Podcasts about Wondering

It’s final draft weekend, and Chris Welsh and Tera Roberts are answering your biggest 2026 fantasy football questions before the season begins. From first-round decisions involving Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Ja’Marr Chase, Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor to Superflex quarterback strategy, keeper decisions and auction-draft roster construction, the FantasyPros crew helps you navigate the toughest calls left on your draft board. Need help deciding between RB and WR early? Wondering when to attack quarterback in a Superflex draft, whether an elite tight end is worth the early-round investment, or which bench players and handcuffs offer the most upside? This episode is packed with actionable fantasy football draft advice, trade analysis, roster grades and last-minute strategy to get you ready for Week 1. Timestamps: (May be off due to ads) Intro - 0:00:00 Chat Q1 - 0:02:24 Q2 - 0:04:53 Q3 - 0:07:07 Q4 - 0:10:09 Q5 - 0:12:22 FantasyPros Draft Assistant - 0:15:37 Q6 - 0:16:18 Q7 - 0:17:42 Kyren Williams Signed Mini Helmet Giveaway - 0:19:24 Q8 - 0:20:57 Q9 - 0:21:46 Q10 - 0:23:30 Q11 - 0:23:49 Q12 - 0:26:28 Q13 - 0:29:13 Q14 - 0:31:35 Q15 - 0:33:14 Q16 - 0:34:05 Q17 - 0:35:16 Q18 - 0:35:39 Q19 - 0:36:38 Q20 - 0:39:45 Q21 - 0:39:56 Q22 - 0:41:37 Q23 - 0:43:13 Q24 - 0:45:07 Q25 - 0:48:07 Q26 - 0:49:32 Q27 - 0:50:48 Lightning Round/Final Qs - 0:52:40 FantasyPros Draft Wizard - 1:02:39 Outro - 1:04:02 Helpful Links: Draft Wizard - Dominate your fantasy football draft with Draft Wizard. Run fast mock drafts, test different strategies, build custom cheat sheets, get pick-by-pick draft advice, and learn your leaguemates' tendencies before draft day. Just download the FantasyPros App or head to fantasypros.com/draftwizard Start Your Free FantasyPros Premium Trial - https://www.fantasypros.com/free/ -Get three days free to unlock premium draft tools, rankings, analysis, and personalized advice. Watch and Subscribe to The Tailgate - https://www.youtube.com/@tailgatenfl - Just friends talking football. Get NFL storylines, weekly analysis, giveaways, and more from the FantasyPros team. Subscribe to FantasyPros on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@fantasypros - Watch the latest fantasy football rankings, mock drafts, sleepers, breakouts, and draft advice. Support the FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast - https://www.fantasypros.com/review/ - Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help support the show. Real-Time ADP - Track up-to-the-minute draft trends across all major platforms: https://fantasypros.com/realadp View the Latest Fantasy Football Rankings - https://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/rankings/ - Compare expert consensus rankings, tiers and player values before making your draft-day decisions. Follow us on Twitch - The team here at FantasyPros is taking questions all week, every week on Twitch. Follow us on Twitch at twitch.tv/fantasypros and never miss a stream! Discord – Join our FantasyPros Discord Community! Chat with other fans and get access to exclusive AMAs that wind up on our podcast feed. Come get your questions answered and BE ON THE SHOW at fantasypros.com/chat BettingPros Podcast – For advice on the best picks and props across both the NFL and college football each and every week, check out the BettingPros Podcast at bettingpros.com/podcast, our BettingPros YouTube channel at youtube.com/bettingpros, or wherever you listen to podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wondering where our episodes have been on Spotify? This bonus episode explains why. Spoiler: it's because Spotify stinks! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Feeling blue? Not sure what to do? Wondering what your life is all about? Try looking OUT. Tune in to Being Here and discover the life affirming (and rhyming) magic of being of service.

What if just one professional truly understood coercive control?What if your therapist, evaluator, attorney, judge, child protection worker, or GAL recognized the patterns that so often go unseen?Would your family's story look different?In this episode, I share more than 20 of the most important things I believe professionals need to understand about coercive control, post-separation abuse, and the experiences of protective parents and children.These aren't abstract theories. They are lessons I've learned from years of working with survivors, children, and families—and from listening to the stories of people who have lived through these systems.Whether you're a survivor hoping professionals will better understand your experience or you're a professional wanting to improve your practice, I hope this episode sparks curiosity, conversation, and change.We explore:Why looking at isolated incidents causes professionals to miss the larger pattern of coercive control.How children experience coercive control—and why their behaviors should invite curiosity rather than quick conclusions.The mindset shifts professionals need to better recognize, assess, and respond to coercive control while supporting protective parents and children.This episode is also an invitation.As I continue developing trainings for therapists, evaluators, attorneys, judges, and other professionals, I want to hear from you.What did I miss?What do you wish every professional understood that could have changed your family's story?I'd love to hear your thoughts.Couples Therapy Episode - “Ep 212: When Couples Therapy Causes Harm | Understanding Coercive Control in the Therapy Room with Frances Russell, LMFT”  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/19493873Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.htmlIf you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest 

