Most advisory firms treat asset management as a necessary cost. They build portfolios in-house, juggle model updates, handle compliance documentation, execute trades, and manage performance reporting – all resource-consuming tasks that leave little time to dedicate to growth. 

But what if your investment infrastructure could actually generate capacity, improve margins, and make your firm more valuable?

The Hidden Capacity Drain

Running investment management internally seems straightforward, but the real cost isn't always obvious.

The work of "investment management" itself, from doing investment research to the trading and implementation, is barely 10% of the typical advisor's time. That sounds manageable until you also consider the additional model maintenance, compliance documentation, trading execution, performance reporting, and client communications.

The Impact on Enterprise Value

Acquirers pay premium multiples for firms with predictable, scalable economics.

The median-adjusted multiple on EBITDA hit 11.0 in 2024, up from 9.9 in 2023 (and a 37.5% increase from 2020's 8.0 multiple).

But firms with "non-ideal" attributes were hit with a 21% discount on those multiples: 

• Inconsistent processes
• Key-person dependency
• Operational complexity that limits scale

In other words, the exact problems that occur when you try to build and maintain investment capabilities without the right infrastructure.

Buyers want to see a clear, repeatable growth story and "portability of the client experience," such as its planning, investments and process systems. Documented investment governance and systematic processes signal to acquirers that the business can run without the founders in the room, which is largely what drives premium valuations.

The Helios Model: Infrastructure That Scales

Through Helios’ Insourced CIO (ICIO) model, we deliver a fully integrated, white-labeled investment platform that allows you to:

• Build custom, branded portfolios at scale
• Retain control and pricing flexibility
• Eliminate high-cost third-party overlays
• Reclaim time to focus on revenue-driving activities

And because Helios operates on a flat-fee basis, advisors can grow AUM without growing basis point expenses, capturing more of the value inside their practice instead of giving it away to external managers.

From Cost Center to Growth Engine

When advisors optimize their investment infrastructure with Helios, the downstream effects compound.

They scale operations without adding headcount and free up advisor time for relationship-building and new client acquisition. They develop the documented processes and institutional-grade governance that acquirers specifically look for, creating a more sellable, higher-margin business.

More Profit. More Control. More Growth.

When you shift from reactive to proactive asset management, supported by Helios, you unlock the ability to run your business like a CEO instead of a portfolio analyst.

You create leverage. You tell a better story. And you build a model where growth doesn’t depend on your capacity; it’s built into your structure.

If your current investment process is eating into profits instead of creating them, it’s time for a change.

Ready to talk about leveraging your investment process for scalable growth?

Let’s Connect