Embracing AI and Reevaluating Career Paths in Financial Advisory

About this episode…

More advisors than ever are considering growth and life after their business—whether that means selling, merging, or simply planning for succession.

Maximizing value and finding the right fit takes more than just timing; it requires the right strategy, the right partner, and a clear understanding of what truly drives value.

Ted Jenkin knows that journey firsthand. A serial entrepreneur and former financial advisor, Ted built and successfully sold his own advisory firm—learning firsthand what it takes to navigate the process as a founder. Now, he’s on the other side of the table, serving as an M&A consultant at JPTD Partners and a sell-side M&A advisor through Exit Stage Left Advisors, all while helping other advisors navigate the high-stakes world of valuations and deal-making.

If Ted’s name seems familiar, you likely encountered his sharp analysis and direct, no-nonsense commentary on Fox News, CNBC, and The Wall Street Journal. As both a practitioner and educator, Ted offers a rare blend of tactical insight and real-world experience.

In this episode, Louis Diamond dives into the conversation with Ted to discuss what every potential seller or advisor seeking to maximize their long-term value needs to understand, including:

• Valuation—and what multiples really mean.
• The biggest mistakes he sees sellers make—and how to avoid them.
• The role of marketing—and how he used smart strategy and tactics in his own practice.
• The buyers to look for—and what the best ones have in common.
• The factors that really drive multiples—and how market influences can impact valuations.
• The work you can do before you go to market—and why it may be more important than anything that happens during a deal.

Whether you’re just starting to consider an exit, already in discussions, or advising clients through their own transitions, this conversation is filled with valuable insights.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.