The COO Roundtable: Episode 80

In this episode, Matt sits down with Linda Bready, a renowned operations consultant to RIAs and author of the new book, The Exit Equation – M&A Strategies, Tools, and Insights for Financial Advisors.  What started as a guide for sellers preparing for mergers or acquisitions, Linda’s book reveals itself as a comprehensive blueprint for operational readiness. It’s packed with practical strategies that empower firms to run more profitably and efficiently, whether or not a sale is on the horizon. As Linda writes, “a well-run firm isn’t just easier to sell, it’s easier to grow, scale, and live with.”

Linda’s expertise is extensive. She was a trailblazer in the field of RIA performance reporting during her 17 years running B-Ready Outsourcing Solutions, which she led until its acquisition by Envestnet in 2010. After serving in a leadership role at Envestnet for six years, Linda became Executive Vice President of Operations & Client Service at FolioDynamix―until, in a twist of fate, Envestnet acquired FolioDynamix in 2018. Today, Linda is back in the consulting sphere as the founder of CleverX Consulting, where she delivers fractional executive support and board-level insight to financial services firms and fintech innovators.

During this far-reaching conversation, Matt and Linda discuss her new book and a wide range of RIA operations and technology topics, including:

• Why so many RIAs struggle with operational efficiencies
• The common pitfall: mistaking technology ownership with technology optimization
• Why now is the time for RIAs to focus on scalability and repeatability across their organizations
• The critical role of culture and why it’s so often overlooked in M&A transactions
• Strategies for effective change management
• Why not all AUM is created equal
• Overcoming the reluctance to document workflows and processes
• The power of client segmentation and why understanding the true cost to serve each client is more important than focusing solely on top-line revenue

To learn more about how Linda works with advisors and operations professionals, please visit https://www.cleverxconsulting.com/

To purchase Linda’s amazing book, click here.

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You can read the full transcript here.