Wealth Management / RIA Valuation Multiples (2026)
RIA valuations are the highest in the SMB universe. Recurring-fee books with > $250M AUM, younger demographic, and clean compliance reach 3.5× revenue and 9× EBITDA.
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Pick your industry and enter revenue + EBITDA / SDE. We'll triangulate three valuation methods and show what buyers typically pay for businesses like yours.
Premium drivers
- ↑AUM > $250M with multi-year retention
- ↑Recurring fee model (vs commission)
- ↑Younger client base / multi-generational accounts
- ↑Documented tech stack + CRM
Discount drivers
- ↓Aging client base (avg > 65)
- ↓Single-advisor concentration
- ↓Heavy commission revenue mix
- ↓FINRA / SEC compliance gaps
Who buys wealth management / ria?
RIA aggregator (Mercer, Hightower, Carson), PE-backed wealth platform, or strategic broker-dealer
Typical timeline + revenue band
- Days to close: 120–240
- Revenue band these multiples apply to: $1.00M–$10.00M
- NAICS: 523930 (Finance & Insurance)
5 levers that lift your Wealth Management / RIA multiple by 30-50%
- 1Lock in recurring revenueConvert the top of your wealth management / ria revenue stack into multi-year contracts, retainers, or auto-renewing subscriptions. Buyers pay 25-40% more for revenue they don't have to re-win every quarter.
- 2De-risk customer concentrationAim for no single customer above 15% of revenue. If you have a > 25% client, get them on a multi-year master services agreement before going to market.
- 3Document the business out of the ownerRIA aggregator (Mercer, Hightower, Carson), PE-backed wealth platform, or strategic broker-dealer will discount aggressively for any function that lives in the owner's head — sales, key vendor relationships, pricing, hiring. Run the next 90 days like the owner is on a 6-week vacation.
- 4Clean up the financialsGet a Quality of Earnings-ready trailing 12 months: GAAP-aligned, owner add-backs documented, no commingled personal expenses. This alone moves the multiple 0.5-1.0× upward in this category.
- 5Match the deal to the right buyer poolPE-backed roll-ups, strategic acquirers, and ETA buyers compete on different terms. List with someone who has run a process for wealth management / ria acquisitions — generic SMB brokers will leave 20%+ on the table.
FAQ — Wealth Management / RIA valuations
What's a typical wealth management / ria valuation multiple?▾
Typical wealth management / ria valuations land near 3.5× SDE, 7× EBITDA, or 2.5× revenue. Strong operators reach 4.5× SDE / 9× EBITDA / 3.5× revenue, while weaker operators stay closer to 2.8× SDE / 5.5× EBITDA / 2× revenue.
How long does it take to sell a wealth management / ria?▾
Most wealth management / ria deals close in 120–240 days from listing. Strong operators with clean financials and a documented buyer pool close on the lower end.
Who buys a wealth management / ria business?▾
RIA aggregator (Mercer, Hightower, Carson), PE-backed wealth platform, or strategic broker-dealer
What pushes a wealth management / ria valuation to the high end?▾
AUM > $250M with multi-year retention. Recurring fee model (vs commission). Younger client base / multi-generational accounts. Documented tech stack + CRM.
What forces a discount when selling a wealth management / ria?▾
Aging client base (avg > 65). Single-advisor concentration. Heavy commission revenue mix. FINRA / SEC compliance gaps.