Be Bold. Make your mark. Be a really independent advisor.
Why Go RIA and Why Now
The Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) model is blazing new paths through the traditional advisor landscape; offering new opportunities, resources, support and true independence.
The RIA model is attracting more assets—and clients—each year.

The growth of traditional B/D based on 5-yr CAGR.*

RIAs now represent 21% of the industry’s total advisor headcount and 24% of the industry’s total assets.**

RIAs expected control of industry asset marketshare by the end of 2023.**



The growth of traditional B/D based on 5-yr CAGR.*
RIAs now represent 21% of the industry’s total advisor headcount and 24% of the industry’s total assets.**
RIAs expected control of industry asset marketshare by the end of 2023.**
* The Cerulli Report—Advisor-managed Assets 2018, Exhibit 2.07
** The Cerulli Report—U.S. RIA Marketplace 2019: Consolidators Gain Momentum. Exhibit 2.04, 2.05, and 2.13
The Ria model serves the evolving needs of today’s advisor.
We Believe
The RIA Model Provides
Freedom from the status quo
Freedom to create a practice to serve the unique needs of clients
Freedom to build a sustainable business for the future
Why Choose Us
We’ve got our finger on the pulse of the industry, watching how the needs and expectations of investors are shifting. The shifts we’re seeing across the financial services industry are disrupting the traditional brokerage model.
More and more, financial advisors are looking to break away, to have the freedom and creativity to build the practice they want – a practice that is built on the things that are important to them: autonomy, flexibility, growth and simplicity – putting the client at the heart of their mission.
It’s creating historic growth opportunities for forward thinking advisors to consider the move to RIA, whether establishing your own or joining an existing practice. It’s also created countless innovative choices when it comes to industry support services.
First Clearing is your guide to create the client experience you desire and the legacy you deserve.
When you work with First Clearing, you're combining strength, scale and heritage with more than 30 years providing custody services to RIAs and brokerage firms:

Informed and accessible senior leadership team accountable to you

Responsive, individualized service delivered by empowered seasoned industry professionals that know you and your unique business

Dedicated team of transition specialists

Advisor Recruiting Services with expert onboarding, training and support

Access to extensive network of third-party consultants to support all your business needs

Capital support and M&A opportunities

Succession strategies and valuation services

Full Service Lending1:
• Easy access securities back lending offered at competitive rates
• Leading home mortgages services1 – primary, secondary, vacation, jumbo, investment, credit lines from Wells Fargo Mortgage, offered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
• Business succession planning services for your business owner clients
• Private Banking suite2, including custom lending facilities, liabilities management services and capital restructuring

Industry leading technology platform: Fusion – powered by Trade PMR
• Digital account opening /document generation and e-signature
• Portfolio modeling, management and
rebalancing
• Flexible billing capability, digital service request processing and custom performance reporting
• Digital client portal
• Fintech portal for integration with 3rd party software to support your unique tech stack

Turnkey investment solutions: Wells Fargo’s advisory platform and Adhesion Wealth Advisor Solutions, both providing access to third party SMAs and managed investment programs, together with seamless securities processing including equities, fixed income, Mutual Funds, 529s, ETFs, CDs

Online research offering from Wells Fargo Investment Institute, including daily market updates and live client calls, as well as research from other top rated research providers

Expert Life Event Consulting: Corporate executive services, tax planning, Social Security/Medicare benefits, Estate plan analysis, Trust Services

Proven third-party supported processing solutions for Annuities, Alternative Investments and Insurance
We're Here To Help On Your Journey To Independence
First Clearing is here to help. Let’s continue the conversation. Together, we’re redefining independence.
1 Lending services accessed through Wells Fargo or its affiliates including securities-based financing, residential mortgages, business financing and credit cards.
2 Wells Fargo Private Bank offers products and services through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and its various affiliates and subsidiaries. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
Lending and other banking services available through Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (NMLS UI 2234) are offered by banking and non-banking subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company, including, but not limited to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (NMLSR ID 399801), Member FDIC, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Certain restrictions apply. Programs, rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change without advance notice. Products are not available in all states. Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC is licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act and the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions (NMLS ID 0906158). Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, holds a residential mortgage broker license in Georgia and is licensed as a residential mortgage broker (license number MB2234) in Massachusetts.
Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. (WFII) is a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
TradePMR, Inc. is a privately held brokerage and custodian service provider for Registered Investment Advisors and is not affiliated with Wells Fargo & Company.
Adhesion Wealth Advisor Solutions, Inc. is a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Vestmark, Inc. and is not affiliated with Wells Fargo & Company.