From Corporate Structure to True Ownership: Cody Stansell’s Path to Independence

After more than a decade in financial services, Cody Stansell didn’t leave his previous firm because something was broken. He left because something was missing.

Ownership.

Cody had spent years building his practice inside a corporate RIA environment. He was a W2 employee. The firm owned the clients. The structure worked — until he started thinking long-term about the business he was building, the clients he served, and the legacy he wanted to create.

“I realized I could do great work,” Cody shared, “but I didn’t truly own what I was building.”

That realization ultimately led him to Victory Financial.

Why Ownership Changed Everything

At Victory Financial, Cody operates as an independent, fee-only advisor with full ownership of his practice and the freedom to design it intentionally. That shift mattered in three major ways:

• Ownership: Cody owns his client relationships and his business. The work he puts in compounds over time.

• Freedom: No corporate quotas. No unnecessary meetings. No one is dictating how he serves clients.

• Clarity: Moving away from a dually registered model removed layers of complexity around compliance, communication, and marketing.

“The relief of being fee-only was huge,” Cody explained. “It simplified how I communicate, how I market, and how I focus on clients.”

The Reality of Transitioning

Independence isn’t effortless, and Cody is candid about that. His transition required purchasing his existing clients, securing a business loan, and navigating a few intense months of paperwork and conversations. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

“The overwhelming takeaway was this,” Cody said. “Clients chose me, not the firm.” Within a few months, operations stabilized. Client meetings resumed. Growth returned. And the business began operating as Cody had envisioned.

Building a Truly Comprehensive Practice

Today, Cody runs a deeply comprehensive planning practice focused on clarity, stewardship, and long-term decision-making. His approach includes, but is not limited to:

• Reviewing the last two years of tax returns to identify lifetime tax opportunities

• Investment management aligned to real risk tolerance

• In-house estate planning through an integrated attorney partnership

• Support for families navigating major life events, including widows and non-financial spouses

“Our job isn’t just accumulation,” Cody shared. “It’s giving people the confidence to live their lives, to enjoy experiences, to give generously, and to move forward without fear.”

Investing Back Into the Business

One of the most tangible changes Cody experienced after joining Victory Financial was economic. With a higher payout and transparent compensation, he was able to reinvest directly into his practice, including upgrading technology that had previously been out of reach.

Tools like YCharts now allow Cody to analyze portfolios more efficiently, communicate trade-offs clearly, and serve clients at a higher level, without adding unnecessary complexity.

“Victory’s model gives me the ability to invest in my business the way I see fit,” Cody said. “They provide the foundation, and then they get out of the way.”

Independence, Done the Right Way

Cody’s story reflects a common thread across Victory Financial advisors:

• Independence without isolation

• Ownership without unnecessary burden

• Support without control

Victory Financial exists to give advisors the structure they need and the freedom they’ve earned.

For Cody, that balance made all the difference.

At Victory Financial, we’re proud to support advisors like Cody who are building practices rooted in ownership, clarity, and long-term stewardship. If you’re ready to take full control of what you’re building, learn more about Victory Financial’s advisor platform.