Published terms, next to the market
Market figures are from the firms in 123RFP that publish the same term, Q4 2026 edition.
Fee · % of first-year base salary
25% of total first-year compensation
Light grey: middle half of published fees (19% to 29.5%). Dark grey: typical range (medians).
Source, as of Nov 2, 2026(opens in a new tab): "The placement fee is 25% of first-year OTE, due when the candidate you hire accepts the offer."
Guarantee · months
3 months · Replacement
73.4% of published guarantees are 3 months or less (shaded). 21.5% are 6 months or more.
Source, as of Nov 2, 2026(opens in a new tab): "Our searches carry a 90-day replacement provision."
All published terms
Firm type
Staffing and Direct Hire
"Direct Hire Search, ScaleWell and Retained Executive Search." · Source(opens in a new tab)
Fee model
Contingency
"No fee to start a search. The placement fee is 25% of first-year OTE, due when the candidate you hire accepts the offer." · Source(opens in a new tab)
Minimum fee
Not published
Payment timing
In full when the candidate accepts the offer, not on their start date.
"In full when the candidate accepts the offer, not on their start date." · Source(opens in a new tab)
Guarantee conditions
Not stated
Exclusivity
Non-Exclusive
"Client acknowledges and agrees that the Services will be provided by The Well on a non-exclusive basis" · Source(opens in a new tab)
Publishes results
Yes
"Most of the advisors we placed in the first half of 2026 were not looking for a new role when we first reached them." · Source(opens in a new tab)
Specialties
Lead and Service Advisors; CFP Professionals; Paraplanners; Business Development; CEO; Independent RIAs; Hybrid Firms; Insurance-Based Advisory Firms; Broker-Dealers
"Three families. Advisors and planners: lead and service advisors, CFP professionals, paraplanners and business development. Firm leadership: CEO, COO, CIO, chief compliance officer and other senior seats. Operations and support: client service associates, operations, IT, marketing and HR." · Source(opens in a new tab)
"Advisory firms of every model: independent RIAs, hybrid firms, insurance-based advisory firms and broker-dealers" · Source(opens in a new tab)
Time to fill stated
44.5 day median, kickoff to accepted offer
"Our median search runs under eight weeks from kickoff to accepted offer, and across a full quarter of placements it was 44.5 days." · Source(opens in a new tab)
Geography
Not stated
Something wrong or out of date? Request a correction with the page on the firm's own site.