One of the most persistent fears holding financial advisors back from making a move is the idea that transitioning firms inevitably means losing assets.

The logic feels intuitive. Assets were hard won. Relationships took years to build. Walking away from a platform must mean watching part of that book disappear.

But time and again, the data tells a different story.

This week, AdvisorHub reported on an advisor who transitioned to Ameriprise Financial and transferred 97 percent of assets within the first six months. After one year, that figure reached 107 percent.

That is not a typo. The advisor did not just replace what moved. He grew beyond it.

Stories like this are far more common than many advisors realize, and they expose what we often call the math myth of moving.

The Fear: Losing Hard-Won Assets

Most advisors considering a transition fixate on what might not transfer.

They worry about the 3 percent. Or the 5 percent. Or the handful of households that decide not to follow.

That fear is understandable. Advisors spend their careers building trust, and the thought of leaving anything behind can feel like failure.

But that framing misses two critical truths.

First, some assets will not transfer in almost every move. Second, that outcome is not necessarily a negative.

What Actually Falls Off

When advisors look closely at the assets that do not come over, patterns tend to emerge.

These are often:

• Small, unprofitable relationships that consume disproportionate time
  
  
• Legacy accounts with weak engagement or limited planning depth
  
  
• Clients already drifting away due to inactivity or misalignment
  
  
• Situations that no longer fit the advisor’s ideal practice profile
  
  

In many cases, these are relationships an advisor might have ended eventually, but inertia kept them in place.

A transition provides a natural and professional inflection point. It allows advisors to say, respectfully and cleanly, “Goodbye and good luck,” without confrontation or ongoing friction.

That is where the subtraction becomes intentional.

The Overlooked Side of the Equation

What rarely gets equal attention is what happens after the move.

New platforms often bring better tools, clearer pricing, stronger planning capabilities, and support structures that align more closely with how advisors actually want to run their practices.

Just as important, transitions tend to reset energy.

Advisors report renewed focus, sharper messaging, and greater confidence in conversations with prospects. They are not apologizing for limitations or workarounds. They are leaning into strengths.

That combination frequently leads to growth.

The advisor cited by AdvisorHub did not simply recover lost assets. He exceeded them because the environment he moved into made growth easier to sustain.

Why “Only” Losing 3 Percent Misses the Point

On paper, losing a small percentage of assets can feel painful.

In reality, the value of assets should not be measured solely by their size.

Assets differ in:

• Revenue quality
  
  
• Complexity and servicing burden
  
  
• Growth potential
  
  
• Alignment with long-term business goals
  
  

When an advisor replaces trailing, low-margin assets with new relationships built under a clearer value proposition, the long-term math often improves dramatically.

What appears as a short-term dip can become a structural upgrade.

That is addition by subtraction.

Fear Versus Real Risk

As we head into 2026, this distinction matters more than ever.

Market uncertainty, firm-level changes, compensation shifts, and platform consolidation are all pushing advisors to reassess where and how they operate.

Fear has a way of magnifying hypothetical risks while minimizing real opportunity. Asset transfer anxiety is a prime example.

The reality is that most advisors who move do far better than they expect, not worse.

Where a Transition Consultant Fits In

A successful transition is not about guessing or hoping for the best.

A transition consultant like 3xEquity helps advisors understand the reality of their situation before they ever move.

That includes:

• Analyzing which assets are likely to transfer and why
  
  
• Identifying which relationships truly matter to the future practice
  
  
• Clarifying personal, financial, and operational goals
  
  
• Matching advisors with partners that support those objectives
  
  

When advisors approach a move with clear expectations and aligned goals, the math becomes far less intimidating and far more actionable.

Building Toward a Better 2026

Transitions are not about perfection. They are about progress.

Letting go of a small portion of the past often creates room for a stronger, more intentional future. The numbers consistently support that conclusion, even when emotions lag behind.

As 2026 approaches, advisors would do well to remember that fears often feel larger than the risks they represent.

The math, when viewed honestly, almost always works in your favor.

Start building toward a better 2026 today.

Get started now  at 3xEquity.com