Advisor Talk with Frank LaRosa

Elite Consulting Partners
  • 4.8 (91)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 the go-to resource for actionable information and trusted guidance to elevate you and your career at whatever stage you may be.

  1. Inside The Succession Trap: Why Sell and Exit Deals Keep Failing

    13H AGO

    Inside The Succession Trap: Why Sell and Exit Deals Keep Failing

    Most advisors say they want to exit. What they actually want is to stop doing the parts they hate. Scott Danner has had this conversation more times than he can count. The advisor says they want to sell. Then the deal falls apart. Not because the numbers were wrong but because nobody asked the right question at the start. Scott is the Executive Vice President and Head of Legacy at Steward Partners. He founded Freedom Street Partners in 2016, built it to nearly $3.5 billion in AUM, and sold it to Steward Partners in late 2023. He started at Edward Jones with zero clients and cold called his way into the industry. That background gives him a credibility in this conversation that most people talking about M&A simply do not have. In this episode, Frank and Scott break down what is actually happening inside succession deals when they collapse, why M&A is the mechanism quietly solving the industry's age and talent problem and how the sell, stay and grow model gives advisors a way to monetize without disappearing. Scott also shares how Freedom Street Partners built a career ladder that next generation advisors could actually follow, what independence with infrastructure means at Steward Partners and why he believes advisors who dismiss a W2 model immediately are thinking too small.   Questions answered in this episode include: Why do sell and exit deals keep failing? What does M&A actually do for the long-term health of the financial advisory industry? What is the sell, stay and grow model and how does it work? How do you build a career ladder that next generation advisors will actually believe in? What does independence with infrastructure mean at Steward Partners? How can an advisor keep their brand and their clients while still monetizing their practice? Why should advisors think twice before ruling out a W2 model?   Chapters: 00:00 Intro and Scott Danner Background 02:53 Building From Scratch at Edward Jones 07:19 Why M&A is Saving the Industry 09:29 The Sell Stay and Grow Model 13:55 Building a Ladder for Next Gen Advisors 17:22 Independence With Infrastructure 26:11 Rethinking the W2 Model   Learn more about Elite and our resources: Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions https://eliteconsultingpartners.com Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors https://elitemarketingconcepts.com Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors https://jedidatabasesolutions.com Elite Wealth Management Insights Report https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

    29 min
  2. Know What You're Saying No To | The Ameriprise Truth with Brian Mora

    APR 23

    Know What You're Saying No To | The Ameriprise Truth with Brian Mora

    The firm advisors think they know is not the firm that exists today. And if you are going to say NO, at least know what you are saying no to. Frank LaRosa goes one on one with Brian Mora of Ameriprise for a candid conversation that challenges some of the most common misconceptions advisors carry about one of the largest and most innovative firms in the industry. Frank and Brian break down what $1.7 trillion in assets actually means for an advisor looking for stability in a consolidating market, why Fortune named Ameriprise one of the most innovative companies in America and how their AI-powered CFP brain is giving advisors back hours of time every single week by transforming how they prep for meetings, generate recommendations and summarize client conversations. They also get into the numbers that matter most. Advisors who transition to Ameriprise are at 101% of their hiring assets after just 12 months, compared to the industry average of 91%. The conversation also breaks down how their digital transition process moved a billion dollar team onto the platform in just 16 days and why a firm telling you it takes six months to transition your book is a red flag you should not ignore. The episode closes with the message Frank keeps coming back to: before you say no to Ameriprise, at least know what you are saying no to. Because the firm advisors think they know is not the firm that exists today.   Questions answered in this episode include: Why are advisors surprised by what Ameriprise has become in the last 20 years? What does $1.7 trillion in assets mean for the stability of the firm you choose? How is Ameriprise using AI to help advisors grow their practices and serve clients better? What is the CFP brain and how does it work inside an advisor's practice? Why do Ameriprise advisors move 101% of their book after transitioning when the industry average is 91%? How fast should a book of business actually move when an advisor transitions today? What is the impact analyzer and how does it help advisors see the real financial difference of growing faster?   Chapters: 00:00 — Know What You're Saying No To: The Ameriprise Truth 01:04 — Why Ameriprise Surprises People: 1.7 Trillion and the Innovation Awards 03:00 — How Ameriprise Changed 20 Years Ago and Why It Matters Now 06:18 — Fortune, Time, and the Case for Innovation 09:18 — The CFP Brain: AI That Thinks Ahead for Every Client 10:07 — Meeting Summarization and Giving Advisors Their Time Back 12:52 — 101% vs 91%: Why More of the Book Moves at Ameriprise 15:37 — 16 Days, a Billion Dollars, and the Digital Transition Difference   Learn more about Elite and our resources: Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions https://eliteconsultingpartners.com Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors https://elitemarketingconcepts.com Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors https://jedidatabasesolutions.com Elite Wealth Management Insights Report https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

