Game-Changing Move: Unlock Tips for Selling Your Business
Whether you’re planning to sell your financial planning business soon or simply want to prepare for the future, understanding how the sale process works is crucial to making the right decisions when the time comes.
Selling a financial planning business is a major decision. Whether you are preparing for an exit or building a longer-term plan, understanding the process will help you act with confidence. In a recent session hosted by Adviser 3.0, Louise Jeffreys, Managing Director and Founder of Gunner and Co, shared practical guidance on value, buyer expectations and life after completion.
Why planning early matters
Louise recommends preparing 12 to 24 months ahead so you can organise clean data, segment households and evidence recurring revenue drivers. Firms that already manage client data and planning workflows in a single ecosystem, such as Timeline tend to present more clearly to buyers. For a detailed checklist of the steps involved, see Gunner and Co’s nine step guide to selling a financial advice business.
What buyers value most
Buyers focus on three areas. They want reliable client data and segmentation, fee structures that align with market norms, and operations that are straightforward to integrate. If you want more background on the process from a seller’s perspective, Gunner and Co’s overview of the selling process is a helpful primer.
Avoid the common deal breakers
Deals most often falter when revenue figures are inaccurate, when due diligence responses are slow, or when historic compliance issues emerge late. For a concise industry view of the operational strain that occurs during a sale, read this FT Adviser analysis on running a firm while selling up.
Typical timeline and structure
From first buyer conversations to completion, most transactions take nine to twelve months. Headline consideration is commonly split between an upfront payment and deferred payments over 12 to 24 months. Cultural and operational fit often has as much impact on your final outcome as price. If you want independent best practice material for transactions, the ICAEW Corporate Finance Faculty maintains technical and best practice guidelines
Life after completion
If you retire, you become an ambassador during client handovers, so it helps to believe the new home is right for your clients. If you stay on, expect new systems and a different culture. Advisers who commit for a meaningful period generally adapt more easily. You can also stay close to market insight by joining conversations and events through Adviser 3.0.
