Ep 397: Powering Growth To $1.2B Of AUM With An Intentional Focus On (Local) Acquisitions Of Retiring Advisors With Jaime Benedetti
Aug 6, 2024
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Jaime Benedetti, Managing Principal of Benedetti, Gucer, and Associates, oversees $1.2 billion in assets and shares insights on scaling through strategic acquisitions of retiring advisors. He discusses his evolution from personal funding to bank loans for purchases, ensuring consistent revenue by transitioning clients from commission-based to fee-based models. Jaime emphasizes the importance of thorough integration and client retention post-acquisition, leveraging networking to identify targets, and maintaining a client-centric approach in sustaining long-term advisor-client relationships.
Jaime Benedetti's firm achieved remarkable growth to $1.2 billion AUM primarily through strategic acquisitions of retiring local advisors over 20 years.
The transition from commission-based to fee-based models has increased client satisfaction and retention while enhancing revenue predictability for the firm.
Benedetti’s multi-faceted approach to identifying acquisition targets showcases the importance of networking, market awareness, and thorough integration post-acquisition.
Deep dives
Jaime Benedetti's Unique Acquisition Strategy
Jaime Benedetti has successfully grown his advisory firm to over 1.2 billion in assets under management through a unique strategy focused on acquisitions. Over two decades, he has pursued a series of six acquisitions, primarily targeting retiring advisors in his local area. His approach often involves buying mixed-fee and commission practices, which he then converts into recurring revenue models. By transitioning acquired clients to a fee-based structure, he emphasizes better service, lower costs, and the value of comprehensive ongoing financial planning.
Evolution of Financing Methods for Acquisitions
Initially, Jaime relied on personal loans and family support to finance the acquisition of his first practice, which was a $9 million book. As his firm grew, he shifted to bank financing, which allowed him to cover the entire purchase price of acquisitions. The financing landscape evolved significantly with the entry of lenders like Live Oak Bank, which began offering loans tailored specifically for financial advisor acquisitions. This shift enabled valuations to rise, as advisors could now amortize payments over longer periods, creating more favorable financial dynamics.
Integrating Different Revenue Models
Benedetti's strategy includes embracing practices that carry both commission-based and fee-based revenue, significantly increasing acquisition opportunities. He leverages various methods to encourage clients accustomed to commission-based models to transition into a fee-based structure, showcasing the benefits in terms of cost and service depth. By valuing firms based on revenue type, he prioritizes recurring fee-based revenue while still offering flexibility for commission-based clients. This approach has allowed Jaime to remain competitive even against larger private equity-funded RIA aggregators.
Navigating the Transition from Broker-Dealer to Hybrid Firm
The transition from a broker-dealer model to a hybrid advisory firm has significantly impacted Jaime's acquisition strategy and operational capabilities. This strategic move not only provided greater independence but also facilitated access to a broader range of potential acquisition targets. Jaime’s firm typically takes one to two years to fully integrate acquisitions, ensuring that the client experience remains high. This commitment to client care fosters trust, leading to better retention rates and attractive opportunities when firms are seeking buyers.
Finding and Evaluating Acquisition Targets
Jaime utilizes a combination of personal networking, recruiters, and deal marketplaces like FP Transitions to identify potential acquisitions. This multifaceted approach allows him to establish connections with retiring advisors and assess available practices systematically. He carefully evaluates candidates by analyzing their revenue models, specifically looking for recurring revenue that aligns with his firm's philosophy. This well-rounded strategy not only supports Jaime’s growth but ensures that he can effectively compete for desirable firms amid a crowded market of potential buyers.
Long-Term Vision and Sustainable Growth
As Jaime looks to the future, he emphasizes the importance of sustainable growth, prioritizing the client experience over rapid expansion. Reflecting on his journey, he recognizes the necessity of sometimes pausing to address operational challenges before pursuing new acquisitions. While he continues to explore acquisition opportunities, Jaime is also focused on developing his own advisory services, including the potential integration of a tax practice. By balancing both strategic acquisition and organic growth, he aims to create a robust and resilient business model.
Jaime Benedetti is the Managing Principal of Benedetti, Gucer, and Associates and BEAM Wealth Advisors, hybrid advisory firms based out of Georgia and Louisiana that oversee a total of $1.2-billion in assets under management for approximately 900 households. Jaime's firm has uniquely expanded to over $1 billion in AUM over the last 20 years, largely through six strategic acquisitions of mixed fee-and-commission practices from retiring local advisors, which he successfully converted into ongoing, recurring revenue financial planning clients - an approach that has not only fueled growth but also streamlined the firm’s revenue model into a more predictable and sustainable framework.
Listen in as Jaime shares how he has skillfully managed the acquisition of firms with assets ranging from under $10 million to nearly $500 million, evolving from using personal funding sources to securing bank-financed loans that cover the full purchase price. He explains his strategic approach to converting acquired firms from commission-based to fee-based models, details his method for identifying potential acquisition targets through a combination of recruiters, marketplaces, and networking, and shares the importance of taking time to integrate new acquisitions thoroughly, which has not only retained clients but also attracted sellers who prioritize the welfare of their clients post-acquisition.