Total Succession

Tyson Ray
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So you've built a business helping others plan their future. But what's the plan for yours? Your future deserves the same attention you give your clients every day. It's time to protect what you've built and prepare for what's next. Welcome to the Total Succession Show, your resource for learning how to exit confidently, be fully compensated, and keep your clients' interests first. Hosted by veteran financial advisor Tyson Ray and co-host Kim Cochenour, each episode will help you navigate the emotional and strategic challenges of succession planning through real-life stories, insights from industry experts, and Tyson's SPACE framework: See, Prepare, Act, Commit, Exit. Tune in each week and head to totalsuccession.com for free tools to help you start preparing for what's next.

  1. Scale Your Firm: Turning Skills into Intellectual Property

    6d ago

    Scale Your Firm: Turning Skills into Intellectual Property

    Are you struggling to figure out how to pass the torch without leaving money on the table or burdening your team with debt? Succession planning is more than just a retirement strategy; it is about rewarding your best talent and building a scalable legacy. In this episode of the Total Succession Show, Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour dive deep into the evolving landscape of business exits and internal transitions. Many business owners face the harsh reality that their companies have become too valuable for internal successors to afford. Instead of asking young talent to take on millions in debt, we explore why flipping the script and rewarding them with equity or a path toward private equity might be the better move. This shift does not just help with your exit; it transforms good employees into great owners who are invested in the long-term vision of the firm. We also discuss the dangers of the die at my desk mentality and how it can lead to team resentment or abandonment. To prevent this, you must move your business from a knowledge-based model to an expertise-driven one. By using modern tools like AI to create standardized operating procedures and playbooks, you can make your business scalable and significantly more valuable to outside buyers. If you are ready to prepare for a confident and well-planned exit, make sure to subscribe to our podcast for more insights. You can also find the book Total Succession on Amazon or visit our website to download the free starter guide and learn more about the SPACE framework. TotalSuccession.com TotalSuccession.com/podcast FORM Wealth Advisors Tyson Ray Kim Cochenour Tyson’s book - Total Succession: 5 Steps for Financial Advisors to Exit Confidently, Be Fully Compensated, and Keep Clients’ Interests First Aaron Hasler on LinkedIn Spruce Rock Capital Peter Campagna Wise Rhino Group Rob Brown Truest Fan Coaching The Truest Fan Blueprint: Focus on What Matters to Achieve Your Most Cherished Goals by Rob Brown Duncan MacPherson

    10 min
  2. Why Financial Advisors Have a Fiduciary Duty to Retire

    Jun 30

    Why Financial Advisors Have a Fiduciary Duty to Retire

    Are you an advisor who knows it is time to plan your exit but feels hesitant to let go of the professional reins? Succession planning is more than just a business transaction, it is a fiduciary responsibility to ensure your clients are protected and cared for long after you step away. In this episode of the Total Succession Show, host Tyson Ray and Kim Kochenour discuss the complex emotions and strategic shifts required for a successful transition. We explore why many entrepreneurs struggle with the loss of control and how to honestly assess whether your successor has the leadership skills to take over. The conversation highlights a powerful analogy involving a physician who realized his responsibility to his patients meant stepping away when he could no longer keep up with the pace of new information. We apply this same logic to financial advisors, emphasizing that being prepared is something we owe to every client. We also tackle the difficult reality of the Batman and Robin dynamic, where a trusted second-in-command may not always be the right person to lead the entire practice. You will discover the importance of practicing your retirement to find purpose beyond the office and how some advisors are actually extending their careers by reducing their client lists. Instead of a hard stop, some advisors choose to transition the bulk of their clients while keeping a small, high-level group. This move often leads to professional scarcity and a renewed passion for the work, allowing advisors to stay involved on their own terms for years longer than they originally planned. By reframing your exit as an intentional transition rather than a finish line, you can depersonalize the business while maintaining your legacy. Whether you are looking to simplify your life or find a new sense of professional rejuvenation, these insights will help you move toward a confident and well-planned exit. Ready to take the next step in your succession journey? Subscribe to the show and visit totalsuccession.com to download your free starter guide. You can also find the book Total Succession on Amazon to learn the five clear steps to exiting on your terms with confidence and full compensation. TotalSuccession.com TotalSuccession.com/podcast FORM Wealth Advisors Tyson Ray Kim Cochenour Tyson’s book - Total Succession: 5 Steps for Financial Advisors to Exit Confidently, Be Fully Compensated, and Keep Clients’ Interests First Aaron Hasler on LinkedIn Spruce Rock Capital Peter Campagna Wise Rhino Group Rob Brown Truest Fan Coaching The Truest Fan Blueprint: Focus on What Matters to Achieve Your Most Cherished Goals by Rob Brown Duncan MacPherson

