What Financial Advisors Will Be Looking For in 2026: Culture, Service, Stability, and Smarter Transitions

By: Chris Meinsen / Advisor Outreach

Every year, AdvisorHub, WealthManagement.com, and other industry sources track advisor movement — where they’re going, why they’re leaving, and what matters most in a transition. But something has shifted over the last 12–18 months, and 2026 is shaping up to be a year defined not just by payouts or transition money, but by a much deeper, more thoughtful decision-making process.

Across thousands of advisor conversations, including the countless hours our team (especially Soch Chay) has spent speaking directly with advisors every week, a clearer picture is emerging: advisors are becoming more prudent, more selective, and more focused on long-term fit than ever before.

Below is what we see coming in 2026, based on direct advisor sentiment and continuous monitoring of industry coverage.

1. Culture and Service Have Become More Important Than Money

In years past, recruiting stories in AdvisorHub or WealthManagement.com were dominated by grid payouts, signing bonuses, and headline transition packages. Those remain relevant — but the tone has unmistakably shifted.

Advisors entering 2026 are increasingly asking:

• “Who will take care of my clients the way I do?”
• “Which firm actually supports my day-to-day business?”
• “What is the service culture really like once I’m onboarded?”

We’re seeing far fewer advisors lead with compensation questions and far more digging into:

• Platform stability
• Back-office responsiveness
• Compliance partnership
• Transition support
• Practice management resources
• Relationship depth with leadership

Service and culture have become differentiators — not afterthoughts.

2. The “Everyone Goes to LPL” Trend Is Fading

For the past decade, LPL was the default destination mentioned in nearly every independent-transition story. But advisors in 2024–2025 began examining their options more carefully, and that prudence is accelerating into 2026.

Advisors still respect LPL’s scale, but they are no longer treating it as a foregone conclusion.

Instead, they’re comparing:

• Osaic
• Cetera
• Raymond James
• Kestra
• Sanctuary
• Ameriprise
• Select RIAs and hybrid platforms

The mindset has changed from “Where is everyone else going?” to “Where will I thrive long-term?”

3. Osaic Has Found Its Footing — and Advisors Are Noticing

One of the recurring themes we’re hearing is that Osaic has turned a corner. The consolidation period was bumpy, but 2025 brought clarity, consistency, and real momentum.

Advisors are reporting:

• Improved service
• Stronger leadership stability
• Better technology alignment
• Clearer value proposition
• Renewed recruiting energy

Heading into 2026, Osaic has positioned itself as a legitimate contender for advisors seeking independence with structure — and advisors are responding positively.

4. Conference Season Didn’t Spark the Typical Jump — But Movement Has Been Steadily Rising All Year

Historically, conference season triggers a wave of advisor conversations. But this year was different.

Instead of a sudden spike, we saw:

• A steady rise in advisor exploration all year
• A growing number of “quiet conversations”
• Advisors doing deeper due diligence
• More structured evaluation processes
• A higher volume of mid-year, mid-quarter moves than normal

This shift suggests that 2026 won’t be defined by isolated bursts of activity — it will be a year-long transition cycle.

5. Advisors Are Asking Deeper Questions — And Spending More Time Evaluating Fit

Our team sees this firsthand.

Soch alone spends hours every week diving into advisor-specific needs, helping them compare platforms, understand payout structures, and realistically assess the long-term impact of each move. These conversations are more:

• Detailed
• Analytical
• Personalized
• Compliance-aware
• Growth-focused

Advisors are acting more like informed consumers than ever — and the firms prepared to answer their real questions are the ones winning.

6. “Anyone Can Do Recruiting” Is a Myth — and 90% of Newcomers Fail

Every year, we see former advisors or consultants attempting to jump into the recruiting space, assuming it’s straightforward.

It isn’t.

The truth is:

• Roughly 90% of new or solo recruiters fail to get traction
• Most underestimate the time and skill required to gain advisor trust
• Many never build the infrastructure or relationships needed to place advisors successfully
• A large number disappear after 6–12 months

Meanwhile, a small group of firms — including Advisor Outreach — have built reputations for consistency, transparency, and advisor-first guidance.

Advisors are becoming far more aware of this distinction — and they are gravitating toward established, trusted partners rather than newcomers.

7. What We Expect to See in 2026

Based on advisor sentiment, competitive movement, platform evolution, and the steady pace of transitions this year, here is what we anticipate:

✓ More advisors prioritizing culture and service over payouts

✓ Continued multi-firm comparison instead of “LPL by default”

✓ Rising interest in Osaic, Cetera, and other revitalized platforms

✓ A steady, year-long transition cycle instead of seasonal spikes

✓ Increased demand for objective, informed recruiting support

✓ Greater scrutiny of firms promising unrealistic transition deals

✓ More movement among mid-to-large practices seeking stability

✓ A record number of advisors taking first meetings quietly, before making public moves

2026 is shaping up to be a year defined not by speculation — but by intentionality.

Final Thoughts

The advisor-transition landscape is maturing. Advisors expect more clarity, more service, and more thoughtful partnership than ever before. And they’re looking for firms — and recruiting partners — who can help them navigate the decision with confidence.

At Advisor Outreach, our mission remains simple:
Help advisors make informed, strategic decisions about their future — with no pressure, no bias, and complete confidentiality.

If you’re considering a move in 2026, now is the time to start the conversation.