A Losing Battle at Merrill: An exclusive look behind the curtains…

Consider this an exclusive look behind the curtains…

10 years ago, the thought of going independent was anathema to most advisors—and almost completely unheard of for a senior leader of a firm like Merrill Lynch.

But to Greg Franks, the “bankifying” of Merrill – the firm that he served at for nearly 3 decades – was nothing short of “tragic.”

In this week’s?podcast episode , Greg talks about life at Merrill before the BofA takeover, his own “breakaway” experience to the helm of Snowden Lane Partners, how firms like Snowden are filling the gap left in the cultural shift that has taken place at the big brokerages—and much more.

Listen in at the link below or on your favorite podcast app.

Plus, our?featured article ?(originally published on WealthManagement.com) looks at the value of taking on a capital partner when considering a move to independence. Is it the right choice—or is there a better way to financially de-risk the leap?

Happy to hear your comments or answer any questions.

Best,

Mindy

While we often hear the advisor’s perspective of cultural shifts within the brokerage world, it’s even more powerful to gain the point of view from senior management—a first-hand account of what led to the changes and the behind-the-scenes fight to retain the freedoms that advisors once had. But as former Merrill senior leader Greg Franks puts it, “It was a losing battle.” In this episode, Greg shares what was happening at Merrill to motivate his own leap to independence in 2011 to the helm of Snowden Lane Partners. It’s an exclusive look at an evolving wealth management industry and how models like Snowden Lane are filling a gap in the landscape.

Listen To It

?In Pursuit of Autonomy: The 10 Key Areas in Which Advisors Desire More Control

So you’re considering independence and the potential of taking on a capital partner. Is that the right move—or is there a better way to financially de-risk the leap? Here are 5 things to consider.

Read It

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