Podcasts about advisor

Frank has a story from just yesterday that proves clients do not care what your firm is called.Frank opens with a principle he has seen play out for years, every firm has its day in the sun and every firm has its day in the darkness. Stacey adds that firms move through natural phases of growth and reputation and that an advisor who assumes their own firm is immune to that cycle is simply not paying attention.Frank shares a real conversation from the day before recording, an advisor in Texas who had never heard of Janney Montgomery despite years of success stories from Edward Jones advisors who made the move. Frank uses it to make the bigger point, most clients do not know or care what their advisor's firm is called, they care about the advisor and the relationship they have built with them.That idea carries into a discussion of firms like Arcadius in Atlanta, a firm with no secret sauce that still wins advisors purely on culture. Stacey explains why access to leadership and the feeling of swimming upstream with other serious producers matters more to advisors than a bigger headline deal and why so many advisors quietly miss the experience they used to have at a smaller, more personal firm.Frank and Stacey pull back the curtain on how they actually vet firms behind the scenes, pushing past vague claims like culture and asking firms to show real proof, whether that is a two person marketing team calling itself a department or a firm that cannot explain how it actually helps advisors grow. Frank breaks down the exact order he uses to evaluate any potential move, is it better for your clients first, is it better for your practice second and only then is it better for you personally.The episode closes with a reminder that a firm's name recognition means nothing if it cannot deliver flexibility, leadership access and real results and that eliminating a firm just because you have never heard of it could mean missing the best fit for your business. Questions answered in this episode include:Why do firms go through cycles of good and bad reputation?Do a financial advisor's clients actually care about the name of the firm?What is the real difference between well known firms and firms nobody has heard of?Why does access to senior leadership matter for financial advisors?How should a financial advisor actually vet a firm's culture claims?What is the right order to evaluate whether a move makes sense, the client, the practice, or the advisor?Why shouldn't financial advisors eliminate firms just because they are unfamiliar? Chapters:00:53 Introduction: Your Clients Follow You, Not Your Firm's Name02:02 Every Firm Has Its Day in the Sun and Its Day in the Darkness07:11 Clients Don't Know Who Your Firm Is09:49 Why Access to Leadership Matters15:30 Culture Isn't Enough, Show Us How25:44 The Advisor and the Advisor's Own Client27:36 The Final Message32:24 How to Reach Frank and Stacey Resources:- Elite Consulting Partners: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com- Elite Marketing Concepts: https://elitemarketingconcepts.com- Elite Advisor Successions: https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.com- JEDI Database Solutions: https://jedidatabasesolutions.com- Elite Wealth Management Insights Report: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/insight-report- Listen to more: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elite-consulting-partners/

Obesity is often viewed simply as a matter of eating too much, exercising too little, or lacking discipline. But the reality is far more complex. Our relationship with food and health is shaped by stress, sleep, emotional well-being, lifestyle patterns, food environments and the systems around us.In this episode, we look beyond the number on the weighing scale and explore what really drives obesity and lifestyle-related health challenges. Priyamm Sharma, Advisor at the Food Future Foundation, clinical dietitian, educator and faculty member at Ganpat University, joins us to discuss emotional eating, modern lifestyles, the psychology of food, and why our approach to obesity needs to focus on overall health rather than weight alone.We also explore what a healthier food and nutrition environment could look like for India in the years ahead.CreditsGuest: Priyam SharmaHost: Shreya MResearch: Alisha CArtwork: PriyankaProduced by: The Good SightConcept: The Good Sight & Rise Against Hunger India#ObesityBeyondWeight #NutritionEveryDay #Nutrition #Obesity #HealthyLiving #FoodSystems #PublicHealth #NutritionEducation #EmotionalEating #HealthAndWellbeing #FoodFuture #TheGoodSight

The old rule was simple: earn your stripes the hard way, then make the next generation earn theirs too. Alex Murphy thinks that rule is exactly what’s holding the industry back. As Chief Operating Officer at Cedarwood Financial Partners and host of the Beyond the Trees podcast, Alex helped found Cedarwood in 2022 with a vision to bring a family-focused approach to business and life. That philosophy shows up everywhere in his work, from how he mentors advisors just starting out to how he thinks about scaling a practice without losing what makes it personal. Join Duncan MacPherson as he sits down with Alex and digs into what it really takes to build a next-generation advisory business. They cover the full arc of an advisor’s career, from the earliest days of learning to manage volatility and become a client’s first call, to the middle years of navigating mentor-protege dynamics and deciding whether to specialize, all the way through to the final stretch of a career and the shift from generalist to owner of real enterprise value. Along the way, they explore why so many advisors chase growth for its own sake, and what it looks like to build a business that serves a fuller life instead of consuming it. Key Highlights Include: Why bigger isn’t always better. Teaching new advisors the power of firsts. Building mentorship with purpose, not just skill. Growing down, zooming out, leveling up. The case for niching down over generalizing. If you’re building a team, mentoring the next generation, or aiming to make your last five years your best five years, this episode delivers a practical roadmap. Promotions: Toolkit CRM by Pareto Systems: toolkitcrm.com Pareto Systems: Practice Management Index (PMI) Connect With Duncan MacPherson: Website: ParetoSystems.com Toll Free: 1.866.593.8020 Learn More: Schedule a Call LinkedIn: Duncan MacPherson Connect With Alex Murphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexmurphycfp Website: cedarwoodfp.com Podcast: Beyond the Trees About Our Guest: Alex Murphy is a financial advisor, Chief Operating Officer of Cedarwood Financial Partners, and host of the Beyond the Trees podcast. In 2022, Alex helped found Cedarwood Financial Partners with a vision to bring a family-focused approach to business and life. He is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist with more than twelve years of experience in wealth management and is passionate about leadership, relationships, and helping others build a more fulfilling business and life. Outside of work, Alex enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife, Tricia, and their three daughters.

What if the problem you're trying to solve isn't the real problem at all? How might that damage rather than help your business? Jeff Thorsteinson argues that advisors often look for better answers when they should be asking better questions. A growth challenge may actually be a capacity problem. A referral problem may point to weak positioning. A full calendar may signal over-reliance on the advisor. In this episode of Top Advisor Podcast, Bill and Jeff explore why questions are “the operating system of leadership.” The questions advisors ask shape their strategy, hiring decisions, client conversations, and plans for growth. They discuss Jeff's “stop, flip, expand” framework, a four-part test for deciding what belongs on an advisor's plate, and three questions that can transform a discovery meeting. As Jeff puts it, “The next breakthrough in your business may not require a better answer. It just simply requires a better question.” 3 Key Takeaways: Reframe the problem before solving it. (03:35) An advisor who says, “I can't grow the business,” may actually have a capacity problem. If the team is overwhelmed and every decision depends on the advisor, more clients will create more chaos. Move from pursuit to attraction. (07:03) Instead of asking, “How do I get more affluent clients?” ask, “What would make affluent clients chase me for a meeting?” That shift changes positioning, niche marketing, authority, thought leadership, and client experience. Use “stop, flip, expand.”  (31:45) Stop and identify the real problem. Flip the question into a more useful form. Then expand it to uncover the larger issue underneath. “How do I get more referrals?” might become, “What kind of business will naturally attract clients?” Episode Sponsors:  FiduLink.ai The Cates Academy for Relationship Marketing Connect with Jeff Thorsteinson Website: https://www.advisorpracticemanagement.com/about-us LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffthorsteinson/ Email:  jeffthorsteinson@hotmail.com Resources: RapidFire Referrals Get a copy of “The Language of Referrals” Get a copy of “Radical Relevance” Grab your copy of The Hidden Heist today! Connect With Bill Cates: BillCates@referralcoach.com Referral Coach Homepage Hire Bill for Coaching Enroll in The Cates Academy About Jeff Thorsteinson  Jeff is the co-partner in the firm Advisor Practice Management. Jeff has spent more than thirty years helping financial advisors build stronger, more profitable businesses. He's co-founded several advisor-focused companies, including The Newsletter Factory, YouFoundation, Agora Wealth, and Agora Dealer Services, and has worked on thousands of marketing and practice management projects with advisors across North America.

RATES - companies handling higher rates really well!Growth - growing!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-care-for-my-wealth-show--2487688/support.

What happens to the role of the financial advisor when AI can handle more and more of the work happening behind the scenes?In this episode of the Top 50 Most Innovative Voices in Advisor Growth series, Paul G. McManus sits down with Matt Halloran, Chief Evangelist at Zocks and the self-described human voice of AI in the advisory industry. Matt has spent more than two decades coaching financial advisors. He argues the industry is asking the wrong question. The issue is not whether AI will replace advisors, but what they will do with their time once technology takes on more of the invisible work around client meetings.You'll learn how financial advisors can:- Use an AI assistant to take on Michael Kitces's "invisible work": meeting prep, live transcription, follow-up, CRM tasks, and updates into planning and tax tools, so the advisor can stay face to face with the client- Explain a privacy-first approach to note-taking: Zocks listens and transcribes in real time, with no stored audio or video, because high-net-worth clients do not want a recording that could be used in a deepfake- See why many advisors still hesitate: not the features, but giving up control. Matt's trade-off law names five things you always trade: time, talents, treasures, relationships, and control- Put the time back to work. He cites about 10 hours a week of admin returned, roughly a week a month, and asks whether that time goes to a more deliberate enterprise, a niche, a book, or a life outside the office- Meet a client who walks in with an AI printout without getting defensive. Be glad they are engaged, ask what prompt they used, and answer the question they actually asked- Treat judgment as something you show, not something you claim. Matt pushes back that judgment is the byproduct of connection, understanding, and empathy, and that AI can sound decisive while facing no consequences and trying to please you- Stop using AI like a junior-high band playing "Three Blind Mice." Challenge it, including telling it to prove your own research wrong, instead of accepting garbage-in, garbage-out answers- Turn speed into trust. Matt tells the story of an advisor, fourth of four meetings, whose sample plan, next steps, and summary email were in the prospects' inbox before they got home. They hired her on the spot. The other three firms still had not followed up- Query the whole book of business the way a longtime assistant once did, such as who talked about Roth conversions last month or who had a child or grandchild in the last two years, then ask AI better second- and third-level questions about how to open that conversation- Choose, on purpose, between building the enterprise and running a lifestyle practice, and notice the "no man's land" in between. Matt's unpopular point: more money will not fill a one-dimensional life, and time is the one resource you cannot make more of- Build influence over years, not from one viral post. Niche down to successful independent advisors, say yes so you can practice, and remember that the most influential people he knows are the kindest- Accept that influence repels as well as attracts, and get comfortable in your own skin. Most people who want to be influential want to be liked, and that is where they stall- Accelerate reach with what Matt calls OPA, other people's audiences, and what Paul calls borrowed trust at scale: podcast swaps, local media, and stages, practiced long before a "Super Bowl" appearance- Start creating without a production team. After a client meeting, record a short phone recap of what you talked about, keep it clear of investment advice so compliance can approve it, and post it where your ideal clients actually spend time- Treat comments as the new gold. Matt says interacting on other people's posts, not only publishing your own, is what gets you seen, and that pre-retirees with a large 401(k) are often on Facebook, not LinkedInMatt's clearest point is that what will separate you from the advisor down the street is your humanity, not your tech. Your tech is there to support your humanity. Face to face, listening, engagement, empathy, and understanding are what AI cannot replace. Features and efficiency, he says, are becoming table stakes. The question that remains is what you do with the time you get back.ABOUT MATT HALLORANMatt Halloran is Chief Evangelist at Zocks, where he describes himself as the human voice of AI in the advisory industry. He has worked in practice management and financial services for more than 20 years, starting in the industry in 2006, and holds a master's in life coaching. He has also worked as a therapist and coach. He has written three books, including The Social Media Handbook for Financial Advisors (Bloomberg Finance, 2012), and is writing a fourth, The Trade-Off Law. He delivered a TEDx talk, "Hope, Help One Person Every Day." With co-founder Kirk Lowe he built ProudMouth, an influence-acceleration firm, and hosted about 500 episodes of the Top Advisor Marketing Podcast. On the episode he says he has coached about a thousand offices, appeared on about 1,500 podcasts, and was voted the 10th most influential person in financial services last year. His stated mission is to spread magic, joy, and love, and to help advisors use AI to get their time, and their humanity, back.WHERE TO FIND MATT HALLORANMatt asked listeners to find him on LinkedIn. He said that is where he actually is: he answers every direct message, he is the one commenting, and he spends about 90 percent of his time there because that is where advisors are. He did not give another URL on the episode.ABOUT INFLUENTIAL ADVISOR MEDIAThe Influential Advisor Podcast, hosted by Paul G. McManus, features conversations with leading voices shaping the future of financial advisor growth, marketing, authority, media, and business development. Subscribe for more strategies on financial advisor marketing, authority building, books, referrals, AI search visibility, advisor growth, and building a more influential advisory business.https://influentialadvisor.com/Support the show

Wie wird man vom Open-Source-Entwickler zum Architekten im Oracle APEX Development Team – und wie verändert AI die Zukunft von APEX? Auf der APEX Connect 2026 spricht Kai mit Patrick Wolf über mehr als 15 Jahre APEX-Entwicklung: Advisor, Application Search, die Plug-in-Architektur, den metadatengetriebenen Page Designer und die besondere Nähe des Teams zur Community. Offen geht es auch um die lange Release-Pause vor APEX 26.1, die Komplexität von APEX Lang und die Frage, was das Team aus der Kommunikation gelernt hat. Danach rücken AI, MCP und moderne Entwicklungswerkzeuge in den Mittelpunkt. Patrick erklärt, warum APEXlang weit mehr als App-Generierung ermöglicht, wo LLMs heute schon bei Analyse und Security helfen und wie AI Entwickler wie Endanwender produktiver machen könnte. Zum Schluss gibt es einen Ausblick auf Advisor 2.0 und die Vision eines persönlichen Entwicklungsmentors. Eine XXL-Folge über die Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und mögliche Zukunft von Oracle APEX.

