For Established Wealth Teams and Advisors Evaluating What Comes Next.
Strategic guidance for established wealth teams and advisors facing consequential business decisions.
Essence Group works with established wealth teams and advisors, generally managing $250M–$2B in client assets, who are evaluating a consequential decision about their business.
You do not need to have decided to move. The starting point may be uncertainty about current economics, a partner's changing priorities, succession or whether the existing platform can support the next stage of the business.
You may already know that you want to move and need help identifying the right firm. Or you may still be deciding whether a change is worthwhile.
In either case, we begin with what you are looking for and help you evaluate firms against your professional, personal and financial priorities.
Situations That Warrant a Closer Look
- Partners have different priorities around income, ownership or retirement.
- Changes at the current firm are affecting economics, service or operating flexibility.
- Independence is appealing, but the full costs and responsibilities remain unclear.
- A succession or liquidity proposal needs to work for both current and future owners.
- A competing offer looks attractive, but its long-term value is uncertain.
- An independent firm is reconsidering its custodian, platform or strategic partners.
Established Wealth Teams
For established teams, a consequential decision must account for the enterprise as a whole.
Partners may have different economic interests, ownership positions, career horizons and succession objectives.
A platform change or strategic transaction can affect compensation, equity, operating capabilities, client relationships and the future value of the business.
Essence helps teams evaluate alternatives in the context of their shared enterprise and individual priorities.
Decisions We Help Evaluate
- Partner economics and compensation
- Ownership and equity opportunities
- Platform and affiliation alternatives
- Custodial arrangements, where applicable
- Growth and operating capabilities
- Partner succession and liquidity
- Enterprise value
- Transition risks and requirements
Established Advisors
An advisor who has built a substantial practice faces many of the same economic and strategic decisions as a larger multi-partner enterprise.
The questions may concern the economics of an existing affiliation, the value of ownership, the benefits of independence or the long-term implications of succession.
Essence approaches these decisions from the perspective of the practice the advisor has built—not simply the assets or revenue that might move to another firm.
Decisions We Help Evaluate
- Current versus alternative economics
- Affiliation and platform choices
- Ownership and independence
- Practice valuation considerations
- Growth and operating support
- Succession and continuity
- Transition economics and risk
Independent Practice Owners
Independence creates meaningful control, but it also introduces decisions about infrastructure, custody, operating costs, growth and long-term ownership.
For established independent practices, the right strategic alternative may involve improving the existing business rather than leaving it.
Other circumstances may warrant evaluating a different custodian, platform relationship, strategic partner or ownership arrangement.
Essence helps owners compare alternatives against the economics and objectives of their existing enterprise.
Decisions We Help Evaluate
- Custodial and platform relationships
- Operating economics
- Ownership structures
- Strategic partnerships
- Growth and scale
- Succession and liquidity
- Mergers and strategic combinations
- Long-term enterprise value
Start With a Confidential Conversation.
You don't need to have decided to move. We'll begin with the business you've built, what you want to accomplish and whether your current structure supports it.