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Retirement Planning > Retirement Investing

Boomer RIAs Lead the Pack in Succession Planning

By Staff Writer

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As a generation of trailblazing advisors nears retirement, younger advisors get set to take the reins. A survey conducted by TD Ameritrade Institutional suggests more independent registered investment advisors are making the move to develop a formal succession plan and most say they will identify an internal successor. 

According to the quarterly survey of 502 RIAs, 62 percent of advisors say they have or are in the process of developing a succession plan, up from just 43 percent in 2010. Satisfying client expectations (66 percent) is the top reason advisors say they have a succession plan, followed by supporting the long-term viability of the firm (51 percent) and providing a smooth transition into the advisor’s retirement (49 percent).

For those nearing retirement, difficulty identifying an internal successor (53 percent) and lack of time to develop (21 percent) were top reasons advisors say they don’t have a solid plan in place. 

“With the average age of survey respondents being 54 years, there is clearly an immediate need for formal succession planning,” said George Tamer, director, strategic relationships, TD Ameritrade Institutional. “We’re encouraged by the survey results which show advisors are taking steps to create formal succession plans. They are concerned about who is going to care for the businesses they’ve built and the clients who depend on them.”

Finding an internal successor is the preferred exit strategy for half of advisors followed by selling the practice (11 percent) or merging with another firm (8 percent). Nearly a third of advisors who report having a succession plan have not decided which succession option they will implement. This finding indicates some advisors see the need to maintain flexibility in their plans and will make the determination closer to retirement.

 

An overwhelming majority of RIAs report their retirement timelines are on track (85 percent). Thirteen percent say they will work longer than expected and only 2 percent say they will retire early.

The top reasons advisors say they’re going to work longer are because they love what they do (34 percent) and they say their clients need them now more than ever (25 percent). Half of advisors surveyed plan to retire within the next 15 years, setting the scene for a generational power shift to Gen X and Gen Y advisors. 

“Turning the reins over to the next generation is critical to the long term viability of a firm.  A firm with an aging client base may suffer from a lower valuation and should consider attracting younger advisors and younger investors to establish a lasting legacy,” said Tamer.

“In order to successfully transition the business, the Boomer generation should consider taking steps to cultivate leaders within their organization and relinquish some control over day-to-day business activities.” 

When asked where they will find the future leaders of their firms, nearly half have current employees in mind and 42 percent say they will recruit from another advisory firm. RIAs are also looking for leaders in other professions (24 percent), recent graduates (20 percent) and career changers (16 percent).

Soft skills such as client service and communication (67 percent), relationship building (51 percent) and business development (48 percent) are valued over technical financial planning (36 percent) and management skills (22 percent). Advisors were nearly split on whether the industry is facing a talent shortage, 44 percent agreed and 56 percent disagreed. Whether there is or isn’t a talent shortage won’t matter to the two-thirds of advisors who say they won’t be hiring in the next 12 months. 

When it comes to cultivating current staff, survey results show there is room for improvement in the area of leadership development opportunities for Gen X and Gen Y advisors.

Nearly forty percent of advisors indicated they offered no leadership development opportunities. While, networking (27 percent), internships (25 percent) and mentoring programs (22 percent) topped the list of professional development opportunities offered by advisors, followed by paid professional development and education (19 percent) and job shadowing (14 percent). Nearly two-thirds of advisors offer some kind of mentoring for younger advisors whether, it be formal or informal. 

“What attracts, engages and retains talented advisors is different for each generation,” added Tamer. “Financial benefits aside, providing a clear career path, mentoring and opportunities to make an impact on the lives of investor clients can be major motivators for Gen X and Gen Y employees.” 

For more information about the TD Ameritrade Institutional Advisor Index Survey, visit www.amtd.com/newsroom to download the complete survey findings. 

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