    28 min
  3. No Jerks Allowed | Raymond James' Philosophy for Financial Advisors

    APR 16

    No Jerks Allowed | Raymond James' Philosophy for Financial Advisors

    Every firm says they have great culture. Very few can back it up. Raymond James can. And in this episode, they explain exactly how. Frank LaRosa sits down with Jodi Perry, Head of Advisor Recruitment and Business Development and Todd Ferguson, Chief Information and Security Officer at Raymond James, for a wide ranging conversation recorded live at the Ignite Conference. The group breaks down what it really means to put the advisor in the driver's seat, why the freedom versus independence distinction matters more than most advisors realize and how Raymond James has been doing for 25 years what other firms are only now starting to talk about, including putting the advisor's ownership of their business in writing through the Advisor Bill of Rights. The conversation also gets into AI and technology in a way you will not hear anywhere else. The group breaks down how Raymond James is investing $1 billion in technology to give advisors more time for the relationship side of the business, how their opportunities platform surfaces client service gaps before they become problems and what every advisor needs to know about protecting their clients from bad actors and digital fraud in today's environment.   Questions answered in this episode include: Why is Raymond James a strong option for financial advisors right now regardless of where they are in their career? What is the difference between freedom and independence at Raymond James? What is the Advisor Bill of Rights and why does no other W2 firm offer it? How is Raymond James investing $1 billion in technology to help advisors grow their practices? Will AI reduce headcount in an advisory practice or expand its capacity? What should advisors do right now to protect their clients from bad actors and digital fraud? How does Raymond James approach advisor recruiting differently from other firms?   Chapters: 01:02 – Welcome: Ignite Conference Edition with Jodi Perry and Todd Ferguson 02:03 – Why Raymond James Now: Flexibility Across Every Stage of an Advisor's Career 03:38 – Culture Is Experiential: What That Really Means at Raymond James 05:31 – Freedom vs Independence: Why W2 at Raymond James Is Different 08:29 – The Advisor Bill of Rights: Putting Ownership in Writing 10:46 – AI and Technology: How Raymond James Is Using a $1 Billion Investment 15:57 – Bad Actors and Cybersecurity: What Every Advisor Needs to Know 25:20 – Quality Over Quantity: How Raymond James Thinks About Growth   Learn more about Elite and our resources: Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions https://eliteconsultingpartners.com Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors https://elitemarketingconcepts.com Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors https://jedidatabasesolutions.com Elite Wealth Management Insights Report https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

    29 min
  4. The $9 Million Gap: When Money IS the Reason to Move

    APR 9

    The $9 Million Gap: When Money IS the Reason to Move

    Sometimes the money IS the right reason. And pretending otherwise might be the most expensive mistake you ever make. In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank challenge the conventional wisdom around advisor transitions and make the case that when the difference between two firms is not a few thousand dollars but millions, the economics have to come into play. Frank breaks down the unicorn recruit concept, how asset based transition deals are creating massive opportunities for advisors whose AUM far outpaces their revenue, and why the transition window right now is unlike anything the industry has seen in decades. He also explains why advisors should think like their wealthiest business owner clients when evaluating an opportunity, what they can do with that capital to grow their practice faster, and why getting a monster transition package is not selling your business but monetizing it without giving anything up.   Questions answered in this episode include: What is a unicorn recruit and why do some advisors have more leverage than they realize? What is the difference between an AUM based deal and a T12 based transition package? Why are transition packages and practice valuations at all time highs right now? Is it okay to make a move primarily because of the economics? How can a large transition package help an advisor grow their business faster? What should advisors be thinking about before a market downturn hits? How do you know if you are leaving money on the table by staying where you are?   Chapters: 00:00 – When the Money IS the Right Reason to Move 01:04 – Welcome to Advisor Talk 02:20 – Why Most Firms Look the Same and Where the Difference Really Is 05:00 – The Unicorn Recruit: AUM Based Deals vs T12 09:00 – The $9 Million Question: When Economics Has to Come Into Play 13:00 – Think Like Your Wealthiest Business Owner Clients 27:14 – How to Reach Frank and Stacey   Learn more about Elite and our resources: Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions https://eliteconsultingpartners.com Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors https://elitemarketingconcepts.com Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors https://jedidatabasesolutions.com Elite Wealth Management Insights Report https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

