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Ep 97: The RIA Lifecycle: From Launch to Growth to Exit
Ep 97: The RIA Lifecycle: From Launch to Growth to Exit
Welcome to the Financial Advisors Want to Know Podcast! I’m Catherine Tindall, CPA with Dominion Enterprise Services, where we help financial advisors navigate income tax planning and compliance.In this episode, I’m joined by Patrick Burns, managing attorney at Law Offices of Patrick J. Burns and former president of Advanced Regulatory Compliance. Together, we walk through the entire RIA lifecycle—from launching your firm, to navigating growth and M&A, to preparing for a successful exit.We discuss what advisors often overlook early on (hint: it’s not just compliance), how partnership issues predictably show up during growth, and why exit planning needs to start years earlier than most advisors expect. This episode is essential listening for advisors who want to build firms that are not only compliant—but durable, valuable, and transferable.
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Episode 97: The RIA Lifecycle — From Launch to Growth to Exit
Guest: Patrick Burns
🎙 Overview
Welcome to the Financial Advisors Want to Know Podcast! I’m Catherine Tindall, CPA with Dominion Enterprise Services, where we help financial advisors navigate income tax planning and compliance.
In this episode, I’m joined by Patrick Burns, managing attorney at Law Offices of Patrick J. Burns and former president of Advanced Regulatory Compliance. Together, we walk through the entire RIA lifecycle—from launching your firm, to navigating growth and M&A, to preparing for a successful exit.
We discuss what advisors often overlook early on (hint: it’s not just compliance), how partnership issues predictably show up during growth, and why exit planning needs to start years earlier than most advisors expect. This episode is essential listening for advisors who want to build firms that are not only compliant—but durable, valuable, and transferable.
✅ 5 Key Takeaways
✅ Compliance Alone Isn’t a Foundation
Strong employment agreements, operating agreements, and HR policies are critical to preventing costly disputes as your firm grows.
✅ Partnership Misalignment Is Predictable—and Preventable
Production gaps, unclear roles (CCO, CFO, ops), and uneven workloads should be addressed before launching, not after resentment builds.
✅ In M&A, Fit Matters as Much as Financials
Even a great deal on paper can turn sour if personalities clash or earnouts are poorly structured.
✅ Exit Planning Should Start 2–3 Years in Advance
Clean financials, reduced liabilities, and organized documentation protect valuation and streamline due diligence.
✅ Internal Succession Is Often Harder Than It Looks
For solo or 100% owners, internal buyouts carry real risk without equity structures, non-competes, capital access, and next-gen leadership in place.
🔗 Links & Resources
🔹 Connect with Patrick Burns
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjblaw/
🌐 Website: https://www.pjblawoffice.com/
🔹 Connect with Catherine Tindall
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctindallcpa/
📩 Sign up for the Dominion Newsletter
https://dominion-enterprise-services.kit.com/9944b047d9
📧 Contact Catherine’s Team
admin@dominiones.com
