Why We're Choosing Differently
Why We Choose Internal Succession.
DecisionPoint Financial chooses its people over a payday & what that means for you.
By Scott Johnson | DecisionPoint Financial
Let me tell you something about the financial advisory industry that most firm owners won’t say out loud: selling to private equity is very, very tempting.
The numbers are big. The process is fast. And after years of building something from nothing, the idea of cashing out is deeply human. I get it. I’ve had those conversations. I’ve seen the term sheets.
We emphatically say no.
Not because we couldn’t have made the deal work. But because we knew what it would cost us - and we knew that cost would ultimately be paid by the people who trust us most: our clients, our team, and the families who have built their futures alongside ours.
Long ago we came up with the following vision statement and it’s as true today as it’s ever been.
“Our vision is to become the premier financial planning and investment management firm in the Western United States… To become a multi-generational and enduring firm that is a long-lasting staple in the community… A place where clients and team members love and want to be forever.”
At DecisionPoint, our north star has always been the same: treat every client like they are your mother, your father, your sister, your brother. We built our entire firm around that principle. We were not willing to hand it to someone whose job is to monetize it.
WHAT WE DID INSTEAD
I started DecisionPoint in early 2008. CJ Harrison joined in 2015. Matt Daley followed in 2017. We had one vision and a deep conviction that independent, fiduciary financial planning could be done differently. Today we have 18 employees, we’re growing, and we all have that same conviction.
For over six years, we’ve been committed to doing something that is still rare in this industry: selling ownership of this firm. Not to outside investors, but to the people you know, who have built this firm, who take care of our clients every day, who bring talent and commitment – the people who have earned it.
Today, DecisionPoint has four equity partners. All of them believe, as I do, that independence is not just a business strategy — it is a promise to our clients.
“The people who own this firm are the people who answer your calls, sit across from you at the table, and lose sleep over your financial future.”
As we grow, that circle of ownership will grow too. We are committed to keeping DecisionPoint employee-owned for generations.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO YOU
By transitioning ownership to the next generation of leaders within our firm, we are intentionally preserving the independence, culture, and fiduciary values that have guided us from the beginning.
Our goal is not simply to build a successful company. Our goal is to build an enduring one.
One that remains independent.
One that respects and follows through on our fiduciary responsibility.
One that continues to attract and retain exceptional people.
One that can serve your children, grandchildren, family and friends with the same care and commitment you receive today.
Because succession planning isn't just about the future of our firm. It's about protecting the future of the families, both clients and employees, who place their trust in us.
We’re committed to that promise. We’re not persuaded by a paycheck.