Thoughtful Strategy for Advisors at a Crossroads
Whether you’re exploring an exit, launching something new, or navigating growth, you’ve likely realized: this isn’t only a spreadsheet decision. It’s personal.
At Decerno Advisors, we help wealth management founders make clear, confident decisions about what’s next, with expert guidance across every major transition point.
Strategic support you need when the path ahead isn’t obvious.
What Most Advisors Ask Us First
Truth is most of our first conversations aren’t about a deal at all. We talk about:
- “What’s happening in the M&A market?
- “Is now a good time to sell or grow?”
- “What are firms like mine doing?”
Just conversations about the landscape, your options, and what might make sense for you. That’s how our best client relationships begin. Many are not ready to move forward on a path and just want to explore.
We’re here for that.
Our M&A Advisory Services
When a transition feels close—but the path forward is unclear
At some point, most RIA founders begin to wonder:
What would it look like to step back? Should I sell my firm? And if I do—how do I make sure the next chapter feels like a continuation, not a compromise?
These aren’t easy questions. And they usually don’t come with a clear timeline. Selling your advisory firm is one of the most significant decisions you'll ever make.
We work with registered investment advisors (RIAs), independent broker-dealers, and wealth management firms who are starting to explore their options, whether that means preparing for succession, merging with another practice or exploring the right time to sell.
Unlike traditional M&A advisors focused on deal flow and fast closes, our approach is patient and founder-first. We help you evaluate strategic options, prepare your business for a potential sale, and engage only with buyers who are aligned with your values and long-term vision.
How we support you:
- Early-stage thinking around selling or merging your firm
- Vetting and negotiating with potential buyers
- Structuring terms that reflect the full value of what you’ve built
- Supporting succession and continuity planning within your existing team
We specialize in M&A advisory for RIAs and succession planning for financial advisors who want clarity before commitment and a process built around people, not only the numbers.
Capital Raising
You’ve got momentum. Now you’re asking: how do we fund what’s next?
For many advisory firm founders, capital raising isn’t the first move; it’s the question that shows up once the next move is already in motion.
We want to launch our own RIA. Should we self-fund or bring in capital?
We’re looking at an acquisition. What’s the smartest way to finance it?
We’re growing faster than expected. How do we scale without losing control?
At Decerno, we help you answer those questions before you act.
Our approach to capital raising for advisory firms is rooted in helping you understand your financing options, weighing the trade-offs, and structuring a plan that supports your long-term goals, without compromising control or flexibility.
Where we support you:
- Designing a financing approach that aligns with your goals and values
- Evaluating debt, equity, and private capital options
- Preparing for investor conversations and due diligence
- Supporting internal buy-ins or partner transitions
Whether you're expanding, acquiring, or just starting out, we bring clear thinking and real-world experience to your capital decisions, so your growth doesn’t come at the cost of your autonomy.
Valuation Services
When you're making a big decision, knowing the numbers is just the starting point
Advisory firm founders don’t wake up one day and ask for a valuation. It usually starts with something bigger:
We’re thinking about selling, but we don’t know what the firm is really worth.
We’re bringing on a partner and need a fair starting point.
We’re looking at a potential acquisition and want to make sure we’re not overpaying.
In all of those cases, valuation isn’t only placing a number on your business, but rather understanding your position, your leverage, and what’s possible.
At Decerno, we offer independent, context-rich valuation services for RIAs, wealth management firms, and advisory businesses of all sizes. Whether you're prepping for an exit or simply planning ahead, we help you understand not just what your firm is worth, but why.
How we support you:
- Establishing current market value based on real deal flow
- Assessing potential acquisition targets
- Navigating equity conversations, founder buyouts, or partner transitions
As specialists in financial advisor practice valuation and wealth firm deal assessment, we provide clarity when the stakes are high.
Breakaway & Independence Consulting
Independence shouldn’t feel like a blind leap.
For many experienced advisors, there comes a time when launching an independent firm is the next logical step.
We support advisors who are ready to shape their own future and want to approach that transition with clarity and confidence. The questions often start here:
What does it take to move clients smoothly and respectfully?
How do I choose the right platform, custodian, or tech stack?
What should I be thinking about now to ensure long-term success later?
At Decerno, we support breakaway advisors through the early thinking, strategic planning, and real-world logistics of launching an independent firm. That includes everything from platform selection to protecting client relationships because the best transitions are the ones that feel intentional.
How we support you:
- Evaluating whether independence is the right next step
- Mapping your transition timeline and launch strategy
- Recommending custodians, platforms, and service providers
- Designing a client communication plan that builds trust and minimizes disruption
We’ve guided advisors through dozens of successful transitions: from wirehouse to RIA, from employee to owner. If you're considering breaking away, we’ll help you think through it with clarity and a plan.
This is thoughtful, experienced breakaway advisor support and a clear RIA launch roadmap designed for professionals who want to lead their own firm without losing their footing.
Strategic Advisory
Big decisions don’t always come with neat labels or containers.
That’s okay, we can still help.
When you’re wrestling with a tough call—growth, restructuring, long-term planning—we’re your strategic sounding board. Sometimes the most valuable thing we offer isn’t a product, it’s perspective.
We can help you:
- Think through “what if” scenarios
- Prioritize strategic opportunities
- Evaluate business models, roles, and risks for wealth firms
Who it’s for:
- Advisors at a growth or identity crossroads
- Founders needing a second brain
- Teams weighing complex changes
Our strategic consulting for RIAs is built for leaders who want to move forward intentionally, grounded in what matters most, and clear on what comes next.
Let’s Talk About What’s Next
You don’t have to be ready to sell, scale, or step away. But if you're starting to think differently about the future of your firm, it's worth having the right conversation—early.
We’re here for that.