Secret to Giving Yourself 'Permission to Spend' in Retirement & Are Pensions Back? Wes dives into new research showing that median-wealth retirees underspend their potential income by 8% – and wealthier retirees underspend by a staggering 47% to 53%. Wes breaks down the psychological difference between spending assets versus spending income streams, and the little-known shift that can give you the "license to spend" without locking your money away in an annuity. Plus, are pensions making a surprise comeback? Wes explores recent Wall Street Journal data showing thousands of companies adding pension-style plans, why workers want them back, and what this means for the future of retirement. Mentioned on the show: What Is an Annuity, and Why Does Clark Think They Stink?⁠ ⁠How Two Clark-Approved Annuities Can Reduce Retirement Stress⁠ ⁠Annuity Calculator: Is it Worth It? - Clark Howard⁠ ⁠How To Turn Part of Your Nest Egg Into a Pension - Clark Howard⁠ ⁠What It Would Take Each Month To Build Your Own Social Security Check From Scratch⁠ ⁠The Biggest Investing Lesson From Trump Accounts - Clark Howard⁠ ⁠Best 529 Plans by State: How Clark Howard Picks the Top College Savings Plans⁠ ⁠Pensions Were on the Brink of Extinction. Now Companies Are Bringing Them Back.⁠ All this and more on the September 29, 2026, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast.  Submit your questions: WesMoss.com/ask Discover the research-backed path to a happier retirement – order The Retire Sooner Method by Wes Moss today at retiresoonermethod.comWe hope you enjoy our weekly Ask An Advisor episodes.  Let us know what you think in the comments! Learn more about Wes:  BOOKS BY WES MOSS   Wes Moss, CFP®  Wes Moss - Clark.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors:Smeuse Studio - Strategic branding and website design for travel advisorsTravel Collection - Connect and learn more about TC's DMCsWhen Mer Bleue started growing, founder Dianna Hetzel thought she had everything under control. However, the client inquiries multiplied, her workdays stretched to 15 hours, and costly mistakes began affecting the experience she had built her business around. Dianna joins this episode to talk about the changes that helped her get her time back. She shares how she decided which parts of the business needed her attention, why her first hire was a bigger step than she had planned, and how giving team members ownership of outcomes made delegation work. If your inbox runs your day and you keep telling yourself you can take on just one more trip, this conversation will help you see where support could make a difference!About Dianna Hetzel:Dianna founded Mer Bleue, a luxury travel design studio, with no client list, industry contacts, or sales background. Drawing on 15 years in education and a love of connecting with people, she grew it into a small team creating highly personalized trips. Client relationships remain her favorite part of the job—though finding the perfect hotel comes close.merbleuetravel.cominstagram.com/merbleuetravelToday we will cover:(04:00) The warning signs that growth is stretching you too thin(11:00) How Dianna chose her first hire(17:30) Delegating outcomes instead of individual tasks(24:30) Keeping the client relationship while handing off the details(35:00) Planning time for work that moves the business forwardResources Mention In This Episode:Buy Back Your Time by Dan MartellThe ClickUp Business HubNICHE is Tique's membership community for travel advisors who want support refining their business, strengthening their positioning, and learning alongside other advisors who are serious about growth. Dianna is a member himself, and many of the strategies discussed in this episode are the kinds of conversations happening inside the community. Learn More and Pick Your Membership Tier → NICHE COMMUNITYFOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ

Send us Fan Mail“The day you decide you will do it.” -Rajesh NagjeeExclusive Insights from This Week's EpisodesYour A players may be getting weaker because of how you lead. CEO Advisor Rajesh Nagjee reveals how founder dependency kills ownership, slows growth, and keeps you trapped as chief problem solver.Episode Highlights00:07:51 How Rajesh discovered he was turning A players into B and C players00:11:12 Why delegating tasks can quietly create contractors instead of owners00:12:38 The rule Rajesh introduced that forced his team to stop depending on him00:20:14 Why fixed processes can create variable results and weaken ownership00:26:07 How to confront poor performance without making your A player defensive00:32:29 The overlooked relationship factor that can sabotage productive KPI conversations00:45:31 The simple listening habit that can instantly change how your team experiences youFull show notes, transcript, and resources for this episode:https://podcast.deepwealth.com/581The Deep Wealth PodcastMost entrepreneurs do not fail.They just carry too much for too long.The business grows. Pressure grows faster. Profits get harder to predict. Decisions cost more energy. Over time, focus slips and health takes the hit.The Deep Wealth Podcast and Deep Wealth Mastery are built from real experience. We're the only system based on a 9-figure exit. This system exists because guessing gets expensive.

This week, Jack Sharry talks with Max Lane, CEO of Flourish. Since joining the company in 2017, Max has helped build Flourish around one central idea: advisors need better tools to serve clients beyond the investment portfolio.  Jack and Max explore the shift from holistic advice to holistic implementation and why clients increasingly expect advisors to do more than hand them a financial plan and a list of homework. Max unpacks how Flourish is helping independent advisors close that gap, allowing clients to maintain control of their money while giving advisors new ways to uncover held-away assets, expand wallet share, generate referrals, and compete more effectively with private banks and wirehouses. He also looks ahead to how new capabilities, enterprise infrastructure, data, and AI could help advisors deliver more proactive financial advice. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (01:13) - Max's path to Flourish and the founding vision (03:50) - What Flourish Cash is and the problem it solves (06:04) - Why advisors underestimate their clients' held-away cash (08:10) - The disconnect between asset consolidation and advisor behavior (11:13) - Shifting from holistic advice to holistic implementation  (14:23) - Bringing mortgages and lending into the advisory relationship (19:43) - Advisor education and the path to organic growth (23:11) - Why advisors are expanding beyond the investment portfolio (25:44) - What's next: enterprise scale, new products, and AI  (29:42) - Max's interests outside of work Quotes "The challenge we have, and that we've worked through, is that independent advisors aren't necessarily used to talking about cash. First and foremost, they're investment-focused. They start and end with the portfolio." ~ Max Lane "The ideal end state of wealth management is that I, as an end client, am paying a trusted sole advisor to look out for and advise on all of my money. I want technology and the advisor to implement this on my behalf." ~ Max Lane "As a holistic fiduciary advisor, if you don't have the capabilities and tools to be involved in the most costly, impactful, emotional, and financial decision in your client's life, you're probably not meeting expectations." ~ Max Lane Links  Max Lane on LinkedIn Flourish Connect with our hosts LifeYield Jack Sharry on LinkedIn Jack Sharry on Twitter Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Financial advisors are losing hours every week to fragmented technology. Jumping between platforms, reconciling account data, and managing compliance documentation are consuming time that should be going to clients. For advisory firms, this is no longer just an operational frustration — it is a business risk. The wealth management industry is at an inflection point, and the firms that modernize their technology infrastructure now are the ones that will attract and retain the advisors and clients of the next decade. In this InvestmentNews podcast episode, Sol Gindi, Head of Wells Fargo Advisors, shares the story behind Advisor Gateway, the platform Wells Fargo Advisors built from the ground up to operate around a single client relationship. Gindi explains how the firm structured advisor involvement at every phase of development, why everyday automation is already shifting how advisors spend their time, and what the firm's approach to artificial intelligence means for advisors who are cautious about adoption. This is a candid conversation about building technology that actually works for the people using it. By tuning in, you will get: • Wells Fargo Advisors rebuilt its technology foundation and launched Advisor Gateway, a platform where every function connects back to a single client relationship rather than isolated transactions • Advisor input shaped the entire development process through a two-tier feedback system combining a strategy design task force and a real-world first-adopter group • Everyday automation of tasks like compliance notes and account performance consolidation is already freeing advisors from administrative work and returning time to client interactions • Wells Fargo Advisors is taking a deliberate approach to AI adoption, focused on helping advisors build confidence with the tools rather than simply rolling them out • Gindi shares his roadmap outlook and what advisors can realistically expect from the platform over the next several years Listen now and hear how Wells Fargo Advisors is redefining what advisor technology can look like.

Why do highly qualified financial advisors still get overlooked by the clients they most want to attract?In this episode of the Top 50 Most Innovative Voices in Advisor Growth series, Derrick Kinney joins Paul G. McManus for a candid conversation about communication, specialization, and why expertise alone does not win the right clients. Derrick built and sold a top advisory practice, including to Jon Kuttin's firm, and now teaches advisors how to explain their value so ideal clients lean in. You'll learn how financial advisors can:Stop leading with a job title or credentials and start with a problem the ideal client already feelsUse a simple “you know how” line to connect with pain and earn permission to say moreRun a five-and-five exercise: five most recent clients versus five favorite clientsOwn one clear problem instead of sounding like every other advisorSee why specialists draw demand, face less price pressure, and get clients who take the adviceRepeat a message that already works instead of constantly rewriting itUse television, books, podcasts, and relationships so people know you before you walk in the roomTransition a practice by handing clients up, not offTreat AI as a way to free time for more human connection, not lessOne of Derrick's clearest points is that the words an advisor uses to describe the job are rarely the words a prospect is already saying. Leading with “I'm a financial advisor,” or with letters after a name, often shuts the conversation down. Naming a worry the person recognizes, such as running out of money in retirement, opens it. He argues that when you own a problem, you own the chance to be chosen, and that repeating that message, even after it starts to feel boring, is how the work compounds.ABOUT DERRICK KINNEYDerrick Kinney is the founder of Success for Advisors and the author of Good Money Revolution. A former financial advisor in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, he started young, built a top fee-based practice, and for a time was the top fee-based advisor among roughly 10,000 advisors at his firm. He later sold the business, including to Jon Kuttin's firm, so clients and team members could move to what he believed was a stronger next chapter. He has described that decision as rewiring, not retiring. Today he coaches individual advisors and teams, especially next-generation advisors, and trains firms on how to communicate value, attract higher-net-worth clients, and think more like a CEO.WHERE TO FIND DERRICK KINNEYLinkedIn is the main place to follow him. He posts there throughout the week on client conversations, business development, and thinking like a CEO. Episodes from his earlier podcast are being replayed at modernamericanadvisor.com.ABOUT INFLUENTIAL ADVISOR MEDIAThe Influential Advisor Podcast, hosted by Paul G. McManus, features conversations with leading voices shaping the future of financial advisor growth, marketing, authority, media, and business development. Subscribe for more strategies on financial advisor marketing, authority building, books, referrals, AI search visibility, advisor growth, and building a more influential advisory business.https://influentialadvisor.com/Support the show

Why do clients refer one financial advisor over another when the investment performance looks the same?In this episode of the Top 50 Most Innovative Voices in Advisor Growth series, Michelle Lynch joins Paul G. McManus for a conversation about practice design, referrals, and what changes when an advisor has to grow a firm, not just a book. Michelle is Senior Vice President of Practice Management and Growth Consulting at Raymond James. She has spent 22 years at the firm, and she leads the team focused on advisor growth across every stage of the business, supporting roughly 9,000 advisors. You'll learn how financial advisors can:Choose the way they want to practice, because she defines independence as owning the book, not as one affiliation modelStart succession early, including a catastrophic plan, instead of waiting until a handoff is already difficultMove from advisor to CEO by staying with what they do best and letting other people run the restUse a client advisory board of clients and centers of influence as a real feedback loop, not a formalityStop asking only how to get more referrals and ask how to become more valuable to the clients they already serveBuild meaningful relationships, community, and specific wow moments, including with the next generation, because performance is table stakesSpend the capacity AI creates on human connection, not on trying to replace the advisorKeep LinkedIn, the website, and the first phone call saying the same thing, because familiarity builds trust before anyone meetsGet specific about who they serve so the right prospects, centers of influence, and AI can tell they understand that audienceOne of Michelle's clearest points is that referrals are a byproduct of trust. She cites a Cerulli study: clients are not going to refer an advisor because of investment performance. Performance is table stakes. She can look at a room full of advisors and get similar performance from any of them. The people more likely to refer are the ones with whom the advisor has built a significant and meaningful relationship. She also says AI can streamline processes, find efficiencies, and even be trained to think and act like the advisor, but there is no replacement for the human being and the connection clients are seeking. The question is what the advisor does with the capacity that comes back. And before a prospect calls, they will Google the advisor and often use AI to look them up. Familiarity, even with someone they have never met, is already part of how trust starts.ABOUT MICHELLE LYNCHMichelle Lynch is Senior Vice President of Practice Management and Growth Consulting at Raymond James. She leads the practice management and growth consulting team, which she describes as centered on growth: new advisors coming into the industry, experienced advisors already in the business, and succession when an advisor sells or passes the practice to the next generation. She joined Raymond James 22 years ago in the marketing department after starting in advertising and public relations. Her path since then has included six years in asset management, a return to marketing and the private client group, leading the firm's network for women financial advisors, serving as sales manager for the employee channel, and leading the Tampa Bay market and its 17 offices for four or five years before coming back to the home office. In the interview she confirms that this work supports Raymond James's roughly 9,000 advisors. She describes the firm's advisor-choice spectrum: an employee channel, a hybrid advisor-select channel, an independent channel, and an RIA channel that clears and custodies through Raymond James while remaining free to use other custodians. Across those paths, she says advisors own their book and can leave unencumbered. The work of her team, she says at the end of the conversation, is conversation, coaching, and consulting, not directives. There is no single model. It depends on the business and the day-to-day the advisor wants.WHERE TO FIND MICHELLE LYNCHAsked where someone can learn more, she says to Google her and to look on LinkedIn, and that raymondjames.com is the place for more about the firm.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellelynch02Raymond James: https://www.raymondjames.comABOUT INFLUENTIAL ADVISOR MEDIAThe Influential Advisor Podcast, hosted by Paul G. McManus, features conversations with leading voices shaping the future of financial advisor growth, marketing, authority, media, and business development. Subscribe for more strategies on financial advisor marketing, authority building, books, referrals, AI search visibility, advisor growth, and building a more influential advisory business.https://influentialadvisor.com/Support the show

