The 2025 Questions Most asked by Advisors in Private: And What They Mean for 2026

December 16, 2025

Summary

The Questions Advisors Ask in Private – And What They Mean for 2026

Episode 6 Summary

Most financial advisors don’t voice their most important questions publicly.

They surface quietly in private conversations, late at night after client meetings, or during moments when the industry’s direction no longer feels as certain as it once did.

Throughout 2025, those questions became more frequent.
And more pointed.

At RIA Confidential, we spent the year listening across every episode, advisor conversations, and industry shifts.

This post summarizes the questions advisors asked most often in private, and what those questions reveal about where the profession is headed in 2026.

1. “Is the industry really changing or does it just feel that way?”

This question defined the start of 2025.

Advisors sensed something deeper than headlines: accelerated consolidation, unexpected payout changes, platform restructures, and decisions made further and further from the advisor-client relationship.

What 2025 confirmed is that this wasn’t a momentary disruption, it was a structural shift.

The advisor business is no longer being optimized for flexibility or autonomy inside legacy models. Advisors felt that reality before it was openly discussed.

2. “What’s the real risk of staying where I am?”

For years, the dominant fear was the risk of leaving.

In 2025, that equation quietly flipped.

Advisors began asking a different question:
What does staying too long cost me?

The concern wasn’t just compensation, we saw concerns spannung control, optionality, long-term planning, and the ability to shape a future that still feels aligned five years out.

This shift in questioning marked a turning point. Advisors stopped asking if independence was risky and started asking when staying put became riskier.

3. “What actually happens after you go independent?”

Independence is often imagined as operational chaos.

But advisors who made the move in 2025 reported something very different: stabilization.

Modern systems, cleaner workflows, fewer approval layers, and direct control replaced complexity faster than expected.

This question revealed something important: advisors weren’t afraid of independence itself. They were afraid of the unknown. Once clarity replaced assumption, momentum followed.

4. “Can I really keep my annuity and insurance business?”

This was one of the most quietly asked, and for Advisors contemplating independence, this was the most emotionally loaded.

For decades, advisors were told that independence meant giving up insurance and annuity support. 2025 exposed that belief as outdated.

Advisors learned that compliant structures exist to maintain annuity and insurance business while operating independently.

This realization removed one of the final psychological barriers holding advisors back.

5. “What are the real legal risks, and what’s just fear?”

Legal fear has always been a powerful deterrent.

In 2025, advisors started separating myth from reality.

They learned that most legal issues stem from how a transition is handled, not the act of transitioning itself. Clean exits, proper communication, and correct protocols dramatically reduce risk.

Confidence comes from clarity.

6. “How do I know when it’s my time?”

This may have been the most personal question of all.

Across conversations, a pattern emerged. Advisors recognized their tipping point when three things aligned:

A growing sense of restriction
Client needs outpacing platform support
A future inside the current model that no longer felt appealing

Independence wasn’t framed as escapen, it was framed as alignment.

What These Questions Signal for 2026

Taken together, these questions tell a clear story.

2026 won’t be defined by reaction or panic.
It will be defined by intention.

Advisors are asking the right questions. Questions rooted in control, clarity, and long-term alignment rather than fear.

Those who act on that clarity early will enter 2026 with leverage, optionality, and confidence.

Final Thought

Private questions are often the most honest ones.

And in 2025, those questions revealed an industry quietly recalibrating, not away from advice, but toward independence done thoughtfully, strategically, and on the advisor’s terms.

If you’re asking these questions yourself, you’re not too late.
You’re perfectly poised for 2026.

Explore Further

🎧 Listen to the full episode of RIA Confidential
🔹 Try the RIA Calculator at RIACalculator.org
🔹 Follow RIA Confidential on LinkedIn for weekly insights

2026 won’t be the year advisors react.
It will be the year they take control.

Transcript:

[01:10] [Jonathan Andrews]
Alright, everyone—welcome back to RIA Confidential. You know the drill by now: this is where you get the unfiltered truth about independence, straight from the source. I’m Jonathan Andrews, here with your RIA mentor, Ray Gettins. We’re doing our 2025 year-end round-up—looking at the advisor questions that came up over and over, and the breakthroughs that shaped the year.

[01:45] [Jonathan Andrews]
Ray, I get the sense a lot of advisors finally found language for the discomfort they’d been feeling at their broker-dealers. Did you hear that too?

