Five Star Tips

The father/son team of Joe and John Lutz worked side-by-side to build a first-class, client-centric practice that delivers high-value solutions and allows them to maintain a healthy work/life balance. Join long-standing APFA member Joe Lutz as he shares how they built efficient workflow systems and fine-tuned their strong menu of services to create a multi-million dollar family-owned business.

Join us in this episode of Five Star Tips to hear from long-time Academy member and industry veteran, Joseph Lanza, CEO of The Lanza Financial Group. In the last decade as an Academy member, his practice has more than tripled to over $200M AUM. Joe focuses on adding value and delivering an exceptional client experience.  He runs his highly efficient practice with only two team members. With the help of the Academy, Joe was able to integrate strong systems, procedures and work flows that allow his firm to provide extraordinary client service efficiently and effectively, without sacrificing work/life balance. Joe shares some of the tools he has used to create an elite, comprehensive wealth management practice that can genuinely help clients – which for Joe, is the most rewarding aspect of the business.   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

Join us in this episode of Five Star Tips to listen to long-term Academy member and industry veteran, Karen A. Reimer, CFP, as she shares her journey to success. “World Class Financial Management, Midwest Values” is the motto for her highly successful financial firm because Karen delivers high level, comprehensive financial planning with a personal touch. Along with the ongoing guidance of her established clients, Karen has a special place in her firm and heart for helping women facing significant life transitions. In this podcast, she shares how the Academy has helped her on her journey toward success.   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

Building a Multi-Billion Dollar Firm and a Million Dollar+ Practice Industry veteran and long-term Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors member Doug Beck, had a vision to create a financial services practice with an emphasis on building lifelong relationships. He made that vision a reality and now has a multi-billion dollar firm with a hand picked group of other talented key advisors and associates. In this episode, he shares with listeners how he and his core group of producers (all Academy members) achieved this success through focusing on exceptional client service, personalized attention, and superior financial expertise. Doug and his son Brad have also built a million dollar+ practice. This is a must listen to podcast for anyone attempting to grow their business.   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

Academy Member Howard Mattson, CRPC, RFC, joins us on this episode to share how he grew his practice from $10M of AUM to over $200M of AUM (20x) by implementing the Academy’s systems. Howard developed sustainable, consistent, efficient and effective standard operating procedures that service existing clients and attract qualified prospects. He has also built a highly qualified and client-centric team. This is a must listen to podcast for anyone attempting to grow their business.   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program                

Jerry Lynch, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, an Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors member for over a decade, shares with listeners how he grew 15x and built one of the industry’s best financial advisory practices that is dedicated to helping clients manage and create true wealth. This is a must listen podcast for anyone who wants to grow their practice. Resources:   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program            

Randy Cox, CFP®, RFC®, is the founder of a highly successful Advisory firm in a small Texas town. He is an active leader in his community, proud father of three and a person of strong faith. Randy has been committed to helping his clients achieve their financial goals for over 26 years. Since joining the Academy in 2015, his new annual AUM per year has steadily grown from between $2,000,000 to almost $20,000,000 per year.  On this podcast Randy shares how and why.   Resources: The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

Industry superstar Jon Kreps, CFP and Founder/CEO his own firm, developed strong work and life ethics at a young age. A man of great faith and family, his vision was to build a highly successful world class financial group that prioritized on delivering exceptional comprehensive services combined with personalized client care and attention. Since joining the Exclusive Coaching Program, Jon’s practice has grown by over 400% to over a quarter of a billion dollars of AUM.    Resources:   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program                

Join us as we interview Founder of First Mate Financial Advisors, mother of three young children, and active community volunteer, Jeri Barrientos, MBA, AAMS. She shares how she has grown her business substantially every year while still having time to fully enjoy quality time with her family.     Resources:   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

Join us as we talk with veteran Academy member, Anthony Scibetta, who has built a $125M+ asset under management practice by staying focused and offering superior client services and advice. By making meaningful client servicing the centerpiece of his practice, Anthony has grown his firm 15x while maintaining an amazing work/life balance.     Resources:   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

