The Inside Scoop Behind our New RIA Resource Hub

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Welcome back to RIA Confidential, where you get the unfiltered truth about independence, straight from the source. I’m Jonathan Andrews, here with your RIA mentor, Ray Gettins. Welcome to the show, Ray!

RAY GETTINS: Good to be here, Jonathan.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Today’s episode is all about how RIA Confidential is evolving from a podcast into a full-fledged independent resource hub designed for the modern advisor and RIA.

RAY GETTINS: Yes, for those who don’t know yet, we launched the Resource Hub last Thursday.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: So the podcast remains the voice, and the original website becomes the place. Is that it?

RAY GETTINS: Yes, a vendor-neutral knowledge hub built for advisors who want clarity without the pitch.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Alright folks, in the next 15 minutes, we’ll cover why now, what’s changing, how we protect independence, why we’re forming the entity and pursuing nonprofit status, and how you can use and shape this resource center.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Let’s start with a little bit of context on why we decided to take on the Resource Hub project. Want to share a little bit on that, Ray?

RAY GETTINS: Advisors have podcasts, conferences, consultants, LinkedIn, newsletters. It’s endless. But the reality is most education in this space is marketing with better lighting.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Meaning?

RAY GETTINS: Meaning it’s designed to feel helpful until the moment it becomes a funnel. And I’m not here to demonize business. Vendors provide real value. But when an advisor is deciding whether to go independent, they don’t just need information. They need clean information. Same goes for building and scaling an RIA.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Clean as in not distorted by someone’s incentives?

RAY GETTINS: Exactly. A lot of advisors aren’t stuck because they can’t do it. They’re stuck because they can’t tell what’s true.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Yes, that’s a real dilemma.

RAY GETTINS: And organize it so an advisor can actually use it.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: This might be a good time to go over our RIA Confidential pledge. This is our pledge. Our trust contract.

RAY GETTINS: Great idea, Jonathan. I think it is important for our listeners and Resource Hub users to know.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Okay here we go. Five lines. Easy to remember. Ray, care to tell us what they are?

RAY GETTINS: We disclose incentives. Always. Sponsors never steer editorial. We build tools that reduce guesswork. We tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. We serve advisors first. Period.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Great. I love these, Ray. Now, do you mind if I probe a little deeper into how these pledges play out in real life?

RAY GETTINS: That’s a great idea.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Okay, start with number one. We disclose incentives. Always. Can you elaborate on what that means?

RAY GETTINS: Absolutely. It means if there is any financial relationship, referral arrangement, sponsorship, affiliate link, or commercial upside tied to what we mention, you will hear it and see it. No hiding the ball. What it looks like in practice: a clear verbal disclosure at the top of the episode when a sponsor is present. Written disclosures on the episode page and tool pages where relevant. If we mention a vendor we work with or benefit from, we say so plainly. If we get no benefit, we may say that too, so you’re not left guessing.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Alright, very straightforward. Let’s move on to number two. Sponsors never steer editorial.

RAY GETTINS: This means sponsors support the mission, but they do not control topics, guests, questions, headlines, conclusions, or what we publish. What it looks like in practice: sponsors do not approve scripts, outlines, or final edits. We can critique industry practices even if it’s uncomfortable for advertisers. If a sponsor is relevant to a topic, we still cover pros, cons, and alternatives. Sponsorship buys visibility, not influence.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Love it. Now for number three. We build tools that reduce guesswork.

RAY GETTINS: Advisors need clarity, not more hype. Our tools help you quantify tradeoffs, see your options, and move from “I think” to “I know.” What it looks like in practice: calculators, assessments, and decision guides that turn fog into numbers and next steps. Plain-English outputs, such as what the result means, what to do next, and who it’s for. No forced opt-ins to use the good stuff. Tools are updated when assumptions change, and we note meaningful updates.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Fabulous. We tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable is number four. Ray, please tell us what it means in practice.

RAY GETTINS: Alright, Jonathan. It is just how we operate. We won’t sugarcoat transition risk, timelines, costs, compliance realities, or the emotional side of independence. Clarity beats comfort.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: So it’s like, let’s look at what can actually go wrong, so we can prevent it?

RAY GETTINS: Yes. We name common traps and unrealistic revenue assumptions. We avoid fear-mongering and avoid everything is amazing too.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Okay, very cool. Last but not least, number five. We serve advisors first.

RAY GETTINS: This platform exists to help advisors make better transition decisions and build better RIA firms. Not to capture leads, not to push products, not to posture. What it looks like in practice: content is designed around advisor outcomes: clarity, confidence, protection, scale. We gatekeep nothing that should be publicly useful. We prioritize actionable guidance over hot takes. If there’s a conflict between what’s best for growth and what’s best for advisors, we choose advisors.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Let’s define the expanded scope of the Resource Hub clearly. What changes?

RAY GETTINS: RIA Confidential started as a voice, this very show. Now it becomes infrastructure: a Resource Hub where advisors can return again and again, at every stage of the journey.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: And the podcast?

RAY GETTINS: Still the flagship voice. The conversation layer. But the brand is no longer the podcast. The brand becomes the larger Resource Hub, and the podcast is just a part of that.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Okay, give people the tangible version. What lives in the hub? Let’s start by describing the site tabs.

RAY GETTINS: Start Here is your launch point for independence. Pick your stage, exploring, planning, or executing, choose your path, and get matched to the exact tools and resources to take your next best step. From the Independence Pathfinder and RIA Calculator to Transition Readiness, Cost of Delay, and the Resource Library, everything here is designed to reduce guesswork and help you make smarter decisions faster. Education only. No fluff.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Next up, we’ve got the Roadmap. Build Your Independence Plan is the operational backbone of the RIA Confidential Resource Hub.

RAY GETTINS: The Roadmap walks advisors through four phases: Decide, Plan, Build and Launch, and Transition and Run.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: The Tools Hub is where uncertainty turns into decisions. These interactive tools help independence minded advisors compare scenarios, quantify tradeoffs, and pressure test readiness.

RAY GETTINS: The Resource Library is your organized command center for going independent. Start by stage, then go deeper by topic.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: If you want the next step, check RIAConfidential.com and take the new Resource Hub for a spin. And if you want a private conversation about your situation, book a confidential call with Ray at RIAMentor.com.

RAY GETTINS: We’re taking RIA Confidential on the road this year, so our podcast in 2026 will include live conversations. Real rooms. Real questions.

JONATHAN ANDREWS: Alright folks, that’s a wrap for today’s founding episode of RIA Confidential. Remember, the real story of independence is just getting started. To everyone listening, we’ll catch you next time. Take care.

RAY GETTINS: Yeah, thanks a lot, Jonathan. And thanks to all of you for tuning in. See you on the next one. Goodbye.