A Model of Supported Advisor Independence That Fills the “Fear Gap"

There are plenty of advisors who want to go independent but are hesitant—beleaguered by thoughts like: What would it take to setup the business? What do I need to know about platforms and technology?

Where do I even start?

And it’s questions like these that are being answered by RIAs like Kestra Private Wealth Services, also known as Kestra PWS—a perfect example of a firm born to support a growing need for full-service paths to independence. Rob Bartenstein and his partner Scott Wilson, wirehouse breakaways themselves, felt that a chasm existed in the landscape – one that they refer to as the “fear gap” – which stopped many advisors from pursuing independence. The partners took their decades of experience with the likes of Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and UBS, put their “advisors’ hats on” and set out to fill that chasm—giving rise to Kestra PWS. The firm has since become a popular path for breakaways who seek the freedom and flexibility of independence without the hassle of having to build their own firm from scratch.Related: The Rockefeller Effect: Why the Multi-Family Office Model Has Become the Talk of the Industry

In this episode, Rob discusses:

What inspired the partners to create Kestra PWS—and why they were ready to leave the wirehouse world behind.

What differentiates the Kestra PWS model from others in the space—and the advantages of joining an existing RIA.

How this model provides an alternate path to independence for advisors—and the role Kestra Financial plays in their ecosystem.

How their turnkey model takes care of all the “big pieces” of setting up a business—and what other requirements advisors should be aware of.

How brand and equity ownership are big selling points for the firm—and how that differs from other independent models.

Rob says that filling the “fear gap” is a concept that remains a foundation of the firm to this day, allowing them to continually evolve Kestra PWS as needs change. And as they continue to close that gap, the firm remains a solid option that makes a move to independencemore like a step, instead of a leap.