Planning to transition to a more independent or ideal business model? If you’re like many advisors, you’ve probably done a significant amount of planning and research to prepare for a move. FocusPoint Solutions has significant experience and a strong history of leading advisors through their unique transitions to ultimately help them reach their goals.
Learn the history of FocusPoint What does your ideal business look like?Here are some key points to add to your arsenal of transition planning resources:
The key to a successful transition is to design a solid plan, and then fully commit to it.
Making a business change is a major undertaking. It’s critical to set the stage for a smooth, efficient experience as you transition from one business model to another. Each advisor preparing to make a move has a uniquely realistic—and necessary—timeline. While planning for the expected is essential, also anticipate that you’ll experience a few complications along the way. Missing or incorrect paperwork, clients who are unavailable at inopportune times, asset transfer issues, technology glitches, and any other number of random obstacles will inevitably crop up throughout a transition. Having an experienced partner by your side throughout a transition can help you stay focused and on course. FocusPoint Solutions helps to create and then successfully implement a transition plan within an advisor’s ideal timeframe.
Learn about transitioning with FocusPointIf you don’t plan adequately up front or stick to your transition plan, your business and revenue stream may suffer.
While you and your firm are unique, know that it can potentially take up to six months to get back to your current revenue stream. With adequate upfront planning prior to a transition, you can dramatically shrink this timeframe. In order to avoid unnecessary stress or difficulty caused by lower revenue, plan to create and put in place a financial cushion in anticipation of this (temporary) situation.
Some clients you least expected won’t—or will!—make the move with you.
We can’t predict how anyone will respond to change (it’s human nature). But as a trusted advisor to your clients, if you express excitement, passion, and confidence to them about making a business move, most will likely share your positive feelings. For any host of reasons (many totally beyond your control), some clients you expected would join you in your new venture will not. On the same note, a handful of clients may pleasantly surprise you by opting to move forward with you on your new journey. Also worth noting: Making a business transition is the right time to take a close look at your client base and decide whether to trim some clients from the list of those you serve.
Read this case study from a breakaway advisorPlan for (a lot of) paperwork.
FocusPoint Solutions assists advisors with the creation of all new paperwork (yes, as much as you and your clients may have become accustomed to a relatively paperless environment, there will be a significant amount of physical documentation that requires actual client signatures). Advisors simply gather and provide the information and data necessary to populate required forms. FocusPoint Solutions then quarterbacks the entire paperwork process and preps all documents for each advisory firm.
Learn about our back office servicesTake a long view on technology and training.
How much time and effort do you really want to put into researching, implementing, integrating, and training on new technology and systems—today and continuously? FocusPoint Solutions offers advisors an integrated, non-proprietary technology solution which includes CRM, PMS, document storage, and a client portal. Reporting on outside assets is also an option. Advisors and their teams are provided with systems and technology training as part of the onboarding process. Additionally, FocusPoint Solutions regularly backs up client-related data and makes it available to each advisor.
Learn about our technology servicesIf forming your own RIA is your ultimate goal, but not feasible right now, there may be a temporary solution.
For advisors who don’t have their own RIA, FocusPoint Solutions may be able to offer a bridge solution.