Join 20+ year industry veteran Brant Spesshardt, CFP®, CKA® as he shares how his partnership with the APFA took his practice to over $450,000,000 of AUM through streamlining, systematizing, and specialization. Be sure to catch this highly informative episode of Five Star Tips. Resources:   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

With a motto of, “We’ll See You Through”, Don and Tom of Petricic & Phillips Financial Group in Bellevue, Washington, take great pride in their client-centric business model. Through their partnership with the Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors, they have received the systems, structure and tools to increase their firm’s client service and build a highly successful practice. In this episode, they share their journey toward achieving great success at a young age. Resources:   The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

Rod Kamps', CFP®, AIF® goal was to build a great comprehensive financial planning firm that valued clients and education. With help from the Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors, Rod created a firm that offers the highest levels of service and value to clients. In this interview with Ken Unger, Rod shares how he did this and how you can too!

Chuck Green built a large scalable client-first practice that has become the top practice at SagePoint Financial. In this Five Star Tips interview, Ken talks with Chuck about how his client-centric focus and use of delegation built and continues to grow his practice consistently every year. This is a must-listen podcast for any practice at any level! Resources Mentioned in the Show The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

On this episode, Ken interviews the father/son team of Paul Hughes, ChFEBCsm, CEPA and Scott Hughes, CFP®, MBA, who built a $250 million dollar thriving RIA in 10 years. Paul and Scott learned how to be true partners and a successful father and son team. They are great role models for any practice that is a parent/child firm or any partnership. Resources Mentioned in the Show The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

On this episode, Ken interviews the founder of an award-winning practice that has been #1 in its state multiple times by Barron’s. Gordon Wollman shares how his 16-year relationship with the Exclusive Coaching Program has helped him build systems and offer services that place him among the industry’s elite. This podcast should be required listening for any practice looking to grow or improve their efficiency.   Resources Mentioned in the Show The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

On this episode, Ken interviews long-term coaching participant Pam Dumonceau, who shares how she grew from a small practice to over $300 million of AUM. Pam is one of the industry’s best skilled female advisors and on this podcast, she shares why!   Resources Mentioned in the Show The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

On this episode of Five Star Tips, Ken interviews Dean Hedeker, JD, CPA, RFC, who has built a practice of over $250 million in AUM in 15 years. Dean provides a high-level of service and lives a very balanced lifestyle. His team has earned many honors, including being on Forbes list as one of the best financial advisors in the United States. Dean shares some of his secrets to building a wildly successful business. Resources Mentioned in the Show The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

This episode of Five Star Tips features Alissa Conklin, ChFC®, who is part of a father/daughter team that has grown over $150 million of AUM in a very small, remote town, Alissa has also balanced quintuplets (she has six children) and family life while building an impressive and highly respected practice. She shares helpful tips on how to grow your practice and how to have a healthy parent/child work relationship.   Resources Mentioned in the Show The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program

This Five Star Tips Podcast will share with you some of the strategies and tools that top practices implement that can also help you take your practice to the next level. In this episode, Ken Unger will be discussing multi-touch marketing systems.  Ken Unger is the industry’s leading coach of mid- to high-level advisors and has almost forty years of experience in the financial service industry. For the last 20 years, he has focused on coaching and has helped many financial advisory firms achieve top honors and reach levels of productivity that they never thought possible. He is Founder and President of “The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors”.  Joining him at the Academy is educator Tom Gau, CPA, CFP, who was featured multiple times as #1 Advisor in Oregon and as one of the top advisors in the United States on Barron’s List. Tom has tremendous experience in understanding how to build a top advisory firm. Also, on the Academy’s training team is Robert Keebler, CPA/PFS, MST, AEP (Distinguished), CGMA, who was named by CPA Magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Practitioners in the United States and one of the Top 40 Tax Advisors to Know During a Recession. Bob was also inducted into the Estate Planning Hall of Fame of National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. He helps Academy members understand relevant and essential tax strategies. At the Academy, this dynamic trio can make your dreams in the financial industry a reality. This episode shares:   How to build a twelve-month multi touch marketing plan of meaningful activity.   How to properly think about marketing for your firm.   Committing and scheduling your company to a 12-month marketing calendar.   How to properly implement this 12-month marketing calendar.   Resources Mentioned in the Show: The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program  

