Introduction
Corey: Hey everyone, I really appreciate you hopping on the podcast today. Today we have Jason Barber, the founder of Uptick Partners, a great breakaway RAIA solution for financial advisors. Previously, we had Jason and his partner Taylor on the podcast to talk about their journey from running a multi-generational firm at Edward Jones to making the move to independence.
With all the talk in the industry around the RAIA channel, I thought who better to bring on than someone who, within the last two years, actually launched their own RAIA, got their hands dirty, and can speak to what it really looks like on the other side.
Jason, I really appreciate you hopping on today.
Jason: Absolutely. Thanks for having me, Corey. Happy to be here and hopefully offer some experiences and education for your listeners.
Background: From Edward Jones to Independence
Corey: Would you mind giving a quick background—where you came from, when you moved, and what your business looks like today?
Jason: Sure. The short version is we were a multi-generational business at Edward Jones. My grandfather started the firm in 1981 as a second career after retiring from the Air Force. It was truly a family business—our grandmother was the BOA, then my dad and Taylor’s dad joined. My dad built it into a top 25 practice in the firm during the last 10 years of his career.
We were one of those rare unicorn offices with multiple advisors in one branch before teaming was really a thing. We built a very successful business, and on March 3rd, 2023, we broke away and launched our own RAIA—Holistic Planning Partners.
In the last two years, we’ve grown like never before. We launched a CPA firm and a recruiting platform (Uptick Partners). It’s been an incredibly busy two years. I’m working harder than ever—but it’s inspiring work. Doing what you want to do instead of what you’re told to do is a very different experience.
Why Launch Your Own RAIA?
Corey: Less than 5% of advisors actually choose to launch their own RAIA. What was your thought process around making that decision?
Jason: For us, it was a “100-year decision.” If we were going to leave behind something we’d built for 40+ years, something that was tied to our identity, it couldn’t be shortsighted.
We didn’t want to do this again. Rarely does someone go RAIA and then decide they want less freedom and go back. If we were leaving, it had to be for maximum control and long-term growth.
We had a unique perspective. Taylor had started in the IBD world and saw the pros and cons firsthand. We also watched someone move from IBD to RAIA and saw what was driving that. That was probably the first time in 40 years we even truly understood what an RAIA was.
We wanted maximum control, maximum growth, and access to a broader investment universe. We looked at supported independence models like Dynasty—there’s a lot to like—but for us, the economics and desire to build our own platform tipped the scale.
Some days it’s tough running your own RAIA. But I love the freedom and the growth opportunity.
How Hard Is It to Launch an RAIA?
Corey: Was it as hard as people make it sound?
Jason: Yes—and no.
We probably spent a full year preparing. When you’re breaking away from a captive firm, there are legal and strategic considerations. You can’t publicly form an RAIA while still employed. We worked with Hamburger Law Firm—they have an RAIA incubator model. They form the RAIA under their name, and once you resign, you purchase it.
That alone can cost $25,000–$75,000 in legal fees.
Then there’s:
It’s a lot.
If I were alone, I’m not sure it would’ve been doable. Having partners made it possible. I have immense respect for anyone who chooses that path.
Why the RAIA Channel Is Attractive
Corey: What excites advisors most about RAIA versus IBD?
Jason: It comes down to growth and differentiation.
If you want to grow by $100 million a year, how do you stand out?
You need access to:
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Private equity and private credit
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Direct investments (e.g., SpaceX, XAI)
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Pro sports ownership (NFL teams, etc.)
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Solar farms, data centers
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Custom structured notes
That menu is often unavailable at large firms.
Another major driver for us: tax integration.
We launched a CPA firm. Of the $100 million in new assets we brought in last year, I’d say 80% was tied to tax services. Clients want tax advice—but they’re not getting it.
In RAIA, we can fully integrate wealth and tax. That’s a massive competitive edge.
The “Sweet Spot” Model: Uptick Partners
Corey: There’s a middle ground between full DIY RAIA and IBD. That’s where Uptick fits. Talk about that.
Jason: Exactly.
Our goal is to give advisors 99% of RAIA benefits without the heavy lifting.
What are you “giving up” by joining Uptick?
Really just two things:
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You follow our compliance manual.
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You use our core tech stack (Addepar + core systems).
Beyond that:
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Choose your planning software.
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Choose your marketing approach.
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Use your preferred ancillary tools.
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Broad investment menu.
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Multi-custodial flexibility.
We handle:
And importantly—there are no walls. If an advisor ever wants to leave, they can take their clients with minimal disruption. Same custodians, same accounts, minimal repapering.
We want advisors to stay because it’s the best solution—not because they’re trapped.
Launch Marketing: The One Shot You Get
Corey: One thing I love about Uptick is your focus on launch marketing. You only get one shot.
Jason: Absolutely.
It must be intuitively obvious to clients that you did not get fired.
That means:
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A $20,000+ professional website
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A Hollywood-level launch video
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Strong social media presence
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Paid distribution (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
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A branded mobile app
The video should be so powerful that if someone watches it and doesn’t come with you, they were never going to.
You can spend $500 and dominate social feeds in your market.
Is that worth it?
What’s the difference between bringing 90% of assets versus 70%?
It’s the highest ROI investment you’ll ever make in your career.
Final Thoughts
Corey: You only get one shot. The difference between a $1,000 website and a $20,000 website could mean millions in retained assets.
Jason: Exactly. It’s the easiest decision of all time when you think about the lifetime value of those assets.
Closing
Corey: Something that excites me about the independent channel is the constant innovation—new firms like yours solving for what advisors actually want.
If you’re not spending time exploring what’s out there, you truly don’t know what’s possible.
Jason, I really appreciate the time. This was incredible insight into launching and running an RAIA.
Jason: Thanks, Corey. Really appreciate it. Looking forward to working together in the future.
Corey: Have a great day. Talk soon.