Nathalie Roos a passé sa carrière à faire bouger les lignes au sein de grands groupes internationaux — Mars, L'Oréal, Lipton — se forgeant une réputation rare : celle de faire atterrir les idées et de transformer une vision en résultats concrets.Convaincue que diriger, c'est avant tout servir une ambition collective, elle met cette vision au service de sa région d'origine, en s'engageant pour le rayonnement économique de Strasbourg.Dans cet épisode, Nathalie nous partage son parcours, les valeurs qui l'accompagnent et l'importance de garder un équilibre entre vie pro et vie perso. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

A few things to consider before you make your next investment in time, energy, attention and money into your next level of support, there are many different questions to ask and we start with a few of them in this episode. You will want to make sure you are subscribed to the newsletter at www.KellyLynnAdams.com and we have opened up 6 spots for the 60 Day CEO Accelerator, 4 remain. We have also opened the doors to The Mastermind Experience, 6 Months in a room curated and created specifically for you and the group, more details will be shared on the newsletter, applications will be closing in a few days. Will we see you virtually on Wednesday, October 7th at our next monthly virtual networking, connected circles salon, did you RSVP yet?  For exclusive events, offerings and announcements your reminder, make sure you are on the newsletter here: www.KellyLynnAdams.com

What if your calling was to protect endangered species from poachers?Imagine spending weeks away from your home and family, knowing that each day on the front lines could put your own life at risk all to protect species like the mighty rhino.On a new episode of the Wild For Change podcast, we welcome back John Jurko II, Advisor to Global Conservation Corps and lead producer and director of the award-winning documentary RHINO MAN.RHINO MAN takes us into the lives of game rangers on the front lines of South Africa's rhino poaching crisis, revealing their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to protecting wildlife.At the heart of the film is Anton Mzimba, who dedicated 25 years to protecting wildlife at the Timbavati Nature Reserve and became one of Africa's most respected conservation leaders. In July 2022, as RHINO MAN was nearing completion, Anton was assassinated at his home after receiving death threats connected to his stand against rhino poaching.Today, John is helping carry Anton's legacy forward through the Justice for Anton Mzimba campaign, while Anton's son, Jafet, is continuing his father's connection to conservation by pursuing a path of his own.Choosing to spend weeks away from family and risk your own safety to protect endangered wildlife comes from understanding that something much larger is at stake.Protecting the rhino is not simply about saving one species. Rhinos are part of an interconnected living system, and when a species disappears, we lose more than the species itself we lose the relationships it shares with the larger web of life.Their future is connected to ours.We do not live apart from nature; we are part of nature. When we protect the living world, we are also protecting the systems that sustain us and the generations who will come after us.Perhaps Anton Mzimba expressed that connection best in RHINO MAN:“Saving the rhino, for me, it's like saving myself, my life, and the life of my children's children.”Anton MzimbaWebsite: http://www.wildforchange.comTwitter: @WildForChangeFacebook: /wildforchangeInstagram: wildforchange

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Jonathan this morning was Derek Mooney Former Fianna Fáil Advisor and Public Affairs Consultant .

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Jonathan this morning was Derek Mooney Former Fianna Fáil Advisor and Public Affairs Consultant .

Every process in your business creates an experience for your clients—whether you designed it intentionally or not. In this episode, Libby shares a simple CEO Day exercise to help you step into your clients' shoes, identify the experience you actually want to create, and find opportunities to make your processes more personal, friction-free, clear, and human. You'll walk away with a practical way to improve your client experience without adding a bunch of new touchpoints, gifts, or work to your plate.In this episode you will learn:How to define the three feelings you want clients to associate with your firm.How to audit your physical and virtual “front doors” from your client's perspective.Four filters for making your client experience more personal, easier, clearer, and more human.How to turn your best client experience ideas into repeatable processes your team can actually execute.Your clients are already having an experience with your firm—the question is whether you intentionally designed it or it's simply happening by default. Block an hour on your next CEO Day, grab your team, walk through your own client experience, and choose three improvements to operationalize. Systems to Scale participants and Alumni Community members can also access the new Client Experience Blueprint to take this exercise even deeper.Register for the The Advisor Tech Stack Tune-Up Event with T2M Works HERE! Register for the T2M Works Advisor Tech Stack Tune Up Webinar HERE!Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE!Learn more about our sponsor BELAY for amazing virtual assistant services HERE!   Learn more about T2MWorks HERE! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE!Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE!Successful businesses don't get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

5%...isn't something supposed to break!  Not when you look at the cost of money though the correct lens.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-care-for-my-wealth-show--2487688/support.

Adrian Ellis speaks with cultural strategist Jorge Pinto about a career spent creating the conditions for culture to thrive – and what decades of cultural investment in the Gulf can teach us about moving from buildings to institutions, ecosystems and human capacity.[TRANSCRIPT]External LinksEuropean Commission – Culture and CreativityDepartment of Culture and Tourism – Abu DhabiSaadiyat Cultural DistrictZayed National MuseumGuggenheim Abu DhabiSharjah Art FoundationGuggenheim Museum BilbaoAbout our GuestJorge Pinto is a senior cultural advisor and strategist whose career spans cultural policy, strategy, institutional development, and the creative economy across Europe and the Middle East. Trained in economics and management, he began his career at PwC before moving into cultural policy at the European Commission. He has since worked across government, consulting, and major cultural development programmes, bringing together experience in policy, cultural infrastructure, institutional development, and capacity building. +

Every week, without exception, Richard and his team at Plan First Wealth review British expat's US tax returns and find something missing. Not occasionally, but every single time.   In this week's episode of Ask an Expert, Richard lays out the three mistakes he sees most often after 11 years working with British expatriates across America, and why even people who actively follow this content still fall into them.  Richard, Chartered Financial Planner and founder of Plan First Wealth, breaks down the three mistakes he sees over and over again.  The first is missing informational returns, forms like FBAR, 8938, 8621, and 3520. Skip these and the penalties don't just sit there, they stack up, compound, and in some cases stay on the table indefinitely.  The second is PFICs (Passive Foreign Investment Company). This is the tax hit that comes from holding non-US investments like ISAs, unit trusts, or offshore bonds. The IRS looks straight through these accounts, and what was once a tax-efficient wrapper can end up taxed at the highest possible rate, with interest added for every year it goes unresolved.  The third is simply waiting too long. Many expats leave UK pensions, ISAs, and other legacy assets untouched for 10, 15, even 20 years. By the time retirement forces the issue, what could have been a manageable problem has grown into something far more expensive.  Richard also flags two emerging risks worth watching. First, expats turning to generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Facebook groups for tax guidance, and getting advice that's confidently wrong, and second, the currency exposure that comes from holding too much retirement wealth in pounds when you're planning to retire in dollars.  This episode is for anyone with a connection to the UK, whether that's pensions, investments, or family who might one day pass on assets, who wants to know if they're one of the many people currently carrying risk they don't know about. As Richard puts it, the goal isn't to fear-monger, it's to get ahead of it, deal with it, and move on.  --  Expat Wealth is supported by Plan First Wealth. Plan First Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor serving fellow expatriates and immigrants living across the US on matters such as retirement planning, investment management, tax planning and non-US asset management.  https://planfirstwealth.com/  --  Expat Wealth is affiliated with Plan First Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Plan First Wealth.    Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Plan First Wealth does not provide any tax and/or legal advice and strongly recommends that listeners seek their own advice in these areas. 

MOVE Index Moved hard! Last time coincided with stock market bottoms...or close to it.BREADTH - sucks in the short term view. But zoom out and look at price! New highs or near new highs.FLASH PMIs - US Business is BOOMING!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-care-for-my-wealth-show--2487688/support.

What Kamini Ramani thinks the former Apple CEO got wrong, and what she learned from him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nico Pesci's firm went from bringing in roughly $150k–$250k in new assets per client to between $1M-$2M.But the interesting part isn't some new marketing funnel, sales script, or lead source.It's what changed in the way Nico thinks about the client relationship itself.In this conversation, Nico and I explore why advisors can unknowingly limit themselves before a prospect meeting even begins, what changes when a $17 million opportunity walks through the door, and why high-net-worth clients may be looking for something very different than what the financial industry has traditionally sold them.We also get into the challenge of taking what works inside a founder's head and turning it into something an entire team can consistently deliver.3 Insights From This Week's Episode…#1.) The Prospect You Almost Write OffNico talks about the assumptions advisors make about a small crowd, an unqualified list, or a prospect who doesn't look the part, and what those assumptions quietly cost.#2.) Why Bigger Clients Expose Weak Sales ProcessesPut a $17 million prospect across the table and suddenly even experienced advisors can start changing how they communicate, selling differently, or abandoning the process they normally trust. We explore why the size of an opportunity can create its own set of problems.#3.) The Bottleneck Hidden Inside The FounderThere's a limit to how far an advisory firm can scale when every important conversation still depends on the founder. Nico shares what he's learned moving from solo advisor to founder and the new challenges that appear when other people are trusting you with their careers.TRIAD SALES LABLearn how to break through the ceiling using the framework behind some of Triad's fastest-growing firms. Discover the sales system that scales and apply right here: https://bradleyjohnson.com/186-triad-sales-lab/SHOW NOTEShttps://bradleyjohnson.com/187FOLLOW BRAD JOHNSON ON SOCIALXInstagramLinkedInFOLLOW DBDL ON SOCIAL:YouTubeTwitterInstagramLinkedInFacebookDISCLOSURE DBDL podcast episode conversations are intended to provide financial advisors with ideas, strategies, concepts and tools that could be incorporated into their business and their life. No statements made in the episode are offered as, and shall not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Financial professionals are responsible for ensuring implementation of anything discussed related to business is done so in accordance with any and all regulatory, compliance responsibilities and obligations. The Triad member statements reflect their own experience which may not be representative of all Triad Member experiences, and their appearances were not paid for. Triad Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Please visit Triadwealthpartners.com for more information. Triad Wealth Partners, LLC and Triad Partners, LLC are affiliated companies.TP09265933114See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AMDG. Today Steven and Bonnie are joined by Kolbe's Agostina Cavasotto and Sarah Howard to discuss the transcendentals of the true, the good and the beautiful. From art and music, literature and history, to poetry and plays, we discuss the merits of being exposed to these and how we can make them a part of our classical homeschooling experience.  Related Kolbecast episodes:  Advisor series:  313 Preparing for a Stellar School Year  319 Tapestry in the Making  320 College Considerations  321 Building a Strong Extracurricular Profile  323 Ordinary Days  324 Common Pitfalls and Stumbling Blocks   328 Doing the Human Things   Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey.   We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey!  The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles).  Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast! 

Think like an advisor, not a message taker.On the latest episode of Maroon's Mark, John Maroon sits down with Chris Ullman of Ullman Communications to talk PR, creativity, media relationships and Chris's unexpected career as a four-time world champion whistler.