On this episode of Five Star Tips, Ken has a deep conversation with special guest, Chris Doughty, CFP® , CRPC,  a 20 plus year veteran financial advisor and President at Gentian Financial in Wisconsin. Chris manages over $400 million dollars and is a true industry success. He has been recognized as a top advisor on Forbes list of best advisors. Chris will share with you some of the strategies that helped him reach these high levels of success. Be sure to catch this highly informative episode of Five Star Tips. Resources: The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program  

This Five Star Tips Podcast will share with you some of the strategies and tools that top practices implement that can also help you take your practice to the next level. In this episode, Ken Unger will be discussing effective use of delegation. Ken Unger is the industry’s leading coach of mid- to high-level advisors and has almost forty years of experience in the financial service industry. For the last 20 years, he has focused on coaching and has helped many financial advisory firms achieve top honors and reach levels of productivity that they never thought possible. He is Founder and President of “The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors”.  Joining him at the Academy is educator Tom Gau, CPA, CFP, who was featured multiple times as #1 Advisor in Oregon and as one of the top advisors in the United States on Barron’s List. Tom has tremendous experience in understanding how to build a top advisory firm. Also, on the Academy’s training team is Robert Keebler, CPA/PFS, MST, AEP (Distinguished), CGMA, who was named by CPA Magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Practitioners in the United States and one of the Top 40 Tax Advisors to Know During a Recession. Bob was also inducted into the Estate Planning Hall of Fame of National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. He helps Academy members understand relevant and essential tax strategies. At the Academy, this dynamic trio can make your dreams in the financial industry a reality.   This episode shares:   Specific strategies on how to delegate efficiently in order to boost your practice’s potential.   The importance of being clear, giving feedback and setting expectations   The different levels of delegation.   The expectation of having an evaluation meeting after the task is complete.   How to motivate and inspire your team members in order to succeed.  Resources Mentioned in the Show: The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program    

This episode of Five Star Tips features special guest, Mitch Walk, AAMS®, Co-founder and President of Retirement Wealth Specialists. Mitch manages over $350 million dollars and has consistently raised over $30 million new dollars every year. As you’ll be able to tell from this show, Mitch is a highly qualified advisor, having over 20 years of experience of putting clients first. You’re going to get a wealth of information from today’s show, so tune in to hear more!   Resources: The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program  

This Five Star Tips Podcast will share with you some of the strategies and tools that top practices implement that can also help you take your practice to the next level. In this episode, Ken Unger will be discussing Scalable Systems.  Ken Unger is the industry’s leading coach of mid- to high-level advisors and has almost forty years of experience in the financial service industry. For the last 20 years, he has focused on coaching and has helped many financial advisory firms achieve top honors and reach levels of productivity that they never thought possible. He is Founder and President of “The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors”.  Joining him at the Academy is educator Tom Gau, CPA, CFP, who was featured multiple times as #1 Advisor in Oregon and as one of the top advisors in the United States on Barron’s List. Tom has tremendous experience in understanding how to build a top advisory firm. Also, on the Academy’s training team is Robert Keebler, CPA/PFS, MST, AEP (Distinguished), CGMA, who was named by CPA Magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Practitioners in the United States and one of the Top 40 Tax Advisors to Know During a Recession. Bob was also inducted into the Estate Planning Hall of Fame of National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. He helps Academy members understand relevant and essential tax strategies. At the Academy, this dynamic trio can make your dreams in the financial industry a reality.   This episode shares: A key ingredient in financial success is scalable systems.  The importance of strong leadership and great marketing for a company’s success. The systems in your practice should be repeatable processes that can theoretically take place without direct action. The importance of scalability, which is the measure of how much work a system can handle without malfunctioning. Systems must be documented, measured and controlled and include full input from team members. The importance of collaboration within a company and the use technology. The key things that make an operating plan successful. The importance of having a vision and goals that are shared with the whole team.   Resources Mentioned in the Show The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors The Exclusive Coaching Program