[01:55] [Ray Gettins]
Yes, pretty much every day.

[02:00] [Jonathan Andrews]
Yeah, once advisors found out it’s optional, and saw other people naming the same frustrations—control, the never-ending approvals, the inflexible grid policies—they finally had words for what they’d felt all along.

[02:25] [Jonathan Andrews]
You know, I remember working with an advisor really early in the year—he said, and I’m paraphrasing, “Until I heard your show… I honestly thought dissatisfaction was just my problem. But after Episode 1, I realized, ‘Wait, I have a choice.’

[02:50] [Ray Gettins]
That’s what I’ve seen time and again

[02:55] [Jonathan Andrews]
Okay Today we’re doing something special. This is our December Round-Up Episode, where we look back at the five episodes we released this year and break down the biggest insights advisors took away, the questions that came up the most, and what these trends tell us about the direction of independence in 2026. If you want clarity about your next step, this is the episode to end your year with. Ray, you ready?

[03:35] [Ray Gettins]
Absolutely. This year has been a major turning point for advisors, and the questions we’ve been receiving show just how rapidly the landscape is changing.

[03:50] [Jonathan Andrews]
Before we go deeper, let’s take a moment to recap the five episodes we released in 2025. Ray, wanna run through those real quick?

[04:00] [Ray Gettins]
Episode 1 was Breaking Free from the Broker-Dealer Model, focused on why advisors are questioning and leaving the BD structure.

[04:15] [Ray Gettins]
Episode 2 was What Happens After the Leap, the reality of life after becoming independent.

[04:30] [Ray Gettins]
Episode 3 was Shockwave Deep Dive, which addressed disruptions inside major BDs and what they mean for advisors.

[04:45] [Ray Gettins]
Episode 4 was The DPL Advantage, explaining how open architecture changes revenue and client experience.

[05:05] [Ray Gettins]
Episode 5 was The Strategic Shift: how to thrive, not just survive, in the post–broker-dealer era, and how early movers gain a lasting advantage.

[05:30] [Jonathan Andrews]
Thanks for the recap Ray! Now let’s slow down and look deeper.

[05:38] [Jonathan Andrews]
I want to ask you one big reflection question for each of the five episodes. Something that pulls out the heart of why each one mattered and why advisors connected so strongly with it. Ready?

[05:55] [Ray Gettins]
Let’s go.

[05:58] [Jonathan Andrews]
Here’s the first question. What surprised you most about advisors’ reactions to Episode 1: Breaking Free from the Broker-Dealer Model?

[06:10] [Ray Gettins]
What surprised me most was how many advisors said, “I’ve felt this for years, but I never had the language for it.” The BD model is so deeply normalized that advisors forget it’s optional. That episode allowed people to finally articulate the discomfort, the constraints, and the lack of control they’d been feeling. It gave them permission to question a structure they thought they had to tolerate forever.

[07:20] [Jonathan Andrews]
Alright, Next question. Looking back at Episode 2, What Happens After the Leap, what do you think was the most important truth that episode exposed?

[07:35] [Ray Gettins]
That independence isn’t chaos. It’s clarity. Advisors expected the post-transition phase to feel overwhelming, but what they discovered was the opposite. The restrictions, the approvals, the production requirements, those were the overwhelming parts. Independence brought structure, control, and alignment. That episode shattered the myth that independence is risky.

[08:35] [Jonathan Andrews]
Okay now for for Episode 3, the Shockwave Deep Dive, why did this one resonate so strongly with advisors this year?

[08:50] [Ray Gettins]
Because 2025 was the year when major broker-dealer changes caught advisors off guard. Mergers, acquisitions, forced platform migrations, payout adjustments. It all created a sense of instability. What advisors told us after this episode was, “This feels like what’s happening in my office right now.” The big insight was that these disruptions weren’t just inconveniences. They were catalysts. Moments that made advisors stop and ask, “Do I really want to follow my BD into another environment I didn’t choose, or is this my moment to take control and go independent?” Episode 3 helped advisors realize that these shakeups weren’t setbacks. They were opportunities; possibly the perfect chance to step into a model where they finally get to choose their own path.

[10:30] [Jonathan Andrews]
Yeah, actually what an opportunity!

[10:35] [Jonathan Andrews]
Alright. Episode 4, The Insurance and Annuity Advantage. What was the biggest lightbulb moment for advisors after this one?

