Van Tonder, EstelleEhlers, Lene2011-11-242011-11-242011Van Tonder, E & Ehlers, L 2011, 'Factors threatening the survival of independent financial advisers in their organisational life cycle : an exploratory study', South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 153-169.1015-8812 (print)2222-3436 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/2263/17658This study investigates various threats to the survival of independent financial advisers in their organisational life cycle. Telephone interviews were conducted to gain more insight into the demographic data of the respodents and to attempt to group them into life-cycle stages. Personal interviews were conducted to investigate the respondents’ problems. The contribution of this study is twofold. First, general life-cycle stages applicable to the businesses of independent financial advisers were determined. Secondly, the study identified the important problems as well as those that ought to be considered in the advisers’ businesses. The findings could be of assistance to independent financial advisers in analysing both their current business position and their planning for future requirements as the business develops from one stage to the next.enCreative Commons licenseOrganisational life cycleIndependent financial advisersOrganizational sociologyBusiness consultantsSmall business -- ManagementArticle