Episode summary
RIA Edge Podcast: How an Integrated, All-Digital RIA Looks at Growth with Alex Farman-Farmaian
Summary
Compound Planning positions itself as both a technology company and an RIA, with more than $4 billion in assets, over 50 advisers, and a goal of approaching $5 billion soon. Alex Farman-Farmaian says the firm is built around a “digital family office” model: advisers stay central to the relationship, while the technology stack gives them a single workflow for planning, portfolio work, and client follow-up.
He argues that integrated internal software reduces cognitive load, cuts down on switching between disconnected tools, and helps advisers focus on the “next best action” rather than administrative friction. The firm uses AI to surface context from plans, conversations, and balance sheets, then turns some of those recommendations into actions through internal agents. Alex says that human advice becomes even more important as complexity rises, especially for high-net-worth clients with equity compensation, liquidity events, and tax issues.
Compound also uses tax preparation through partners, direct indexing, and alternative investments inside the same adviser workflow. Growth comes from recruiting experienced “next-gen” advisers, attracting executives at fast-growing tech firms, and building direct relationships with employers around IPOs and other liquidity events.
Key takeaways
- Alex Farman-Farmaian says Compound Planning manages over $4 billion and is nearing $5 billion, supported by about 50 advisers nationwide.
- The firm’s thesis is that integrated technology should lower adviser friction and increase client capacity, not replace the adviser-client relationship.
- AI is used to surface the next best action from client context and then help execute parts of the workflow through internal agents.
- Compound targets equity-compensated executives and other wealth creators because liquidity events create complex planning and tax needs.
- The firm’s growth strategy includes recruiting experienced advisers who want to keep building, not run a lifestyle practice.
- Alex says direct employer partnerships are becoming a bigger channel for education and new client acquisition around IPOs and private liquidity events.
Notable quotes
“Compound Planning is both a technology company and an RAIA. I'm based in New York City”
“We spent a lot of time integrating some of those tools so the adviser can focus on what needs to get done for their client”
“I believe the best client advisor experience is coming from an adviser that's that's proactive with their client”
How the episode opens
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Hello everyone and welcome to the RAE Edge podcast. This is, as you I think are know by now, my opportunity to speak to executives at registered investment advisory firms to try to understand how they're approaching growth. These are firms that are growing faster than the average RAIA.
and we just want to understand how they're doing it, how these decision makers are are thinking about growth and and where they're finding their opportunities and how they're dealing with their constraints. Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by Alex Farman Faradian, the CEO of Compound Planning. Alex, thanks very much for joining us.
Great to be here, David. — Really appreciate it. It's an exciting story, an exciting firm. Before we jump into the details, maybe just for the folks who maybe are not as aware of Compound, uh can you just give us the 101, where the firm's located, clients, size of the firm, etc.?
Yeah, absolutely. So, Compound Planning is both a technology company and an RAIA. I'm based in New York City. The team is distributed across the country. We have about a little bit over 50 financial adviserss spread across the country. And apologies, David. Can you repeat the the question the the second part of the question where we located just who we are?
Yeah. Yeah. Just who are how do you describe compound planning to someone?
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- all-digital ria growth
- advisor workload automation
- ai-powered workflows
- client experience personalization
- equity compensation and liquidity events
Companies and tickers mentioned
- Compound Planning
- Carta
- Silver Lake
Watch the episode
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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