Hue Partners

🚨 Transaction Announcement🚨 We are celebrating a fantastic partnership 🎉 Hue Partners was honored to serve as the exclusive sell-side advisor to Bridge Advisory, LLC. It was a pleasure to work with Dave Penniall, Vanessa Burnett, CFP®, Dennis Grant and the entire Bridge team. Congratulations, Shannon Eusey, Matt Cooper, and the Beacon Pointe team on a great partnership! 🚀 — — At Hue Partners, we elevate M&A beyond mere numbers and spreadsheets. We harness the transformative power of storytelling to connect data, relationships, hearts, minds, and bridge the gap we saw in traditional investment banking. ✨ Like this post? 👍 Like 💬 Comment 🔄 Repost 🛎 Give Hue Partners a follow

M&A’s Dirty Word: Deal Breaker When we think of "deal breakers," financial misalignments and unfavorable terms typically come to mind. However, what if we told you that the most significant deal breakers extend far beyond mere numbers? In a recent discussion with Hue Partners, Stephen de Man, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors, unpacked the critical insights from their Global Advisor Study. Let's dive into the data around M&A deal breakers: ❌ 79% of advisors cited “misalignment on investment philosophy”  ❌ 76% noted that a deal not being in the “best interest of my clients” ❌ 65% pointed to “terms of the deal” as a stumbling block. The most significant stat: cultural misalignment is the silent killer of deals 🤫 At the Deals and Succession Conference, DFA asked participants why certain transactions didn’t go through. The results were staggering— 90% of deals that fell apart did so due to cultural mismatches ❗ While it is easy to fixate on valuations and terms, it’s the underlying cultural dynamics that truly matter. As you embark on your M&A journey, it can be hard to decipher deal killers. Don’t navigate this complex journey alone; engage M&A experts like Hue Partners to guide you through the process and help ensure that your next transaction is built on a solid foundation. Don’t miss the full M&A Confidential article linked below! 👇 Stay tuned for more exciting content from the below M&A Confidential industry experts: 🎥 Amy DeTolla of Aureus Advantage 🎥 Alex Kirby of Total Family 🎥 Stephen Caruso of Cerulli Associates 🎥 Becca Knauss of The RIA Works 🎥 Julie Littlechild of Absolute Engagement 🎥 Stephen de Man of Dimensional Fund Advisors 🎥 Daniel Crosby, Ph.D. of Orion 🎥 Kelli Cruz of Cruz Consulting Group

🌟 Happy New Year! 🌟 As we turn the page to a brand new year, let's embrace the possibilities that lie ahead. Take this time to set your intentions, dream big, and surround yourself with positivity. May your year be a year filled with joy, growth, and new adventures. Cheers to a wonderful New Year ahead! 🥳🥂✨

Rethinking Succession Planning: Embracing M&A for a Sustainable Future Advisors often joke, "I will die at my desk," highlighting their deep commitment to their work and the difficulty of transitioning responsibilities. However, M&A can offer a viable path for succession planning, ensuring continuity while fostering growth. Stephen de Man, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors, discussed succession planning during Hue Partners' M&A Confidential Speaker Series, sharing emerging practice management trends and insights from their Global Advisor Study. Why Succession Planning is Challenging 🔦 Emotional Attachment: Advisors often feel a strong emotional connection to their practice, making the thought of selling or merging feel like losing a part of themselves. 🔦 Fear of Losing Control: Concerns about how a merger or acquisition might impact client relationships and firm culture can lead to hesitation. 🔦 Lack of Preparedness: Many advisors may not have considered M&A as a succession strategy, leaving them unready for such a significant transition. Making Succession Planning Easier Through M&A 🔑 Leverage External Advisors: Engage M&A advisors who specialize in the advisory industry. They can provide valuable insights, help navigate negotiations, and protect your interests throughout the process. 🔑 Evaluate Cultural Fit: Assess the cultural compatibility between your firm and potential partners. A strong cultural fit will help maintain client relationships and ensure a seamless transition. 🔑 Focus on Clients: Keep client interests at the forefront of your decision-making. While the advisory field may be characterized by the “I will die at my desk” mentality, embracing M&A as a succession strategy can transform this narrative. Rather than viewing succession as an end, see it as a strategic opportunity for growth and sustainability. By leveraging M&A, advisors can secure their legacy, ensure continuity for their clients, and create a thriving future for their practice. With thoughtful planning and execution, succession planning can become a powerful tool for success rather than a daunting challenge. Don’t miss the full M&A Confidential article linked below! 👇 Stay tuned for more exciting content from the below M&A Confidential industry experts: 🎥 Amy DeTolla of Aureus Advantage 🎥 Alex Kirby of Total Family 🎥 Stephen Caruso of Cerulli Associates 🎥 Becca Knauss of The RIA Works 🎥 Julie Littlechild of Absolute Engagement 🎥 Stephen de Man of Dimensional Fund Advisors 🎥 Daniel Crosby, Ph.D. of Orion 🎥 Kelli Cruz of Cruz Consulting Group

