What Succession Resource does

Succession Resource Group (SRG), founded in 2012 by David Grau Jr., MBA and headquartered in the Pacific Northwest (Lake Oswego, OR area), is a privately held boutique consulting firm specializing in succession planning, M&A advisory, and business valuations for financial services firms — primarily independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), advisors under independent broker-dealers, CPAs, and insurance agents. SRG's service stack is organized around a five-stage business lifecycle: Value (CoreValue, PracticeValue, EnterpriseValue, plus annual variants via the Annual Valuation Program), Improve (Entity Support, Equity Sharing Plans, Compensation Design using the proprietary B.B.P. framework, Employment Agreements), Protect (Contingency Planning), Grow (AcquireEdge buy-side advisory, Deal Support, Advisor Merger Support), and Exit (Succession Planning, Seller Advocacy). Pricing is tiered across Starter, Premium, and Elite bands, ranging from $1,500 to $30,000 per engagement, with Seller Advocacy charging a 6% success fee on total transaction value (minimum $20,000).

The firm's underlying technology is the proprietary myCompass platform, which functions both as a client engagement portal (project roadmap, deliverables, status tracking) and as a two-sided marketplace connecting sellers of advisory practices with 3,000+ vetted buyers. Complementary digital assets include the Practice Value Assessment (PVA) Tool, a self-serve online valuation interface powered by actual transaction data. The supporting IP portfolio includes the B.B.P. compensation framework, Equity Sharing Plan templates (NextGen Investor Plan, Phantom Equity, Equity Grant Plan, Profit Sharing Plan), and a codified 9-step Seller Advocacy methodology.

SRG's go-to-market combines thought leadership marketing (webinars, podcasts, articles, eBooks), a 360+ partner network spanning broker-dealers, custodians, TAMPs, and professional service firms, and a 1% seller-referral fee program. Recurring revenue is generated through annual maintenance programs (Entity Maintenance Program at $1,750/year, Succession Maintenance Program). The firm reports hundreds of completed M&A deals and thousands of valuations, with a 2025 study analyzing 176 transactions representing approximately $13.3–14 billion in client assets, against industry-wide record RIA M&A volume of 322 deals at 9.98x average EBITDA multiples. The business remains founder-controlled and bootstrapped, with no disclosed funding rounds; strategic moves include the February 2026 partnership with Focus Partners Advisor Solutions and recognition on Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces 2026 list.

Name

Succession Resource

Legal name

Succession Resource Group

Website

https://successionresource.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Succession Resource Group is a privately held boutique consulting firm founded in 2012 that provides succession planning, M&A advisory, and business valuations primarily to independent financial advisors (RIAs), broker-dealer advisors, CPAs, and insurance agents across the U.S., leveraging its proprietary myCompass marketplace and 3,000+ vetted buyer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisor M&A Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Business & Succession Advisory (FSAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Estate Planning, Trust Structuring & Governance (FSAAADAF), M&A HR Advisory (Due Diligence, Integration, Carve-outs) (BPACAJAL), High-Potential & Succession Coaching (EDABANAC)

Keywords

• Succession planning
• Practice valuation
• M&A advisory
• Equity compensation
• Entity formation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Oswego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements for valuations, deal support, succession planning, entity setup, compensation design, contingency planning, and mergers. Services are sold as one-time deliverables or annual programs (Entity Maintenance Program, Succession Maintenance Program) with tiered pricing based on complexity and support level.
2. Seller Advocacy Success Fee: 6% success fee on total transaction value (purchase price + retained liabilities + post-consulting agreements), split evenly between buyer and seller (3% each), with a minimum fee of $20,000 ($10,000 per party). Earned upon deal closure.
3. AcquireEdge Buy-Side Fee: $6,500 base fee plus percentage of revenue for buyer-side acquisition advisory representing advisors pursuing targeted acquisitions.
4. myCompass Buyer Program: Free buyer membership; SRG earns fees only when a deal closes through the platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Succession Resource Group is a boutique consulting firm that provides succession planning, M&A advisory, and certified business valuation services to independent RIAs, financial advisors, CPAs, and insurance agents. The firm sells tiered, project-based engagements (e.g., CoreValue, PracticeValue, EnterpriseValue valuations; Deal Support; AcquireEdge buy-side; Seller Advocacy sell-side; Advisor Merger Support; Succession Planning) and recurring maintenance programs (Entity Maintenance Program, Succession Maintenance Program). Service delivery and buyer-seller matching are enabled by the proprietary myCompass platform.

