The 4 Types of Advisors: How Do You Approach Career Change?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the conversations I’ve had with financial advisors—and my own career journey. One theme keeps coming up: how people approach career decisions.

As I’ve worked with financial advisors making pivotal career moves—whether it’s leaving a wirehouse, transitioning to independence, or restructuring their firms—I’ve noticed that most fall into one of four distinct archetypes when it comes to career change.

Which One Are You?

1. The Sudden Mover

Some advisors seem perfectly content—until, suddenly, they’re ready to leave. Their decision is often triggered by a single event: a leadership change, a conflict with management, or a major shift in company culture. Practically overnight, they go from “I’m fine here” to “I need to make a move now.”

Sudden Movers often make quick decisions, sometimes without fully exploring their options. The upside? They act fast. The downside? They may overlook long-term alignment in favor of short-term relief.

2. The Last-Straw Changer

Frustration builds over time for Last-Straw Changers. They’ve had nagging concerns for a while—maybe it’s restrictive policies, lack of autonomy, or feeling undervalued. But they stay put, convincing themselves it’s not “bad enough” to leave.

That is, until one moment tips the scale. A policy change, a compensation adjustment, or a client service issue finally pushes them into action.

Many advisors I work with fall into this category. They reach a point where they can no longer ignore the signs, and when they do decide to move, they’re fully committed to building something better.

3. The Disenfranchised

This group is the toughest to watch because they feel stuck but don’t act. They’ve been tolerating a bad environment for years, convincing themselves they don’t have other options.

Disenfranchised advisors may struggle with confidence or feel overwhelmed by the idea of change. They know they aren’t happy, but fear of the unknown keeps them in place. They say things like “the devil you know…” or “I’ll move when [enter milestone occurs]…”

The reality? They do have options. Sometimes, all it takes is the right guidance or a fresh perspective to help them see a path forward.

4. The Proactive CEO

These advisors take a strategic, CEO-like approach to their careers. They aren’t just reacting to problems—they’re actively looking for ways to grow, align their work with their values, and seize opportunities.

Proactive CEOs don’t wait for frustration to build or for a negative event to force their hand. Instead, they evaluate their options regularly, seek advice, and make intentional moves that set them up for long-term success.

I love working with advisors in this category because they’re forward-thinking and open to opportunity. They see career moves as strategic decisions, not reactions to discomfort.

Where Do You See Yourself? The Answer Matters.

If you’re an advisor considering a career move—whether it’s transitioning to independence, restructuring your firm, or making another significant change—it’s helpful to recognize which category you fall into.

The answer gives important clues about your future Perfect Fit Firm and the mindsets we may need to push through as we transform your business. For example, if you’re a Sudden Mover, we need to slow down and do some education about the options, so you can make a really informed choice. If you’re a Proactive CEO, we want to dive into the aspects of being the CEO that you most enjoy (and excel at) and which ones you don’t. From there, we can craft the right support model, so that you and your practice thrive.

The more clarity you have, the better choices you can make for your long-term success.

Interestingly, most of the advisors I work with fall into the Last-Straw Changer or Proactive CEO categories. They’re ready to own their careers and build something that aligns with their vision for success. Personally, I’m also a Last-Straw Changer. After 25 years in corporate, navigating back-to-back tough experiences, I bet on myself. I made the leap into entrepreneurship and it’s been the most fulfilling chapter of my career.

Are you ready to explore your options or have a conversation about your future? Let’s connect.