"So while there's a huge range, and I accept that, typically you might find a retail investment client in the UK is paying anywhere between 150 and 200 basis points all in, so platform, advice, investment, etc.
"So, an investor or consolidator is going to be thinking well, okay, if the average client is paying 1.8 and I can deliver that for 1.6 and make a profit out of that, well, then that's good.
"And typically, these private equity firms will put in a high-quality management team with experience that knows what a good proposition looks like and how they can deliver that."
Cook says many traditional discretionary fund managers will recognise the need for scale in the coming years.
"If you think of the combination of capital [eyeing] the sector saying, well, we can deliver better value for clients and make a profit and the regulator saying are you delivering great value, you can see where it's going."
Though he stresses there are a lot of entrepreneurial advisers still in the market, which would not fit into this model.
Cook's own businesses are not private equity backed.
He has launched a consultancy, which he owns himself, and a data aggregation platform for advisers, which allows them to compare model portfolio services, which is owned by himself and his two business partners.
Mabel Insights, launched this week (January 15) offers like-for-like comparisons of MPSs as well as risk ratings.
It is a commercial enterprise that seeks to grow through partnerships with DFMs, which will open its doors to evermore data on their products.
Strategic Minds Consulting Limited, on the other hand, is not being proactively marketed.
Cook says he does not need to. Having worked in the industry for four decades, he has built up a vast network of contacts, which are willing to engage.
"It's actually been quite life affirming since finishing my last post in the corporate world if you like, I've had time to actually reach out to people that I haven't seen or spoken to for a while. And it has been incredible," he says.
"So many people have said I want to help just because we helped each other back in the day. Or that they're interested, or that they're really interested to know what I can do."
This includes helping IFAs and wealth managers build up a slick, efficient business.
It is something he enjoys doing, he says. "For me, the enjoyable bit is the process and the thinking and getting there.
"So if I can be involved with quite a few businesses, helping them get there, I know I can get a lot of value out of that personally and personal fulfilment and that might not be as remunerative as staying full time in an employed position as chief executive or managing director."