    10 min
  3. RIA Succession Planning: How to Sell Your Practice for More

    Jun 23

    RIA Succession Planning: How to Sell Your Practice for More

    Are you feeling like a prisoner in your current broker-dealer or wirehouse setup? The wealth management industry is seeing its most robust M&A market in history, and now is the time to decide how you will protect your legacy and maximize your firm’s value. Whether you are looking to exit soon or just want to build a more scalable practice, understanding the current landscape is essential for every financial advisor. In this episode of the Total Succession Show, host Tyson Ray is joined by industry experts to pull back the curtain on modern M&A trends. We dive deep into why multiples are skyrocketing for operationally efficient firms and what it really means to move from a corporate RIA to an independent model. You will learn the critical differences between integrators and aggregators, and why finding the right cultural fit is often more important than the final sale price. We also explore the hurdles facing the next generation of advisors, including the rising cost of equity and the tax implications of internal transitions. Plus, hear a real-world success story about merging with a larger platform to offload compliance and HR burdens while maintaining the independent spirit that your clients love. These conversations are designed to give you the nudge you need to start preparing for what comes next. Ready to take the next step toward a well-planned exit? Subscribe to the show and visit totalsuccession.com/podcast to download your free starter guide. You can also find Tyson Ray’s book, Total Succession, on Amazon to learn the five clear steps to exiting on your terms with confidence and full compensation. TotalSuccession.com TotalSuccession.com/podcast FORM Wealth Advisors Tyson Ray Kim Cochenour Tyson’s book - Total Succession: 5 Steps for Financial Advisors to Exit Confidently, Be Fully Compensated, and Keep Clients’ Interests First Ted Motheral on LinkedIn Dave Patchen on LinkedIn Scott W. Danner Steward Partners

    16 min
  4. Business Succession for Ages 45-60: It’s Not Just for Retirement

    Jun 16

    Business Succession for Ages 45-60: It’s Not Just for Retirement

    Are you building for a distant future or for the life you want to live right now? Many business owners wait too long to plan their next chapter, but shifting your mindset from exiting to what is next can change everything. Welcome to the Total Succession Show with Tyson Ray and Kim Coconour. In this episode, we explore why the word “exit” feels so emotional and why it is time to change our language to focus on what comes next. Whether you are a financial advisor or a business owner, learning how to live your legacy instead of just leaving one is the key to a fulfilling career and retirement. We dive deep into the psychology of succession, discussing why the 45-to-60-year-old demographic is leading the charge in business pivots. You will learn about overcoming the scarcity mindset that often freezes owners at the finish line and how to find impact that goes beyond your daily work schedule. We also discuss the importance of trusting your gut and why delegating tasks is the only way to elevate yourself to your next big move. By using the SPACE framework, you can move through the stages of seeing, preparing, acting, and committing to your future with confidence. TotalSuccession.com TotalSuccession.com/podcast FORM Wealth Advisors Tyson Ray Kim Cochenour Tyson’s book - Total Succession: 5 Steps for Financial Advisors to Exit Confidently, Be Fully Compensated, and Keep Clients’ Interests First Scott W. Danner Steward Partners Dave Patchen on LinkedIn Andrea Schlapia Ironstone

