Financial planning practices provide wealth management, retirement planning, investment advisory, and financial counseling services to individuals and families, typically generating revenue through AUM-based fees, flat retainers, or commissions. The industry is undergoing a significant succession crisis as a large wave of advisors aged 55+ approach retirement without formal succession plans, creating substantial M&A activity driven by RIA rollup platforms and consolidators. Fee-only and fiduciary-based models have gained regulatory and consumer preference, increasing the valuations and attractiveness of clean, recurring-revenue practices.
Who sells these: Retiring independent financial planners and RIA owners aged 55–70 with established client bases, solo practitioners seeking succession planning, and small ensemble practices looking to exit or merge into a larger platform
2–4×
Market multiple range
12–24 months
Avg. exit timeline
$500K–$3M
Typical deal size
SBA Eligible
Broader buyer pool
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Get free scoreTypical acquirer profile for Financial Planning Practice businesses
Private equity-backed RIA consolidators, established independent RIAs looking to grow AUM, large ensemble advisory firms expanding into new markets, or experienced financial advisors seeking to acquire a book of business as an entrepreneurial entry point
Financial Planning Practice businesses typically sell for 2–4× EBITDA in the $500K–$3M range. Key value drivers include: High percentage of recurring AUM-based or retainer fees (70%+) rather than commission-based revenue; Strong client retention history with low annual attrition (under 5%) and younger client demographics; Clean and documented compliance record with no regulatory actions or client complaints.
Start by preparing your exit: Compile 3 years of audited or reviewed financial statements separating personal from business expenses; Document AUM by client, fee structure, and custodian with trailing 12-month revenue breakdown; Pull and review FINRA BrokerCheck and SEC IAPD records for any compliance disclosures. The typical buyer is: Private equity-backed RIA consolidators, established independent RIAs looking to grow AUM, large ensemble advisory firms expanding into new markets, or experienced financial advisors seeking to acquire a book of business as an entrepreneurial entry point
The average exit timeline for a Financial Planning Practice business is 12–24 months. This includes preparation, marketing to buyers, due diligence, and closing.
Common value killers for Financial Planning Practice businesses include: Heavy reliance on commission-based or one-time transactional revenue with no recurring fee structure; Client base concentrated in older demographics (average age 70+) with high attrition risk; Compliance issues, FINRA disclosures, or unresolved client complaints on record; Solo practitioner with all client relationships tied solely to the selling advisor; Lack of financial documentation, inconsistent bookkeeping, or commingled personal and business expenses.
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