Independent RIA Services in USA
Empowering Financial Advisors to Achieve True Independence
The financial advisory landscape is evolving. More advisors are recognizing that independence is about delivering superior client outcomes, building enterprise value, and controlling your professional destiny.
What Makes Independent RIA Services Different?
True Fiduciary Status
Your legal obligation is solely to your clients’ best interests, no product quotas, no proprietary investment requirements, no conflicts of interest.Business Ownership
You own your practice, your client relationships, and the equity you build. Your book isn’t someone else’s asset.Maximum Flexibility
Choose your technology stack, custodians, investment platforms, and service providers based on what’s best for clients, not corporate mandates.Enhanced Economics
Keep more of what you earn. Independent RIAs typically enjoy superior payout structures and the ability to build sellable enterprise value.Client-Centric Service
Design your practice around your clients’ needs without being constrained by corporate products, policies, or priorities.
Our Independent RIA Services: Your Path to Freedom
Our Specialized Matching Process
Platform Transition Consulting
Making the move to independence requires expertise in navigating multiple options. Our services include comprehensive market analysis where we know every independent RIA platform , custodian, and turnkey solution in the USA. Our knowledge of the complete market ensures you see all options, not just what’s marketed loudest.RIA Succession Planning
Independence requires thinking about your exit strategy from day one. Our Optimal Practice Succession™ methodology helps independent RIAs structure succession plans that maximize value while ensuring client continuity.Growth Through Independence
Independence opens doors that captive models close. Our acquisition support helps you identify advisors looking to sell, facilitates introductions, and guides you through the M&A process when you’re ready to grow through acquisition.Why Advisors Choose Independence
The Economic Reality
Wirehouse advisors typically keep 40-50% of revenue. Captive insurance advisors face similar economics plus product limitations. Independent RIAs often realize 80-90%+ of revenue while building equity value that can be monetized at succession.
The Control Factor
Independent RIAs control every aspect of their practice, including client experience design, investment philosophy implementation, technology choices, team building and compensation, and all business decisions without committees, corporate politics, or bureaucracy.
The Client Benefit
Your clients benefit from your independence through lower costs without layers of corporate overhead, better investment access to institutional-class investments typically unavailable at wirehouses, objective advice without pressure to use proprietary products, relationship continuity since you own the relationship, and complete personalization flexibility.
Who We Serve: Independent RIA Services in USA
Advisors Considering Independence
We serve wirehouse advisors seeking autonomy, captive insurance advisors wanting broader capabilities, bank advisors outgrowing institutional constraints, and broker-dealer affiliated advisors ready for fiduciary practice.Established Independent RIAs
Advisor Hunt support platform upgrades for growth-minded RIAs, succession planning and M&A advisory, strategic growth through acquisition, and operational efficiency consulting.Practice Sizes We Work With
We serve advisors across the spectrum, from boutique practices to billion-dollar enterprises. The commonality isn’t size; it’s practice ownership and commitment to client-first service.Investment Structures for Independent RIAs
Understanding your options is crucial. Independent RIA models include:
Fully Independent RIA
You create your own SEC or state-registered RIA with maximum control and economics (85-95% payout). You handle all compliance, operations, and infrastructure. Best for larger practices with staff and operational capacity.
Turnkey RIA Platform (TRAP)
Join an existing RIA that provides infrastructure with a high degree of independence (75-90% payout). Compliance, technology, and operations are provided, offering a balance of autonomy and support. This is the most common choice for transitioning advisors.
Hybrid RIA Model
Maintain some affiliation with broker-dealer for select products while operating as an RIA for fee-based advisory work. This provides flexibility for unique client situations with moderate payout (60-80% depending on structure).
The Advisor Hunt Global Difference
Industry Insiders Who Understand Your World
Our team includes former financial advisors, wholesalers, bankers, and practice builders. We’ve walked in your shoes. We understand the emotional weight of leaving a familiar firm, the anxiety about client retention during transitions, the complexity of comparing platforms and economics, the importance of getting succession planning right, and the opportunities independence creates for growth and value creation.Specialized Expertise in Wealth Management Transitions
Unlike generalist consultants, we focus exclusively on financial advisors. This specialization means deep knowledge of every independent RIA platform in the market, relationships with key decision-makers at custodians and platforms, understanding of advisor-specific regulations and compliance, experience structuring hundreds of transitions and M&A deals, and insight into what works in practice transitions.Confidential, Advisor-Centric Process
Your current situation is sensitive. We maintain absolute confidentiality throughout the exploration process. You control the pace, the information flow, and the decisions. We’re your advisor, independent, objective, and focused solely on your success.Coast-to-Coast Coverage
Whether you’re in New York, California, Texas, Florida, or anywhere across the USA, we have deep knowledge of regional markets, state regulations, and local independent RIA opportunities.Our Process: From Exploration to Independence
Discovery & Assessment (Confidential)
We begin by understanding your practice, goals, and concerns, assessing your current situation and compensation, identifying what you want from independence, and discussing timeline and transition preferences.
Market Analysis & Platform Comparison
We present comprehensive overviews of independent RIA options, compare platforms and custodians and support models, analyze economics across different structures, provide confidential compensation comparisons, and address your specific requirements and concerns.
Platform Selection & Negotiation
We facilitate confidential discussions with top platform candidates, coordinate due diligence and platform evaluations, negotiate terms and transition support and benefits, and structure deals to optimize your outcomes.
Transition Planning
We develop comprehensive transition timelines, create client communication strategies, coordinate operational and technical implementation, ensure regulatory compliance and licensing, and support you through execution.
Post-Transition Support
We monitor transition success and client retention, address any issues that arise, provide ongoing strategic guidance, and support future growth and succession planning.
Ready to Explore Independence?
Contact Us Today
No obligation. No pressure. Just expertise and honest guidance about your options.FAQs
How much AUM do I need to go independent?
While there’s no absolute minimum, most successful transitions occur with $50M+ AUM or $300K+ annual revenue. Smaller practices can succeed with the right platform partner.
How long does the transition take?
From decision to launch, most transitions take 90-180 days. We help you manage this timeline to minimize client disruption.
Will my clients have to sign new paperwork?
Yes, but modern electronic onboarding makes this seamless. Well-executed transitions maintain 95%+ client retention.
Can I go independent if I'm in a smaller market?
Absolutely. Independent RIA platforms serve advisors coast to coast. Technology makes location less relevant than ever.
Do I need to become an investment expert to go independent?
No. Independent platforms provide investment management support, research, and outsourced CIO services if desired.
Can I keep my existing team?
Yes. Many advisors bring staff with them. Independent platforms often provide better compensation flexibility for team members.