Product overview

Succession Resource Group (SRG) offers a comprehensive suite of advisory-focused professional services organized around the business lifecycle: Value (valuations), Improve (entity structure, compensation, equity sharing), Protect (contingency planning), Grow (acquisitions, deal support, mergers), and Exit (succession planning, seller advocacy). The core offering is centered on certified business valuations (CoreValue, PracticeValue, EnterpriseValue, and their annual variants) complemented by transaction advisory services (Deal Support, AcquireEdge, Seller Advocacy, Advisor Merger Support). Supporting services include Entity Support and Entity Maintenance Program for organizational structure, Compensation Design using the proprietary B.B.P. framework, Employment Agreements, Contingency Planning, and Enterprise Consulting for holistic firm evaluations. The proprietary myCompass platform serves as the client portal for engagement management, while the PVA Tool and Marketplace extend the ecosystem for practice valuations and buyer-seller matching. SRG operates as a boutique consulting firm with in-house legal, tax, and valuation expertise serving RIAs, advisors, CPAs, and insurance agents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AcquireEdge (AcE): Buyer-side acquisition advisory service for RIAs and advisors pursuing targeted acquisitions.
• myCompass
• CoreValue
• PracticeValue
• EnterpriseValue
• Seller Advocacy Program (SAP)
• Seller Advocacy Lite
• Succession Planning
• Succession Maintenance Program (SMP)
• Entity Maintenance Program (EMP)
• NextGen Investor Plan (NIP)
• B.B.P. Framework
• Annual Valuation Program (AVP)

