Starting your own firm is not for everyone, some people don’t want to tackle that mountain. For an advisor wanting to join a firm, culture is huge. Ensure you’re around people you like and enjoy working with. After that, make sure that your clients are being well taken care of and you have the tools to do it as an advisor. Lastly, economics. The nice thing about being an RIA is the ability to create or sculpt deals in many ways, whether it’s cash up front, equity in the firm, or a combination of the two.