With M&As in the RIA space increasing, many firms are rapidly changing hands with little to no expert guidance on how to successfully execute a merger or acquisition. In 2017, a record number of M&A deals closed in the advisor space - 168 transactions, or a 22% growth over 2016. Aside from a fifth straight year of record highs in M&A activity, the size of the acquired firms has also increased, with average acquisitions involving wealth managers exceeding $1.01 billion in assets under management. For many advisors, it only takes a handful of missteps during a merger or acquisition to jeopardize their business, but with so much unknown, advisors need a guidebook for success. A significant and often overlooked component to a successful RIA merger or acquisition is the thoughtful integration of technology. This comprehensive guide walks you through the steps of strategy, assessment, implementation, adoption and growth, all while considering how to best inspire and galvanize a firm's most valuable asset - its people.

Addresses overlooked aspects that can make or break M&A

1. The M&A Landscape and Technology's Role.- 2. Aligning Your Technology Strategy.- 3. Setting Your Integration Timeline.- 4. Inventory and Assessment- How Your Technology Stacks Up.- 5. Getting Started with Implementation.- 6. Rollout and Adoption.- 7. Next Steps and Growing Forward Together.