Seven wealth signals that predict new AUM — and how Stoke finds them.

Founders and business owners who closed an exit — via M&A, management buyout, or asset sale — now have a sudden, large liquidity event to deploy. They rarely have an advisor and desperately need one. This window is time-bounded: the urgency fades as the capital gets deployed or allocated elsewhere.

Data sources: Crunchbase/M&A deal announcements, SEC 8-K filings, state business registry dissolutions, UCC lien releases, newswire press releases, LinkedIn company status changes.

Executives with newly-liquid stock after an IPO, lockup expiration, or large RSU/option vesting event. They have concentrated positions, complex tax implications, and zero experience managing this kind of wealth. The decision window opens the day restrictions lift — and advisors who reach them first win the relationship.

Data sources: SEC Form 4 insider transaction filings, S-1/S-11 registration statements, DEAD code (rule 10b5-1 plan) filings, EDGAR company filings, proxy statements (DEF 14A), and compensation disclosure tables.

Homeowners who sold a property with significant capital gains — triggered by a life change (relocation, downsizing, divorce, inheritance) — now hold a large cash position with no advisor. The proceeds are often earmarked for reinvestment, which creates an immediate planning need.

Data sources: County deed transfer records, property tax assessor databases, title company transaction feeds, state real estate commission records, and bulk transfer filings in high-value markets.

Heirs navigating estate settlement and a sudden wealth transfer. Most have never worked with a financial advisor — they don't know what they don't know. They're overwhelmed, often receiving a mix of practical advice from family and conflicting instincts. This is one of the highest-trust signal types for advisors who can provide clarity.

Data sources: Probate court filings, trust distribution records, estate tax returns (Form 706), state probate registries, obituary/death notice aggregators, and inheritance litigation docket monitoring.

Newly appointed C-suite executives — CFO, COO, CTO, President, VP-level — with complex equity packages, deferred compensation, and concentrated stock positions. The promotion often comes with a new compensation plan they don't fully understand. This is a one-time planning event with a compressed window before the equity starts vesting.

Data sources: SEC Form 4 (new equity grants), 8-K corporate governance filings, proxy statements, LinkedIn career updates, corporate press releases, and newswire executive appointment coverage.

Individuals navigating the asset division of a divorce — typically middle-aged professionals who've lost half their net worth in a settlement and now need to rebuild. The settlement creates an immediate need to grow assets aggressively without taking excessive risk. It's also emotionally charged: they want someone independent of their ex-spouse's advisor.

Data sources: Public court filings (family law dockets), QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) filings, property division orders in divorce proceedings, and state court record databases in jurisdictions where filings are public.

Policyholders with maturing whole life insurance, annuities, or endowment policies facing a key reallocation decision — and no current advisor to call. The insurance agent who sold the policy is often conflicted (they earn renewal commissions), leaving the client without a truly independent perspective on what to do with the proceeds.

Data sources: Insurance carrier policy anniversary records, annuity maturation schedules, carrier surrender charge expiration dates, state insurance department policy databases, and carrier customer communication records (via strategic data partnerships).