Module: Think like a CEO

Assess practice value

“Fostering a culture that prioritizes teamwork and collective achievement is crucial for sustaining growth and enhancing firm value,” according to The Future of Advisory Services and Teaming report by CEG Insights, 2024. As the profession evolves, advisors who align their culture, operations and people strategy are better positioned to build durable, transferable businesses that thrive over time — not just in the moment.

 

Many advisors focus on growth, but not all growth is good growth. If your goal is to build a sustainable enterprise — not just a successful practice — you’ll need to adopt a more strategic lens. That means focusing less on what you earn today, and more on how resilient, scalable, and attractive your business will be tomorrow.

“Most advisors think of valuation as a process where you come up with a number of what the firm is worth. There's so, so much more you can do.”

— David DeVoe, Founder and CEO at DeVoe & Company

A 4-part path toward a high-performing practice, starting from ‘Focusing on the day-to-day,’ moving through ‘reviewing with intent’ and ‘strengthening value drivers,’ and ending at ‘building a transferable business.’

Advisory firms that focus on long-term value use valuation metrics to shape decisions well before a potential sale. They actively manage key drivers like revenue diversity, client demographics, operational consistency, and team sustainability. These factors not only support growth today — they directly impact what your firm is worth in the future.

 

Use the self-assessment tool in this lesson to:

  • Evaluate the long-term health of your business across the most influential value drivers
  • Identify gaps that may be holding you back
  • Prioritize strategic improvements that enhance durability and enterprise value

You’ll walk away with a diagnostic you can share, revisit, and use to guide decisions — whether you’re planning succession or simply future-proofing your firm.

INSIGHTS

Making value-based decisions

In this video, David DeVoe discusses how a value-based metrics plan can serve as a road map for decision-making and help you build a valuable long-term business.

4MINVIDEO

TOOL

Long-term value assessment

Other lessons in Think like a CEO

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