smart to hire employees from your previous firm?
A successful business often requires a strong team. This also applies to advisors looking to build a breakaway firm. A natural first thought might be to hire former colleagues at your previous company. This move has advantages and disadvantages, which you must...
The pros and cons of arbitration in resolving financial disputes
In the fast-paced and complex world of finance, disputes are unfortunate yet inevitable. When disagreements arise, they can consume time, incur costs and ruin professional relationships. One method of resolving such disputes is arbitration. If your breakaway firm is...
4 essentials to building a compliance program in your RIA firm
A compliance program is nonnegotiable for a registered investment advisory (RIA) firm. Failing to meet regulatory demands can result in costly penalties. It can also affect the firm’s ability to operate and damage its reputation. If you are planning to form an RIA...
Noncompetes no longer threaten those planning a breakaway firm
Someone who has achieved a degree of success as a financial advisor or investment professional may dream of running their own breakaway firm. They want to choose what clients they take on and also keep more of the profits when their strategies prove successful. Those...
Your employer can seek a repayment of your note if you leave
It's a huge career move to break away from a large wirehouse or Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) to start your own firm. As you make this transition, you may be surprised when your employer asks you to repay your signing bonus. You might wonder, "What? They can do...
3 things to review in your contract before transferring firms
The financial advisor world is a competitive landscape. Due to the number of confidential clients and trade secrets, firms are strict in implementing restrictive covenants in their employees’ contracts. These agreements aim to protect the interests of the firm, the...
What are the qualities of a trade secret?
Breaking away and starting a firm may require extensive resources essential to establish your operations. They can include valuable funding, expertise or intellectual properties (IPs) gained over time. Fortunately, these resources can receive protection under certain...
Should you take the leap and join a breakaway firm?
An established wirehouse career is a product of years of hard work, expertise and customer service. Because of this, it’s usually expected for an accomplished financial advisor to stay with their firm. However, some advisors move to Registered Investment Advisors...