11,172 experienced advisors changed firms in 2025, a 16.2 percent increase from 9,615 in 2024.
According to InvestmentNews, the increase has placed greater emphasis on what makes an advisor transition successful. Wendy Harrison, vice president of transitions experience at Osaic, told InvestmentNews that advisors now consider more than compensation when evaluating a new firm. Technology, succession planning, operational support, and the ability to provide a differentiated client experience increasingly influence those decisions.
Gregg Cummings, a wealth manager at Savvy Advisors, reiterated that technology influenced his decision to change firms. Cummings also stressed that advisors should evaluate a new firm based on whether it represents the right destination for both the advisor and the clients. He said advisors should understand their current and new contracts, provide requested information promptly, and maintain communication with their new firm's transition team.
Rick Burgess, CEO of Forms Logic, told InvestmentNews that advisors increasingly seek greater control over business decisions, including asset allocation, third-party asset managers, and technology. Compensation remains important, but Burgess said it rarely represents the only reason an advisor moves.
Burgess also identified another consideration in transition planning: creating firm value that could support a future sale to a junior advisor or a rollup firm.
As advisor movement continues to increase, InvestmentNews reports that firms and advisors are placing greater emphasis on the transition experience itself. Careful planning, coordinated execution, technology, and consistent client communication can determine whether a move strengthens or disrupts the advisor-client relationship.
Financial Advisor Transitions consults with advisors nationwide regarding employment transition options and strategies to preserve and protect their practices during any transition.
