I Can’t Make the Numbers Work”: Rethinking the IBD Load and the Push Toward RIA-Only

Event Name: I Can’t Make the Numbers Work”: Rethinking the IBD Load and the Push Toward RIA-Only

Host: Heidi Wheatley, Sponsor Growth Solutions

Date: April 8th, 2026

Time of Event: 4:00 PM (EST)

Event Type: Virtual

Description of Event:

More and more conversations with sponsors start the same way: “We’re thinking about going RIA-only — the IBD load impacts our ability to deliver compelling investor returns.”

While RIA-only distribution is a valid path for some, it’s often assumed to be simpler and less expensive than it actually is. In practice, fiduciary standards, platform access, advisor behavior, and operational requirements can introduce different — and sometimes greater — challenges when it comes to driving allocations.

In this webinar, Heidi Wheatley, Sponsor Growth Solutions, and Ray Sun, Sun Coast Realty, dig into why the “RIA vs. IBD” decision is rarely binary and why many sponsors find themselves stuck at “I can’t make the numbers work.”

We’ll discuss:

• Why the IBD load has become a central concern in sponsor conversations

• Common misconceptions about RIA-only distribution

• How fiduciary oversight can impact adoption and allocation velocity

• Practical ways sponsors can reduce the effective impact of the load

This session is designed to help sponsors move beyond assumptions and make more informed, realistic distribution decisions.

Event Webpage/Registration info: Click here for more information and to register!