    16 min
  5. How to Prepare Your Business to Sell at Any Time

    Jun 9

    How to Prepare Your Business to Sell at Any Time

    Are you building a business that is ready to sell at a moment's notice, or are you just getting by? In this episode of the Total Succession Show, host Tyson Ray is joined by Kim Cochenour to discuss why you should always be prepared for an exit, even if you aren't planning to leave today. Learn how to transition from being the bottleneck in your business to creating a high value, scalable asset. The conversation highlights the importance of transitioning from being the god of your business to being a prophet by implementing scalable systems. We explore the SPACE framework, which stands for See, Prepare, Act, Commit, and Exit. Kim shares her personal journey of realizing her business wasn't ready for sale and the vital steps she took to fix it, including hiring consultants and tightening legal documentation to ensure every contract was dialed in. We also break down how the Entrepreneurial Operating System or EOS can help you get the right people in the right seats and improve your valuation through better processes and data. Key topics covered include the six components of the EOS model, the importance of a ninety-day cadence for recalibration, and why repeating your vision seven times is necessary for your team to truly hear it. Whether you are looking to merge with an aggregator or just want a healthier leadership team, this episode provides a roadmap for a confident and well-planned exit. Ready to take the next step in your succession journey? Grab a copy of the book Total Succession on Amazon today for a deep dive into the five clear steps for exiting on your terms with confidence and full compensation. You can also visit our website at totalsuccession.com/podcast to download a free starter guide that walks you through the SPACE framework. Don't forget to subscribe for more episodes designed to support your next move. TotalSuccession.com TotalSuccession.com/podcast FORM Wealth Advisors Tyson Ray Kim Cochenour Tyson’s book - Total Succession: 5 Steps for Financial Advisors to Exit Confidently, Be Fully Compensated, and Keep Clients’ Interests First Andrea Schlapia Ironstone Scott W. Danner Steward Partners

    10 min
  6. Don't Leave Your Business on a Post-It: Exit Strategy Tips

    Jun 2

    Don't Leave Your Business on a Post-It: Exit Strategy Tips

    Is your succession plan sitting on a post-it note, or is it a documented strategy for the future? Many financial advisors delay planning because it feels emotional or scary, but treating your exit as a long-term business strategy is the key to protecting your legacy. Hosts Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour, are joined by special guests to discuss the realities of moving from a single-owner practice to a leadership-team-run business. We dive deep into why exit planning should not be a one-time event, but rather a purposeful strategy to increase the value of your practice and ensure your clients and team are taken care of. Key topics covered in this conversation include: The emotional barriers that keep advisors from planning for what is next.The difference between a catastrophic plan and a true succession strategy.How to use the principles of vulnerability-based trust to build a stronger leadership team.Why verbal agreements mean nothing without legalized documentation.A look at industry statistics showing why the next decade is critical for firm owners.Real-world examples of how preparation leads to successful partnerships rather than just acquisitions. Whether you are looking to retire soon or just want to step away from the tasks that drain your energy, this episode provides the roadmap you need to exit on your own terms. TotalSuccession.com TotalSuccession.com/podcast FORM Wealth Advisors Tyson Ray Kim Cochenour Tyson’s book - Total Succession: 5 Steps for Financial Advisors to Exit Confidently, Be Fully Compensated, and Keep Clients’ Interests First Andrea Schlapia Ironstone Ted Motheral on LinkedIn

    13 min
  7. Building Teams for Succession Planning: Why Asking Before Telling Changes Everything with Kaleen Barbera

    May 26

    Building Teams for Succession Planning: Why Asking Before Telling Changes Everything with Kaleen Barbera

    Building a team and making it work are two different things, especially when succession planning depends on your relationship with your next-gen advisor. Hosts Tyson Ray and Kim Cochenour are joined by JAM Consulting Group’s Kaleen Barbera to discuss and explore the behavioral science behind effective teams. Feelings come before facts, asking before telling builds connection, and acknowledging different opinions aligns everyone toward a common goal. Kim Cochenour kicks things off by stressing that advisors need to remember that building a team and making it work are two totally different things.Guest Kaleen Barbera shares her story of 30+ years in the financial services industry.Building better relationships with advisors and helping them grow their practice have been two key areas of focus of Kim’s.From a behavioral science perspective, there are several things that make a team work, including structure, asking before telling, and acknowledging that feelings come before facts.If we’re unable to engage each other in a way that builds connection, it’s going to be truly difficult to align and reach a common goal.Kaleen touches upon a client who she has helped build a better relationship with his team.Acknowledging that someone might have a different opinion is important, especially when it comes to succession planning and your next gen advisor.Tyson opens up about the transformation he underwent as a leader and how that has impacted his firm.Kaleen lists a few things that should spark the need – or the possibility – of asking for help as a financial advisor.It took Tyson some time to start letting go and creating space for others to step in.When it comes to financial planning, one of the fundamental steps is to highlight what the cultural values and team philosophy are.Tyson, Kaleen and Kim talk about the importance of the vision part, and what founders should do when they have an idea in their head.Kim sees the S.P.A.C.E. framework as something that can be applied even just to your team members.Tyson, Kaleen, and Kim end the conversation by discussing how (and when) JAM Consulting Group could help financial advisors and leaders. Mentioned in This Episode: TotalSuccession.com TotalSuccession.com/podcast FORM Wealth Advisors Tyson Ray Kim Cochenour Tyson’s book - Total Succession: 5 Steps for Financial Advisors to Exit Confidently, Be Fully Compensated, and Keep Clients’ Interests First Kaleen Barbera JAM Consulting Group

