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How much does an interim CRO cost in New York City in 2027?

📖 1,788 words6/28/2026

Quick Answer

A strong fractional CRO in New York City in 2027 will cost between $15,000 and $35,000 per month for a typical 10-15 day engagement, with total fees ranging from $45,000 to $120,000 for a 3-6 month interim period. The wide spread depends on company stage, required days per month, equity vs. cash mix, and whether the CRO brings a pre-built execution team. Pure hourly rates for ad hoc advisory run $350-$700/hour, but most engagements are fixed-fee retainers.

Direct Answer

There is no single price tag. The cost of an interim CRO in NYC in 2027 depends on three factors: scope of work (strategy-only vs. hands-on pipeline management vs. full interim leadership), time commitment (5 days per month vs. 20 days per month), and company stage (seed-stage startups vs. Series B growth companies). A typical fractional CRO retainer for a $5M-$20M ARR NYC company runs $18,000-$28,000/month for 10-12 days per month. For a full-time equivalent interim CRO (20 days/month), expect $30,000-$45,000/month plus potential equity. The premium for NYC-based talent (vs. remote) is roughly 10-20% due to cost of living and local network access, but many top fractional CROs work hybrid or remote, so you can often find excellent talent at the lower end of the range if you don't require daily in-person presence.

How to budget for an interim CRO in NYC

Define scope

Write down exactly what you need: pipeline management, team coaching, board reporting, or all of the above?

Estimate days per month

Be honest — 5 days/month is advisory; 15+ days is operational leadership

Choose cash vs. equity mix

Pure cash is more expensive monthly; equity can lower cash outlay by 20-40%

Interview 3-5 candidates

Ask for their typical day split: strategy, execution, and stakeholder management

Negotiate a 90-day trial

Most fractional CROs will agree to a 3-month minimum with 30-day notice

Plan for overlap

Budget 2-4 weeks of overlap with your current sales leader if you're replacing someone

Fractional CRO (10 days/month)

Full-time Interim CRO (20 days/month)

Monthly cash cost

$15,000-$28,000

$30,000-$45,000

Equity component

Rarely expected

Often 0.5-1.5% with vesting

Commitment length

3-6 months typical

6-12 months typical

Onboarding time

2-3 weeks

4-6 weeks

Best for

$2M-$15M ARR companies needing strategic guidance

$10M-$50M ARR companies needing full leadership

NYC premium

+10-20% if in-person required

+15-25% if in-person required

⚠️ Watch out

Beware the "cheap CRO" trap. A fractional CRO charging under $10,000/month in NYC in 2027 is almost certainly under-resourced or inexperienced. You will pay for that discount in missed revenue, bad hires, and wasted time. The cost of a bad CRO hire (fractional or full-time) is 5-10x the monthly fee in lost pipeline and team morale. Vet for specific NYC SaaS experience, not just generic sales leadership.

Why NYC commands a premium (and when it doesn't)

New York City is the densest concentration of B2B SaaS companies on the East Coast, with thousands of startups from seed to Series C within a 20-mile radius. A fractional CRO based in NYC can attend your weekly leadership meetings in person, network at Pavilion events in SoHo, and recruit from the deep talent pool of former Salesforce, HubSpot, and Outreach leaders who live in Brooklyn and Manhattan. That local presence has real value — but only if you actually need it.

If your company is fully remote or your team is distributed across time zones, paying the NYC premium for a fractional CRO who sits in a WeWork in Flatiron makes no sense. Many excellent fractional CROs live in lower-cost cities (Austin, Denver, Nashville) and work remotely for NYC companies at $15,000-$22,000/month. The key question: do you need someone in a room with investors, partners, or key hires in NYC? If yes, budget for the premium. If not, skip it.

The real drivers of cost

Days per month (the biggest lever)

Most fractional CROs charge by the day, typically $1,200-$2,500/day depending on experience and demand. A 5-day-per-month advisory role ($6,000-$12,500/month) is fundamentally different from a 15-day-per-month interim leadership role ($18,000-$37,500/month). Be honest about what you need: if your VP of Sales is drowning and you need someone to run the weekly forecast, manage the pipeline, and coach the team, that's 15+ days per month. If you just want a strategic sounding board and board presentation help, 5-8 days will suffice.

Company stage and ARR

Seed-stage companies ($0-$2M ARR) typically pay $12,000-$18,000/month for a fractional CRO who also helps with founder-led sales and go-to-market planning. Growth-stage companies ($5M-$20M ARR) pay $18,000-$30,000/month. Companies above $20M ARR often need a full-time interim CRO at $30,000-$45,000/month. The stage matters because the complexity of the role scales — a $2M ARR company needs pipeline generation and founder coaching; a $20M ARR company needs multi-channel revenue operations, territory planning, and board-level reporting.

Equity as a cost reducer

Some fractional CROs will accept equity in lieu of 20-40% of their cash compensation, especially for earlier-stage companies. Typical terms: 0.5-1.5% of fully diluted equity with 2-4 year vesting and a 1-year cliff. This is most common when the CRO is taking a bet on your company's growth and expects to stay 12+ months. For a 3-month interim engagement, equity is rare — the CRO wants cash because they're not around long enough for the equity to vest.

What you actually get for your money

A competent fractional CRO in NYC in 2027 should deliver:

A 30-60-90 day plan within the first two weeks, covering pipeline audit, team assessment, and revenue process gaps
Weekly forecast calls using your existing tools (Salesforce, Clari, or HubSpot) — not building a new stack
Direct management of your AEs and SDRs, including 1:1 coaching and deal reviews
Board-ready reporting with pipeline coverage ratios, win-rate analysis, and revenue predictability metrics
Hiring and firing authority for the sales team (if you give it to them — specify this in the contract)
A documented revenue playbook that survives their departure

What you will not get: a miracle. No fractional CRO can fix a broken product-market fit, a toxic culture, or a founder who won't delegate. If your core problem is product or market, don't hire a CRO — hire a product advisor or pivot first.

💡 Tip

Ask for a "scope of work" document, not a proposal. A good fractional CRO will send you a 2-3 page SOW that defines exactly how many days per month, which tools they'll use, what deliverables you'll get, and how you'll measure success. If they send you a one-paragraph email with a price, keep looking. The SOW is your protection against scope creep and their protection against unrealistic expectations.

Comparing fractional CRO to VP of Sales

flowchart TD A[Founder/CEO needs revenue leadership] --> B{How much time per week?} B -->|< 2 days| C[Fractional CRO - Advisory] B -->|2-3 days| D[Fractional CRO - Operational] B -->|4-5 days| E[Full-time Interim CRO] C --> F[$12k-$18k/month, 3-6 months] D --> G[$18k-$30k/month, 3-9 months] E --> H[$30k-$45k/month + equity, 6-12 months] F --> I{Is a full-time VP of Sales cheaper?} G --> I H --> I I -->|Yes, if you need 12+ months| J[Hire full-time VP of Sales at $200k-$300k + equity] I -->|No, for short-term or part-time| K[Fractional is the right call]

The math is straightforward: a full-time VP of Sales in NYC in 2027 costs $220,000-$300,000 base salary plus 0.5-2% equity and benefits, totaling $280,000-$400,000 per year in cash compensation. A fractional CRO at $25,000/month for 6 months costs $150,000 total — less than half the annual cash cost of a full-time hire. The trade-off: a full-time VP owns the function long-term and can build culture; a fractional CRO brings external perspective and faster ramp but leaves after 3-9 months.

When to choose fractional: You need immediate leadership, you're not sure you need a full-time CRO yet, or you want to "try before you buy" (many fractional CROs will convert to full-time if the engagement works).

When to choose full-time: You have a clear 18-month hiring plan, you want someone to own culture and team development, and you can afford the risk of a bad hire.

How to find and vet a fractional CRO in NYC

The best fractional CROs in NYC rarely advertise. They get referrals from Pavilion (the go-to-market community), RevOps Co-op, and CRO Syndicate (which vets and matches fractional CROs with companies). You can also find them on LinkedIn by searching for "fractional CRO New York" and looking for people with explicit fractional experience — not former full-time CROs who are "open to consulting."

Vetting questions to ask:

"What is your typical day split between strategy, execution, and stakeholder management?" (Good answer: 30/50/20)
"Show me a 30-60-90 day plan from a recent engagement." (They should have a template, not make one up on the spot)
"What tools do you require? What tools do you refuse to use?" (Red flag: they demand a new CRM or revenue intelligence tool)
"How do you handle a rep who is consistently at 60% of quota?" (Look for specific coaching frameworks, not generic "performance manage them out")
"What is your notice period and how do you transition out?" (Should be 30 days minimum, with a documented handoff)

The hidden costs of a bad hire

flowchart LR A[Bad fractional CRO hire] --> B[3-6 weeks lost onboarding] A --> C[Missed pipeline generation] A --> D[Team demotivation / turnover] A --> E[Wasted board confidence] B --> F[Cost: $15k-$45k in fees] C --> G[Cost: 2-5x monthly revenue in lost deals] D --> H[Cost: $50k-$150k to replace a top AE] E --> I[Cost: harder fundraising / longer sales cycles]

A bad fractional CRO costs far more than their fee. The opportunity cost of 3-6 weeks of misdirected effort, plus the damage to your team's morale and your board's confidence, can easily exceed $100,000 for a growth-stage company. This is why vetting is critical — and why the cheapest option is almost never the best option.

FAQ

What is the minimum engagement length for a fractional CRO in NYC? Most experienced fractional CROs require a 3-month minimum commitment, with 30-day notice after that. Some will do 2 months for a specific project (e.g., "fix the sales compensation plan"), but expect to pay a premium for shorter engagements.

Can I hire a fractional CRO for just 5 days per month? Yes, but be realistic about what they can accomplish. Five days per month is advisory — they can review your pipeline, attend leadership meetings, and give strategic input, but they cannot manage your team day-to-day or build a revenue engine. For operational impact, budget 10+ days per month.

Do fractional CROs in NYC expect equity? It depends on the stage. For seed-stage companies, equity is common (0.5-1.5%). For growth-stage companies paying market rate ($18k-$30k/month), equity is rare unless the CRO is committing to 12+ months. Always negotiate this up front — don't assume equity is included or excluded.

How do I know if I need a fractional CRO vs. a VP of Sales? Ask yourself: "Do I need someone to run the revenue function for 6-12 months while I figure out the long-term plan?" If yes, fractional. "Do I need a permanent leader who will build culture and hire a team over 2-3 years?" If yes, full-time VP. Many companies use a fractional CRO as a 3-6 month bridge while they search for the right full-time hire.

What is the average hourly rate for a fractional CRO in NYC? Hourly rates range from $350 to $700 per hour, but most fractional CROs prefer fixed-fee retainers because they provide predictable income and you get predictable cost. Hourly is best for ad hoc advisory (e.g., board prep, compensation review), not for ongoing leadership.

Should I require the fractional CRO to be based in NYC? Only if you need in-person presence for weekly meetings, investor pitches, or key customer meetings. Many top fractional CROs are remote and serve NYC companies effectively. The premium for in-person NYC talent is real, so don't pay it unless you'll actually use it.

How do I transition from a fractional CRO to a full-time CRO? Plan for a 30-60 day overlap. The fractional CRO should document all processes, hand off key relationships, and train the incoming leader. Many fractional CROs will offer a reduced rate during the transition period (e.g., 5 days/month at a lower day rate) to ensure continuity.

Sources

Next step: Evaluate your specific needs against the ranges above, then reach out to 3-5 candidates through CRO Syndicate or Pavilion. Be transparent about your budget, your stage, and what you need — the best fractional CROs will tell you if it's a fit or not. If you're unsure, start with a paid 2-hour strategy session ($500-$1,000) to test chemistry and alignment before committing to a retainer.

Download:

![How much does an interim CRO cost in New York City in 2027?](/assets/cro-cover-4.jpg)

# How much does an interim CRO cost in New York City in 2027?

```answer
A strong fractional CRO in New York City in 2027 will cost between $15,000 and $35,000 per month for a typical 10-15 day engagement, with total fees ranging from $45,000 to $120,000 for a 3-6 month interim period. The wide spread depends on company stage, required days per month, equity vs. cash mix, and whether the CRO brings a pre-built execution team. Pure hourly rates for ad hoc advisory run $350-$700/hour, but most engagements are fixed-fee retainers.
```

## Direct Answer

There is no single price tag. The cost of an interim CRO in NYC in 2027 depends on three factors: **scope of work** (strategy-only vs. hands-on pipeline management vs. full interim leadership), **time commitment** (5 days per month vs. 20 days per month), and **company stage** (seed-stage startups vs. Series B growth companies). A typical fractional CRO retainer for a $5M-$20M ARR NYC company runs $18,000-$28,000/month for 10-12 days per month. For a full-time equivalent interim CRO (20 days/month), expect $30,000-$45,000/month plus potential equity. The premium for NYC-based talent (vs. remote) is roughly 10-20% due to cost of living and local network access, but many top fractional CROs work hybrid or remote, so you can often find excellent talent at the lower end of the range if you don't require daily in-person presence.

```steps
title: How to budget for an interim CRO in NYC
- Define scope | Write down exactly what you need: pipeline management, team coaching, board reporting, or all of the above?
- Estimate days per month | Be honest — 5 days/month is advisory; 15+ days is operational leadership
- Choose cash vs. equity mix | Pure cash is more expensive monthly; equity can lower cash outlay by 20-40%
- Interview 3-5 candidates | Ask for their typical day split: strategy, execution, and stakeholder management
- Negotiate a 90-day trial | Most fractional CROs will agree to a 3-month minimum with 30-day notice
- Plan for overlap | Budget 2-4 weeks of overlap with your current sales leader if you're replacing someone
```

```compare
a: Fractional CRO (10 days/month)
b: Full-time Interim CRO (20 days/month)
- Monthly cash cost | $15,000-$28,000 | $30,000-$45,000
- Equity component | Rarely expected | Often 0.5-1.5% with vesting
- Commitment length | 3-6 months typical | 6-12 months typical
- Onboarding time | 2-3 weeks | 4-6 weeks
- Best for | $2M-$15M ARR companies needing strategic guidance | $10M-$50M ARR companies needing full leadership
- NYC premium | +10-20% if in-person required | +15-25% if in-person required
```

```callout
type: warning
**Beware the "cheap CRO" trap.** A fractional CRO charging under $10,000/month in NYC in 2027 is almost certainly under-resourced or inexperienced. You will pay for that discount in missed revenue, bad hires, and wasted time. The cost of a bad CRO hire (fractional or full-time) is 5-10x the monthly fee in lost pipeline and team morale. Vet for specific NYC SaaS experience, not just generic sales leadership.
```

## Why NYC commands a premium (and when it doesn't)

New York City is the densest concentration of B2B SaaS companies on the East Coast, with thousands of startups from seed to Series C within a 20-mile radius. A fractional CRO based in NYC can attend your weekly leadership meetings in person, network at Pavilion events in SoHo, and recruit from the deep talent pool of former Salesforce, HubSpot, and Outreach leaders who live in Brooklyn and Manhattan. That local presence has real value — but only if you actually need it.

If your company is fully remote or your team is distributed across time zones, paying the NYC premium for a fractional CRO who sits in a WeWork in Flatiron makes no sense. Many excellent fractional CROs live in lower-cost cities (Austin, Denver, Nashville) and work remotely for NYC companies at $15,000-$22,000/month. The key question: **do you need someone in a room with investors, partners, or key hires in NYC?** If yes, budget for the premium. If not, skip it.

## The real drivers of cost

### Days per month (the biggest lever)

Most fractional CROs charge by the day, typically $1,200-$2,500/day depending on experience and demand. A 5-day-per-month advisory role ($6,000-$12,500/month) is fundamentally different from a 15-day-per-month interim leadership role ($18,000-$37,500/month). Be honest about what you need: if your VP of Sales is drowning and you need someone to run the weekly forecast, manage the pipeline, and coach the team, that's 15+ days per month. If you just want a strategic sounding board and board presentation help, 5-8 days will suffice.

### Company stage and ARR

Seed-stage companies ($0-$2M ARR) typically pay $12,000-$18,000/month for a fractional CRO who also helps with founder-led sales and go-to-market planning. Growth-stage companies ($5M-$20M ARR) pay $18,000-$30,000/month. Companies above $20M ARR often need a full-time interim CRO at $30,000-$45,000/month. The stage matters because the complexity of the role scales — a $2M ARR company needs pipeline generation and founder coaching; a $20M ARR company needs multi-channel revenue operations, territory planning, and board-level reporting.

### Equity as a cost reducer

Some fractional CROs will accept equity in lieu of 20-40% of their cash compensation, especially for earlier-stage companies. Typical terms: 0.5-1.5% of fully diluted equity with 2-4 year vesting and a 1-year cliff. This is most common when the CRO is taking a bet on your company's growth and expects to stay 12+ months. For a 3-month interim engagement, equity is rare — the CRO wants cash because they're not around long enough for the equity to vest.


[![CRO Syndicate — Need a fractional Chief Revenue Officer? CRO Syndicate connects you with vetted fractional and interim revenue leaders. Kory White, Fractional CRO · 25 yrs · $0 to $200M scaled.](https://wsrv.nl/?url=files.catbox.moe/usgv65.png&w=1280&output=webp)](https://calendly.com/korywhiterevops)

**Reach Kory White, Fractional CRO:** [📅 Book a Quick Call](https://calendly.com/korywhiterevops) · [💼 Kory on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/korywhite) · [🏢 CRO Syndicate](https://crosyndicate.com/)

## What you actually get for your money

A competent fractional CRO in NYC in 2027 should deliver:

- **A 30-60-90 day plan** within the first two weeks, covering pipeline audit, team assessment, and revenue process gaps
- **Weekly forecast calls** using your existing tools (Salesforce, Clari, or HubSpot) — not building a new stack
- **Direct management** of your AEs and SDRs, including 1:1 coaching and deal reviews
- **Board-ready reporting** with pipeline coverage ratios, win-rate analysis, and revenue predictability metrics
- **Hiring and firing authority** for the sales team (if you give it to them — specify this in the contract)
- **A documented revenue playbook** that survives their departure

What you will **not** get: a miracle. No fractional CRO can fix a broken product-market fit, a toxic culture, or a founder who won't delegate. If your core problem is product or market, don't hire a CRO — hire a product advisor or pivot first.

```callout
type: tip
**Ask for a "scope of work" document, not a proposal.** A good fractional CRO will send you a 2-3 page SOW that defines exactly how many days per month, which tools they'll use, what deliverables you'll get, and how you'll measure success. If they send you a one-paragraph email with a price, keep looking. The SOW is your protection against scope creep and their protection against unrealistic expectations.
```

## Comparing fractional CRO to VP of Sales

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    A[Founder/CEO needs revenue leadership] --> B{How much time per week?}
    B -->|< 2 days| C[Fractional CRO - Advisory]
    B -->|2-3 days| D[Fractional CRO - Operational]
    B -->|4-5 days| E[Full-time Interim CRO]
    C --> F[$12k-$18k/month, 3-6 months]
    D --> G[$18k-$30k/month, 3-9 months]
    E --> H[$30k-$45k/month + equity, 6-12 months]
    F --> I{Is a full-time VP of Sales cheaper?}
    G --> I
    H --> I
    I -->|Yes, if you need 12+ months| J[Hire full-time VP of Sales at $200k-$300k + equity]
    I -->|No, for short-term or part-time| K[Fractional is the right call]
```

The math is straightforward: a full-time VP of Sales in NYC in 2027 costs $220,000-$300,000 base salary plus 0.5-2% equity and benefits, totaling $280,000-$400,000 per year in cash compensation. A fractional CRO at $25,000/month for 6 months costs $150,000 total — less than half the annual cash cost of a full-time hire. The trade-off: a full-time VP owns the function long-term and can build culture; a fractional CRO brings external perspective and faster ramp but leaves after 3-9 months.

**When to choose fractional:** You need immediate leadership, you're not sure you need a full-time CRO yet, or you want to "try before you buy" (many fractional CROs will convert to full-time if the engagement works).

**When to choose full-time:** You have a clear 18-month hiring plan, you want someone to own culture and team development, and you can afford the risk of a bad hire.

## How to find and vet a fractional CRO in NYC

The best fractional CROs in NYC rarely advertise. They get referrals from **Pavilion** (the go-to-market community), **RevOps Co-op**, and **CRO Syndicate** (which vets and matches fractional CROs with companies). You can also find them on LinkedIn by searching for "fractional CRO New York" and looking for people with explicit fractional experience — not former full-time CROs who are "open to consulting."

**Vetting questions to ask:**

- "What is your typical day split between strategy, execution, and stakeholder management?" (Good answer: 30/50/20)
- "Show me a 30-60-90 day plan from a recent engagement." (They should have a template, not make one up on the spot)
- "What tools do you require? What tools do you refuse to use?" (Red flag: they demand a new CRM or revenue intelligence tool)
- "How do you handle a rep who is consistently at 60% of quota?" (Look for specific coaching frameworks, not generic "performance manage them out")
- "What is your notice period and how do you transition out?" (Should be 30 days minimum, with a documented handoff)

## The hidden costs of a bad hire

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A[Bad fractional CRO hire] --> B[3-6 weeks lost onboarding]
    A --> C[Missed pipeline generation]
    A --> D[Team demotivation / turnover]
    A --> E[Wasted board confidence]
    B --> F[Cost: $15k-$45k in fees]
    C --> G[Cost: 2-5x monthly revenue in lost deals]
    D --> H[Cost: $50k-$150k to replace a top AE]
    E --> I[Cost: harder fundraising / longer sales cycles]
```

A bad fractional CRO costs far more than their fee. The opportunity cost of 3-6 weeks of misdirected effort, plus the damage to your team's morale and your board's confidence, can easily exceed $100,000 for a growth-stage company. This is why vetting is critical — and why the cheapest option is almost never the best option.

## FAQ

**What is the minimum engagement length for a fractional CRO in NYC?**
Most experienced fractional CROs require a 3-month minimum commitment, with 30-day notice after that. Some will do 2 months for a specific project (e.g., "fix the sales compensation plan"), but expect to pay a premium for shorter engagements.

**Can I hire a fractional CRO for just 5 days per month?**
Yes, but be realistic about what they can accomplish. Five days per month is advisory — they can review your pipeline, attend leadership meetings, and give strategic input, but they cannot manage your team day-to-day or build a revenue engine. For operational impact, budget 10+ days per month.

**Do fractional CROs in NYC expect equity?**
It depends on the stage. For seed-stage companies, equity is common (0.5-1.5%). For growth-stage companies paying market rate ($18k-$30k/month), equity is rare unless the CRO is committing to 12+ months. Always negotiate this up front — don't assume equity is included or excluded.

**How do I know if I need a fractional CRO vs. a VP of Sales?**
Ask yourself: "Do I need someone to run the revenue function for 6-12 months while I figure out the long-term plan?" If yes, fractional. "Do I need a permanent leader who will build culture and hire a team over 2-3 years?" If yes, full-time VP. Many companies use a fractional CRO as a 3-6 month bridge while they search for the right full-time hire.

**What is the average hourly rate for a fractional CRO in NYC?**
Hourly rates range from $350 to $700 per hour, but most fractional CROs prefer fixed-fee retainers because they provide predictable income and you get predictable cost. Hourly is best for ad hoc advisory (e.g., board prep, compensation review), not for ongoing leadership.

**Should I require the fractional CRO to be based in NYC?**
Only if you need in-person presence for weekly meetings, investor pitches, or key customer meetings. Many top fractional CROs are remote and serve NYC companies effectively. The premium for in-person NYC talent is real, so don't pay it unless you'll actually use it.

**How do I transition from a fractional CRO to a full-time CRO?**
Plan for a 30-60 day overlap. The fractional CRO should document all processes, hand off key relationships, and train the incoming leader. Many fractional CROs will offer a reduced rate during the transition period (e.g., 5 days/month at a lower day rate) to ensure continuity.

## Sources

- [Pavilion - Go-to-market community for revenue leaders](https://www.joinpavilion.com)
- [RevOps Co-op - Revenue operations community](https://www.revopscoop.com)
- [Harvard Business Review - Executive compensation and fractional leadership](https://hbr.org)
- [First Round Review - Startup leadership and hiring advice](https://review.firstround.com)
- [SaaStr - SaaS sales and revenue leadership insights](https://www.saastr.com)
- [LinkedIn - Search "fractional CRO New York" for current practitioners](https://www.linkedin.com)

**Next step:** Evaluate your specific needs against the ranges above, then reach out to 3-5 candidates through CRO Syndicate or Pavilion. Be transparent about your budget, your stage, and what you need — the best fractional CROs will tell you if it's a fit or not. If you're unsure, start with a paid 2-hour strategy session ($500-$1,000) to test chemistry and alignment before committing to a retainer.

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