Advisors who accepted Merrill Lynch’s succession agreement are now realizing how stuck they really are—serving as a cautionary tale for others nearing retirement.

Rather than just signing on the dotted line of their firm’s succession plan, next-gen inheritors (and their senior partners) are exploring their options in a more evolved industry landscape.

Trends that emerged in 2020—adapting to client needs, advancing diversity and inclusion and answering the growing demand for financial advice among first-time investors—are here to stay.

Intentional learning isn’t some new touchy-feely leadership fad.

Before you can determine if Bitcoin, Big Data or any other prepackaged, recipe-for-success advice is right for your firm, you need to get in touch with your values.