For independent financial advisors looking to scale and serve high-net-worth clients, finding the right Turnkey Asset Management Program (TAMP) partner is no small task. Many platforms promise comprehensive solutions, but few combine institutional-caliber services with a collaborative, advisor-first approach. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions (formerly Buckingham Strategic Partners) has redefined what a TAMP can be, emphasizing relationships over rigid technology and creating a community-driven model that prioritizes human connection.
In an interview with The Wealth Advisor’s Scott Martin, Jonathan Scheid, president of Focus Partners, shared how the firm’s unique approach can enable advisors to scale efficiently while maintaining independence.
A True Partnership Model
While some TAMPs focus on technology at the expense of personal engagement, Focus Partners takes a different route—placing human connection at the core of its model. “Our commitment to our advisors, their clients, and their independence” is what sets Focus Partners apart, Scheid explains.
This dedication is evident in the firm’s systematic approach to advisor feedback. “We spend a tremendous amount of time listening,” Scheid says, sharing that the firm holds advisor councils, conducts surveys, and regularly reviews direct input from advisors to develop new solutions that align with evolving needs. “Their feedback is really what drives us,” Scheid adds. “We act as problem solvers, growth accelerators, scale enablers.” That commitment to continuous improvement and partnership has paid off: more than 300 firms have maintained their partnership with Focus Partners for more than 15 years, a testament to the firm’s ability to adapt and deliver sustained value.
Scheid emphasizes that the firm is selective about who it partners with, ensuring alignment between advisors and the Focus Partners philosophy. “I think it comes down to who we choose to work with,” he says. “It’s a two-way street when it comes to partnering with a firm like ours. We have to see eye to eye on a lot of things, and we have to be willing to have a great partnership and a long-term one.”
Building a Community of Excellence
Independence doesn’t have to mean isolation. Focus Partners has fostered a thriving community where advisors support each other, share insights, and collaborate on best practices. “We spend a lot of time fostering the community of advisors that partner with us,” Scheid says. “We have in-person learning groups every year where we gather 80 to 100 advisors that are focused on making their business better and trying to solve bigger problems for their clients.”
A key element of this model is the firm’s advisor relations team—a built-in strategic consulting resource. “Advisors are essentially getting a free coaching program, one that’s probably worth $50,000, included with the service that we’re providing them,” he says.
This combination of peer collaboration and expert guidance gives advisors a competitive edge, helping them navigate challenges and accelerate growth.
Breaking Through the Complexity Ceiling
For many independent advisors, the biggest obstacle to growth isn’t finding clients—it’s managing operational complexity. Focus Partners excels at helping advisors who have reached what Scheid calls a “ceiling of complexity.”
“We are looking for advisors that are looking to scale faster than they probably would’ve done on their own,” he says. “They’re tired of managing and hiring, training and developing talent. It’s going to pull them in different directions where they need to get focused on working with their clients.”
By offloading operational burdens, Focus Partners allows advisors to reclaim time and energy for client relationships and business development—without sacrificing control. The firm’s main competition is the do-it-yourself approach, which often hits its limits as practices grow. While wirehouse advisors benefit from built-in office communities and support systems, independent advisors traditionally face these challenges alone. Focus Partners bridges this gap, creating “a community of like-minded individuals and advisors that are focused on delivering the most value they can to their clients,” Scheid says. This network effect is powerful—advisors can both contribute to and benefit from the collective expertise, accelerating their growth while maintaining their independence.
Technology That Enhances Relationship Building
As Focus Partners evolves, it remains committed to high-touch service while embracing technology to enhance advisor efficiency. “It’s going to look really different in about a year from now,” Scheid reveals, pointing to the firm’s digital transformation.
The initiative will translate Focus Partners’ advisor training and client discovery processes into interactive online formats. The firm is retooling its advisor experience—putting best practices such as life discovery and wealth planning into an interactive, digital format, Scheid explains. This gives advisors a better way to capture, track, and showcase their ongoing value.
The firm is also ensuring that technology doesn’t replace human relationships but rather strengthens them. “How quickly do clients forget what you provided them two, three years ago? We’ve got a way to keep people engaged and to keep them current on what the most recent planning conversations were and where you’re taking things,” he says.
Focus Partners’ technology approach is designed to amplify, not replace, the personal relationships that make the firm unique—blending high-tech with high-touch in a way that preserves the advisor-client connection.
Beyond proprietary technology, Focus Partners continually evaluates and brings on third-party providers. “We’re keeping our focus on what we think are the most valuable resources,” Scheid notes. “If we don’t provide that technology, we have a partner that does.”
Comprehensive Resources at Your Fingertips
Serving high-net-worth clients often requires specialized expertise. Focus Partners ensures advisors can access these resources seamlessly. Need a business valuation expert for a business owner client? “We have that solution,” Scheid says. “You don’t need to go out and research somebody that can come in as a specialist in family budgets. We have a resource on staff that can help with that.”
To streamline access, the firm offers a curated “Solutions Menu”—a centralized hub of specialized services tailored to advisor needs. Advisors can rely on the Focus Partners advisor relations team to act as a concierge, guiding them toward the right resources.
“We have this team that helps you make sure that you’re maximizing your relationship with us and getting access to the resources that we have,” Scheid says.
The personalized engagement support system prevents advisors from feeling overwhelmed while ensuring they can quickly access the expertise they need. By combining specialized resources with dedicated relationship managers, Focus Partners helps advisors tackle even the most complex client situations with confidence.
Moving Upmarket: Bringing the Family Office to Main Street
As client expectations rise, many independent advisors aim to provide family office–caliber service. Focus Partners is helping them meet that goal.
“We have been focused on bringing the family office to Main Street,” Scheid says. “We’ve seen the success of our advisors increase exponentially over the last three years as we’ve both expanded the type of solutions that we provide to them and uncovered additional strategies that we think are impactful.”
The numbers back up the firm’s efforts. “We used to measure the number of accounts that we have over $5 million. Now, we’re measuring the number of accounts that we’re bringing in, on a monthly basis, over $30 million and $40 million,” Scheid notes. “They’re moving further faster than they would have on their own.” Unlike DIY RIAs, where advisors must build their infrastructure from scratch, Focus Partners provides access to sophisticated service capabilities from the get-go. “They get that day one when they sign up with us and partner with us.”
A Compelling Alternative to Wirehouse Models
As more wirehouse advisors explore independence, Focus Partners has become an attractive destination.
“The amount of flexibility that we provide those firms is massive compared to some of the traditional options that they have available to them when they’re looking to go independent,” Scheid explains. Better economics, more customization, true independence—these are driving factors for advisors making the leap.
By blending robust support with a commitment to advisor autonomy, Focus Partners presents a compelling alternative to both DIY independence and wirehouse constraints. With a collaborative, relationship-grounded model and cutting-edge technology, the firm is redefining what it means is possible for an independent advisor—empowering firms to scale, serve high-net-worth clients, and thrive.
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