by Matt Sonnen | Mar 10, 2025 | COO Best Practices, Entrepreneurship
As someone who has consistently advocated for RIA owners to focus on the profitability of their client relationships, I took special note of Ellevest’s announcement on Feb 26 to shutter its robo advisor and sell it off to Betterment. Interestingly, Ellevest will...
by Matt Sonnen | Feb 25, 2025 | COO Best Practices, Entrepreneurship
There has been a lot of backlash pointed at the major RIA custodians of late, primarily around two issues: Increased Fees: RIAs will face higher fees for custodial referrals starting later in 2025 Cash Sweep Limitations: RIAs are no longer able to select a...
by Matt Sonnen | Jan 14, 2025 | COO Best Practices
The booming RIA industry is tied closely to its embrace of fiduciary duty, which mandates that advisors act in the best interest of their clients. The regulatory framework of trust and accountability distinguishes RIAs from brokers, and every year the RIA...
by Matt Sonnen | Oct 8, 2024 | COO Best Practices
It is often the COO who will be leading their firm through the implementation of a new process or adoption of a new technology tool, therefore, a common question I pose to guests on the COO Roundtable podcast is, “How do you successfully affect change at your...
by Matt Sonnen | Sep 13, 2024 | COO Best Practices, Entrepreneurship
In talking with RIA owners and particularly RIA operations professionals, the topic of fees often comes up. “What is your standard fee rate? Have you had to lower your fees over time?” are common questions posed from one RIA to another. The value clients place on...
by Matt Sonnen | Jul 17, 2024 | COO Best Practices, Operations and Technology
Having left large bureaucratic institutions that “manage to the lowest common denominator,” many RIA owners are reluctant to institute systems and processes because they feel by doing so, they will limit the “uniqueness” they have worked so hard to create by setting...