Products and services

• CoreValue An objective assessment of a book of business based on financial composition, client demographics, and transferability factors, delivered as a streamlined report in 7 business days. For RIAs and financial advisors seeking a fast baseline of practice value.
• PracticeValue A comprehensive valuation with detailed benchmarking, KPI analysis, and context around factors driving value, including a dedicated consultation and certified report grounded in private M&A transaction data. For RIAs and advisory firms preparing for sale, succession, or strategic decisions.
• EnterpriseValue A deep valuation built around five-year historical financials, normalization adjustments, and forward-looking projections for firms making decisions around equity, ownership restructuring, or complex transactions. For advisory firms and RIAs undergoing complex ownership events.
• Annual Valuation Program (AVP) Annual Valuation Program covering Annual CoreValue, Annual PracticeValue, and Annual EnterpriseValue variants — providing ongoing, year-over-year certified valuation tracking with structured intake calls, debriefs, and benchmarking. For firms seeking continuous visibility into enterprise value.
• Deal Support Non-advocacy M&A consulting for buyers and sellers in collaborative advisory practice transactions, providing customized contracts and guidance through the transaction process. Tiered pricing from $2,750 to $12,000 per participant. For advisors in simple or collaborative deals.
• AcquireEdge (AcE) Buyer-side acquisition advisory exclusively representing RIAs and advisors pursuing targeted acquisitions — providing full support from valuation analysis through offer preparation, deal structuring, and personalized purchase agreements. Fee: $6,500 base plus percentage of revenue.
• Seller Advocacy Program Full sell-side representation including building a controlled marketplace, preparing Practice Prospectus, soliciting and screening qualified buyers, and managing competing offers. Nine-step process with access to 3,000+ vetted buyers. Fee: 6% success fee on transaction value (minimum $20,000).
• Seller Advocacy Lite Dedicated representation for sellers who have already identified a buyer and need advocacy through close, including offer evaluation, term structuring, and purchase agreement preparation. For advisors in early-stage buyer-matched transactions.
• Advisor Merger Support Peer-to-peer merger advisory where two or more practices consolidate into one entity, including leadership alignment, financial modeling, entity formation, governance design, and merger documentation. Fee: $15,000–$30,000. For consolidating advisory firms.
• Succession Planning Custom succession blueprint for advisors preparing to transition ownership internally, including cash flow scenarios and personalized purchase agreements aligning interests of both generations. Fee: $11,000–$17,000. Process takes 3–6 months.
• Succession Maintenance Program (SMP) Annual maintenance engagement for firms with an active succession plan in place, providing check-ins, updated documentation, and dedicated consultation hours to keep arrangements current; 10% discount on additional engagements. For firms with active internal succession plans.
• Entity Support Strategic entity formation for RIAs and financial advisors designing LLC, S-Corp, or other entity structures around ownership, governance, and long-term flexibility. For advisors setting up new entities.
• Entity Maintenance Program (EMP) Annual support for existing entities including annual report filings, formal resolutions, ownership ledger updates, meeting minutes, and compensation benchmarking at $1,750/year. For firms with established entities needing ongoing governance upkeep.
• Entity² Two-tier ownership structure for firms that have outgrown a single entity, designed to support equity transitions, succession planning, and long-term enterprise value. For growing RIA firms with complex ownership needs.
• Equity Sharing Plans Structured equity strategies including NextGen Investor Plan, Phantom Equity, Equity Grant Plan, and Profit Sharing Plan with tailored vesting and governance frameworks to turn key contributors into stakeholders. Tiered $4,500–$8,000. For firms implementing equity compensation.
• Compensation Design Strategic compensation modeling built around the proprietary B.B.P. (Base, Bonus, Profits) framework with scenario testing, margin sensitivity analysis, and role-specific calibration back-tested against advisory firm historical data. For RIA owners designing team compensation.
• Employment Agreements Industry-specific employment agreements defining roles, compensation, non-compete and non-solicit terms, and other protections for financial services firms. For RIAs hiring and retaining advisors or staff.
• Contingency Planning Personalized agreements documenting who has authority, how transitions are structured, and steps taken if leadership is suddenly interrupted due to death, disability, or loss of license. Tiered $1,500–$5,500 with 7-day to expedite delivery. For RIA principals ensuring practice continuity.
• Enterprise Consulting Full evaluation of a firm across six critical areas — valuation, organizational structure, M&A readiness, compensation, contingency, and succession — delivering scored assessments and a detailed recommendation memorandum over 2–3 months at $10,000. For larger firms needing holistic assessment.
• myCompass Platform Proprietary client portal providing full visibility into project status, deliverables, timelines, and buyer/seller marketplace access from start to finish. Bundled with SRG engagements for project tracking and engagement management.
• Practice Value Assessment (PVA) Tool Advisor-specific online valuation platform powered by actual transaction data for accurate, easy-to-use, and instantly actionable practice valuations. For advisors seeking a self-service baseline valuation.
• myCompass Marketplace Online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of financial advisory practices, featuring active listings, coming soon, pending, and sold practices. Free for buyers; SRG earns success fees upon deal closure. For RIA sellers and acquirers seeking vetted counterparties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sell-side represented deals average 6.5% higher multiples with better terms
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Focus Partners Advisor SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Partnership announced February 2026 to enhance resources and support for independent RIAs. Collaboration aims to improve advisor experience, long-term planning, and enterprise value through additional tools, education, and reduced fees.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FP Transitions: Direct peer: a long-standing RIA M&A and succession consulting firm providing valuations, mergers, acquisitions, and transition planning for financial advisors — the same core services as SRG.
• DeVoe & Company: Direct peer: a consulting and M&A advisory firm focused exclusively on the RIA industry, providing growth consulting, succession planning, and buy-side/sell-side advisory — directly comparable in target customer and service mix.
• Park Sutton Advisors: Direct peer: an investment bank and M&A advisory firm focused on wealth management, RIA, and independent advisor transactions — provides sell-side, buy-side, and merger advisory similar to SRG's Seller Advocacy and AcquireEdge.
• Echelon Partners: Direct peer: an investment bank and advisor to RIAs and wealth management firms on M&A, capital raising, and succession — closely comparable in deal scale and customer segment.
• True North M&A: Direct peer: an M&A advisory firm specializing in transactions within the financial services industry, particularly RIAs and wealth managers — competes for the same sell-side and merger mandates as SRG.

Broad incumbents

• Focus Partners Advisor Solutions: Broader incumbent: a large-scale RIA support platform owned by Focus Financial, offering succession, M&A, and consulting resources; SRG partnered with them in Feb 2026, but they are also a competitor for enterprise M&A mandates.
• Dynasty Financial Partners: Broader incumbent: a large integrated platform serving independent RIAs with M&A, succession, equity, and consulting support — competes for the same RIA succession and transition engagements as SRG at higher scale.
• Cetera Financial Group: Broader incumbent: a large IBD/wealth platform with in-house succession and M&A capabilities (including FP Transitions) — competes with SRG by offering built-in transition services to affiliated advisors.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Broader incumbent: a rapidly growing PE-backed RIA platform that actively acquires independent advisory practices, competing with SRG on the buy-side of succession transactions and absorbing sellers that might otherwise use external advisors.
• Mercer Advisors: Broader incumbent: a national RIA platform with active inorganic growth strategy and internal succession/transition infrastructure, directly competing with SRG's AcquireEdge and Seller Advocacy practices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/successionrg
• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/6aIFjCUSFTCxbXI6YM87aD
• Facebookfacebook.com/successionresourcegroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/succession-resource-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Succession Resource