    31 min
  5. Leaving Your Firm? What Advisors Wish They Knew

    APR 2

    Leaving Your Firm? What Advisors Wish They Knew

    Most advisors go into a transition focused on the upfront money. Very few are prepared for everything that happens after they walk out the door. Some surprises are good ones. Clients move faster than expected. Assets go up, not down. The income jump is real. But there are also things advisors consistently underestimate, overlook, and wish they had negotiated differently. In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank do a post transition breakdown of the things advisors wish they had known going in, including what they underestimate about client loyalty, what they leave on the table in negotiations, and the operational realities that no one warns them about until it is too late. Frank also breaks down the shrink to grow concept, why payout structure matters more than the upfront check long term, and why the first 30 days of a transition can make or break the entire move. Frank and Stacey also discuss what separates advisors who have a smooth transition from those who struggle, and why the more preparation you put in before the move, the less stress you will face after it.   Questions answered in this episode include: How many clients do financial advisors actually retain when they switch firms? What do advisors consistently underestimate when making a move? Should a financial advisor negotiate payout or upfront money? What is the shrink to grow concept in financial advisor transitions? What operational issues do advisors face in the first 30 days after a transition? How should a financial advisor prepare their support staff before making a move? What should advisors ask firms to include in their transition support package?   Chapters: 00:00 – What Advisors Wish They Knew Before Leaving 01:07 – Welcome to Advisor Talk 02:26 – The Biggest Surprise: Client Loyalty Is Stronger Than You Think 09:01 – The Income Jump Is Real: What the Math Actually Looks Like 12:50 – What Advisors Wish They Negotiated Differently 15:41 – Shrink to Grow: Why Not Every Client Should Come With You 18:13 – Operational Realities Nobody Warns You About 23:54 – How to Reach Frank and Stacey   Learn more about Elite and our resources: Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions https://eliteconsultingpartners.com Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors https://elitemarketingconcepts.com Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors https://jedidatabasesolutions.com Elite Wealth Management Insights Report https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

    26 min
  6. Stop Waiting: Your Deferred Comp is a Trap

    MAR 26

    Stop Waiting: Your Deferred Comp is a Trap

    Waiting sounds reasonable. Until you run the numbers. Protect what you have built. Let the deferred comp vest. Move when the timing is right. But is waiting actually costing you more than you realize? In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank break down why 2026 may be the most opportune time in recent memory for financial advisors to evaluate a firm transition and why deciding not to decide is still a decision with real financial consequences. Frank walks through why transition packages have reached historic highs, what is driving firms to be so aggressive in recruiting top advisors, and what advisors should actually be evaluating when they consider a move. He also breaks down the real math behind W2 versus 1099, the tax advantages most advisors overlook when going independent, and shares real client examples of advisors going in both directions and why the right move is not always the obvious one. Frank and Stacey also discuss what advisors should be asking themselves right now including one question that cuts through all the noise and gets to the heart of whether a move makes sense. Questions answered in this episode include: Why are financial advisor transition packages at historic highs in 2026? Should a financial advisor wait for deferred comp before making a move? What is the real financial difference between a W2 and 1099 advisor structure? How should a financial advisor evaluate which firm is the right fit? Is going independent always the right path for a financial advisor? What is a unicorn recruit and why do some advisors have more leverage than they realize? When does it make sense to move from independent back to a W2 or regional firm?   Chapters: 00:00 – Why Deciding Not to Decide Is Still a Decision 00:57 – Welcome to Advisor Talk 04:02 – Why Transition Packages Are at Historic Highs 11:44 – Why Firms Need to Recruit to Survive 16:08 – The Tax Advantage of Going Independent 20:33 – Why Waiting for Deferred Comp May Cost You Millions 25:44 – How to Evaluate Which Firm Is Right for You 30:18 – How to Reach Frank and Stacey   Learn more about Elite and our resources: Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions https://eliteconsultingpartners.com Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors https://elitemarketingconcepts.com Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers & Acquisitions https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors https://jedidatabasesolutions.com Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elite-consulting-partners/ Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

