14 Investment Advisory Business Success Stories [2024]
Looking to help others make smart financial decisions while building a rewarding career? Consider starting an investment advisory business.
An investment advisory business involves providing clients with tailored financial advice and strategies for growing their assets. You'll guide them through various investment options, helping them tackle financial challenges while aiming for their long-term goals.
With increasing market complexity, many individuals are eager to access expert advice to make informed investment choices. You'll conduct thorough market research, crunch numbers, and stay updated on financial trends to offer valuable insights.
Starting this business requires obtaining necessary certifications and building credibility with your clients. Though it involves continuous learning and rigorous analysis, the satisfaction of helping others secure their financial future can be highly fulfilling.
If you have a knack for numbers and a passion for financial planning, this could be the entrepreneurial path you’ve been looking for.
In this list, you'll find real-world investment advisory business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a investment advisory business that makes money.
1. The Good Life Companies ($24M/year)
Founder Conor Delaney came up with the idea for Good Life Companies after realizing the need for a comprehensive financial services organization that catered to independent financial advisors. The business started as a service-oriented entity offering client transition services, but quickly expanded to include real estate, marketing support, administrative services, and more. The company's unique approach and ability to adapt to advisors' needs have allowed it to attract and retain customers successfully.
How much money it makes: $24M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500K
How many people on the team: 60
How one financial services company, Good Life Companies, went from a multi-faceted service organization to a nationally recognized brand with $25 million in revenue, averaging 50-75% growth per year, by providing independent financial advisors with the support, infrastructure, and real estate necessary to operate their practices and meet all needs, along with investing in marketing strategies and expanding their offering to multiple broker-dealer channels.
2. Dezan Shira & Associates ($18M/year)
Chris Devonshire-Ellis started Dezan Shira & Associates in Hong Kong in 1992 with very little capital. Despite warnings not to go to China, he saw its potential and moved there to explore business opportunities. Through hard work, strategic networking, and innovative marketing techniques such as distributing pamphlets and utilizing the internet, the business grew to become one of the most influential consulting practices in Asia with 28 offices across the region and a turnover of approximately $20 million per annum.
How much money it makes: $18M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 300
Asian-focused consulting firm Dezan Shira & Associates, founded in Hong Kong in 1992, has expanded to include 28 offices and a client base of several thousand companies with US$20 million in annual turnover, handling about US$8 billion in foreign investment into Asia, by determined hard work and creativity in marketing, billing structure and hiring equity-dependent staff.
3. Equity Residences ($7.2M/year)
Equity Platinum Fund with a goal of raising $50 million to acquire a portfolio of twenty luxury vacation homes. Currently, we have over 200 investors and $40 million under management. Our focus is on providing investors with access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for personal use and as an investment, while also generating income through rentals and appreciation over time.
How much money it makes: $7.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5M
How many people on the team: 4
Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.
4. Contrarian Thinking ($3M/year)
Contrarian Thinking is a premium membership community that teaches people how to add cash-flowing income streams to their portfolios and achieve financial freedom.
Codie Sanchez, the founder of Contrarian Thinking, came up with the idea for her business after experiencing numerous career changes and realizing that money was the key to solving problems. After working in finance and investing, she decided to blend her love for writing, investing, and teaching others to create a company that helps people achieve financial freedom. Through her premium membership community, Contrarian Cashflow, she teaches members how to add more cash-flowing income streams to their portfolios and build the life they have always dreamed of. With over 100,000 newsletter subscribers, a community of 1.5 million people, and a run rate of $3 million this year, Contrarian Thinking is empowering individuals to challenge the status quo and shape their own destinies.
How much money it makes: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 4
Contrarian Thinking is a premium membership community that teaches its 1.5 million members how to implement cash flow strategies to achieve financial freedom, with a current run rate of $3 million and a goal of $50 million ARR in five years.
5. BlackBook Investments ($2.1M/year)
Mohit Tater, the founder of BlackBook Investments, came up with the idea for his business after buying and scaling a social media marketing agency that he purchased on Flippa. He realized that he had a better chance of scaling an already profitable business and decided to help others invest in internet businesses as well. Today, BlackBook Investments is a 7-figure business with over $7.5M in assets under management and is rapidly growing.
How much money it makes: $2.1M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
How many people on the team: 25
Mohit Tater, CEO and founder of BlackBook Investments, shares his company's offerings of buying and operating profitable internet businesses and helping others invest in these businesses, with a minimum investment of $100,000 for the one-to-one offering and $25,000 for the group buy offering, and has over $7.5m in AUM and growing at a very rapid pace.
6. Spencer Patterson ($1.68M/year)
Spencer Patterson, an ex-financial broker turned product developer, launched a paywall platform in 2019 initially to streamline his own content operations. Seeing its potential as an alternative to Patreon, he monetized the bootstrapped SaaS to $125,000 - $142,000 MRR, ultimately selling it for $3.5M on Flippa.
How much money it makes: $1.68M/year
How much did it cost to start: $6K
How many people on the team: 1
This case study is about a founder who launched a paywall platform for content creators in 2019, bootstrapping it from $0 and eventually selling it for $3.5M on Flippa, with the platform generating between $125,000 - $142,000 in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) on 95% margins.
