“This very unique structure has withstood the tests of time and creates an atmosphere of partnership for the advisors affiliated with the firm. Fifty five percent of the firm’s annual profits are shared back with those advisors who qualify as Limited Partners.”
Michael A. Baker, President/CEO & General Partner
Join UP
If you are an advisor considering affiliating with United Planners, click the link below to download our eKit. Read below to learn more about the Steps of Affiliation and JoinUP to the new level of partnership today!
Find some of the resources United Planners has created to address many of the challenges facing the industry and what we’ve done as a firm to combat those.
There are three key areas which set United Planners apart from other full service Independent Broker-Dealer and RIA firms. Those include the very unique limited partnership structure in which the firm was founded back in 1987, the rich culture created by the advisors, owners and home office employees; and the business solutions which United Planners has committed to by empowering business efficiencies and offering top notch service and support to advisors so they can focus on what they do best.
Structure – The firm was founded in 1987 as a Limited Partnership. The goal was to create a firm that put destiny control back into the hands of the producing advisors, providing them voting rights on major decisions and profit sharing annually, every year the firm has profits to share. This structure has proven not only to work but to thrive, creating an environment where advisors are proud to be owners of the firm, and are able to run their own practice with day to day management decisions being made by the General Partners.
Culture – United Planners is very selective in the advisors it chooses to invite to affiliate with the firm. Advisors enjoy sharing their ideas and successes with their peers, as this promotes annual profitability and organizational success, which all Limited Partners benefit from. The back office support has been hand chosen, as the leadership team and key staff have hundreds of years of combined experience in the industry. The UP Annual Partner’s Conference is one example of just how close this group is, as the feeling is that of an education based family reunion of people who care for one another and are genuinely happy to see one another. Each year this feeling grows as new Partners are added and introduced to the “family”. The Right Advisor for this firm is one who appreciates relationships and is focused on putting the needs of their clients before their own personal needs.
Business Solutions & Service Commitments – The focus and drive is to provide tools for advisors to be successful while assisting outcomes by driving down costs for the investing public wherever possible. It’s no secret that regulatory compliance and cybersecurity have become burdensome and increasingly complex. Time and attention that could previously be spent serving clients has had to be diverted to keeping up with new compliance regulation and the protection of client data. United Planners has committed to assisting advisors by dedicating resources to help in meeting these obligations in the most efficient manner by applying different standards than average firms. Whereas many firms will focus on their own compliance and cybersecurity needs, United Planners broadens its focus to advisors and their clients, as technology solutions and the right processes can be delivered at the firm level to solve these concerns for all related parties. Allowing multiple custodial choices for RIA business (as an IAR of United Planners or your own Independent RIA), a vast number of Third Party Money Managers, having NO proprietary products or solutions and no quotas to fill on types of sources of production all allow advisors to seek best execution and pricing for clients while feeling confident they have the tools to serve their clients without an obligation to a product type or quota for their firm.
Qualifications
United Planners (UP) prides itself on the reputation it has built by affiliating with quality investment professionals. Just as you will conduct due diligence on United Planners, they will in turn conduct a background check by asking each registered proposed affiliate to complete our Confidential Questionnaire (CQ) and Disclosure of Outside Business Activities (OBA) forms, amongst a number of questions which help to better understand your business model.
The CQ will ask questions about your business model, investment experience, professional designations, proposed business address, etc. United Planners will request a copy of your trailing 12 month concessions statements to be remitted with this document.
An OBA form will need to be completed for each OBA in which the registered person is engaged.
These documents will be submitted to Partner Development. The Licensing and Registration Department will pull the candidates CRD history and a credit check. Compliance will either mark the file “OK to proceed” (no issues) or “Refer to Committee”. If the candidate is referred to committee, Partner Development will gather additional information on the outstanding issues.
Once all agree to proceed, the entire U-4 kit will be issued to the candidate electronically with a copy sent to the proposed OSJ. Licensing and Registration is a simplified process with comprehensive and easy to understand checklists.
Steps of Affiliation
We look forward to your affiliation with United Planners. To help ease and expedite your transition, we have a dedicated team of specialists to assist you with all of the questions you will have and guide you through a successful onboarding experience.
Transitioning your entire book of business from one Broker-Dealer to another sounds like a very overwhelming process. United Planners understands your concerns and will work with each advisor individually, and their administrative support to simplify the process and teach them shortcuts we have learned since we walk through the process on a regular basis.
Tools you can count on from United Planners include (but are not limited to):
A Transition Specialist to guide and support you through your transition period
A full Integration Team available to answer your questions and assist your process post affiliation
A guidebook of step by step efficient streamlined instructions designed to make the process as simple as it can possibly be
Electronic tools such as LaserApp, E-Signature software and applications, and others
United Planners will serve as each advisor’s back office support for the first 90 days of their affiliation. This means we will key all client personal data into our back office system (AFO) after your clients have positively consented to a relationship with United Planners as evidenced by their signature on the “Client Agreement”. Please remember that each client only needs to complete ONE form (not one per registration or one per account) for United Planners’ purposes as this makes the process of transitioning much more simple and efficient from both your, and the client’s prospective.
