Brandon Kawal reflects on the RIA M&A shift from gold rush mentality to an institutional arms race.

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Brandon Kawal, partner at Advisor Growth Strategies, about remaining buoyant in the M&A market despite the challenges of 2022. According to Kawal, factors such as ongoing interest from external investors and demographic changes have helped sustain activity. He emphasizes the significance of meeting the needs of both sellers and buyers, particularly in terms of succession planning and potential partnerships.

Specifically, David and Brandon discuss:

• How deal structures are shifting toward greater use of equity and why.
  
• The premium placed on firms that incentivize current next-generation advisors for long-term growth.
  
• The private equity equation, and the avenues toward liquidity. 
  
• What predicted growth means for private market investments.
  
• How partnerships emerge as a solution to mitigate affordability constraints in internal succession plans.
  

Resources:

• RIA Edge Podcast
  

Connect With David Armstrong:

• Website: WealthManagement.com
  
• LinkedIn: WealthManagent.com
  
• LinkedIn: David Armstrong 
  
• Twitter/X: @djamesarmstrong
  
• LinkedIn: Informa
  

Connect With Brandon Kawal:

• LinkedIn: Brandon Kawal 
  
• Website: Advisor Growth Strategies
  

About Our Guest: 

Brandon leads client engagements, thought leadership, and research. He is tasked with bringing insight, creativity, and analytical know-how to collaborate with and help our clients reach new heights.

Brandon enjoys writing about industry challenges and trends, especially all things millennial.  He authors and leads the annual M&A research for “The RIA Deal Room” which was recognized as the Industry Research Initiative of the Year in the 2021 Wealth Management Industry Awards.  Brandon has contributed to major industry publishers such as Wealth Management, Barron’s, Citywire, and ThinkAdvisor. Brandon has been recognized as a ThinkAdvisor Luminary in Dealmaking and Growth.

Brandon resides in Phoenix and, thus, always roots for the Sun Devils. Brandon will always be a Californian at heart. He enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Kristi, and chasing his two young daughters and young son.

A former New York Mets baseball player, Brandon never misses watching a game. He also enjoys water sports, traveling with his family, and a well-crafted microbrew.