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Dealmakers share how to bring G2 along on the M&A journey

Sam Bojarski / Mar 27, 2025
Terms of a deal can include financial incentives for second-generation talent, like transaction bonuses with deferred compensation or a stake in the buyer's future profits.
Second-generation (G2) advisors tend to have less equity than their senior counterparts and can face new restrictive covenants in the event that their employer gets acquired by another firm. 
Yet retaining this younger pool of talent is critical for acquirers who are intent on training future leaders and ensuring the continuity of client relationships. To ensure G2 sticks around through a deal, M&A experts say buyers and sellers should work together to communicate clear career paths and make sure that these employees can share in the economics of a transaction. 
‘G2 is never going to be loyal to people they do not know,’ said Emily Blue, co-founder of investment bank Hue Partners and former top dealmaker at Mariner Wealth Advisors. ‘They have to be able to answer a few questions: do they like the buyer, trust the buyer and think the buyer is smart?’ 
An RIA owner considering a sale should start collecting information to share with G2 employees once they get clarity on their plans to sell. This...
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