United Planners Financial Services, a national RIA and independent broker-dealer partnership with more than 350 advisors, said it will announce its new acquisition and succession program at its annual partners conference in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 31.

The LEAPS Program (Legacy, Exit & Acquisition Planning Solutions) is designed to help UP advisors find a suitable successor and create an intentional succession or acquisition plan, the firm said in a statement.

"Research shows that over 50 per cent of advisors do not have a succession strategy," said United Planners' chief executive Thomas Oliver.

UP has partnered with David Grau, who is the head head of Portland, Oregon based Succession Resource Group to deploy and support the LEAPS program.

"With an aging advisor base, broker-dealers and custodians are aware of the need to help advisors with succession and acquisition resources," said Grau.