Modern American Advisor
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Build to a Billion · Operate to Scale

How firms work with Ana.

What we do. What you get. What happens next. The Operating for Scale engagement ladder, in plain English, from a five-minute scorecard through to retained operating support.

Start with the Scorecard Book a Confidential Consultation

The engagement ladder

Eight stages. Every one with a defined output.

Phase 01

Discovery

Get clarity on what matters

01The ScorecardOnline assessment · 5 minutes02Confidential ConsultationCall with Ana · 30 minutes
Phase 02

Diagnosis

Understand and prioritize

03COMPASS SnapshotPaid diagnostic session04Standard AuditFull diagnostic engagement · c. 10 days05Expanded AuditDeeper diagnostic · c. 15 days, partly on-site
Phase 03

Implementation

Execute the plan

0690-Day Operate to Scale ProjectImplementation · 90 days07M&A / Succession Readiness ReviewSpecialist engagement
Phase 04

Ongoing Support

Sustain and scale together

08Ongoing Operating Partner SupportRetained advisory

Scope, firm size, complexity and travel are confirmed in writing before any engagement begins.

01

The Scorecard

Online assessment · 5 minutes

A short online assessment for advisory-firm founders, CEOs, managing partners and COOs. It helps you identify whether the firm is ready to scale without breaking.

What it covers

  • Is the founder still the main decision-making bottleneck?
  • Is client experience consistent across advisers and teams?
  • Is the leadership structure clear enough for the next stage?
  • Are roles, responsibilities and accountability properly defined?
  • Does the firm have a clear operating rhythm?
  • Are systems and processes supporting scale, or creating friction?
  • Is management information good enough to decide quickly?
  • Is the firm commercially controlled, or still relying on instinct?
  • Is the business ready for M&A, succession or external investment?
  • Is the culture strong enough to survive growth?

What you get

A simple result showing where the firm is strong, where pressure is building, and where you may need to look more closely.

Purpose

Lead generation and self-diagnosis.

Next step

Book a Confidential Consultation.

02

Confidential Consultation

Call with Ana · 30 minutes

A focused qualification call with Ana. This is not the consulting work itself, it is a conversation to understand the firm, the issue, the stage of growth and whether there is a real fit.

What it covers

  • Where is the firm in its growth journey?
  • AUM, team size and leadership structure.
  • What is currently creating pressure?
  • Is the founder still too central?
  • Is client experience becoming inconsistent?
  • Are there leadership, team or operational issues?
  • Is the firm preparing for M&A, succession, integration or investment?
  • Is there a serious enough issue to justify paid work?
  • Which route makes most sense: COMPASS, Audit, 90-Day Project or M&A / Succession Review?

What you get

A clear recommendation on the right next step.

Purpose

Qualification and direction.

Next step

COMPASS Snapshot, Standard Audit, Expanded Audit or larger scoped work.

03

COMPASS Snapshot

Paid diagnostic session

A premium paid diagnostic built on your Scorecard responses: a pre-session review of the firm's answers and background material, a focused workshop with Ana, and a written action note.

What it covers

  • Where is growth already creating pressure?
  • Is the business founder-led or founder-dependent?
  • Is the client journey consistent enough?
  • Are leadership responsibilities clear?
  • Is the firm operating with rhythm and accountability?
  • What are the two or three biggest risks if growth continues?
  • What needs to be fixed first?

What you get

A structured snapshot of the firm's current position, practical recommendations, and a clear view of whether deeper diagnostic or implementation work is needed.

Purpose

A serious paid first step between the complimentary consultation and the full Audit.

Next step

Standard Audit, Expanded Audit or 90-Day Project.

04

Standard Audit

Full diagnostic engagement · c. 10 days

The first full paid diagnostic engagement: a structured review of the operating model, client experience, leadership, people, systems and readiness for scale.