Welcome to another episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm. Today Roger Knecht welcomes Ann Carden to discuss how accounting professionals can stop trading time for money and elevate their practices. Discover strategies to attract high-end clients, position yourself in a category of one, and package high-value advisory services. In This Episode: 00:00:00 Unlocking Hidden Potential in Your Business 00:05:35 Elevating Client Acquisition and Positioning 00:10:10 The Power of Exclusivity and Qualification 00:20:45 Moving Beyond Commodities and Hourly Pricing 00:28:45 Building a Premier Accounting Firm Key Takeaways: Elevate your accounting practice by targeting top-tier clients rather than relying on high-volume funnels. Position your firm as a category of one so buyers pre-sell themselves before the first meeting. Implement high-end strategic advisory packages instead of sticking to hourly billing or minor price bumps. Qualify prospective clients to ensure mutual respect and higher project investment. Featured Quotes: "Visibility is not revenue. Don't confuse that." - Ann Carden "You have to be in a category of one. You have to stand out in a category of one." - Ann Carden Earn CPE: NASBA-approved CPE and IRS-approved CE credits are offered via Earmark by listening to this episode. ⁠ Access our QAS Self-Study Courses here: https://www.earmark.app/channels/0384dbbe-df08-4ae3-ba82-621a7a465e95 Conclusion: Thank you for joining us for another episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm with Roger Knecht. For more information on how you can establish your own accounting firm and take control of your time and income, call 435-344-2060 or schedule an appointment to connect with Roger's team here.   Sponsors: BILL It's time to grow your capacity, not your headcount. Visit bill.com/BUILDING to get started today, and when you take a demo, you'll receive a $250 gift card. Terms apply.  Universal Accounting Center Helping accounting professionals confidently and competently offer quality accounting services to get paid what they are worth. Offers: flobizsolutions.com   Special Offers for our Podcast Listeners, CLICK HERE to take advantage of them today!   Remember this: Accounting Success IS Universal. Be sure to listen to our next episode and subscribe.   Also, let us know what you think of the podcast and please share any suggestions you may have.  We look forward to your input: Podcast Feedback   For more information on how you can apply these principles to start and build your bookkeeping, accounting, & tax business, please visit us at www.universalaccountingschool.com or call us at 801-265-3777.  And know that if it's about accounting, it's Universal.

AI is transforming the way businesses operate and, consequently, the software they use to run their companies. However, many companies are spinning their wheels right now as they wrestle with difficult questions such as: how can we determine which AI solutions are actually worth our investment? Should we still be thinking in terms of traditional ERP architecture? And what role does our vendor play in offering a long-term, cohesive strategy joining AI and ERP? Join us for this exclusive event where Independent Software Advisor and Industry Expert, Shawn Windle, will answer these questions and discuss how to develop a clear software strategy for your business in the AI era.Connect with us!https://www.erpadvisorsgroup.com866-499-8550LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/erp-advisors-groupTwitter:https://twitter.com/erpadvisorsgrpFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/erpadvisorsInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/erpadvisorsgroupPinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/erpadvisorsgroupMedium:https://medium.com/@erpadvisorsgroup

Metals - Gold & Silver don't like accelerating CPI data or risng 2YR ratesSentiment - AAII data says lots of investors are bearish...similar to what we saw in spring 2025. Right before a very powerful rallySeasonality - OCT NOV are best 2 months in mid-term years going back to 1950.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-care-for-my-wealth-show--2487688/support.

58% of small businesses now use generative AI, up from 23% in 2023, yet 95% of AI pilots fail to move the bottom line. So is hiring outside help actually the difference between wasted spend and real payoff? To learn more, visit https://mandmkelly.com/ M&M Kelly City: Charlotte Address: 1234 Advisory Circle Website: https://mandmkelly.com/ Phone: +1 404 924 9241 Email: drlusk@evergreensales.group

The Dark Side of Retirement (and How To Avoid It) & Lump Sum vs. Monthly Pension Decision Tree Retirement is often touted as the ultimate goal, but Wes reveals why reaching the finish line can bring unexpected challenges. Wes exposes the sobering statistics behind aging in America, emphasizing why true retirement success requires building a "portfolio of purpose" alongside financial security. Also, Wes breaks down his brand-new decision tree to help you settle the age-old debate of choosing a lump sum versus monthly pension payouts, introducing his straightforward 6% Rule and four key questions to protect your wealth, fight inflation, and secure a blissful retirement. Mentioned on the show:  ⁠How To Invest a Lump Sum or Cash You've Left Uninvested⁠ ⁠Pension vs Lump Sum Calculator - Clark Howard⁠ All this and more on the September 22, 2026, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions: WesMoss.com/ask Discover the research-backed path to a happier retirement – order The Retire Sooner Method by Wes Moss today at retiresoonermethod.com We hope you enjoy our weekly Ask An Advisor episodes.  Let us know what you think in the comments! Learn more about Wes:  BOOKS BY WES MOSS   Wes Moss, CFP®  Wes Moss - Clark.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Douglas Slaybaugh has spent close to 10,000 hours coaching accounting leaders, and he's seeing something he doesn't like: partners drowning in chargeable work, admin, and meetings. They then don't have any capacity to do the one thing that actually matters, sit across from a client and talk deep strategy. He calls it the partner bottleneck, and it's pushing experienced professionals toward burnout and early retirement. On Episode 287 of The Unique CPA, Doug tells Randy that AI could be the fix, creating capacity at lower levels, but he fears firms will just fill that space with more compliance work, thanks to the same "Parkinson's Law" that has governed public accounting for decades. Doug further unpacks what faces accounting firms, like how "advisor" has become a pretty hollow, ill-defined buzzword if firms aren't careful to identify what it means to them. He also tells of a coming client retention war, with pricing pressure from above, below, and outside the profession entirely, which makes the current situation in the profession mission critical. The firms that figure out how to turn practitioners into true advisors will hold their clients, but the ones that don't may not. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

YIELD CURVE - hammered down. OIL - 10YR / OIL correlation highest since 1990. Iran dependent more than Fed.SEMICONDUCTORS - -13% discount to the S&P!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-care-for-my-wealth-show--2487688/support.

In this episode of Service Drive Revolution, Chris "Bulldog" Collins, Hogi and Adam explain why training advisors before fixing the operating system can make a service drive worse. If advisors sell more work but the shop cannot complete it, repair orders stall, promise times slip, customers become frustrated and advisors quickly stop presenting additional work. Why won't service advisor training fix an underperforming dealership service department? Because weak sales, poor communication, low CSI and declining profitability are often symptoms of broken processes, insufficient shop capacity and inconsistent workflow—not a lack of sales technique. The team breaks down what dealership owners, general managers, fixed operations directors and service managers should examine first: appointment spacing, advisor-to-technician ratios, shop loading, declined work, customer communication, technician efficiency, compensation, financial visibility and one standardized process from appointment through vehicle delivery.

More beans please - should the UK be growing more pulses? The Food Foundation looked into the potential for these crops and concluded that the UK could and should be growing more of them.Farmers may have to prepare for disappointment as England's biggest environmental scheme re-opens for applications this week. This is the Sustainable Farming Incentive, the SFI, which pays farmers for environmental work. New analysis suggests that while 40,000 farmers are expected to apply for the SFI there is only enough cash for about 15,000 agreements. And how, with help from the Royal Countryside Fund, the West Lakeland Community Interest Company has put four young people through a series of training courses to become agricultural advisors.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

After our Summer Series of best-of episodes ended, we’re back with all-new episodes. In the next two episodes, we're looking at the travel trends and stories our reporters have been tracking, setting the stage for longer discussions on the Folo this fall. Here, you'll hear from editor at large Robert Silk on fuel and ticket pricing jumps in aviation; editor of content innovation and retail Jamie Biesiada on booking patterns and advisor updates; and tours editor Brinley Hineman on brand and personnel movements. Next, we’ll hear from reporters on hotel, cruise and river cruise beats. And there’s more, much more, to come. These discussions were recorded the week of Aug. 13 and have been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com Related links August airfares surge 23% year over year https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/August-airfares-were-up-23-4-percent-year-over-year American Airlines slows holiday growth plans due to high fuel prices https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-slows-holiday-growth-plans-due-to-high-fuel-prices In consolidating Insite and Costsaver, TTC bets on the power of the Trafalgar brand https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/TTC-bets-on-the-power-of-Trafalgar Classic Vacations CEO Melissa Krueger steps down https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Classic-Vacations-CEO-Melissa-Krueger-is-stepping-down Blocked port call gives pause to LGBTQ+ travel providers https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Blocked-ports-calls-give-pause-LGBTQ-travel-providers Related podcast Trade Secrets: Is fall the new summer? Unpacking luxury travel trends at Virtuoso https://www.travelweekly.com/Podcasts/Trade-Secrets/season-seven-episode-twelve-luxury-travel-trends-with-Virtuoso See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 20+ years, Julia Payne has helped founder-led B2B companies sharpen their market position, improve commercial performance, and build systems for sustainable growth. She's worked with 500+ organisations as a Founder, CEO, Board Director, Advisor, and Fractional CMO/GTM Lead. Today, she helps ambitious B2B companies reduce founder dependence, strengthen go-to-market capability, and build commercial organisations that scale without relying on individual heroics. Hear why the founder's intuition stops scaling, how to get functional roles to come together to support growth, how to keep the strategic view as a leader, the leadership lessons Julia has learned from her competitive sailing background, and her advice for founders as they scale up. Connect with Shirley at ShirleyKavanagh.com and on LinkedIn, and Julia at Julia-Payne.com and on LinkedIn

Alexis Fink joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about how AI is changing work, why org design needs to move beyond boxes and lines, and how curiosity, influence, courage, and better systems thinking can help people leaders design for the future.----  Sponsor Links:

In this episode, we're joined by Matthew Taylor, a litigation lawyer with Sotos Class Actions in Toronto who represents retail investors and pension funds in securities class actions. We take a deep dive into what makes a successful negligence claim against a financial advisor, how courts assess fiduciary relationships in Canada, and what investors should look for when evaluating the people managing their money.   We explore the evidence that can strengthen or weaken a negligence claim, from one-size-fits-all portfolios and unexplained trades to poor communication and failures to account for changing life circumstances. Matthew also explains the distinction between suitability and fiduciary standards, the factors courts consider when determining whether a fiduciary relationship exists, and why professional affiliations and explicit fiduciary commitments can matter.   The conversation then turns to class actions, including how securities claims differ from individual negligence lawsuits, what makes a claim suitable for class proceedings, and why regulatory investigations, specialist law firms, litigation funding, and parallel U.S. proceedings can provide important signals. We also discuss pension funds, their role as plaintiffs, and why monitoring potential claims and settlements can be part of managing beneficiaries' assets.   Finally, we examine the growing retailization of private assets and the risks created by limited information, complex structures, opaque fees, illiquidity, and manager-determined valuations. Matthew explains what advisors and clients should consider before investing in private funds—and why he expects more litigation in this area. We close with the legal and regulatory challenges created by financial influencers, and how investors and advisors can build greater resilience against misleading financial content. Key Points From This Episode: (0:01:04) Advisor errors leading to negligence claims—KYC, KYP, suitability failures, plus warning signs like one-size-fits-all portfolios, unexplained trades, concentrated positions, churning, and double dipping. (0:02:20) Why evidence matters: the gap between what people know and what they can prove in court.  (0:04:08) How investors can recognize poor advice—changes in communication, failure to address life circumstances, or lack of transparency.  (0:06:41) Importance of checking an advisor's regulatory history before entrusting significant assets.  (0:07:51) Investor vulnerabilities: age, education, language barriers, or sudden wealth.  (0:11:27) Steps after negligent advice—seek a second opinion, adjust the portfolio, and consider legal recourse quickly due to limitation periods.  (0:13:30) Risk capacity vs. risk tolerance, and overlooked risks such as liquidity, sequence-of-returns, and withdrawal risk.  (0:16:34) Advisors' uneven understanding of risk, shaped by firm/product-provider education and low industry entry barriers.  (0:19:48) Courts' five fiduciary factors—vulnerability, trust, reliance, discretion, and professional standards—and how fiduciary duties differ from suitability standards.  (0:28:28) Individual lawsuits vs. group/class actions, with securities class actions focusing on disclosure problems and asset-manager claims.  (0:42:45) Case studies: Sino-Forest fraud and challenges of private assets—opaque structures, layered fees, liquidity risk, and valuation issues.  (1:01:00) Regulatory challenges of finfluencers, difficulties in enforcement, and how advisors can inoculate clients against misinformation by teaching evaluation skills. Sources From Today's Episode — https://zbib.org/71e494008bb74d18a17de20419ca0647 Links From Today's Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://pwlcapital.com/  PWL Team — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Rational Reminder on Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/6RHWTH9iW7hdnA7eAg7ukO?si=fe7f60349b584026 Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Matthew on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-w-taylor/ Geller Law — Legal Legacy - Webflow Ecommerce Website Template Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)  