Legacy Planning, Exit Planning & Acquisition Planning are offered by United Planners. It is time to ensure your family and clients are protected. Continuity plans can cover unexpected events, while succession plans can cover planned exits. Finding the right person to succeed you can be a challenge. UP can help with Successor Search Solutions! With the Silver, Gold and Platinum level offerings, United Planners can help match you with like-minded advisors under the Successor Search Solutions offering. In addition, UP can help coach you through a successful transition. Partnerships with external resources will substantially reduce the costs of documenting your intentions. Take new LEAPS in your practice!
United Planners’ payouts range between 75% – 95% with high volume bonuses for production over $750,000. There is also the possibility, for qualified advisors, to affiliate as a limited partner of the firm and therefore participate in the annual profits of the firm.
United Planners is a Pershing clearing broker dealer. However, we allow the use of all of the major custodians (Schwab, TD Ameritrade, ETrade Advisor Services, Pershing Advisory Services, Pershing LLC. & Fidelity Investments) for investment advisory business at no markup for both our firm and Independent RIAs.
United Planners is structured as a Limited Partnership where the majority share, 55%, of the firm is actually owned by our Limited Partner advisors. The remaining minority share is not held by an outside entity but rather is owned by executive management of the firm who are directly involved in the day-to-day management of the firm.
United Planners works with a large range of technology affiliates and directly integrates with those through our back office business processing technologies called “Advisor Front Office”. Through United Planners these technologies can allow you to do things such as having a totally paperless office, automatic sharing between Redtail CRM and our forms and Advisor Front Office, mobile apps for clients, web based, goal based and asset based financial planning software, Single Sign-On to multiple technology offerings through one United Planners login, VA sales analysis tools, a Client Portal, and much more!
Sheila is an Executive Vice President and is a member of the Executive Management Team. Her primary responsibilities include oversight of the sales, transition and advertising teams. She is also engaged in many special projects and critical initiatives for the organization. She currently holds her Series 7, 24, 63, 66, and life and health licenses and AIF designation. Sheila started working for United Planners in 2006, but began her career in financial services in 1993. When not working, Sheila enjoys spending time with her family, hiking and playing outdoor sports such as volleyball and softball.
Scott is a Assistant VP of Partner Development and Succession Coach with United Planners. He currently holds his Series 7, 24, 53, 63, and 65. Scott started working for United Planners in 2011, but began his career in financial services in 1996. When not working, Scott enjoys spending time with his three children, Fiona, Kevin, and Declan, and wife, Stacy.
Mike began his career in the financial services industry in 1995. He has worked directly as a financial advisor as well as managing advisors in both sales and supervision. HIs background in financial services includes time with Dain Bosworth, Charles Schwab, Wells Fargo Advisors and Allstate Life & Retirement. He understands the needs of advisors in their daily practice and desires to help clients succeed using a true open-architecture model. Mike is originally from South Dakota, but has lived in Arizona since 1997. He has been married over 20 years to his wife Rupa and they have two children, Logan and Nayana. In his spare time, Mike enjoys just about every sport and loves to throw a line in the water fishing when possible.
Greg began his financial services career in 2006 as a financial advisor and has worked the last decade as a recruiter. His experience includes OSJ Manager for multiple branch offices, has been in personal production and has a solid understanding of practice management and recruiting. Greg moved to Arizona from Washington State to be closer to his family. Greg enjoys hiking, golfing and road trips on his Harley.
Jane Erece
Transition Specialist, Partner Development
Jane joined the firm in March 2000. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Jane is a transition specialist serving as the primary contact point for Advisors and their staff transitioning to United Planners. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, friends and a variety of outdoor activities.
Sonja Lockhart
Manager, Partner Development
Sonja joined the UP family in January 2015. She began her career in financial services in 1995 working at JPMorgan Asset & Wealth Management with institutional and retirement accounts and more recently at Edward Jones in their Operations unit. Sonja enjoys spending time with her two adult children and family. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, crafting and homebrewing with friends.
Tracy Stout
Project Specialist, Partner Development
Tracy has been with United Planners since April 2014. She is originally from Utah and loves the outdoors, especially golfing, snow skiing, boating, camping and fishing. She also enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and working on DIY home projects.
Sara Vogelsanger
Transition Experience Consultant
Sara is the Transition Experience Consultant. She joined United Planners in May of 2018 after graduating from Arizona State University with a BA in Global Studies. She has worked and studied in three countries, including Australia and Mexico. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, attending concerts and creatively repurposing second-hand clothing.
Ann started her financial services career in 1997 and enjoys mentoring and supporting advisors. She brings a lot of experience in coaching advisors through transition of their book of business from one firm to another. She holds her Series 7, 24, 6, 66, 63, 26 & 51 and maintains her own small book of business. Ann enjoys spending time with her horses, both riding and shows. Ann is a long-term Phoenix resident, spends time with her family and enjoys the outdoors and baking in the kitchen.
