Cetera CEO Mike Durbin on the Future of Independent Financial Advisors

From there, the conversation turns to what advisors actually experience on the ground: Cetera’s unique ownership with Genstar and the benefits of a “fresh clock” • The breadth of affiliation models and why Cetera calls itself a “forever home”. • How multi-custody (Pershing, Fidelity/NFS, Schwab, self-clearing) helps recruiting and M&A. • Insights on Avantax, Concourse, and ongoing industry consolidation. • Why advisor equity ownership strengthens alignment. • Cetera’s focus on organic growth through regional teams and the Growth Line program. • How the firm thinks about transition deals, scale, and long-term profitability. • What advisors may not realize about Cetera’s structure, communities, and support model. Frank and Mike also contrast Cetera’s approach to scale with other major players, discuss the realities of transition deals in a changing rate environment, and talk about why insurance, tax, and planning-based advice remain central to a “super hybrid” advisor value proposition. If you’re an advisor considering independence - or re-evaluating your current platform - this conversation offers a detailed, unscripted look at how Cetera operates, what makes it different, and how it’s preparing for what Mike calls a very “dynamic” next ten years in wealth management. Resources: Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com Elite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors: https://elitemarketingconcepts.com Elite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions: https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com JEDI Database Solutions | Data Intelligence for Advisors: https://jedidatabasesolutions.com Listen to more Advisor Talk episodes: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/eliteconsultingpartners