Michael Kim — CEO & President, AssetMark AssetMark CEO Michael Kim explains why advisor growth increasingly depends on creating capacity—and using outsourcing, technology, and AI to spend more time where advisors add the greatest value. In Summary Growth is a priority for nearly every advisory firm. But as client expectations expand and the business of wealth management becomes more complex, growth increasingly depends on an advisor's ability to create capacity. Jason Diamond speaks with Michael Kim, CEO and President of AssetMark, about why the strongest firms are intentional about where advisors spend their time—and equally intentional about what they delegate, outsource, or automate. Drawing on AssetMark's work with more than 12,000 independent financial advisors, Michael shares his perspective on organic growth, outsourcing investment management, AI, client experience, scale, and the evolving role of the advisor. His central message is straightforward: Advisors can do almost anything, but they can't do everything. Sustainable growth requires deciding where they create the greatest value and building the business around it.  The Storyline Michael Kim calls himself a “growth guy.” But his definition of growth goes well beyond adding assets, buying another practice, or simply getting bigger. After working with thousands of independent advisors throughout his career at Fidelity and AssetMark, Michael sees organic growth as one of the clearest measures of the health and durability of an advisory business. And the firms that consistently achieve it tend to have something in common: They treat growth as an intentional business priority rather than something they hope will happen. That creates a more fundamental question: Where should advisors actually spend their time? Michael argues that clients increasingly value the advisor—not simply the portfolio. They want guidance around taxes, wealth transfer, estate planning, business decisions, and the broader issues surrounding their wealth. Yet delivering that level of advice requires capacity. AssetMark's Annual Impact of Outsourcing Survey, he says, finds that advisors who outsource gain more than nine hours per week—essentially another working day.  AI potentially adds another layer of leverage. Michael sees its opportunity in two areas: productivity and experience. AssetMark's developing Talk Tracks capability, for example, uses AI to prepare potential talking points and planning opportunities before client meetings. But Michael also cautions against allowing technology to depersonalize the relationship. As clients themselves become more informed through AI, the advisor's ability to deliver deeply personal, trusted guidance may become even more important.  That brings the discussion back to growth. Advisors are increasingly both trusted counselors and business owners. Building a scalable enterprise means making deliberate decisions about technology, outsourcing, talent, client experience, and where their own time produces the greatest return. Topics Covered Organic growth in wealth management Advisor capacity and productivity Outsourcing investment management AI in wealth management AssetMark Talk Tracks Advisor client experience The advisor as “wealth counselor” Scaling an advisory firm Fee compression and operating leverage RIA growth and independence M&A and access to capital > Download a transcript of this episode… Listen and Learn Highlights for Advisors What separates advisory firms that consistently grow from those that plateau? (12:36)Michael says the most successful growth-oriented firms are intentional about growth. They develop a plan, experiment with new approaches, and—most importantly—execute consistently. Why does Michael consider organic growth such an important measure of an advisory business? (15:27)Organic growth is not simply about adding clients. Michael describes it as a predictor of the health and durability of the business—something that also matters to potential investors and buyers. Should investment management still be a core part of an advisor's value proposition? (18:42)Michael argues that clients increasingly want something broader: a trusted “wealth counselor” who can help them navigate taxes, wealth transfer, estate planning, and other complex financial decisions. How much capacity can outsourcing actually create for advisors? (23:05)According to AssetMark's Annual Impact of Outsourcing Survey, advisors who outsource report gaining more than nine hours per week. Michael argues that time can be redirected toward clients and higher-impact business activities. Where does Michael see the greatest opportunity for AI in wealth management? (25:34)He identifies two areas: productivity and experience. AssetMark is embedding AI into advisor workflows, including its Talk Tracks capability designed to surface insights and potential planning conversations before client meetings. Could AI make the advisor-client relationship less personal? (30:12)Michael acknowledges the risk but sees a larger opportunity. As clients arrive better informed through AI, advisors can differentiate through more personal, emotionally connected guidance around the issues that matter most. How should advisors think about scale as fee pressure continues? (41:12)For Michael, scale does not simply mean cutting costs. It means using technology, people, outsourcing, and other resources to deliver a better client experience more efficiently. Where would Michael invest first if he were running an independent RIA? (43:11)Existing clients come first. Before M&A or other growth investments, he would invest in making the client experience stronger and the firm easier to do business with. Key Takeaways Growth requires intention. The firms Michael sees growing most successfully do not treat growth as a side project; they plan for it, invest in it, and consistently execute against it. Organic growth is a measure of business health. Beyond adding assets, it can signal the durability and potential enterprise value of an advisory firm. Capacity has become a strategic advantage. Advisors need to determine which activities require their direct involvement and which can be delegated, outsourced, or automated. The advisor's value proposition is expanding. Portfolio management increasingly sits alongside tax planning, wealth transfer, estate planning, and other advice that clients expect from a trusted “wealth counselor.” AI should create better conversations, not simply greater efficiency. Michael sees the bigger opportunity in using AI to improve both productivity and the client experience. Scale is not synonymous with cost-cutting. Strategic investments in technology, talent, and outside expertise can allow firms to serve clients better while managing economic pressure. Client experience remains the foundation. Even when presented with opportunities to pursue M&A or other investments, Michael would prioritize strengthening relationships with existing clients first.  https://youtu.be/vqlWGWAD08o Quotable Moments “Growth isn't something that the advisors do as a hobby. It is arguably the number one priority.” — Michael Kim, 13:18 “Organic growth is the number one predictor of the health of the business.” — Michael Kim, 15:27 “The most important thing that the clients want from that advisor is the advisor, not the portfolio or which ETF that they selected.” — Michael Kim, 19:23 “The advisors can do anything, but they can't do everything.” — Michael Kim, 23:05 FAQs Why is capacity so important for financial advisor growth? Advisors face expanding client expectations while still having a finite amount of time. Michael Kim argues that creating capacity through outsourcing, technology, AI, and delegation allows advisors to spend more time on client relationships and the activities that have the greatest impact on growth. What does Michael Kim believe drives organic growth for advisory firms? He emphasizes intentionality, planning, creativity, and consistent execution. Rather than treating growth as something that happens naturally through referrals, successful firms make it an ongoing business priority. How can outsourcing investment management help financial advisors? Outsourcing can shift research, portfolio management, trading, reporting, technology, and other functions to providers with greater scale. Michael says AssetMark's Annual Impact of Outsourcing Survey found that advisors who outsource gain more than nine hours per week. How is AssetMark using AI for financial advisors? AssetMark is embedding AI into advisor workflows with the goal of improving productivity and client experience. Michael discusses Talk Tracks, a capability designed to surface relevant client insights and potential planning conversations before meetings. Will AI replace financial advisors? Michael does not believe it will. Instead, he expects clients to use AI themselves and arrive at advisor meetings better informed. That could make an advisor's ability to provide trusted, personal, emotionally connected guidance even more valuable. How can advisory firms scale without sacrificing client experience? Michael describes scale as more than lowering costs. Firms can invest in technology, specialized personnel, outsourcing, and other resources that allow them to operate more efficiently while improving the quality and breadth of the client experience.  Advisors face expanding client expectations while still having a finite amount of time. Michael Kim argues that creating capacity through outsourcing, technology, AI, and delegation allows advisors to spend more time on client relationships and the activities that have the greatest impact on growth. He emphasizes intentionality, planning, creativity, and consistent execution. Rather than treating growth as something that happens naturally through referrals, successful firms make it an ongoing business priority. Outsourcing can shift research, portfolio management, trading, reporting, technology, and other functions to providers with greater scale. Michael says AssetMark's Annual Impact of Outsourcing Survey found that advisors who outsource gain more than nine hours per week. AssetMark is embedding AI into advisor workflows with the goal of improving productivity and client experience. Michael discusses Talk Tracks, a capability designed to surface relevant client insights and potential planning conversations before meetings. Michael does not believe it will. Instead, he expects clients to use AI themselves and arrive at advisor meetings better informed. That could make an advisor's ability to provide trusted, personal, emotionally connected guidance even more valuable. Michael describes scale as more than lowering costs. Firms can invest in technology, specialized personnel, outsourcing, and other resources that allow them to operate more efficiently while improving the quality and breadth of the client experience.  Related Resources When Growth Starts Working Against Your Business The RIA Builder's Blueprint: Four Pillars of a Strong Independent Firm Michael KimChief Executive Officer and President of AssetMark With more than 30 years of industry experience, he has set the strategic vision for the firm, which encompasses AssetMark's platform of curated investments, technology solutions, business consulting, operations support, and M&A that serve the best interests of financial advisors and their investors.  Michael joined AssetMark in 2010 and has held a number of leadership positions, including Head of National Sales and Consulting, Chief Client Officer, and President / CEO (2021–Present). Michael was instrumental during AssetMark's leveraged buyout transition to Genstar in 2013, its sale to Huatai Securities in 2016, its IPO in 2019, and its sale to GTCR in 2024.  Before joining AssetMark, Michael was an executive at Fidelity's Institutional Wealth Services, serving over 3,000 advisory firms. He began his career in public accounting at Coopers & Lybrand, LLC.  Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. View the transcript of this episode… Unleashing Potential: Why Capacity is an Advisor's Biggest Competitive Advantage A conversation with Jason Diamond and Michael Kim, CEO & President of AssetMark.     Jason Diamond: Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for financial advisors. Today’s episode is Unleashing Potential: Why Capacity Is an Advisor’s Biggest Competitive Advantage. It’s a conversation with Michael Kim, the CEO and president of AssetMark. I’m Jason Diamond, and this is The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors. Mindy Diamond: At Diamond Consultants, we help elite advisors identify the right environment for their businesses to thrive, whether that’s at a wirehouse, boutique, or independent firm. With nearly three decades of experience, we’ve guided thousands of advisors and represented more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in assets transitioned. And each year, one in four advisors managing a billion dollars or more who change firms are our clients. Our process is education-driven and based on building relationships, starting as your strategic partner well before you’re even thinking of a move. To schedule a confidential conversation, call us at 908-879-1002. Wondering why advisors change firms and where they’re headed? Are transition deals going up or down? Those very questions and more inspired us to create our annual advisor transition report. It’s the award-winning data-driven resource designed for advisors that connects the dots between the motivations around movement and the firm’s appetite for top talent. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make smart decisions. Download your copy at diamond-consultants.com/transitionreport. Jason Diamond: One of the biggest challenges facing advisory firms today isn’t finding more opportunities, it’s creating enough capacity to pursue them. For years, advisors have tried to solve that problem by working harder, adding staff, or becoming more efficient. Today, technology, outsourcing, and AI are creating an entirely different playbook. The question isn’t simply how to do more, it’s how to spend more time doing things that actually matter. That’s why I’m excited to welcome Michael Kim to the podcast. Michael is CEO and president of AssetMark. Founded in 1996, it provides some 12,000 independent advisors and registered investment advisors, RIAs, with outsourced investment strategies, AI tools, and digital workflows, custodial integration, and practice management consulting. Over the last 16 years, he’s had a front row seat to the evolution of independent wealth management and has developed a reputation as what many know him as the growth guy. And Michael’s perspective is a practical one. He doesn’t think about growth as simply gathering more assets or acquiring more firms, he sees it as building an intentional business, one where advisors spend more time where they add the greatest value while leveraging technology, outsourcing and AI to expand their capacity without losing sight of what matters most, delivering an exceptional client experience. Our conversation covers where advisors should and shouldn’t be spending their time, why organic growth remains the best measure of a healthy business, how AI can strengthen rather than replace client relationships, and why the advisors who thrive over the next decade may look much more like CEOs than portfolio managers. I think you’ll come away with a different way of approaching growth, and perhaps more importantly what it actually takes to achieve it. So, let’s dive in. Michael, thanks again for joining us. Before we dive into the business, let’s talk about the personal. Tell us about your background, what brought you to the world of wealth management. Michael Kim: Yeah, first of all, Jason, thrilled to be here. Thank you for having me, I’m looking forward to our conversation. My goodness, what brought me to this industry? There’s several reasons. First and foremost, I love working with other people and specifically in a position where we can help others. How fortunate are we, Jason, where we get to work with, in my opinion, the best financial advisors where their core mission is to help others, and specifically helping their clients’ goals and dreams come true, and we get to be part of that? And just for me to be and our teams to be part of that, that is just humbling and exciting. That’s one of the big reasons. Let’s see, I love working with the business owners and entrepreneurs. I have a little bit of entrepreneurial gene, both of my parents are entrepreneurs as well. So Jason, I know you could appreciate that. Working with entrepreneurs, and for me it is all about relationships. Really being able to build deep, personal, professional relationships where we can learn off of each other, help each other, and really do good for clients, the community, and the industry. My goodness, what a perfect industry to be in. I mean, those are just some of the reasons that brought me to this great place. I’ve been with AssetMark for, gosh, now 16 years. Just still feels like day number one here, Jason, but I know we’ll get into a lot more details, but so many different things that have brought me here to this industry. Jason Diamond: Wow, 16 years. I definitely want to double click into that. I’m sure you’ve seen the firm evolve a lot. By the way, I feel like you feel, what a blessing and what an amazing industry. Of all the industries in the world and of all the kind of verticals and niches, I just think it’s such an incredible, not only industry, but an incredible time in our industry. Part of that is the proliferation of choice for advisors, and how many different ways there are for an advisor to run a sophisticated, successful, entrepreneurial business. No matter what that could mean within a wirehouse, by the way. I don’t mean that to mean independent. So, I want to talk about all of that. I think your perspective is unique. Whole career at AssetMark or did you start elsewhere? That’s the last question we’ll ask on background. Michael Kim: Yeah, so like I said, 16 years here at AssetMark, and I’ve had pretty much all the different leadership responsibilities here. I became president and CEO a few years ago. The other interesting part of my journey here at AssetMark is over that 16-year period, Jason, five different owners. My goodness, five different sort of capital providers and owners and investors coming into the business. We’ve had the fortune of working with large strategic firms to great private equity firms. We even took the company public, so we did the whole New York Stock Exchange, ringing the bell and the whole nine yards. And in 2024, we took the company private again, and we’re just super excited. Our current owner is GTCR, just incredible private equity investors, partners, friends. And we’ve actually known those guys for a number of years before the deal. And through series of different conversations, it was just the right fit. And we’ve been with them for over two years now, and I just feel like we’re just barely scratch the surface, Jason, in terms of all the different things that we can do with them. And let’s see, prior to AssetMark, I was with Fidelity, we were talking a little earlier, and that’s where I cut my teeth. And I had a chance to work with RIA firms, I was managing all the RIA wealth management relationships at Fidelity for a number of years, spent a big portion of my Fidelity tenure in Boston, as all roads go through Boston for Fidelity. Jason Diamond: We’re going Boston, baby. Michael Kim: Exactly. And Jason, you know what’s really interesting is I started with Fidelity back in the late ’90s, and back then, my goodness, people really didn’t know the RIA industry. We’d have to remind them it’s RIA, not IRA, that whole nine yards. And it’s just really special to see the RIA and the independent industry just grow to what it is today and just really making that impact to the clients. I know we’ll dig into a lot more of those details. And then actually prior to Fidelity, I’m a CPA by training. So, I’m a recovering CPA, as I like to say, and no accounting jokes, Jason, today here. All right? Jason Diamond: I didn’t prepare any. No promises though. A couple things I want to ask you about. First of all, position the positives of the various owners you’ve had. That sounds also though potentially disruptive, 5 different owners in 15 years. Thoughts on that? And then, the other thing is not a question, more of a compliment. I always think people of Fidelity Schwab in the ’90s, early 2000s, part of me feels like you must want to say a little bit like, “I told you so. We were right about this call and this movement.” So, if you want to use this platform to do so, you’re welcome to. Michael Kim: Well, it’s funny, I’ll take the second part of the question first. It is interesting just reflecting back on the earlier days of the RIA industry. Back in the ’90s, I mean, it was such a cottage industry. Most of our time was really spent on educating not just advisors but other players in the industry about what it means to be an independent, trusted, fiduciary advisor to the clients. And again, in this day and age, Jason, I mean that is just part of our everyday vernacular. Jason Diamond: You take that for granted. Michael Kim: Exactly. But back then, educating the advisor that, yes, they get to control their own destiny and they get to own the economics. And most importantly, they get to really control the client experience and helping that client really fulfill their goals and dreams and the outcomes that they’ve been working together on. And so, really having that type of both a advisory discussion but also a business discussion, it’s just been super fulfilling. And I too have learned quite a bit just in terms of what it means to be both a business owner and an advisor. But that’s one of the big things that we’ve all experienced, especially in the earlier days and as this industry continues to mature. Even back then, Jason, I saw the potential and it was interesting. I remember thinking to myself, “My goodness,” not just the wires and the banks and other brokerage firms, but really again, going back to the benefit to the end client, that investor to have that trusted advisor where there was no conflict, that advisor was sitting on the same side of the table as himself and really doing what was clearly in the best interest of the client. Again, today it’s part of our DNA, part of what we talk about, but back then it was a newer concept. And so, we just feel very humble to have been part of that in the early days. I think your first question was about the different series of owners and investors that we’ve had. And again, as I reflect back on this, Jason, five different firms. We had a life insurance company, we had private equity, actually two different PE firms come together for joint ownership. We actually had a foreign brokerage firm that owned us for a number of years, and then also the being publicly traded and now being private again. My view, Jason, is that every type of capital structure, there’s pros and cons, but two things that I want to just maybe share with you and your audience is that first and foremost, regardless of the capital structure, it really is incumbent on the management team to do what’s in the best interest of the client. Again, it’s a no-brainer, but really reminding your teams that do always do what’s in the best interest of the client, and then you execute to the T and the rest should usually take care of itself, number one. And then number two, what we’ve learned is never forget about the culture of your firm. Regardless of, again, the capital structure and the type of priorities that different owners, investors ask you to focus on, absolutely those are important business priorities, but none of that would be possible, Jason, without the right culture, and really all the different employees and colleagues and teammates growing in the same direction, Jason. And again, we’ll get into a lot more because there’s actually a great level of parallel in terms of the lessons that we learn to what we’re seeing in the advisor community as they’re operating their own businesses. So, I know we’ll unpack a lot of that, but those are just some of the themes that I recall as I think about our journey here. Jason Diamond: That’s a really thoughtful answer, thank you. I want to ask you a question on clarifying. You used the term clients. When you think about your clients, you are talking about financial advisors who in turn are serving their end clients. Is that correct? Michael Kim: That’s right. Jason Diamond: Let’s talk about this. You’ve worked with, whether it’s Fidelity or now the last 16 years I would imagine thousands of advisors, probably mostly independent advisors. And growth, at least today is the number one thing in our conversations that comes up of advisors that want to grow. What do you think separates advisors who are able to grow from those who are not, or are less effective at it? Michael Kim: Yeah, great question. So just by the way, context, today at AssetMark we work with over 12,000 individual financial advisors, and at Fidelity, thousands of independent RIA firms. And so, we’ve been very fortunate to have seen, Jason, a lot of different models and best practices. And to your point about growth- Jason Diamond: And worst practices. Michael Kim: Well, we’ll keep it best practices here, and lots of incredible lessons learned as well. Jason, what’s interesting is I think one of the common threads that we see in the most successfully growth-oriented firms has been the advisors and their teams are intentional about growth. And what I mean by that is growth isn’t something that the advisors do as a hobby. It is arguably the number one priority. In fact, we have a saying here at AssetMark that growth is life. And if you’re not growing, you’re dead. So, a big part of the focus is, okay, how do we put the right plan together? A simple thing like a marketing plan. I mean, Jason, it is amazing the opportunity that we have to help advisors really craft their own marketing narrative and the unique capabilities that they bring. So, let’s talk about it and let’s figure out ways to leverage that secret sauce to drive referrals and other new opportunities. And so, really having that intentional focus starting with a marketing plan. And to me, I always suggest to our advisors that let’s get creative. Let’s not try to do the same old things and keep banging our head against the wall. Let’s try new things, let’s learn from it, let’s fine-tune it. I mean, things like digital leads and really leveraging the social media aspect. Most advisors still are not, I would say comfortable or confident in leveraging the digital platforms or different channels. To me, this is a huge opportunity for advisors, for other enterprises to leverage the digital platforms to get their word out and really leverage that in a way to drive new opportunities. And then the third is execution. My goodness, you can get creative, you can have all kinds of great marketing strategies, but if you’re not executing and doing the things that you say you’re going to do, and do it right and do it again the next day, it’s all for show. And so, we always talk about how do we help our advisors come up with the best marketing strategy, get creative in some of those ideas, and then let’s go roll up our sleeves and let’s go execute, let’s really bring those great ideas to reality, and let’s figure out a way to fine-tune it, sharpen it, do it better, and the next day do it all over again. And just being intentional, Jason, to sum it all up, I think is a huge part of what growth is all about. And I guess last thing I’ll mention here is, Jason, you know this, but I just can’t stress this enough. Organic growth is the number one predictor of the health of the business. I’m speaking from experience. I mean, the five different owners and the capital provider changes that we’ve experienced, one of the key things that they’ve always asked for and we’ve demonstrated in the early parts of our conversations is our ability to grow the business. That organic growth, again, it is a huge part of that strategic business consideration. Jason Diamond: Well, I totally agree with that. There’s an element of organic growth is probably the number one predictor of a healthy, vibrant business. And also to your point, because some advisors say, “Okay, great. Who cares? My business is good enough for me.” But to your point, a buyer cares about it so it impacts valuation as well. You gave a really thoughtful answer as to the question of growth and intentionality around growth, I maybe should have started here. Your answer was broader than I maybe expected, so give us the elevator pitch for AssetMark. What does your company do? Michael Kim: Yeah, so at AssetMark we are in the business of serving independent financial advisors as the premier wealth platform. We focus on delivering the best investment experience with the most integrated digital technology and the most personalized service and experience. The last thing that we always talk about is really the community of like-minded advisors that we support. As I mentioned, we are fortunate to serve over 12,000 plus individual financial advisors in the independent space. And we talk a lot about community. And the reason for that, Jason, is in many cases the advisors are out there on the island to themselves and they are wondering about things like growth. And so, what we try to bring in is really a lot of the peer-to-peer type of learning, opportunity for different advisors to connect with one another, learn from each other, and really sharpen their value proposition or their narrative. And so that community aspect, it is something special. And we actually have many advisors, Jason, where it’s the third generation advisor that have been working with AssetMark that have been connecting with one another. When you go to some of our conferences and events, I always like to say it is the industry’s largest study group out there. And so, we get to be part of that and we get to host that. And so anyway, that’s a little bit about the AssetMark store, we are in business of serving independent financial advisors. Jason Diamond: I think there’s a lot of different elements of that value prop that we can talk about, but the one that I think is probably most closely associated in the market is investment management. Let’s talk about investment management, or more specifically the idea of outsourcing investment management to somebody else. Because especially for wirehouse advisors, I think there’s this perception, real or not, that’s a core part of what an advisor does. And I’ve seen the statistics, I know that most advisors are not particularly good at investment management, but they’ve sold their clients on this is a part of what we do for you, financial planning, investment management, and the like. So, what say you? What are your thoughts on the idea that investment management has to be a part of the core financial advisor experience? Michael Kim: Yeah. No, totally get it. And I mean, we have thousands and thousands of conversations about this very issue. And Jason, you’re right. I mean, so many advisors believe that their value to their clients is about building the best 60/40 balance portfolio. And with all that in mind, in