🌟 Lack a Succession Plan? You’re Not Alone! 🌟 The New Year is the perfect time to reflect and strategize for the future. Did you know that a staggering 70% of firms lack a written succession strategy? This eye-opening statistic was highlighted by Stephen de Man, Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors, during his discussion with Hue Partners M&A Confidential on emerging practice management trends and insights from their Global Advisor Study. When advisors were asked about having a genuine succession plan—not just a “what if something happens” contingency plan—the results were shocking: 70% of firms did not have a clear succession strategy in place. Stephen shared findings from one of the largest client studies, revealing crucial insights into client sentiments during transitions. Many clients express concerns regarding their advisors’ retirement and its implications for their financial future. They crave clarity and reassurance, and it’s our duty to address these anxieties directly. As we enter 2025, seize this opportunity to prioritize succession planning. By embracing change and fostering open communication about M&A, you can transform client apprehension into confidence. Clients often view these transitions as opportunities for enhanced stability and success. This New Year, commit to developing robust succession plans and fostering cultural alignment between potential partners, ensuring your clients receive the exceptional care they deserve! Check out Stephen de Man's article linked below and stay tuned for the M&A Confidential videos to drop! 🎥 ✨

What will my clients say about me selling? 😬 If you are worried about what your clients will say when sharing you are selling your firm, you are NOT alone. Thank you to WealthManagement.com for allowing us to discuss the client communication step of an M&A Journey. As their advisor, you have walked alongside your clients through their most significant life events—the highs and the lows: ❤️ celebrated weddings ❤️🩹 moments of grief ❤️ welcomed new life ❤️🩹 support through separation/divorce ❤️ guided them through selling their businesses Yet, when sharing YOUR own monumental news—selling your business—you may grapple with a profound fear of client reactions. 🤸 Instead, flip the script 🤸 🛑 First step is to pause 🛑 Create space for clients to celebrate this exciting news WITH you 🎉 Clients are honored to walk alongside YOU in your once-in-a-lifetime transaction. They want to know that they can continue to work with the trusted professionals they’ve come to rely on.

❄️ Happy Holidays! ❄️ Warm wishes from Emily Blue, CFA and Ryan Halls at Hue Partners! We hope this season brings you joy and precious moments with your loved ones. This holiday season, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our clients and partners. Together, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones. May your holidays be filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments with loved ones. 🫶

