Next Mile Podcast
The Breakaway Blueprint: How Nelly Mubashi Helps Advisors Go Independent
The Breakaway Blueprint: How Nelly Mubashi Helps Advisors Go Independent
The Breakaway Blueprint: How Nelly Mubashi Helps Advisors Go Independent
Kyle Van Pelt
July 15, 2025
Listen to this week’s episode.
Episode 101
On this week's episode of Next Mile, I speak with Nelly Mubashi, CEO of Northwest Asset Management and RIA Innovations. She's known for building advisor-first solutions that combine operational excellence, flexible service models, and a strong commitment to culture—empowering advisors to scale their practices without sacrificing autonomy or quality.
We discuss her unconventional journey to leadership and the vision behind her dual-firm structure. We explore the challenges advisors face when breaking away from wirehouses, the importance of culture in remote teams, and how offering flexible, à la carte services gives RIAs the freedom to grow on their terms. Nelly also shares how she's expanding support with offerings like tax prep, HR, and even a new trust company—all designed to help advisors deliver more value to clients while staying focused on what they do best.
Key Takeaways
Breaking away from a big firm doesn't mean sacrificing service or professionalism. Advisors often fear that going independent means a downgrade in service or technology. But with the right support model—like the one Nelly has built—advisors can maintain (or even enhance) client experience while gaining freedom and flexibility.
One-size-fits-all platforms limit advisor growth—flexibility is key. Offering à la carte services gives advisors the ability to build the business that works best for them. By avoiding rigid packages and letting advisors customize what they outsource, firms can better serve a wider range of needs and goals.
Technology should empower—not complicate—advisor independence. Having a curated but flexible tech stack, paired with an experienced ops team, allows advisors to plug in and focus on clients instead of platforms. Integration and data visibility across systems are essential to scale effectively without losing clarity.
Quotes
"We're looking for advisors who are simple. They don't take a lot of risk, are easy to manage, and their clients can be scaled up."
— Nelly Mubashi
"When thinking about our services, we're making sure that we are providing the highest level of service and the highest level of technology so that advisors have that great experience. They don't feel like they're getting downgraded because you know they're moving to a small RIA."
— Nelly Mubashi
"I want to make sure that advisors have a platform where they feel comfortable and don't feel too small for someone to pay attention to them."
— Nelly Mubashi
Links & Resources
Featured:
Technology & Platforms Mentioned:
Companies Mentioned:
Piper Sandler (formerly Piper Jaffray)
Books Mentioned:
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Connect With Our Hosts
Subscribe and Stay in Touch
If you'd like to schedule a time to talk with me about anything we cover on our podcast or Milemarker, click here for 15 minutes.
— Kyle Van Pelt
Next Mile Podcast
The Breakaway Blueprint: How Nelly Mubashi Helps Advisors Go Independent
Kyle Van Pelt
July 15, 2025
Listen to this week’s episode.
Episode 101
On this week's episode of Next Mile, I speak with Nelly Mubashi, CEO of Northwest Asset Management and RIA Innovations. She's known for building advisor-first solutions that combine operational excellence, flexible service models, and a strong commitment to culture—empowering advisors to scale their practices without sacrificing autonomy or quality.
We discuss her unconventional journey to leadership and the vision behind her dual-firm structure. We explore the challenges advisors face when breaking away from wirehouses, the importance of culture in remote teams, and how offering flexible, à la carte services gives RIAs the freedom to grow on their terms. Nelly also shares how she's expanding support with offerings like tax prep, HR, and even a new trust company—all designed to help advisors deliver more value to clients while staying focused on what they do best.
Key Takeaways
Breaking away from a big firm doesn't mean sacrificing service or professionalism. Advisors often fear that going independent means a downgrade in service or technology. But with the right support model—like the one Nelly has built—advisors can maintain (or even enhance) client experience while gaining freedom and flexibility.
One-size-fits-all platforms limit advisor growth—flexibility is key. Offering à la carte services gives advisors the ability to build the business that works best for them. By avoiding rigid packages and letting advisors customize what they outsource, firms can better serve a wider range of needs and goals.
Technology should empower—not complicate—advisor independence. Having a curated but flexible tech stack, paired with an experienced ops team, allows advisors to plug in and focus on clients instead of platforms. Integration and data visibility across systems are essential to scale effectively without losing clarity.
Quotes
"We're looking for advisors who are simple. They don't take a lot of risk, are easy to manage, and their clients can be scaled up."
— Nelly Mubashi
"When thinking about our services, we're making sure that we are providing the highest level of service and the highest level of technology so that advisors have that great experience. They don't feel like they're getting downgraded because you know they're moving to a small RIA."
— Nelly Mubashi
"I want to make sure that advisors have a platform where they feel comfortable and don't feel too small for someone to pay attention to them."
— Nelly Mubashi
Links & Resources
Featured:
Technology & Platforms Mentioned:
Companies Mentioned:
Piper Sandler (formerly Piper Jaffray)
Books Mentioned:
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Connect With Our Hosts
Subscribe and Stay in Touch
If you'd like to schedule a time to talk with me about anything we cover on our podcast or Milemarker, click here for 15 minutes.
— Kyle Van Pelt
EMPOWERING ADVISORS TO ENJOY EVERY MILE.
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Built by Teams In:
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PARTNERS
Platform
SOLUTIONS
© 2026 Milemarker Inc. All rights reserved
DISCLAIMER: All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners in the U.S. and other countries, and are used for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
EMPOWERING ADVISORS TO ENJOY EVERY MILE.
Mailing Address
Milemarker
PO Box 262
Isle Of Palms, SC 29451-9998
lEGAL ADDRESS
Milemarker Inc.
16192 Coastal Highway
Lewes, Delaware 19958
Built by Teams In:
Atlanta, Charleston, Cincinnati, Denver, Los Angeles, Omaha & Portland.
PARTNERS
Platform
SOLUTIONS
© 2026 Milemarker Inc. All rights reserved
DISCLAIMER: All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners in the U.S. and other countries, and are used for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
EMPOWERING ADVISORS TO ENJOY EVERY MILE.
Mailing Address
Milemarker
PO Box 262
Isle Of Palms, SC 29451-9998
lEGAL ADDRESS
Milemarker Inc.
16192 Coastal Highway
Lewes, Delaware 19958
Built by Teams In:
Atlanta, Charleston, Cincinnati, Denver, Los Angeles, Omaha & Portland.
PARTNERS
Platform
SOLUTIONS
© 2026 Milemarker Inc. All rights reserved
DISCLAIMER: All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners in the U.S. and other countries, and are used for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
EMPOWERING ADVISORS TO ENJOY EVERY MILE.
Mailing Address
Milemarker
PO Box 262
Isle Of Palms, SC 29451-9998
lEGAL ADDRESS
Milemarker Inc.
16192 Coastal Highway
Lewes, Delaware 19958
Built by Teams In:
Atlanta, Charleston, Cincinnati, Denver, Los Angeles, Omaha & Portland.
PARTNERS
Platform
SOLUTIONS
© 2026 Milemarker Inc. All rights reserved
DISCLAIMER: All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners in the U.S. and other countries, and are used for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