this day and age with technology and really accessibility to the different investment products and strategies, what advisors have to realize is that the most important thing that the clients want from that advisor is the advisor, not the portfolio or which ETF that they selected. The number one thing, and this is based on the most recent spectrum survey, the number one thing that particularly the higher net worth investors, what they ask and what they expect from their advisors isn’t a investment product or a portfolio design, it’s actually advice on taxes and wealth transfer. Think about that. They want to know how that advisor is going to help them optimize their taxes, they want to know how the wealth that they worked so hard their entire life, how that’s going to be passed on in the most tax-efficient and the most consistent way, consistent with their goals and objectives to their adult children, et cetera. And so, part of I think the new age perspective has to be that the advisor really positioning themselves as that trusted, holistic advisor. A wealth counselor is really the term that I like to use. As a wealth counselor, yes, investment management is an important part, but it’s one of number of different components that the clients are expecting. And Jason, when I think about the more successful advisors in our ecosystem, they’re leading with taxes, they’re leading with creating trust for their grandchildren, they’re leading with creating family LLCs and how all of that fits into the broader picture. Because in this day and age of creating a good 60/40 portfolio, I think those are table stakes at this point. And so, a big part of this is how do we help the advisors really broaden their expertise so that they feel confident in talking about these other array of services? Frankly, these services that their clients are expecting and demanding that their advisors deliver. And last thing I’ll mention is here’s the cold harsh reality. If that advisor isn’t delivering those types of services, especially to that next gen client, guess what? That next gen client who’s about to inherit a lot of the wealth from their parents and so forth, they’re probably looking and in conversations with other advisors as well. And so, we just want to ensure that there’s a longevity of the client relationships by helping that advisor deliver a full array of the wealth planning capabilities. You could tell I’m pretty passionate about this, Jason, I can go on, but yeah, this is a very important part of one of the key developments that we’re seeing in the industry. Jason Diamond: I could tell I’m not the first person to ask you, I wouldn’t have expected that I’d be the first person to ask you this. It was a very thoughtful answer. I think part of what you’re saying is because advisors need to deliver so much, probably more than ever, because a lot of what you’re describing is table stakes, outsourcing investment management is the only way to get there. It’s a zero-sum game, you have finite amount of time, and what your clients are saying is they want more of you. So, by giving up some of what’s table stakes into a more systematic kind of process, you’re able to do more. Is that a fair summary? Michael Kim: Absolutely, and you hit the nail on the head. I mean, it is all about time management and capacity. Yes, the advisors can do anything, but they can’t do everything. And so, what they have to really make a strategic decision on is what are the activities that will generate the highest level of impact to the clients, and frankly to their business? And so, delegate and outsource the other activities, whether it be research, portfolio management, trading, reporting, technology, et cetera, to a provider that has the scale and really delivering those types of capabilities so that advisor can spend the extra time with a client. And just one last unique stat or insight to share. We do a survey every year, Jason, and I would be happy to make this study available to your audience. It’s called Annual Impact of Outsourcing Survey, and it measures the amount of extra time created by those advisors who’ve made a conscious decision to outsource. This year it’s over nine hours per week. So, think about that. Nine extra hours per week today. And so, that’s like having an extra day in a week plus. And so, that’s just an example of the type of capacity that outsourcing creates. The other important benefit to this is not just freeing up time and creating capacity, but now you get to deliver other experts and other resources to your clients, and you get to be, you meaning the advisor, becomes really the quarterback for all those different experts that are serving that client relationships. And so again, it’s something that we believe is fundamental. We absolutely believe that’s going to be a key part that will fuel the advisor’s growth going forward as well. Jason Diamond: So it’s a perfect segue, because I agree. The capacity conversation, it comes up over and over again. In fact, one of the ways it manifests itself is obviously as a recruiter, we hear about movement and it becomes a catalyst for movement. Like, “Hey, I’m spending all my time doing the wrong things and I need to spend more time doing XYZ.” The other thing that comes to mind when we think about capacity, yes, I hear you, outsourcing. There’s clearly elements like compliance. Yeah, you don’t need to be doing that yourself, you can outsource that. But what about AI would be the other obvious way to me that advisors can force multiply themselves? Give me your thoughts on A, what are you guys doing in this space? And then B, what are your thoughts just on the impact on the wealth management industry at large? Michael Kim: Yeah, great question. You can’t have a podcast or any conversation this day and age without AI, right? Jason Diamond: No. You knew it was coming, sorry. Michael Kim: No, this is great. And look, I mean, personally I believe that AI is going to change everything. Now, what does that really mean? Two areas that we think a lot about both internally at AssetMark, but also what we believe we can expect to see in the industry. Number one, it’s all about productivity. And then number two, it’s about experience. So, how do we think about positioning AI, leveraging AI to improve productivity, and more importantly, delivering even a better experience? And so, internally at AssetMark, we’re doing all the different things in terms of all of our Zoom meetings, the virtual meetings, the note-taking and so forth. To me, again, those are table stakes now. And advisors themselves as well, as they’re having these types of meetings, using all the usual products in the industry that we’re all very familiar with, making sure that is a core part of, I guess the workflow to really streamline and expedite the follow-up process, the notes and summaries of the conversations. A specific example, one of the things that we launched is really around Slack, our enterprise level for ChatGPT and so forth. Again, it is just something that is accelerating the pace of business internally at AssetMark. From an experience point of view, Jason, oh my goodness, we can go on and on on this. At AssetMark, a big part of what we think about is how do we embed AI into the workflow so that it’s just regular part of how we do things as opposed to going somewhere, maybe figuring out how to work with an agent and this and that? We are in the process of launching a new capability called Talk Tracks. And so, this is actually for advisors. So, an advisor who taps into our website right before a client meeting, we will literally create talk tracks for that advisor on what are some of the insights that they should share with their client on their portfolio? Maybe they should be taking a required minimum distribution. Maybe they should be thinking about opening up a 529 because they have grandchildren, or maybe they should be doing some other planning activities. The point is it uses AI to gather the different data points, not just from the client but really just scouring the entire industry and other clients with similar profiles, and bringing in different suggestions literally as bullet point talk points for the advisor. And just based on early feedback, man, Jason, this is like our advisors love it. I mean, our advisors are saying that program alone, Talk Tracks, has really saved about two hours per day, because normally they would have to figure out the talking points for the upcoming meeting, and we will be doing all of that for that advisor. And so again, we believe that productivity will be super enhanced. And then the experience is, to me, that is where the gold mine is in terms of opportunities for AI to contribute. And last thing I’ll mention here, you and I, we often get the question of, “Okay, what does this mean for advisors? Will AI replace advisors and so forth?” No, because investors, at the end of the day they want that emotional security of knowing that they’re going to be okay. Now having said that, I do believe that advisors need to change how they engage with their clients, because that client is going to be coming into that meeting with the advisor having done their research, having asked their best friend ChatGPT about what to expect in that upcoming meeting. It’s very analogous to, I don’t know about you, but if I go see my doctor, I go to WebMD and I’m asking WebMD, “Okay, what should I be thinking about? These are my symptoms,” et cetera, so that I can actually have a much more intelligent, impactful conversation with my physician. I don’t see anything different in that the clients, the end clients will come in with some level of preliminary research, virtual conversation with their friend Chat, and then that allows that engagement with their trusted advisor to be that much It’s more meaningful. And so, I absolutely believe that it will really enhance the client experience provided that the advisors are prepared for this type of a change in the industry. Jason Diamond: And that’s an interesting spin, the idea that clients themselves will use the tool to get better educated, to basically become better clients for advisors. One thing that comes to mind with some of your talk points, I think it’s a brilliant idea. I think it’s clearly another obvious example of capacity saver. Do you think there’s a risk with that and with just AI tools in general of depersonalizing the relationship and just almost making things a little bit cookie cutter? I’ll tell you what comes to mind for me is I can tell in some cases when I get an AI email, and it makes me cringe. I’m not even talking about a spam email, I’m talking about an email that somebody tried to write to me but they used AI as a way to basically write me three paragraphs. So, give me your thoughts on is there a risk here that this just becomes this really depersonalized experience? Michael Kim: Absolutely, I do think that there’s that risk there. I do believe that it’s actually happening already. If you think about just the basics of portfolio construction and just different investment vehicles, whether it’s an ETF fund, security, what have you, chances are that advisor will come into that meeting having done some research and they may know or be more familiar with the underlying vehicles than the past generation. So, the advisors who’s hanging their hat on portfolio construction, that 60/40 balance portfolio that I alluded to earlier as really the reason why that client should be working with them, that is going to be a very non-personal or less personal relationship. Now, imagine even with AI though, that the advisor has cracked a code on how to humanize that engagement and really deliver much more of an emotionally connected experience. That’s where I think the advisors will have an opportunity to really elevate. So as I said earlier, think about those advisors that have not only built really a durable portfolio to help that client achieve their portfolio goals, but wrapping that with tax planning, wrapping that with family planning or estate planning, and really being that first call that the clients make in the event of something, something happens, that’s where the real emotions come in. And part of it is this evolution that the advisors are on where Jason, you know this better than I do, in the past they were brokers and now recently they were more the investment portfolio managers. And then really going forward it’s about how do they deliver that real deeply personal and that trusted engagement about wealth transfer, about tax management, about business exit planning if they’re business owners. And really those are the moments where the advisors will not only earn their keep, but elevate themselves from rest of the pack. I absolutely believe that this evolution and the opportunity that frankly AI and other developments are catalyzing, if positioned properly the advisors can benefit from this type of a change in an incredible way. Jason Diamond: I think there’s tremendous opportunity for advisors that harness this the right way. It brings me to an interesting question. I don’t think everybody who listens to our show is contemplating change or making a change of firms, but certainly there’s a subset of advisors who are at least curious. And technology is one area. It always comes up. I wonder, advisors don’t know what they don’t know in this realm. So, I think about a wirehouse advisor who’s been conditioned to think that the sandbox is the sandbox and it works well enough, and it probably does. They can service clients within that sandbox. So, how is that wirehouse advisor supposed to think about this new world that you’re talking about where he doesn’t even know the right questions to ask because it’s so completely foreign? Michael Kim: It’s such a great question, and it’s an important question that all advisors, particularly ones that are in a wirehouse or captive type of environment should be asking. And I think if you double click that question, it’s about how do they become even a better trusted advisor to their clients? Number one. And then number two, could they also build their own business as well? Meaning could they become a business owner or entrepreneur and control their own destiny? And to me, as we were talking earlier about the growth of the independent space, the independent, the industry is, I mean, this is where these two themes are hitting the road. One of the biggest opportunities that I see is for advisors to not only fulfill the goals and dreams of their end clients, but actually for themselves and for their office mates and for their colleagues as well. Why not? Why not create their own entity that they can control, and really control their own destiny in terms of the desired business outcomes? Now to your point, most advisors don’t know how to really plug in a CRM with a financial planning, with a portfolio management system and how all those things work. And compliance, you mentioned that earlier is such an important part. So, the big thing is how does that advisor continue to focus first and foremost on their clients, but bringing in outsource partners that can help them deliver to this fully integrated tech stack, this workflow that will actually create a better experience for their team, but also for their clients as well? And then growth. How do they really think about growth within the firm, but also leveraging outside experts like AssetMark and others to really get that next high net worth client? And so, the point is the advisor shouldn’t feel like they have to do all of this work on their own. Really leverage the different experts that are out there. And Jason, I mean, you know exactly all the different things that wirehouse advisors should do as they’re contemplating different affiliation models. Similarly, if the advisor is looking for that easy button on investments, or technology, or growth or what have you, leverage the different industry experts out there that are in the business of helping advisors achieve those goals. So, it’s one of those things where it may feel daunting initially, but really the opportunity that we have is to educate those advisors and share with them on how we can really help their business goals come true as well. Jason Diamond: Yeah, it’s a good answer. To me, there’s two ways to think about the Kitces map, if you will, of the massive ecosystem. On the one hand, it’s overwhelming and daunting. But on the other hand, you mentioned the term cottage industry. Think about how far from a FinTech perspective and an investment tech perspective, and just a wealth management tech perspective the industry has come where it’s a blessing that all of these different solutions exist. And also, part and parcel to all these solutions is there’s a lot of different education solutions out there also. So, I think that’s the number one takeaway is advisors not feeling like they need to do this alone because there are so many different options. I think your lens into this is unique given the number of advisors, that you need literally thousands of advisors. So, we spoke about AI, we spoke about this outsourcing. What is another maybe trend or something you’re keeping your eye on, or something you’re hearing from your advisors that our audience might not be aware of? Give us a preview. Michael Kim: Yeah. So for me, I’m a growth guy, Jason, and I always come back to growth. And the number one, I think about the organic growth aspect. And we can spend hours on this, but probably two things that I just want to share with your audience. Organic growth, not only is it the best measure on the health and really the durability of the business, but it also is really like the north star. It should be the north star of any business. I mean, new clients is a lifeblood of any business out there. And so, part of being a business owner means thinking strategically about how do I continue to lead this new teammates and the new firm to ensure that there’s continuous pipeline of new clients coming in for all the different reasons that we talked about. Number two, have a plan. I know it sounds simple, but have a plan. And there are people like yourselves and our firm and others that can help. When I think about what does that plan should entail, just start with existing clients. How do I help retain and grow my existing clients? And then number two, how do I get a few more new clients? And that could be referrals, that could be other lead generation programs, but just really put those thoughts on paper. Anyway, so organic growth. And then, on the inorganic growth side, this is, Jason, where there’s just so much activity and here’s the best part. I still feel like, Jason, we are in the bottom of first inning of this massive pace of not just consolidation, but really the growth of this independent segment. Experts like yourselves and others that are helping the wire or others, advisors in other ecosystems come in to this independent space. Succession, we haven’t talked about that today, but succession I think is going to be a massive tailwind behind many of these consolidations. And then the third thing that I’ll mention is the access to capital. I heard someone say the other day that capital is commodity. Before, that was the key thing that was either a catalyst or maybe a headwind for this type of inorganic growth. Today, capital is somewhat of a commodity. And so, there’s so many different PE investors or institutional firms that are coming into this space. And so, part of it is to really thinking about what your right target audience is and how your structure and your strategy is going to be different than the guy next door and making sure that you execute. And the capital will be there. Believe me, the capital will be there. And I just think, Jason, that the inorganic growth opportunity is going to continue to accelerate in this space here. Jason Diamond: There’s PE money coming into the space? I hadn’t heard that before. Michael Kim: Yeah, it’s maybe one or two. Jason Diamond: Let me ask you a few follow-ups there. I think that the tie-in there, the thing that people might be worried about then would be decompression, whether it’s because firms need to just spend more because advisor needs, whatever the case may be. Do you think that it’s the same playbook for advisors to avoid that? Lean into AI tools, lean into things like outsourcing, lean into M&A inorganic, things like that? Or is there more to it? Or is this just something that you don’t worry about at all? Michael Kim: No, I mean, we worry, we study, we keep a very close eye on the fee trends out there. And there is always pressure on the fees, and I think it’s healthy that there’s pressure on the fees. I think a big part of when we talk about fees, the other word that is synonymous with the fee compression is scale. Are we able to scale? Are the advisors able to scale in terms of their delivery mechanisms and their operations? And so, what scale means is being … Doesn’t necessarily mean cutting expenses and doing it with lower costs. To me, it is thinking more strategically about are there areas in terms of different technology that we can invest in so that over time we can deliver even a better experience in a more scaled way? Are there personnel that we can bring in to the firm that can bring a certain level of expertise that will help us take the business and the client experience to the next level? And so, there’s many different ways to scale it, but decompression is synonymous with scale. And so, as a business owner, which now advisors are both trusted advisors but also business owners, they should be thinking a lot more about how they can scale their operation. We at AssetMark, we have over 1,100 employees and we’re expecting to grow at least 20% year over year. And our view is how do we leverage AI? How do we leverage technology? How do we leverage some of the offshore contractors and other scale levers to make sure that we’re doing it without creating additional fee pressure, economic pressure to ourselves and to our clients? And so, it’s always a fun exercise to go through. We’re actually starting a planning process already, but scale aspect, Jason, is an important part of this conversation. Jason Diamond: Good answer, yep. All right, two more. I’m going to give you a fun one here. I’m giving you a lateral, I don’t know if this is a demotion, but let’s say you’re hypothetically you’re now CEO of a small to medium-sized independent firm, an RIA. You’ve got capital. To your point, capital is somewhat easy to come by. Here are your choices. A, you explore M&A, go buy a business right now. B, trip to Hawaii for all the founders. Or C, is there some business reinvestment that excites you that you think businesses should be doing? Michael Kim: That trip to Hawaii is very enticing, but when I think about the opportunity as a leader of the firm, call me a little bit of old-fashioned here but I go back to our existing clients as the number one place of investments. For me, we can do all kinds of really fun, sexy things, but if we don’t take care of our current base of clients, everything falls apart. And so, first and foremost, how do we take care of our clients? And for me, what that really means is how do we deliver the best service experience? At AssetMark, one of the key things that we are maniacal about is how do we continue to be known as the easiest place to do business for advisors? Similarly, for an advisory firm and the leaders of that advisory firm, I would submit that they should be thinking about how do they serve their clients so that the clients view that firm as the firm that all clients should be working with. And generally we think a lot about that day-to-day experience, delighting that client, that unexpected delight. I mean, my God, things like that. It doesn’t cost a lot, but it goes so far in terms of just really strengthening that experience. So that is, to me, the foundation. And after that, I also want to invest in additional organic growth capabilities. I think things like retirement is an incredibly underserved market. It is one of the largest segments of our wealth space, but arguably one of the more underserved markets. Jason Diamond: It’s not the sexiest space. Michael Kim: It’s not the sexiest, but it is an important … I mean, retirement is important, Jason. So we at AssetMark, we recently launched our self-directed brokerage program, and this is really opportunity for advisors to tap into the 401k accounts. It’s almost like a pre-rollover type of strategy, but that’s an example where we believe that there’s tons of opportunities even for advisors to serve their clients. And then, with whatever’s left in the checkbook, we love to look at the right advisors that we can potentially tuck into that firm and really branch out in terms of our presence. So, those are just some of the things that I think we would prioritize with some of the extra capital that may be coming into it. Jason Diamond: You’re hired. Michael Kim: And then we take that trip to Hawaii. Jason Diamond: Time for one more, this has been fantastic. I really appreciate the wisdom you’ve shared. Let’s fast-forward now 10 years. What are you hoping that people are saying about AssetMark and the role you’ve played in helping advisors to build businesses? And let’s go beyond just from a portfolio management, investment management perspective. Michael Kim: Yeah. As we look forward, and we actually have these types of conversations as part of our strategic planning session, let’s just say 10 years from now, what we want to be known as really that premier wealth platform, a business partner, a trusted business partner, a friend that advisors will view as a partner that helped them achieve their business goals. Meaning, let’s just say a wirehouse advisor who decided to come into the independent space, we were the firm that really helped them serve their clients better through our investments, digital and service, and then really help them grow to that next level. And so, we want to be known as a premier wealth platform that has really propelled the growth of the independent advisory firms to levels that they would not have been able to do on their own. And by the way, have some fun along the way. So have some fun, really be part of that special AssetMark community, that community of like-minded advisors by really helping that advisory firm achieve their strategic growth objectives. I hope that, Jason, with all of our employees, 1,100 employees coming in every day, our mission is to make a difference in the lives of our advisors and their clients, and I hope that we’re fulfilling that mission. I hope that we are working hard in 10 years as we are now, delivering on that promise and really making that impact each and every day for our valued advisors. Jason Diamond: I have no doubt you will. Thank you so much, Michael. This has been an absolute blast. Appreciate you coming on. Michael Kim: Thank you, Jason. That was a lot of fun. Mindy Diamond: As a financial advisor, you hold yourself to the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and credibility. You are successful because you take your professional responsibilities seriously, and are dedicated to your clients. But are you living your best business life? Are your goals aligned with your firms, or could a better option exist? Should I Stay or Should I Go? is a book written with you in mind. It’s a self-guided journey that walks you through the key steps that we take with our advisor clients. This strategic thought process and roadmap to professional self-discovery is designed to help you ask the right questions, and think critically and objectively, whether you’re considering change or not. Learn how to get your copy at diamond-consultants.com/thebook.     Unleashing Potential: Why Capacity is an Advisor's Biggest Competitive Advantage A conversation with Jason Diamond and Michael Kim, CEO & President of AssetMark.     Jason Diamond: Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for financial advisors. Today’s episode is Unleashing Potential: Why Capacity Is an Advisor’s Biggest Competitive Advantage. It’s a conversation with Michael Kim, the CEO and president of AssetMark. I’m Jason Diamond, and this is The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors. Mindy Diamond: At Diamond Consultants, we help elite advisors identify the right environment for their businesses to thrive, whether that’s at a wirehouse, boutique, or independent firm. With nearly three decades of experience, we’ve guided thousands of advisors and represented more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in assets transitioned. And each year, one in four advisors managing a billion dollars or more who change firms are our clients. Our process is education-driven and based on building relationships, starting as your strategic partner well before you’re even thinking of a move. To schedule a confidential conversation, call us at 908-879-1002. Wondering why advisors change firms and where they’re headed? Are transition deals going up or down? Those very questions and more inspired us to create our annual advisor transition report. It’s the award-winning data-driven resource designed for advisors that connects the dots between the motivations around movement and the firm’s appetite for top talent. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make smart decisions. Download your copy at diamond-consultants.com/transitionreport. Jason Diamond: One of the biggest challenges facing advisory firms today isn’t finding more opportunities, it’s creating enough capacity to pursue them. For years, advisors have tried to solve that problem by working harder, adding staff, or becoming more efficient. Today, technology, outsourcing, and AI are creating an entirely different playbook. The question isn’t simply how to do more, it’s how to spend more time doing things that actually matter. That’s why I’m excited to welcome Michael Kim to the podcast. Michael is CEO and president of AssetMark. Founded in 1996, it provides some 12,000 independent advisors and registered investment advisors, RIAs, with outsourced investment strategies, AI tools, and digital workflows, custodial integration, and practice management consulting. Over the last 16 years, he’s had a front row seat to the evolution of independent wealth management and has developed a reputation as what many know him as the growth guy. And Michael’s perspective is a practical one. He doesn’t think about growth as simply gathering more assets or acquiring more firms, he sees it as building an intentional business, one where advisors spend more time where they add the greatest value while leveraging technology, outsourcing and AI to expand their capacity without losing sight of what matters most, delivering an exceptional client experience. Our conversation covers where advisors should and shouldn’t be spending their time, why organic growth remains the best measure of a healthy business, how AI can strengthen rather than replace client relationships, and why the advisors who thrive over the next decade may look much more like CEOs than portfolio managers. I think you’ll come away with a different way of approaching growth, and perhaps more importantly what it actually takes to achieve it. So, let’s dive in. Michael, thanks again for joining us. Before we dive into the business, let’s talk