🚀 Taking the Worst Case Off the Table: A Game-Changer for Founders🚀 Daniel Crosby, Ph.D., Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion and winner of ThinkAdvisor's Thought Leader of the Year Award, recently joined the Hue Partners M&A Confidential Speaker Series. He shared how it is all too common for founders like yourself to fall into the trap of "catastrophizing"—a normal psychological behavior where you imagine the worst possible outcomes of your decisions. This tendency can paralyze you, especially during pivotal moments like M&A. Here are a few examples of a founder's "catastrophizing" thoughts during the M&A journey: 1️⃣ What if the buyer fires me after I sell? 2️⃣ What if my entire team quits? 3️⃣ What if all my clients leave? To a founder, these "catastrophizing" thoughts feel so real in the moment. But what if you flipped the script? What if you took the worst-case scenario off the table? 💡 Consider the example from the Soul of Wealth - Hyundai during the Great Financial Crisis. While auto sales plummeted, they took the worst case off the table for their customers. They promised car buyers to take the car back if buyers lost their jobs. This bold move didn’t just alleviate customer fears; it empowered customers to make a purchase without the weight of anxiety holding them back. As an advisor, you can apply this powerful principle. By removing the fear of the worst-case scenario, you can unlock potential and inspire action. Founders preparing for M&A must remember: 1️⃣ At the core, M&A is a talent acquisition strategy. Often, buyers want the founder to stay as long as they are able to serve clients. 2️⃣ Partnership brings greater career pathing for team members, which will be exciting to them 3️⃣ Client happiness (and stickiness) is centered around the consistency in the relationship with their advisor 🔑 Daniel Crosby, Ph.D. Key Takeaways: 🔦 Acknowledge Human Behavior: Recognize that catastrophizing is a normal response to uncertainty. Understanding this can help you manage your own fears and those of your clients. 🔦 Shift the Narrative: Instead of focusing on what could go wrong, highlight the opportunities that lie ahead. 🔦 Emphasize Relationships: Clients choose to work with you for who you are, not just your strategies. Consistency in your approach fosters trust. 🔦Frame Change Positively: Approach conversations with confidence and clarity, showcasing the benefits rather than the uncertainties. Don’t miss the full M&A Confidential article linked below! 👇 Stay tuned for more exciting content from the below M&A Confidential industry experts: 🎥 Amy DeTolla of Aureus Advantage 🎥 Alex Kirby of Total Family 🎥 Stephen Caruso of Cerulli Associates 🎥 Becca Knauss of The RIA Works 🎥 Julie Littlechild of Absolute Engagement 🎥 Stephen de Man of Dimensional Fund Advisors 🎥 Daniel Crosby, Ph.D. of Orion 🎥 Kelli Cruz of Cruz Consulting Group

🔥 Navigating Change through Selling Your Firm 🔥 Daniel Crosby, Ph.D., Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion and winner of ThinkAdvisor's Thought Leader of the Year Award, recently joined the Hue Partners M&A Confidential Speaker Series. In his talk, he explored the powerful intersection of money and the mind during mergers and acquisitions, drawing insights from his book, The Soul of Wealth: 50 Reflections on Money and Meaning. As humans, we make almost no distinction between the things that we own and who we are as people. This is equally as significant for founders of wealth management firms. For many, the business they own is indistinguishable from their personal identity. When the time comes to consider selling, it can feel like parting with a piece of ourselves. This emotional weight can lead to hesitation and even avoidance in planning for succession. It’s not just a business decision; it’s a deeply personal one. Navigating the M&A journey can be an emotional journey for founders. Many advisors find themselves kicking the can down the road, delaying necessary discussions about their future. But facing this reality is crucial for a successful transition. One valuable tool in this journey is the Stages of Change model, which can help you understand where you are in the process. Are we in pre-contemplation, unaware of the need for change? Or are we ready to take the next steps? By identifying your current stage, you can better prepare ourselves for the emotional and strategic shifts ahead. If you’re an advisor contemplating this monumental change, remember: it’s okay to feel a mix of emotions. Acknowledge them, engage professional M&A advice, and take it one step at a time. Your practice is a part of you, and navigating this transition with intention can lead to new opportunities and growth. Don’t miss the full M&A Confidential article linked below! 👇 Stay tuned for more exciting content from the below M&A Confidential industry experts: 🎥 Amy DeTolla of Aureus Advantage 🎥 Alex Kirby of Total Family 🎥 Stephen Caruso of Cerulli Associates 🎥 Becca Knauss of The RIA Works 🎥 Julie Littlechild of Absolute Engagement 🎥 Stephen de Man of Dimensional Fund Advisors 🎥 Daniel Crosby, Ph.D. of Orion 🎥 Kelli Cruz of Cruz Consulting Group

A Year of Connection and Celebration! ✨ As we reflect on the year coming to a close, one of the highlights for us was bringing our families together to play and celebrate an amazing year. It was a joyful reminder of the community we’ve built and the relationships that matter most. We are immensely grateful for our amazing clients and the remarkable outcomes we've helped them achieve. Your trust and collaboration have been the driving force behind our success, and we couldn't have done it without you! As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited about the opportunities that await our amazing clients. Here’s to another year of growth, innovation, and continued partnerships. Thank you for being a part of our journey! 💼✨