Wondering if healing is for you? Carrie explains the importance of seeing yourself healed and having faith in God's promises, emphasizing that His love makes healing accessible to all.

Michele lost 120 pounds—but the deeper transformation was learning to live without the food noise, social pressure and old identity that had shaped her relationship with sugar for decades. Episode #273

Eileen Budd comes from a long line of Scottish storytellers. Her grandfather came home from the war with shrapnel in his legs, took a job driving a tour bus, and out-earned every other driver in Scotland — because he told stories while he drove. Nobody discovered Eileen was legally blind until she was eight, so she learned the world by ear: story by story, told out loud, passed down. In this episode she tells three complete folk tales on air — including the three rules for surviving the Queen of the Fairies — opens her Travelling Folk Museum of donated, two-hundred-year-old objects, and makes the case that the stories of the village, not the castle or the church, are the ones that bring people together. Plus: why we've outsourced our imaginations to our phones, what a story did to a $30 compass on eBay, the folk tale that is secretly about postnatal depression, and how to find the story only you can tell. Your imagination: use it or lose it. How to Tell a Story People Can't Stop Repeating — with Scottish Storyteller Eileen Budd Some stories disappear almost as soon as they're told. Others survive for hundreds of years. They cross villages, families, kitchens, campfires, churches, pubs and generations without ever needing an algorithm to carry them. That is the kind of story Eileen Budd knows how to tell. Eileen comes from a long line of Scottish storytellers, and she learned the world by listening. Nobody discovered she was legally blind until she was eight, so while other children were reading the room visually, Eileen was absorbing voices, details, rhythms and stories. And in this conversation, she reminded me of something I think many of us are losing: storytelling is not the same thing as content. A story asks something of your imagination. It leaves space. It lets you see something that is not physically in front of you. And the best stories become portable. Someone hears them, carries them away, and tells them again. That is what this episode is really about. Eileen tells three complete folk tales on the podcast, including the story of a midwife summoned to the Queen of the Fairies, the rules she must follow to survive, and a changeling story that carries an unexpectedly compassionate understanding of postnatal depression. But we also talk about what happens to imagination when we fill every empty moment with scrolling, why an ordinary $30 compass became worth $1,000 when it had a story attached to it, and why the stories of ordinary people — the stories of the village — may be the ones that connect us most deeply. One of my favorite things Eileen says is that we have started to outsource our imaginations. And I haven't stopped thinking about that. Because imagination requires empty space. Daydreaming. Wondering. Following an image somewhere without immediately needing it to become useful. And if you are an artist, photographer, writer, entrepreneur or simply a person trying to live a more creative life, I think this conversation will make you want some of that space back. Inside the episode We talk about Eileen's grandfather, who returned from war with shrapnel in his legs and became a Scottish tour-bus driver — eventually earning more than the other drivers because he told stories while he drove. Eileen explains the difference between stories of the castle, stories of the church and stories of the village, and why the stories of ordinary people are often the ones that bring us together. She shares why she resisted writing oral stories down for years, what changed her mind, and what can be lost when a living story gets trapped on a page. We talk about daydreaming, imagination and the way constant scrolling can crowd out the inner world. You'll hear the story of a $30 compass whose value changed completely once a story was attached to it, a 200-year-old willow rattle filled with quartz, the full tale of the midwife and the Queen of the Fairies, and Eileen's beautifully simple way of teaching someone how to become a storyteller. And we end with a Scottish origin story about the giants of day and night. If you make anything for a living, I especially want you to listen to the distinction running underneath this whole conversation: People may consume information. But they carry stories. Connect with Eileen Podcast: Scottish Folk Instagram: @eileenbudd Books: Eileen's seasonal folklore collections from Wide Open Sea https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/scottish-folk/id1674005044 https://www.wideopensea.co.uk/product/seasonal-folklore-summer  

Norm Hitzges sits down with longtime Cowboys radio analyst Babe Laufenberg for an in-depth preview of the 2025 Dallas Cowboys season, digging into Jerry Jones, Dak Prescott, the revamped defense under Christian Parker, and the biggest injury concerns heading into Week 1. The episode wraps with two hard-hitting football stories: the official death of the NFL Pro Bowl and a sobering look at CTE research following the passing of former Cowboys guard John Nyland. A must-listen for Dallas Cowboys fans wanting expert analysis before kickoff.

