TRANSITION TALK

The last few years I’ve been unable to attend the FPA annual conference due to personal commitments. It was great to be back on site for this year’s event in Chicago.

The Future of the Industry

As an Official Sponsor of the Next Generation, we are tapped into what young advisors are doing, hearing, and saying. It’s an energizing group to be around—the future advisors I met in Chicago view financial planning as a calling as well as a rewarding career. It does strike me as a bit ironic that the “NexGen” community stops at 37 years old, when the average age of a graduate in a financial planning program (as shared during a conversation with university staff) is 41. I suspect these more seasoned career changers will have an easier time making their way into the industry, but it’s important to incorporate the youngest professionals into existing businesses, as they will impact the industry for decades, if they don’t get discouraged. This new generation of advisors are more dynamic and driven than they’re often given credit for, and these savvy younger professionals will continue pushing the status quo to create opportunities for themselves.

Earlier this month, I attended the San Diego chapter FPA Symposium. Along with case studies and market information, there were presentations on program updates for the next generation of advisors. I thought it was especially relevant to hear about their NexGen focused resources in light of Michael Kitces’ article published last week on our profession’s looming talent shortage: Competition For Talent And The Rising Shortage Of Next-Generation Financial Advisors. 

Here are some notable programs the San Diego chapter has set up with a focus on the next generation and getting future planners excited about a career in financial services.

Last week, FP Transitions attended the FPA Retreat in Phoenix, AZ. We want to say a big thank you to all our clients and the visitors who stopped by to talk with us. We had a wonderful time speaking with new business owners, exiting advisors, and many others at a variety of points in their careers and growth journeys.

“Succession Challenge”

On Wednesday, FPT president and founder David Grau Sr., J.D. joined Michael Shockley, JD, CFP™ of RGT Wealth Advisors and Michael Futterman of Janus Henderson Investors on a panel addressing the “Succession Challenge,” moderated by Julie Littlechild of Absolute Engagement. The discussion featured data from a newly-released FPA / Janus Henderson study.

While 73% of advisors don’t have a written succession plan, the good news is that an increasing number of advisors are setting a goal for the value they want to realize for their business and 75% feel they are on track to meet or exceed their goal.

DENVER - The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is pleased to announce that FP Transitions is now FPA’s “Official Partner of the Next Generation of Financial Planners” in an effort to support young professionals on their career journeys in the financial planning profession.

This new partnership will leverage FP Transitions’ experience and thought leadership for the benefit of young professionals and financial planning firms looking to build plans for the eventual transition of firm ownership. With thousands of young Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) professionals among its member base and a vibrant NexGen community, there is an opportunity to help support members and firms that desire to establish an effective, efficient succession plan. 

“We are pleased to have FP Transitions join FPA as a key partner in supporting our members and their desire for a seamless transition of their firms to the next generation of firm owners,” says FPA CEO/Executive Director Lauren M. Schadle, CAE. “Their support and contributions will directly benefit our members by providing the necessary knowledge and resources to help our young members become firm owners.”

FP Transitions has developed strategies to solve the succession problem for owners of financial planning practices; the next step in supporting the founders cultivating the next generation.

“We’ve worked with RIAs expanding ownership to 20 new partners, father-daughter teams, and everything in between,” says Brad Bueermann, CEO of FP Transitions. “We designed the strategies and solved the financing issue, now the last thing is building the talent. Over two-thirds of our succession clients have executed their plan, transforming over 700 next generation planners into business owners. The greatest challenge for owners of successful financial planning firms is finding qualified next generation leadership. We want to make sure professionals entering the industry understand this opportunity and are prepared to act on it. Partnering with FPA was a natural decision to deliver that message.”