    32 min
  7. Special Edition: How Financial Advisors Should Be Thinking About AI

    MAR 23 ·  BONUS

    Special Edition: How Financial Advisors Should Be Thinking About AI

    The truth is, most financial advisors know they should be using AI. Very few know where to actually start. Too many tools. Too many platforms. Too much noise. But the advisors who take the time to learn it now will have a significant edge over those who wait. In this special edition of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa is joined by Chief Information Officer Sue Cheema, Chief Marketing Officer Brian Lutz, Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy Wade Shields, and co-host Stacey Frank for a wide-ranging roundtable on what AI actually means for financial advisors today. The group breaks down how advisors can use AI to grow their business, serve clients more effectively, and free up time, including how to build custom GPTs, craft better prompts, and choose the right platform for the right task. They also address the bigger picture: what AI will never be able to replace, why the human side of financial advising remains irreplaceable, and why advisors who ignore AI risk being left behind by the ones who embrace it. Frank and the team also discuss how AI is changing the way advisors should think about their brand, their marketing, and the client experience, and why the advisors who lean into what AI cannot do will be the ones who win long term.   Questions answered in this episode include: Will AI replace financial advisors? How should a financial advisor start using AI in their practice? What is the difference between ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini? What is a custom GPT and how can advisors use one? What is prompt engineering and why does it matter? How is AI changing financial advisor marketing and branding? What can AI never replace in the advisor-client relationship?   Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction and Why AI Matters for Advisors 03:57 – How Firms Are Already Using AI to Scan Books of Business 07:03 – What AI Cannot Replace: Empathy and the Human Edge 11:23 – Prompt Engineering: How to Get Better Answers from AI 14:10 – Building Custom GPTs for Your Advisory Practice 22:37 – ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini: Which One Should You Use 44:08 – Why AI Will Not Replace Advisors But This Will 49:05 – How to Reach the Team at Elite Consulting Partners   Learn more about Elite and our resources: Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions https://eliteconsultingpartners.com Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors https://elitemarketingconcepts.com Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers & Acquisitions https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors https://jedidatabasesolutions.com Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elite-consulting-partners/ Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/

    52 min
  8. Selling 20% of Your Practice? You May Lose Control

    MAR 19

    Selling 20% of Your Practice? You May Lose Control

    At first glance, these offers can seem attractive. Gain liquidity. Access growth capital or strategic support. Remain with your current firm. Continue building your business. But are these deals really as straightforward as they sound? In this episode of Advisor Talk, Frank LaRosa and Stacey Frank break down what financial advisors need to consider before agreeing to a minority equity sale - including how these deals can impact control, future valuation, exit flexibility, buyback terms, and the long-term economics of the business. They also explain the difference between a minority equity sale and a transition loan, why net new asset growth plays such an important role in the outcome of these deals, and why some arrangements may appear appealing upfront but become far more complicated over time. Frank and Stacey also discuss when selling a minority stake in an advisory practice may be a smart strategic move - and when it may create limitations that advisors do not fully recognize until much later. Questions answered in this episode include: What is a sell and stay deal for financial advisors? Should a financial advisor sell 10% to 30% of their practice? What are the risks of minority equity deals in wealth management? How is a minority stake sale different from a transition loan? How do these deals affect control, valuation, and future exit options? When does it actually make sense to sell a minority stake in an RIA or broker-dealer practice? Key Highlights: 00:00 Preview: The Long Game Firms Are Playing 01:24 Welcome to Advisor Talk 02:31 The Minority Stake Trend: What Is Actually Happening 03:57 Advisor Concerns and Due Diligence 06:38 You Now Have a Partner Whether You Like It or Not 07:13 Exit Clauses: Why You Must Have One 07:57 Smaller Firms vs Bigger Firms: What the Exit Looks Like 09:10 Buyback Multiples: The Real Math 11:04 The Boiling Frog: How Firms Gain Control Slowly 14:10 Why Firms Need You to Grow and What That Means for You 16:28 The 5% Net New Asset Reality 19:40 The Easy Button Trap: Why Advisors Jump Too Fast 20:37 Minority Stake vs. Transition Loan: Know the Difference 23:17 When a Minority Sale Can Make Sense 24:08 Final Advice: Know the Vision. Know the Exit. 25:53 How to Reach Frank and Stacy Learn more about Elite and our resources: Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions https://eliteconsultingpartners.com Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors https://elitemarketingconcepts.com Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers & Acquisitions https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com JEDI Database Solutions | Technology Solutions for Advisors https://jedidatabasesolutions.com Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elite-consulting-partners/

    28 min
See All (337)

4.8
out of 5
91 Ratings

About

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 the go-to resource for actionable information and trusted guidance to elevate you and your career at whatever stage you may be.

Information

  • Creator
    Elite Consulting Partners
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    337
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Elite Consulting Partners
  • Show Website
    Advisor Talk with Frank LaRosa

You Might Also Like