The shift toward independence in wealth management is accelerating. More financial advisors recognize that owning and scaling a practice on their own terms offers something a traditional employee model cannot: genuine enterprise value. Yet many advisors still measure success by annual income alone, leaving millions of dollars on the table when the time comes to transition, sell, or pass on their business. The question is no longer whether to think like a business owner. It is how to start.

In this episode of the InvestmentNews podcast, host Bruce Kelly sits down with Jeff Brown, Independent Solutions Platform Growth Director at Wells Fargo Wealth and Investment Management, to unpack what enterprise value actually means for financial advisors and how to build it intentionally. Brown brings a rare perspective: he returned to Wells Fargo Advisors in 2025 after having grown a firm to $400 million in advisory assets, and now helps advisors achieve the same trajectory from within. The conversation covers Wells Fargo Advisors' multichannel model including not only traditional wirehouse options but also the independent options available with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network (FiNet), and why the ability to move between channels without changing client account numbers is a game changer for advisors weighing their next move.

Tune it to learn that:

• Enterprise value is measured as a multiple of top-line revenue or EBITDA and can reach 4 to 5 times revenue or 12 to 15 times bottom line when advisors check the right boxes.
• Some of the highest-impact moves a founder can make in transitioning into being a true business owner or CEO
• Wells Fargo's supported independence model with FiNet could effectively double the enterprise value multiple compared to a traditional employee arrangement.
• Building next-gen leadership, systematizing processes, centralizing investment management, and creating consistent lead flow & marketing practices are the structural moves that drive long-term firm value.
• Wells Fargo's forthcoming RIA Solutions platform will allow advisors to go fully independent with multiple custodians while keeping existing client account numbers intact.

Every advisor will have an exit, planned or otherwise. Tune in now and start building a practice worth more than the income it generates.

This podcast is sponsored by Wells Fargo & Company