The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors

An Advisor’s Guide to 2026: What 2025 Set in Motion and What Comes Next

4 snips
Jan 8, 2026
Join Louis Diamond, a wealth management expert, as he and Jason explore the implications of 2025 for advisors looking to navigate 2026. They dive into the fallout from LPL's acquisition of Commonwealth and how UBS's compensation shifts are reshaping the industry. With AI becoming a key recruitment factor and new deal structures emerging, Louis shares insights on the evolving landscape of independence. They also discuss the expected wave of RIA breakaways and the rising trend of sunset deals for retention.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

LPL–Commonwealth Shifted Deal Benchmarks

  • LPL's acquisition of Commonwealth triggered a large recruiting war and materially raised independent-space deal levels.
  • Louis Diamond says elevated offers (40–60% higher) are likely to persist and reshape advisor choices.
INSIGHT

UBS Compensation Changes Sparked Major Attrition

  • UBS comp-plan changes in 2025 catalyzed major advisor attrition and revealed tensions over control and margins.
  • Jason Diamond predicts UBS's continued losses will shape firm strategy and market movement into 2026.
INSIGHT

Mega-Team Moves Validate Independence Model

  • Mega-team breakaways (e.g., OpenArc, Dennis Cleary) validate independent models and show large teams can replicate complex services outside wires.
  • Louis Diamond links these moves to high exit multiples and operating leverage for large teams.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app