Cambridge and IN Adviser Solutions Announce Inaugural Study on Succession Planning

Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (Cambridge) and IN Adviser Solutions announced the launch of an inaugural study on succession planning. Sponsored by Cambridge, the new study is being conducted by IN Adviser Solutions.

“We are pleased to partner with IN Adviser Solutions and sponsor this brand new study because we believe business continuity and succession planning are among the biggest challenges advisors may face,” said Eric Schwartz, Chairman and CEO of Cambridge. “Today, the majority of successful advisors are over 50 – most are concerned with planning for their retirement and succession planning, but few have taken time to develop longer-term plans and we are excited about the insight this new study will reveal as our industry addresses succession planning.”

IN Adviser Solutions has designed the study to help advisors determine:

• The transferability of their business
• The most common valuation methods
• The steps needed to create a sustainable business

“We set out to design and launch this comprehensive study on an issue we believe is both immediate and extremely challenging for advisors as well as the industry as a whole,” said Kelli Cruz, Director of Research & Consulting at IN Adviser Solutions. “We are planning to deliver not only the results of the study to the industry, but solutions to help guide advisors through a successful succession process.”

The new succession study is open to advisors and owners of all RIA firms and independent broker dealers, including firms that have:

• No succession plan in place,
• A succession plan in place,
• Execution of their succession plan underway, or
• A fully completed and executed succession plan.

Schwartz continued, “As successful advisors look to plan for their own full or staged retirement we anticipate that transfer of ownership will be one of the biggest trends impacting and shaping our industry for the next 10 – 20 years. Succession planning is an issue we have given priority focus and we look forward to the results of what we believe will be a ground breaking study – and we anticipate the study will give us important insight in terms of the unique and innovative succession solutions we offer to advisors.”

About the IN Adviser Solutions Succession Study
The study participation deadline is February 29, 2012. Study participants will receive a free copy of the study results report as well as invitations to attend succession-related events. All data submitted is strictly confidential. Only members of the IN Adviser Solutions Team will have access to firm data. All results will be reported in the aggregate. Firm-specific data will not be disclosed to other business units, to the study sponsor, or to any other party.

To participate in the Succession Study: www.inadvisersolutions.com

About the IN Adviser Solutions
IN Adviser Solutions is a national research and consulting firm that specializes in business consulting to financial advisory firms and institutions. For nearly two decades, their benchmarking studies have been a leading source of market intelligence for advisory firms and industry partners, such as custodians, broker dealers, service providers and professional organizations. Today, their experienced team works with clients on a wide range of initiatives, including: research, consulting services, speaking engagements and educational events.

With IN Adviser Solutions, firms gain a partner with deep knowledge of the industry, and the power to help drive their success. For more information, visit www.inadvisersolutions.com.

About Cambridge
Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, is an independent, privately owned broker-dealer with over 2,000 independent registered representatives and more than $40 billion assets under management. Cambridge was recognized as one of the Best of Iowa Businesses in 2010¹ and was also recently named among the Top Workplaces in Iowa for 2011^2.

Cambridge offers advisors an emergency succession plan for its advisors and encourages them to extend that into a long-term succession solution designed with guarantees for funding that include backing by the home office. Their comprehensive succession solution includes five levels for increasing business value and maximizing price, as well as enabling smooth transition of an advisor's business at their time of full or staged retirement.

Cambridge also provides innovative fee programs and a full menu of commission offerings to advisors across the nation. Recognized in the industry as The Fee Experts^®3, Cambridge has been ranked a fee leader among independent broker-dealers for 11 consecutive years⁴.

¹ IA Biz magazine, “Best of Iowa Businesses,” 2010

² Des Moines Register, “Top Workplaces 2011,” September 18, 2011

³ THE FEE EXPERTS^® is a registered trade mark of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. for its investment advisory service for investment managers.

⁴ Financial Planning magazine, June “FP50”, Top 50 Independent Broker-Dealer Issue, 2001-2011

Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and investment advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Both are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Cambridge Investment Group, Inc.