Going It Alone Versus Equity In A Fast-Growing RIA?

Explore the pros and cons of building your own practice versus joining a fast-growing RIA for equity, and discover which path suits your financial career goals.

The Allure of Independence: Building Your Own Practice

For many financial advisors, the dream of true independence is powerful. Taking the solo route means every decision rests in your hands: from choosing your clients and fee structure to building your technology stack and shaping your brand. This autonomy allows you to design a business that perfectly aligns with your vision and values.

Direct relationships with clients are another key draw. With no middle layers between you and your clients, you can offer a service model that's both personal and high-touch, building trust and loyalty over time. Independence also grants you flexibility over your lifestyle—you set your own schedule and define your work-life balance.

However, this path comes with challenges. Scaling can be slow, overhead costs can mount quickly, and building significant enterprise value often requires team leverage. Ultimately, solo advisors must ask themselves: Are you building a lifestyle practice or an enterprise that can grow beyond your own capacity?

Unlocking Opportunity: What Equity in a Fast-Growing RIA Really Means

Joining a fast-growing RIA and taking an equity stake opens doors to benefits that are hard to replicate alone. Equity participation means you share in the long-term enterprise value and growth of the firm, turning your contribution into tangible financial upside over time. Larger RIAs offer access to centralized technology, marketing, compliance, and investment resources that make scaling your client base and operations more efficient.

By leveraging the infrastructure of a larger firm, you can spend more time focused on planning and nurturing client relationships, rather than being bogged down by back-office demands. Equity also provides clear succession and liquidity options, offering a pathway to eventual retirement or transition that protects both your interests and your clients. The sense of community, collaboration, and shared expertise found in a thriving RIA environment can also accelerate professional development and innovation.

Risk, Reward, and Control: Weighing the Trade-Offs

The decision between going it alone and joining a larger RIA comes down to balancing risk, reward, and control. Independence offers full authority but comes with the burden of shouldering all business risks and resource constraints. Growth can be slower, and it may be challenging to build lasting enterprise value without structures in place for succession or team expansion.

Conversely, joining a fast-growing RIA means sharing control, but it opens doors to greater resources, faster growth, and potentially higher long-term rewards. Some partnership models allow for operational independence and brand autonomy while enabling you to participate in the enterprise's upside. The key is to assess what level of control you're willing to exchange for access to scale, support, and future liquidity.

Compensation, Culture, and Career Growth: What to Expect

Compensation structures can differ greatly between solo practices and larger RIAs. On your own, income is tied directly to your book of business and your ability to manage costs. In a fast-growing RIA, compensation might include salary, profit-sharing, bonuses, and equity—all structured to reward collaboration and growth.

Culture and career growth also diverge. Independent advisors set their own cultural tone, but may miss out on the camaraderie, peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving found in larger firms. An RIA with a strong, growth-oriented culture can provide mentorship, shared best practices, and a sense of belonging that can be both personally and professionally rewarding. Career advancement is often clearer, with defined paths for leadership or ownership roles.

Making the Right Choice for Your Future in Financial Services

There is no universal answer—your decision should reflect your ambitions, risk tolerance, and vision for the future. Ask yourself: Are you seeking steady income and lifestyle flexibility, or are you aiming to build a scalable enterprise with significant equity value? Do you have a realistic plan for succession that serves both your clients and your long-term interests?

The strongest independent RIAs are redefining what it means to be independent—combining ownership, scale, and collaboration. Whether you choose to build alone or join a growth-focused RIA, ensure your structure supports your professional, financial, and personal goals. Independence is not about isolation, but about creating the freedom to serve your clients and yourself at the highest level.