Broker-Dealer Profiles 2019

A Hybrid Firm That’s Adamantly NOT for Sale...

By Sheila Cuffari-Agasi
Executive Vice President

Advisors are tired of being bought, sold and traded like a commodity. After all, the value of a Broker-Dealer is really in their producing advisors, so why don’t advisors have a significant voice when it comes to changes in ownership, especially in the independent channel? Independent Advisors are business owners. You would think they would have more “destiny control” over the ownership of their chosen firm. They often make a decision to affiliate with one firm, and find themselves soon hamstrung and underserved by a completely different corporate partner that is more concerned with their profitability than the advisors and clients they serve.

United Planners created a very unique structure to prevent this from happening at its inception back in 1987. The founders structured the Partnership with the Limited Partners (Producing Advisors) having a majority ownership of the entity with voting rights on major issues. The firm is un-conflicted about putting the needs of the owner advisors first rather than subordinating their interests to public shareholders, private equity firms, or corporate parents. This ensures United Planners independent longevity and viability.

United Planners has high standards for the type of advisor invited to join the firm. It is because of these standards, including the unique structure, rich culture and way customer service is defined, United Planners has really set itself apart from other Independent Broker Dealers and RIAs.

Now let’s talk profits. When the majority of the firm is owned by the Limited Partners/Producing Advisors, they receive an allocation of the majority of the profits every year. This is why United Planners keeps costs low for advisors and their clients. This unique structure essentially offers that “destiny control” right back to the hands of the advisor and business owner.

Independent RIAs, and those associated with the Firm RIA as IAR’s benefit from open architecture and custodial choice. With NO mark-ups, NO basis points, NO program fees and no bologna when using Third Party Custodians or Money Managers, advisors are free to make choices that are in the best interests of their clients.

Custodial Options (under the Firm RIA or your own INDY RIA) Include:

   TD Ameritrade Institutional, Schwab Institutional, Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services or E*TRADE Advisor Services to name a few.

   Call Partner Development at 800-966-8737 to learn more, or see if you’re a candidate to be gifted an ownership unit in the firm.

United Planners (UP) is a Hybrid Broker Dealer and RIA structured as a Limited Partnership. Qualifying representatives share in the firm’s annual profits and receive top payouts. UP’s rich culture has manifested itself as a direct result of the high quality advisors and key back office personnel united over the last 30+ years. Advisors benefit from business solutions created to make their staff and the client experience more efficient. United Planners encourages the hybrid advisor and offers low cost open architecture options under the Firm RIA, or as an Independent RIA. We service. We care. We share (profits).