Typical scope

  • Leadership interviews
  • Founder dependency review
  • Client journey review
  • Operating model and team structure review
  • Accountability review
  • Systems and process review
  • Management information review
  • Commercial rhythm review
  • M&A / succession readiness where relevant
  • Written findings, recommendations and a 90-day action pathway

What you get

A practical findings report, priority recommendations and a clear 90-day action pathway.

Purpose

Proper diagnosis and a clear plan for action.

Next step

90-Day Operate to Scale Project.

05

Expanded Audit

Deeper diagnostic · c. 15 days, partly on-site

A deeper version of the Standard Audit for larger, more complex or more exposed firms, where the issues cannot be properly understood through a lighter review.

Typical scope

  • Everything included in the Standard Audit
  • Additional leadership, team and wider stakeholder interviews
  • More detailed client journey review
  • Mystery shopping and client experience testing
  • Review of onboarding, communication and service standards
  • Review of internal operating rhythm and leadership cadence
  • Deeper systems and process review
  • Prioritised 90-day and longer-term roadmap

Mystery shopping, in practice: Testing the firm's client experience as if you were a prospective or existing client, how enquiries are handled, how follow-up happens, how consistent communication feels, how clear onboarding is, and whether the actual experience matches the firm's stated promise.

What you get

A deeper diagnostic report, more detailed findings, practical recommendations and a clearer implementation roadmap.

Purpose

Deeper diagnosis for more complex firms.

Next step

90-Day Project, M&A / Succession Review or Ongoing Operating Partner Support.

06

90-Day Operate to Scale Project

Implementation · 90 days

The main implementation product. This is where the work moves from diagnosis into practical change, senior-led over ninety days.

Typical project areas

  • Reducing founder dependency
  • Creating a clearer leadership cadence
  • Improving role clarity and accountability
  • Redesigning the client experience and onboarding journey
  • Improving team operating rhythm
  • Aligning systems and processes
  • Improving management information
  • Building a 90-day execution rhythm
  • Preparing for growth, acquisition, succession or integration
  • Supporting outsourced, offshore or international team models

What you get

Senior-led implementation support over 90 days, focused on the priorities identified through the Scorecard, COMPASS Snapshot or Audit.

Purpose

Move from diagnosis into measurable change.

Next step

Ongoing Operating Partner Support if required.

07

M&A / Succession Readiness Review

Specialist engagement

A specialist review for firms preparing to sell, buy, merge, integrate, transition ownership or professionalise ahead of a transaction.

Typical scope

  • Founder dependency review
  • Client transfer risk review
  • Leadership continuity review
  • Culture and brand continuity review
  • Process maturity and team structure review
  • Management information review
  • Integration readiness and operating risk review
  • Post-deal priority plan

What you get

A clear view of operational readiness, key risks, value-protection priorities and the practical steps needed before or after a transaction.

Purpose

Protect enterprise value before, during or after succession, sale, acquisition or integration.

Next step

90-Day Project, integration support or ongoing advisory.

08

Ongoing Operating Partner Support

Retained advisory

Longer-term advisory and implementation support after an Audit, 90-Day Project or M&A / Succession Review, where a firm needs continued senior operating support.

Typical support areas

  • Monthly leadership support
  • Founder / CEO operating advice
  • Implementation oversight
  • Operating rhythm check-ins
  • Team accountability support
  • Board or partner meeting preparation
  • M&A integration and succession implementation support
  • Review of progress against the 90-day plan

What you get

Continued senior operating support to keep the work moving and make sure recommendations turn into action.

Purpose

Support implementation, accountability and operating rhythm over time.

Next step

Scoped after Audit or project work.

Not sure where the constraint is

Start with the COMPASS Growth Assessment.

Five minutes, complimentary, and a clear view of where your operating foundations are strong and where pressure is building.

Start the Assessment

Already know what needs to change

Speak confidentially with Ana.

A focused thirty-minute conversation about the firm, the pressure and which route makes sense, complimentary and with no obligation.

Book a Confidential Consultation