7. FMTM LLC ($614K/year)
In 2018, David Pere started a blog to document his journey as a military real estate investor and improve his writing skills. As the blog gained traction, he expanded it into a full-blown brand, offering free content, courses, and a mastermind group. Since its launch, the mastermind group, priced at $100/month, has attracted 161 members, generating impressive recurring revenue of around $10,000/month.
How much money it makes: $614K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 4
David Pere built the largest Military Real Estate Investing community, From Military to Millionaire, with over 200 students enrolled in his courses since launch and a War Room REI Mastermind group generating $10,000/month, through consistency in producing engaging content across various platforms and providing a valuable community experience by leveraging his relatability and maintaining a successful moderation strategy.
8. Astute Actions Inc ($360K/year)
David Ning accidentally stumbled upon the idea for his personal finance website, MoneyNing.com, when his personal blog started attracting advertisers. He decided to focus on money management because of his passion for the subject, and the site quickly grew to receive 200,000 monthly visitors. Through networking and genuine content, David was able to build a successful business with minimal startup costs and ongoing profitability.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10
How many people on the team: 1
MoneyNing.com, a personal finance website that receives 200,000 monthly visitors, discusses how the founder's accidental and passionate interest in tackling personal finance has led to its profitability through advertising, affiliate marketing, and email campaigns alongside insights on building long-form content and networking with the community.
9. Third Eye Advisors ($120K/year)
Arthur Robertson, the founder of Third Eye Advisors, was inspired to start his investment advisory firm after realizing the lack of financial education and literacy among millennials and Gen X. Coming from a background in finance and with a passion for managing and investing money, he saw the opportunity to provide customized financial planning and investment solutions to millennial business owners in the tech and cannabis industries. Within three months of starting the firm, Robertson was able to recoup his initial start-up costs of $10,000-$15,000 from serving clients.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $13K
How many people on the team: 3
Third Eye Advisors is a boutique Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) providing customized financial planning and investment solutions to millennial business owners, founded by Arthur Robertson with start-up costs of approximately $10,000 to $15,000, recouping those costs within three months of serving clients, while the team is currently expanding and looking for Financial Advisors to come on board in Q4 2020.
10. Prosmartrepreneur ($114K/year)
Sayan Neogie, an engineering student, started his personal finance and entrepreneurship blog in 2018, initially as a way to make money on the side. After reading an article about a blogger who made over $100,000 per month, Sayan jumped into blogging without hesitation. Fast forward to 2021, his blog now attracts over 160,000 monthly readers and generates a full-time income, proving that blogging can be a profitable venture with minimal investment.
How much money it makes: $114K/year
How much did it cost to start: $4
How many people on the team: 0
This case study is about a college student who started a personal finance & entrepreneurship blog and now makes $9.5k a month with over 160k monthly visitors, showcasing how blogging can be a profitable business model with little investment and high potential for growth.
11. Mythic Markets ($90K/year)
Joe Mahavuthivanij, the co-founder and CEO of Mythic Markets, came up with the idea for his business when he realized the growing value of pop culture collectibles, like Magic: The Gathering cards. After his own card collection was stolen, he recognized the potential in tokenizing these assets and making them accessible through fractional investing. With the excitement around blockchain and cryptocurrencies in 2017, Joe and his co-founder decided to adapt the concept to a more established regulatory framework, leading to the creation of Mythic Markets.
How much money it makes: $90K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 3
Mythic Markets is an investing platform that turns high-value, geeky assets into stocks that almost anybody can buy, with 123 investors participating in their $90,000 Black Lotus IPO.
12. Up The Gains ($67.2K/year)
While deep in debt, Sammie Ellard-King had a spark during a candid conversation with friends in Vietnam; months later, he'd self-taught his way to financial freedom and launched 'Up the Gains,' aiming to demystify personal finance for beginners.
How much money it makes: $67.2K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 3
Up the Gains Founder Sammie Ellard-King managed to turn a side hustle from her spare bedroom into a profitable content site in the crowded personal finance market, growing from zero to 44k page views monthly in under a year, with current revenue levels at £4.5k profit per month and forecasting £147,000 in revenue over the next 12 months.
13. Startup Story Private Limited ($60K/year)
Anil Bakshi and Animesh Shukla founded Startup Story to help aspiring entrepreneurs gain credibility and visibility in the market. Recognizing that 90% of startups fail due to a lack of team credibility, they provide startup support services and media promotion through brand stories, podcasts, and video interviews. With over 150 inspiring stories and 50k monthly unique visitors, Startup Story is empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 10
Startup Story is a media platform that promotes startups and small businesses through podcasts, live interviews, and real-life stories, with over 150 stories covered and a monthly traffic of 50k unique visitors.
14. Konto-Kredit-Vergleich.de ($24K/year)
Sascha, a mechanical engineer with a passion for finance, started Konto-Kredit-Vergleich.de, a German finance blog specializing in loans, banking accounts, and car leasing. After struggling to gain traction for 18 months, Sascha had a breakthrough when he published an article during the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, which led to a significant increase in daily readers. Today, the blog generates a monthly income of over $2,000 USD.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 0
German finance blog founder Sascha shares how he turned his website into a monthly 2,000 USD income with minimal social media and no ads, by creating high-quality content that solves real-world problems for readers in areas like loans, banking accounts and car leasing, and leveraging affiliate marketing.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