In episode #457 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our guest, Erica Ziel talks about Prenatal Through Postnatal Exercise. Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessment to uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next.

In this episode of AORN Periop Talk, we sat down with the team at NYC Health + Hospitals Queens to talk about their journey to becoming the first hospital to earn the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Center of Excellence designation.The team shares how collaboration across nursing, surgery, anesthesia, leadership, and support services helped make ERAS part of everyday practice. They also discuss the impact on patient recovery, including shorter hospital stays, fewer surgical site infections, stronger patient education, and greater staff engagement.Hear what they learned along the way and the advice they have for other perioperative teams beginning their own ERAS journey.Interested in the AORN Center of Excellence ERAS Program? Learn more: https://www.aorn.org/education/education-for-facilities/surgical-safety-center-of-excellence/center-of-excellence-in-surgical-safety-enhanced-recovery-after-surgeryThis evidence-based program is made possible by our sponsors CONMED, Pacira and Solventum through the AORN Foundation.Support the showWelcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine the world of perioperative nursing.Episode after episode, we're bringing you professional tips, clinical wisdom, and personal stories that highlight the real world of perioperative nursing. Curious about the latest surgical techniques? We got you. Wondering how to navigate the challenges of the periop journey? We're here for that too.Our podcast series isn't just about sharing information; it's about building a community. Meet the people behind the masks, hear their journeys, and join the rotation of periop professionals making a difference. From students and new nurses to seasoned pros, we've got content for every stage of your perioperative practice.Periop Talk is your peek behind the red line to the world of perioperative nursing. It's not just about the OR – it's about the heart and soul of healthcare. Let's scrub in and start making surgery safer, one podcast at a time.Watch more episodes at: (1) Periop Talk vlog - YouTube

Thinking about 1:1 coaching but still have some questions you need answered first? This episode answers the questions actually on your mind, from "what if my business isn't big enough yet" to "what if I've tried coaching before and it didn't work." If you've been here a while, you know you're not going to find pressure from me. Just honest answers so you can make a clear decision for the season of business you're in right now. When you're ready, here are the links to get started with coaching:

Wondering how to receive healing? Andrew reveals that true healing begins in the spirit and manifests in the physical, emphasizing the importance of believing you have received when you pray.

