Articles & Blogs

When advisers hear the word valuation, many instinctively think: “I’m not selling, so it doesn’t apply to me.” But valuation is not primarily about exit. It is about clarity. In this final article in our series, we bring the conversation together: revenue quality, adviser dependency,...

For many advisers, succession is seen as a distant milestone—something to think about closer to retirement. From a market perspective, however, succession is not about age. It’s about continuity. In this fifth article in our series, we explore why buyers and partners increasingly assess an...

Most advisers believe they know their numbers. They know roughly what the business earns. They know which clients matter most. They know where the work comes from. But when those numbers are tested—by a buyer, a partner, or even an internal review—they don’t always line up. In this...

Most advisers can name their best clients instantly. They’re loyal. They’re profitable. They’ve been around for years. From the inside, these relationships feel like the backbone of the business. From the outside—particularly from a buyer’s perspective—they can represent a concentration risk...

Many advice businesses are built on trust. And trust, especially in the early years, is often built through one person. That personal connection can be a powerful growth engine. But over time, what once drove success can quietly introduce risk. In this second article in our series on what...

Two advice practices can generate the same annual revenue and still be viewed very differently by buyers, partners, or successors. This article opens a Brokerspace insight series that looks beyond headline numbers to unpack the real drivers of value in an advice business. Each piece will focus...

As the year draws to a close, the financial services industry begins to slow — at least on the surface. Client meetings taper off, inboxes quieten, and diaries finally allow space for reflection. For many advisers, the festive season represents the first real pause in an otherwise relentless year...

For many advisers, the focus is on day-to-day: client meetings, renewals, compliance, portfolio reviews — the constant rhythm of being in the business. But what if you paused long enough to ask yourself: “Am I building a practice, or just running one?” The truth is: starting succession planning...

Financial advice has always been a relationship business. Long before digital platforms and client portals, advisers built trust across kitchen tables, office boardrooms, and years of shared life events. That legacy matters — it’s the foundation of an industry rooted in human connection. And...

For many advisers, the business they’ve built is both a livelihood and a calling. The days are filled with client meetings, product updates, compliance tasks, and the steady rhythm of keeping everything moving. But somewhere along the way, the business itself — its structure, systems, and long...

In financial services, success is often measured in numbers — revenue, growth, assets, and acquisition. But behind every sustainable practice lies something far less visible: strong partnerships. Between advisers and clients. Between firms and providers. Between founders and successors. Some...

Selling a business — especially one built on personal relationships — is as much an emotional process as it is a financial one. Yet behind every smooth transition lies something often invisible: technology quietly doing the heavy lifting. From Gut Feel to Grounded Data Many advisers...

For many financial advisers, a practice isn’t just a business — it’s a life’s work. It’s the early mornings, the trust built client by client, and the quiet satisfaction of seeing families reach their goals. Over time, that work becomes deeply personal. So when the moment arrives to think about...

Across South Africa’s financial-services landscape, a quiet but powerful trend is reshaping the way advisory firms operate: consolidation. What was once an industry defined by independence — one adviser, one office, one loyal client base — is increasingly moving toward partnerships, mergers,...

Growth is often spoken about as if it’s something we can chase, measure, or neatly plan for. But in the world of financial advice, growth tends to unfold more quietly — through years of steady client relationships, small operational improvements, and the slow layering of trust, experience, and...

Running an independent financial advisory practice comes with its challenges, and compliance is one of the biggest. Partnering with the right firm can help ease the burden and provide the support and stability you need. The Benefits of Partnering with the Right Firm ✅ Reduce Compliance...