[10:50] [Ray Gettins]
That they won’t lose their insurance and annuity clients when they go RIA. In fact, they actually gain more flexibility and better client solutions. This episode helped advisors understand that independence doesn’t close doors, it opens them. Most advisors assumed going RIA meant sacrificing an entire segment of their business. What they discovered instead is that commission-free and fee-based insurance platforms allow them to continue serving those clients without the conflicts or restrictions of the BD model. Once they saw that they could still offer annuities, still deliver protection planning, and still support retired clients, but with better economics and more transparency; the fear disappeared.

[12:20] [Jonathan Andrews]
Absolutely, that was the breakthrough.

[12:25] [Jonathan Andrews]
And finally, Episode 5, Thriving in the Post Broker-Dealer Era. If you could distill the core message of that episode into one insight advisors need for 2026, what would it be?

[12:45] [Ray Gettins]
That life after the broker-dealer isn’t just workable, it’s better. Advisors aren’t just surviving when they leave. They’re thriving. What this episode really revealed is that the BD environment trains advisors to operate in a reactive, constrained way. Once they step into independence, everything changes. They gain control over their pricing, their tech, their planning options, and their client experience. They start building a true business with real enterprise value instead of being tied to someone else’s grid and someone else’s agenda. For many advisors, it’s the first time they’ve been able to design their practice around what’s best for their clients — and what’s best for themselves. The big insight was simple: the post-BD era isn’t about risk. It’s about opportunity.

[14:35] [Jonathan Andrews]
Yes, and advisors who step into it are discovering levels of growth, stability, and fulfillment they never thought possible.

[14:50] [Jonathan Andrews]
Okay Ray, let’s move into the most common question from each episode. Short and clear. Ready?

[15:00] [Ray Gettins]
Let’s do it!

[15:05] [Jonathan Andrews]
Okay Episode 1. What was the number one question advisors asked after listening?

[15:15] [Ray Gettins]
Is the RIA model really more profitable?”

[15:20] [Ray Gettins]
And yes. Once advisors remove BD haircuts, platform fees, and product limitations, most increase their net take-home by twenty to forty percent.

[15:40] [Jonathan Andrews]
Alright, Episode 2?

[15:45] [Ray Gettins]
How long does transition take?” The answer is 30 to 90 days, depending on preparation and book structure.

[16:05] [Jonathan Andrews]
Great, now I know Episode 3 triggered a lot of messages from advisors dealing with changes inside their broker-dealers. What was the number one question they asked after that episode?

[16:25] [Ray Gettins]
The most common question was, “If my BD is being sold, merged, or shifting platforms… should I move with them or use this moment to go independent?”

[16:45] [Ray Gettins]
And this is a critical decision point. When your firm moves, you’re not the one initiating change, you’re reacting to someone else’s decision. That’s usually the perfect time to evaluate independence.

[17:05] [Jonathan Andrews]
I think Advisors realized they don’t have to follow their BD into another system they didn’t choose. They can choose themselves.

[17:20] [Ray Gettins]
Yes, so the question isn’t “Should I stay loyal to my firm?” The real question is “Which path allows me to be a true fiduciary and gives me the most control, stability, and long-term growth?” And for many advisors, that clarity only came when they realized: this disruption is actually their moment to step into independence

[17:55] [Jonathan Andrews]
Alright. Episode 4. What was the most common question that came up?

[18:05] [Ray Gettins]
“Will I lose my insurance and annuity clients if I go RIA?”

[18:15] [Ray Gettins]
And the answer is “No”. This was the big fear, and Episode 4 put it to rest. Advisors learned they can continue serving those clients through fee-based and commission-free platforms, often with better flexibility and better client outcomes.

[18:40] [Jonathan Andrews]
Awesome, now Episode 5?

[18:45] [Ray Gettins]
“How do advisors actually thrive after leaving the broker-dealer?” The answer is that independence gives them control. Control over pricing, tools, planning options, client experience, and business growth. Advisors aren’t just surviving the transition. They’re thriving in ways they never could inside the BD environment.

[19:20] [Jonathan Andrews]
Speaking of thriving, let’s get practical—Ray, you get peppered with questions every day. “Is RIA actually more profitable?” “Will I lose my insurance book?” “Can I still serve my annuity clients?” Let’s hit a few rapid fire.

[19:45] [Ray Gettins]
Okay, Ray, last round. These are the questons we heard all year long. Quick answers.

[19:55] [Jonathan Andrews]
Is going RIA more profitable?

