Ep 355: Scaling Worksite Financial Planning As An Employee Benefit For The Average Worker With Brad Arends
Oct 17, 2023
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Brad Arends, co-founder and CEO of Intellicents, shares insights on scaling worksite financial planning for average workers. Topics include fee compression, addressing concerns over plan asset raiding, selling a significant portion of their business, and the economics of scaling worksite financial planning as an employee benefit.
Brad Arends built a multi-billion dollar advisory firm by providing comprehensive financial planning as an added benefit to large company employees.
Brad's strategic move to sell a significant portion of his business and adopt a flat fee structure helped him transition into wealth management and drive revenue growth.
IntelliSense's integration of financial planning into their services as an employee benefit has differentiated them from competitors and led to their success as a sustainable wealth management firm.
Deep dives
Brad's Unique Approach to Building a Multi-Billion Dollar Advisory Firm
Brad Arons, CEO of IntelliSense, built a multi-billion dollar advisory firm by leveraging 401(k) retirement plans to offer comprehensive financial planning to employees as an added benefit. He recognized the need to provide advice to 401(k) participants after they retired, as they often fell prey to brokers selling high-commission annuities. Brad expanded his business into wealth management and developed a multi-pronged model combining retirement plan advice, group insurance benefits, and personal financial planning.
Transitioning from Record Keeping to Wealth Management Amid Fee Compression
Brad faced fee compression in the retirement plan industry, particularly on the record-keeping side, which led him to sell that part of his business. To transition into wealth management, he decided to adopt a flat fee structure and sell his record-keeping offering. Brad took advantage of the data from 401(k) advisement to create personalized financial plans for plan participants, showcasing the value of financial planning and connecting them with advisors.
The Impact of Financial Education and Personalized Financial Plans
IntelliSense offers personalized one-page financial plans to plan participants, educating them on budgeting, debt load, emergency savings, life insurance, and retirement readiness. These initiatives drove engagement and resulted in increased interest from participants seeking more comprehensive financial planning. Employers have found value in offering these services as part of their employee benefits package, and the success of the program has led to new client acquisitions for IntelliSense.
Unlocking Growth Potential in Wealth Management
IntelliSense, a wealth management firm, discovered the importance of financial planning in driving revenue growth. By integrating financial planning into their services, they were able to generate additional revenue from 401(k) participants and middle-market clients. The firm experienced exponential growth after acquiring a father-son duo in 2018, who had a successful business model centered around financial planning. This acquisition propelled IntelliSense into the private wealth management space and solidified their commitment to helping the 99 percent improve their financial wellbeing. The firm now focuses on expanding their footprint nationally and aims to provide personalized financial management services as an employee benefit.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Innovation
IntelliSense encountered challenges and failures on their journey to success. Failed attempts at entering the private wealth management space taught them the importance of having the right team and a solid service model. They learned that financial planning is a key driver of success and profitability in the industry. By implementing financial planning as an employee benefit, IntelliSense was able to differentiate themselves from competitors and build meaningful relationships with clients. Their strategic focus on technology, talent acquisition, and business expansion has propelled them to become a sustainable and successful wealth management firm.
Brad Arends is the co-founder and CEO of Intellicents, an independent RIA based out of Minnesota that oversees $6 billion in assets under management for more than 3,000 households. Brad stands out for having built a multi-billion-dollar advisory firm by offering comprehensive financial planning to large company employees as an added benefit, rather than targeting multi-millionaire clients.
Listen in as Brad delves into his transition from focusing on 401(k) plan participants to expanding into wealth management, addressing the challenges of shifting advisors' mindsets and the evolution of his multi-pronged business model. We also explore the implications of the Pension Protection Act on his decision-making, his strategic move to sell a significant portion of his business to prioritize personal wealth management, and his innovative use of data to craft personalized financial plans.