This is episode 872. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. This is a Women in Sales Leadership sub-brand of the Sales Game Changers Podcast.  Watch the video of this podcast on YouTube here. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! On today's show, Gina meets with Bina Shah, Advisor at Outliveme and Former Group Sales Develpoment Director at Oracle. Find Bina on LinkedIn. BINA'S TIP: "No matter where you are in your tenure, showing up every day with authenticity and the work ethic to do the best you can, and how do you uplift the organization. In those important boardroom meetings, in those important C-level meetings, internal or external, what brought me credibility is talking with a point of view backed by data and standing up for myself."

How To Build Wealth Without a Tech Job & Hidden Dangers of Coast FI Forget the myth that you have to work on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley to build massive wealth. Wes reveals the power of the "Everywhere Millionaires" – the 3 million Americans who have accumulated a collective $65 trillion by building unglamorous, low-tech, and non-tech businesses. Discover why tactile, essential industries are producing some of the richest entrepreneurs in the country (including a former hot dog stand owner who sold his business for $1 billion). Then, Wes issues a crucial warning for young investors drawn to the Coast FI movement. While saving aggressively early in life is fantastic, relying solely on compound interest while taking your foot off the savings gas pedal in your 20s or 30s carries massive hidden risks. Wes explains why life's unexpected variables mean you shouldn't step back from your financial goals too soon. Mentioned on the show: Are You Well Invested? Here's a 6-Point Check          Backdoor Roth IRA: How High Earners Can Still Contribute How To Invest a Lump Sum or Cash You've Left Uninvested Pension vs Lump Sum Calculator - Clark Howard The Biggest Investing Lesson From Trump Accounts - Clark Howard All this and more on the September 15, 2026, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions: WesMoss.com/askDiscover the research-backed path to a happier retirement – order The Retire Sooner Method by Wes Moss today at retiresoonermethod.com We hope you enjoy our weekly Ask An Advisor episodes.  Let us know what you think in the comments! Learn more about Wes:  BOOKS BY WES MOSS   Wes Moss, CFP®  Wes Moss - Clark.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com   Join Clay Clark's Thrivetime Show Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com  **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.Today's Host: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin) and Co-Hosts: Ronald Weaver III (@ronthe3manweav), Brett Hammer (@bhammertimeshow)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