    33 min
  8. What Financial Advisors Need to Know About RIA Valuations and Succession Planning with Emma Boston

    May 19

    What Financial Advisors Need to Know About RIA Valuations and Succession Planning with Emma Boston

    It's a seller's market with higher multiples, but stretching for more money in your succession planning might lead to more suffering for you, your team, and clients. Emma Boston of Raymond James breaks down the four dimensions that drive practice value and why advisors must decide whether to put clients' interests first or maximize their payout. You'll discover why starting succession planning late eliminates most of your choices and about aligning your goals with the right model instead of chasing the biggest check. Emma Boston kicks things off by telling more about her background, role, and the kind of work she does to help advisors around succession planning.Tyson stresses something many advisors forget: succession is a process; it isn’t the end.Emma explains why multiples have gone up – and what that actually means.She believes that it’s a seller’s market and that these multiples are here to stay.Whether you’re going to put your clients’ interests first or you’re going to put how much money you can make is something advisors should decide before going in.Some advisors don’t realize that going for more money can come at the detriment of what’s best for your clients or the culture they trusted their life savings to.Emma dives into some of the key characteristics that tend to drive value in a practice.When making an assessment, the Raymond James team looks at four dimensions: durability, growth, the team, and the systems.Having a continued, repeatable plan to achieve net new assets is something incredibly attractive, Emma points out.She touches upon three key questions they always tell their advisors to unpack further.Tyson warns listeners about what may happen in the couple of years following an evaluation and how advisors may think “WOW!” but for a whole different reason.Remember: stretching for more money might lead to more suffering or more change for you, your team, and clients.Did you know that it’s currently virtually impossible for practices to cash flow at some market-competitive valuation without some form of capital infusion?It’s important for firms to keep in mind that 30 to 50% of advisors expect to retire within the next decade.Most of the independent advisors the Raymond James team works with actually want to stay independent.Emma discusses why it’s better to understand what your goals and objectives are, and then you can figure out what the best model is to meet them.Emma breaks down how some Raymond James’ clients are interested in the minority deal for all the growth partnership, as well as peace of mind and the tax efficiencies that it brings.Kim shares that, since succession planning is starting a lot later than it should for a lot of people, it ends up eliminating a lot of their choices. Mentioned in This Episode: TotalSuccession.com TotalSuccession.com/podcast FORM Wealth Advisors Tyson Ray Kim Cochenour Tyson’s book - Total Succession: 5 Steps for Financial Advisors to Exit Confidently, Be Fully Compensated, and Keep Clients’ Interests First Emma Boston on LinkedIn Raymond James J.D. Power Study Finds 46% of Financial Advisors to Retire by 2035 Cerulli: New Wealth Management Research Finds Transition Support Services Critical to Retaining Assets During Advisor Moves Wealth Management Research Report (see illustrative math on page 2 under “RIA Aggregators Lack Exits”)

    34 min
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About

So you've built a business helping others plan their future. But what's the plan for yours? Your future deserves the same attention you give your clients every day. It's time to protect what you've built and prepare for what's next. Welcome to the Total Succession Show, your resource for learning how to exit confidently, be fully compensated, and keep your clients' interests first. Hosted by veteran financial advisor Tyson Ray and co-host Kim Cochenour, each episode will help you navigate the emotional and strategic challenges of succession planning through real-life stories, insights from industry experts, and Tyson's SPACE framework: See, Prepare, Act, Commit, Exit. Tune in each week and head to totalsuccession.com for free tools to help you start preparing for what's next.

Information

  • Creator
    Tyson Ray
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Total Succession

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