In any M&A transaction, the financials tell only part of the story. The rest? It’s buried in the paperwork—specifically, the vendor contracts. When evaluating a company for acquisition, one of the most overlooked (yet critical)…

Nearly half of RIA founders are nearing retirement, yet only 20% believe their next-generation talent can afford to buy them out – down from 38% just four years ago. With internal succession pathways narrowing, external M&A is becoming…

RIA M&A is off to a record-breaking start this year. In just the first quarter, deal activity reached unprecedented levels, reflecting continued momentum from last year and underscoring the industry’s strong fundamentals. What’s driving this…

You’ve chosen your buyer. You’ve signed the Letter of Intent. The handshake is nearly there. Now comes Phase 4: Confirmatory Diligence and Closing—a stage that’s both exhilarating and intense. At Colonnade Advisors, we often say:…

With indications of interest submitted and serious buyers identified, the sale process enters Phase 3: Due Diligence & Management Presentations—a critical inflection point in any transaction. This is where buyers dig deeper. It’s also where…