What if the next battlefield isn't physical, but your brain?In this episode of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Dr. James Giordano (Professor Emeritus of Neurology and Biochemistry, Chair Emeritus of the Neuroethics Studies Program at Georgetown University Medical Center, served as the consulting neuroscientist on research into the original cases of Havana Syndrome) explores the rapidly evolving world of neuroscience, cognitive warfare, biowarfare, electromagnetic technologies, consciousness, and the ethical questions shaping the future of humanity.Dr. Giordano examines why he believes the threat of biowarfare deserves far more public attention, revealing examples of biological technologies that could potentially be used to target individuals and discussing how they may influence brain function, physiology, and perception.He also unpacks the history of covert CIA programs like MKUltra and Operation Artichoke, whose objectives included investigating whether people could be involuntarily controlled, hypnotized, or coerced into acting against their own will - including carrying out assassinations.We dive into the science behind electromagnetic frequencies, explaining how electromagnetic energy interacts with neurological systems, how these technologies have become dramatically smaller, more precise, and more portable, and their potential military applications, from disrupting drones and aircraft to crowd-control technologies.Dr. Giordano also explains how sound waves can disorient the nervous system, why symptoms such as headaches and dizziness may vary so widely between individuals, the controversial discussion surrounding microplastics and electrical conductivity, whether visual stimuli can disrupt neurological function, and how Faraday cages may protect against certain electromagnetic energies.Beyond emerging technologies, the discussion explores one of today's biggest questions: Is cognitive warfare already happening through social media algorithms? Dr. Giordano examines how information environments can shape perception, influence decision-making, and potentially become tools of modern conflict.The conversation expands into the frontiers of neuroscience and consciousness, asking whether some individuals possess neurological architectures that enable extraordinary cognitive abilities, how life experiences, trauma, and brain structure influence perception, why entheogens may facilitate profound spiritual experiences, whether neurophysiology can help explain reports of telepathy or remote viewing, and whether quantum processes could play a role in brain function and what those implications might be if they do.Finally, Dr. Giordano tackles the ethics of modern warfare itself: What is truly permissible in war conducted in the name of defense, freedom, or God? How do societies determine who the real enemies are? And why does he believe that when scientists lose their curiosity, they stop being scientists?Whether you're interested in neuroscience, military technology, psychology, consciousness, philosophy, national security, or the future of humanity, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and leave you questioning far more than you expected!For a limited time, get $250 off Cove Pure water filtration at http://www.covepure.com/breakdownEvery self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at https://www.shopify.com/breakdown.Go to https://helixsleep.com/breakdown to receive up to 30% off your Helix mattress.Visit https://drinkag1.com/BREAKDOWN and get a FREE AG1 Flavor Sampler and a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3 + K2 in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order.Dr. James Giordano's book, Neurotechnology in National Security and Defense: Practical Considerations, Neuroethical Concerns: https://a.co/d/02ohTd4oFollow us on Substack for Exclusive Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BialikBreakdown.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/mayimbialik⁠⁠⁠See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rapid Fire Q&A: The "Happiest Retiree" Pet Factor, RMD Alternatives, Fidelity's New Annuity + More Questions Answered Welcome to our first monthly "Rapid Fire Thursday" episode of Ask an Advisor! Today, Wes Moss is opening up the listener mailbag to answer your direct financial questions. We're covering a wide range of topics: from how pets fit into the "Happiest Retirees" research, to whether UTMA accounts or Trump Accounts beat out a classic 529 plan for college and savings goals. Plus, we address pension life insurance strategies, handling portfolio planning with reduced life expectancy, and how to navigate the infamous "Tax Torpedo" in retirement. Mentioned on the show: Required Minimum Distributions: How To Calculate, Rules The Biggest Investing Lesson From Trump Accounts - Clark Howard Best 529 College Savings Plans By State Roth IRA vs Traditional (Pre-Tax) IRA Calculator - Clark Howard All this and more on the September 10, 2026, Ask an Advisor “Rapid Fire” episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions: WesMoss.com/ask We hope you enjoy our weekly Ask An Advisor episodes.  Let us know what you think in the comments! Learn more about Wes:  BOOKS BY WES MOSS   Wes Moss, CFP®  Wes Moss - Clark.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why the "K-Shaped" Economy is WRONG & What Rising Interest Rates Mean for You Is the "K-shaped" economy an accurate description of what Americans are experiencing today? Wes breaks down why the economy looks less like a "K" and more like an "E" — and what that means for your money, spending, and job prospects. Wes also tackles the burning question on every investor and homeowner's mind: What happens if interest rates keep rising? From the 10-Year Treasury yield to the inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices, learn how potential rate hikes could impact your mortgage, car loans, and fixed-income portfolio. Mentioned on the show: Axios: The closing of the "K" Remote work -- not AI -- has sidelined recent college graduates 5 Keys To Be a Successful Investor All this and more on the September 8, 2026, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions: WesMoss.com/ask Discover the research-backed path to a happier retirement – order The Retire Sooner Method by Wes Moss today at retiresoonermethod.com We hope you enjoy our weekly Ask An Advisor episodes.  Let us know what you think in the comments! Learn more about Wes:  BOOKS BY WES MOSS   Wes Moss, CFP®  Wes Moss - Clark.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices