Beyond the Portfolio

Over the last two seasons, we’ve talked a lot about how RIAs can manage their client relationships, build their businesses, and run effective practices. But when you’ve successfully done all that, what comes next? What steps can you take to feel like you are leaving your firm in the right hands? In the season finale, we’ll talk with Bill Gettings of Gettings Reed Financial about how he’s planning ahead to transition his firm when he retires. Then, Eliza DePardo of TD Ameritrade joins to run through what advisors should keep in mind when forming their business transition plans.  In an ever-evolving financial advice landscape, TD Ameritrade Institutional is dedicated to supporting RIAs who are determined to grow, thrive, and make their clients’ lives better. Learn more at TDAI.com.  Guests:  Bill Gettings, Gettings Reed Financial  Eliza DePardo, TD Ameritrade Institutional  

Running a successful company doesn’t necessarily use the same skills as being a top-notch financial advisor—though there might be more overlap than you think. In this episode, we sit down for a roundtable discussion with Eileen O’Connor of Hemington Wealth Management and Brent Brodeski of Savant Wealth Management to learn more about how they’ve faced—and embraced—the challenges that come with running their own RIA firms.  For six tips on how you can be an effective business leader, visit TDAI.com.Guests:  Brent Brodeski, Savant Wealth Management  Eileen O'Connor, Hemington Wealth Management  

Even though the RIA model provides many people with the flexibility they crave, the recent transition to remote work has only shined a brighter light on the balancing act that many advisors face in their professional and personal lives. We’ll talk with Jeremiah Winters of Salomon & Ludwin about how he juggles caring for his 5 young children with providing dedicated service to his clients. Then, Kerry Wekelo of Actualize Consulting joins to share more tips for how companies can create environments that support work-life balance for their employees.  Flexibility is one of the many reasons the RIA model is an attractive model for financial advisors. The Exploring Your Independence Business Evaluator can help you decide if joining or starting an independent RIA is right for you.  Guests:Jeremiah Winters, Salomon & LudwinKerry Wekelo, Actualize Consulting

As the son of immigrants from Liberia, Dasarte Yarnway didn’t see others who looked like him or reminded him of his parents when he landed in the financial industry. After first working at a smaller firm, a brokerage, and a large bank, the RIA space finally gave him the freedom to blaze his own trail by starting Berknell Financial Group—and to share information about finances with those who weren’t already in the room.  Learn how you can encourage candid conversations about privilege, equality, and diversity at your firm.  Guest: Dasarte Yarnway, Berknell Financial Group

For today’s RIAs, building your personal brand and establishing a clear mission for your firm is critical to differentiate yourself from the crowd. Dean Barber of Barber Financial Group in Kansas City shares how he went from being a rookie to a radio show host to a sought-after financial advisor both in and out of his geographic market. Then, Jack Waymire, a consultant to RIAs with Paladin Digital Marketing, provides some digital marketing best practices for RIAs looking to expand their reach.  Social media is one of today’s fastest ways to communicate meaningful information to current and prospective clients. Download your free copy of Building Authentic Relationships Through Social Media, from TD Ameritrade Institutional.  Guests:  Dean Barber, Barber Financial Group  Jack Waymire, Paladin Digital Marketing  

What is it like to mentor another advisor? What insights can you gain from having someone invested in your personal and professional growth? Marjorie Wentz and Kelly Bradley of Trinity Wealth Management in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, tell the story of how they met, how Marjorie has helped Kelly find her way in the industry, and what they’ve both learned from each other along the way.  What steps can you take to help ensure your RIA business doesn’t  lose out on top-notch talent to larger, more recognizable firms? Click here to learn five strategies to target recent college grads.  Guests:  Marjorie Wentz, Trinity Wealth Management  Kelly Bradley, Trinity Wealth Management  

Not everyone takes a traditional path into financial advising. When building your team, how can you make sure you're finding the best people to meet your firm’s needs? We talk with Jeff Wheeler of The Wealth Collaborative in Westlake Village, California, about how his prior career as a lawyer has shaped his perspective as an RIA. Then, Kate Healy of TD Ameritrade Institutional joins to share tips for how RIAs can make sure they are looking beyond their typical networks to hire diverse talent for their firms.  At an RIA firm, your people are your most important assets. Download our guide for insights into your next hiring decision here.  Guests: Jeff Wheeler, The Wealth Collaborative Kate Healy, TD Ameritrade  

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, everything changed. So how have financial advisors been able to pivot toward the new normal? We talk with Carl Szasz of Verde Capital Management in Clarkston, Michigan, about the decisions he made to push his business forward. Then, Greg Menefee of TD Ameritrade Institutional joins to provide advice on remote work strategies and how a little creativity can go a long way for RIAs.  At a time when advisors are faced with a world that is anything but business-as-usual, TD Ameritrade Institutional is here to lend support. For more information, visit tdai.com/coronaviruscontinuity.Guests:Carl Szasz, Verde Capital ManagementGreg Menefee, TD Ameritrade Institutional

For many RIAs, being a financial advisor involves more than just crunching numbers or managing investments. In season two, we’ll be talking to advisors about their day-to-day experiences as RIAs and learning tips and best practices from other industry professionals. Join us for this eight-episode series starting September 16. For more resources on all the latest topics advisors face, visit TDAI.com.

As an RIA, it’s important to understand your clients’ values to get at the heart of what drives their financial decisions. How can you guide clients who might want to give their money to good causes? J.D. Bruce, president of Abacus Wealth in Los Angeles, California, joins us for our season finale to talk about how exploring your clients’ values can help them make a lasting financial impact.

What does it take to help a client who’s grieving? When someone is mourning the loss of a spouse, parent, or other family member or friend, advisors need to provide empathy as well as financial guidance. In episode nine, we talk with Robin Young, president and owner of Northstar Financial Planning, an all-female advisory group in Windham, New Hampshire. Robin specializes in serving women in moments of transition, especially widows, which often brings her face-to-face with clients who are grieving. Learn her advice for how to handle these types of emotional situations.

Alyssa McNamara Reed, CCO of McNamara Financial Services, has found success in managing her practice through the use of technology. However, not all clients may feel comfortable leaving the paper method behind. Find out how to best work with clients from a technology standpoint, and discover the industry’s untapped potential in episode eight.

It's not me, it's you. Sometimes, the client-advisor relationship is just not working. So, when do you say enough is enough and sever ties with a client? Sheena Hanson, CFP and CCO of Uncommon Cents Investing in Janesville, Wisconsin, discusses tips for how to navigate letting a client go.

When it comes to addressing out-of-character behavior from clients, it’s important to recognize boundaries, while also keeping a client’s well-being in mind. For episode six, we'll talk to Joe Lucey, Owner and President of Secured Retirement Advisors in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, about the importance of communication when it comes to handling these delicate situations.

How do you help clients through a market meltdown? Easing a client’s fear requires sensitivity and authority. In episode five, we talk with Mike Pruitt of MBE Wealth Management in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Pruitt says the beginning of his career was full crisis—from personal to large market shifts. Learn how this experience as a new advisor helped shape him as an RIA.

In many ways, advisors work as "life coaches" for their clients. In episode four, we'll dig into what this looks like for Brandon Miller, Founder of Brio Financial in San Francisco. While Miller would never refer to himself as a life coach, he recognizes that most of what he does as an RIA ends up, in some way, being life coaching.

For our third episode, we'll take on the serious topic of working as an RIA with clients who are dealing with medical issues. CIO of Financial Strategies Group in Okemos, Michigan, Brice Carter understands what it takes to work with clients who are dealing with their own health concerns, as well as those who are coping with a family medical concern.

In our second episode, we'll shift gears to speak with Evelyn Zohlen, President and Founder of Inspired Financial in Huntington Beach, California. Evelyn recognizes the value of making a little effort go a long way in serving clients as an RIA. Throughout her career, Evelyn has focused on supporting women in transition, as they navigate the next steps in their personal and financial lives.

In our premiere episode, we’re joined by Helen Stephens, Founder of Aspen Wealth Management in Fort Worth, Texas. Helen has a strong personality and no-nonsense attitude. But, more importantly, Helen knows when to play good cop and when to play bad cop. Join us to learn how today’s RIAs can take their profession to the next level.

For many RIAs, the reality of the job isn't quite what they expected. Today's financial planner is a life coach, a college advisor, a therapist—a trend that has intensified in a changing advisory landscape. The RIA model is ideal for letting advisors play any role necessary to improve the lives of their clients.