[20:00] [Ray Gettins]
Yes. Almost always.

[20:05] [Jonathan Andrews]
How long does transition take?

[20:10] [Ray Gettins]
30 to 90 days.

[20:15] [Jonathan Andrews]
Will I have to follow my BD if they merge or get acquired?

[20:22] [Ray Gettins]
No. That’s actually the perfect moment to evaluate independence. You don’t have to follow your firm’s decisions: You can choose your own direction.

[20:40] [Jonathan Andrews]
Will I lose my insurance or annuity business?

[20:45] [Ray Gettins]
No. Independent insurance platforms keep those doors fully open.

[20:55] [Jonathan Andrews]
What’s the biggest surprise after independence?

[21:00] [Ray Gettins]
It’s calmer, clearer, and far more rewarding than advisors expect.

[21:15] [Jonathan Andrews]
Thanks that way great!

[21:20] [Ray Gettins]
Alright, let’s get tactical to wrap this one up with What to Watch for in 2026

[21:30] [Jonathan Andrews]
Ray, give advisors the top trends they should watch moving into 2026.

[21:40] [Ray Gettins]
More BD consolidation.

[21:46] [Ray Gettins]
Shrinking grid payouts.

[21:52] [Ray Gettins]
Higher product pressure.

[21:58] [Ray Gettins]
More client demand for transparency.

[22:05] [Ray Gettins]
A major increase in advisors building fee-based independent practices.

[22:15] [Ray Gettins]
And more interest in building equity in your firm instead of building the equity/value of the BD. 2026 is shaping up to be a transformational year.

[22:40] [Jonathan Andrews]
Okay good to know, so now what does an advisor actually do now, if they want to get ahead of 2026’s changes instead of just riding out the next wave?

[23:00] [Ray Gettins]
First thing, Jonathan, you gotta get a clear transition plan together. Not just a vague idea. Put down your timeline, list what resources you’ll need—whether it’s compliance, custodial, tech—and set real milestones. That’s the only way to make the jump without getting lost in the noise.

[23:45] [Jonathan Andrews]
And I’ll throw in—don’t skip the investment in tech, right? CRM, compliance tools, platforms that actually serve you and your clients. I always tell folks, this is your business now, you should have the systems that let you run it right.

[24:15] [Ray Gettins]
Yeah, and don’t try to do it alone. Get plugged in with other independent advisors. Build a network, get a couple mentors who’ve lived the transition—you’ll dodge so many headaches that way. Plus, keeping up with regs and best practices is a team sport now. Collaboration beats guesswork, every time.

[24:55] [Jonathan Andrews]
Alright—if you’re listening and want to crunch some numbers, check out R I A Calculator.org. You’ll see what your business could actually look like as an RIA—revenues, freedom, all of it. Free, simple, no catch.

[25:20] [Ray Gettins]
And hey, if you want some honest guidance on your specific situation, reach out anytime—no pitch, just what you need to know. I’ll always make time for that. Just head over to R I A mentor.com and grab a spot on my calendar, that’s R I A Mentor.com

[25:55] [Jonathan Andrews]
Alright, folks, follow us on LinkedIn, hit subscribe, and keep an eye on the feed—2026’s already shaping up wild and, honestly, I think it’s gonna be a huge year for advisors who want something better.

[26:20] [Ray Gettins]
Jonathan, always a pleasure. And to everyone out there—Happy Holidays, see you in the new year. This is RIA Confidential, signing off.

[26:35] [Ray Gettins]
Alright, folks, follow us on LinkedIn, hit subscribe, and keep an eye on the feed—2026’s already shaping up wild and, honestly, I think it’s gonna be a huge year for advisors who want something better.

[26:55] [Ray Gettins]
Jonathan, always a pleasure. And to everyone out there—happy holidays. We’ll see you in the new year. This is RIA Confidential 2025, signing off.

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The 2025 Questions Most asked by Advisors in Private: And What They Mean for 2026

Summary

The Questions Advisors Ask in Private – And What They Mean for 2026

1. “Is the industry really changing or does it just feel that way?”

2. “What’s the real risk of staying where I am?”

3. “What actually happens after you go independent?”

4. “Can I really keep my annuity and insurance business?”

5. “What are the real legal risks, and what’s just fear?”

6. “How do I know when it’s my time?”

What These Questions Signal for 2026

Final Thought

Explore Further

Transcript:

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