Most advisors associate independence with leaving the wirehouse world entirely. That is, launching a firm, changing platforms, and building from scratch.
But what if there’s another way? A path that provides the freedom, flexibility, and control of independence without leaving your firm’s ecosystem?
That’s the story of The Parr McKnight Wealth Management Group, a $1 billion-plus team that built its practice at Wells Fargo Private Client Group, where founding partner Tony Parr landed after a series of mergers culminated in Wells Fargo’s acquisition of Wachovia.
Growing the business over time, Tony leveraged Wells Fargo’s independent channels to slide into independence and create their own entity, their own vision, and ultimately, their own future.
In this episode, Tony speaks with Jason Diamond about their journey, including…
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The choice to slide into Wells Fargo’s independent broker dealer channel (FiNet)—and why they ultimately decided to build their RIA with FirstClearing and Trade PMR.
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Structuring what he describes as a “frictionless move”—and how that preserved continuity for clients while unlocking real autonomy for the business.
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Building a multigenerational team—and how that influences their thoughts about succession.
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Their “COWS” philosophy (Clients, Owners, Workers, and Society)—and how this simple framework continues to shape the way they grow, serve, and lead.
Whether you’re exploring independence, thinking long-term about succession, or just looking to hear how a high-performing team turned optionality into real enterprise value, this is a story worth hearing.
Download a transcript of this episode…
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