When's the last time you thought about whether the way you're showing up in your business is actually attracting the people you want in your community? There's plenty of pressure to perform online. Follow the formula. Feed the algorithm. Polish your content until it looks perfect. Yet, the more polished and automated marketing becomes, the more valuable genuine human connection can feel. In this Mastering Excellence conversation, Nikki welcomes visibility mentor and Behavior Change Specialist Chardét Ryel to explore what it means to call in a community instead of constantly pushing your message out. You learn how your voice, curiosity, listening skills, and willingness to show up as yourself create trust and attract people who already feel aligned with you before a sales conversation even begins. The Transformation Before listening, you may find yourself: Feeling pressure to perform or present a polished version of yourself online. Relying on marketing formulas that don't feel natural to you. Wondering how to attract more of the right people without constantly promoting yourself. Moving too quickly into selling when you recognize someone may need what you offer. After listening, you learn how to: Use your natural voice to build authority, trust, and connection. Create marketing that allows the right people to self-select into your community. Ask better questions and listen beyond what's being said. Recognize when curiosity, pauses, and genuine connection create opportunities for deeper sales conversations. Build an evergreen ecosystem that allows people to discover you when they're ready. Key Takeaways In this episode, Nikki and Chardét discuss: Why becoming more human matters as AI makes content easier to automate and polish. The difference between push marketing and creating an environment that naturally pulls the right people toward you. Why showing up authentically doesn't mean everyone needs to become unscripted. How asking genuine questions allows you to understand someone before deciding whether there's a sales opportunity. Why being willing to pause and listen is an advanced sales skill. How creating safety and paying attention to nonverbal cues strengthens trust. Why your marketing ecosystem needs evergreen content people can discover long after you create it. Call In Instead of Constantly Pushing Out Chardét describes calling in your community through the difference between push and pull marketing. Push marketing puts your message in front of people, often without knowing whether they're the right fit. Pull marketing creates an environment where your messaging, voice, branding, and client experience attract people who recognize themselves in what you're sharing. By the time this person reaches a sales conversation or checkout page, they've already started to self-select. This doesn't mean you stop promoting your business. It means you create more opportunities for the right people to think: "You're my person." This makes the sales conversation more natural because you're not trying to convince someone to fit. You're discovering whether the alignment is already there. Show Up in a Way That Feels Like You When Nikki asks Chardét for the first thing someone needs to understand about how she calls in her community, Chardét's answer is: Be willing to go unscripted. For Chardét, this means allowing train-of-thought moments, laughter, changes of direction, and imperfection to show up in her videos, webinars, newsletters, and podcast. However, the lesson isn't that everyone needs to throw away their scripts. The deeper question is: What truly feels like you? When structure makes you feel grounded and confident, use structure. When you're at your best responding in the moment, give yourself more room to be unscripted. The goal isn't to imitate someone else's version of authenticity. It's to communicate in a way that lets people experience the real you. Curiosity Before the Sales Opportunity Chardét shares that there was a time when meeting someone with a potential need immediately triggered the thought: "I need to sell to you." Now, she approaches these conversations differently. Even when someone mentions wanting to start a podcast or YouTube channel, she doesn't immediately move into selling. She asks questions. She listens. She gets curious about what this person wants to achieve and why it matters to them. This gives her the opportunity to understand more than whether there's a match between a need and one of her offers. She can also notice whether there's alignment in values, motivation, and the way they want to work. For Nikki, this reinforces a core principle of relationship-based selling: understand the person before you move toward the sale. The Power of the Pause One of the most useful sales skills in this conversation is also one of the simplest: Be willing to pause. Chardét intentionally leaves space in conversations instead of immediately filling the silence. Why? Because people often keep talking. And what comes next can be the information you really need. Nikki describes being comfortable with silence as an advanced selling skill. When you don't rush to fill every pause, the other person may tell you how to relate to them, how to earn their trust, what matters to them, and even how to sell to them. The pause isn't empty space. It's an opportunity to listen. Nikki's Three Things That Need to Be in Place Before You Sell The conversation about listening and referrals brings forward an important Sales Maven framework. Before selling to someone, Nikki teaches that three things need to be in place: 1. They understand they have a need. When someone isn't aware of a need, earning their business becomes much more difficult. 2. You have a solution that meets this need. A need doesn't automatically mean your offer is the right solution. 3. You have permission. Before moving into selling, make sure you've earned permission to have this conversation. This is one reason referrals can feel so natural. Someone recognizes a need, knows a person who has a solution, and asks permission to make the introduction. These same three elements belong in your sales conversations. Build an Evergreen Ecosystem Calling in your community isn't only about how you show up in a one-on-one conversation. Chardét encourages business owners to create an ecosystem that gives people multiple ways to enter their world. This may include: A podcast YouTube A newsletter Webinars Other evergreen content You don't always know where a future buyer discovers you or when they're ready to engage. Creating at least one evergreen platform means the work you're doing today continues to introduce people to your voice, ideas, and business in the future. This also reduces the pressure to constantly recreate content simply to stay visible. A Quote Worth Remembering "The pause isn't empty space. It's an opportunity to listen." Try This This Week Choose one conversation this week and practice staying curious longer than you normally would. Ask one more genuine question before talking about yourself or your offer. Then, when the other person finishes answering, allow a pause. Don't rush to fill it. Pay attention to what they say next, the words they choose, their body language, and what seems important to them. Notice what you learn when your goal is understanding the person instead of getting to the sales opportunity. Who This Episode Is For This episode is especially valuable when you: Want to attract aligned clients without relying entirely on social media algorithms. Feel pressure to present a polished version of yourself online. Want your visibility strategy to feel more natural and sustainable. Are working on asking better questions and listening more deeply in sales conversations. Want to build authority and trust without constantly proving your expertise. Are creating a community around your business and want the right people to recognize that they belong there. Keep the Conversation Going Did today's conversation give you a new way to think about visibility, community, and how you show up with prospective clients? Here are a few places to continue learning: Connect with Chardét Ryel: https://www.chardetryel.com/ Listen to Chardét's private podcast, Secrets of Standing Out Online: Visit Chardét's website to access the 10-part private podcast series. Explore the Sales Maven Society: https://yoursalesmaven.com/sales-maven-society/ Discover more relationship-based selling strategies: https://yoursalesmaven.com Listen to more episodes of the Sales Maven Show: https://yoursalesmaven.com/sales-maven-podcast/ Timestamps 00:13 Welcome to the Mastering Excellence Series and meet Chardét Ryel 02:38 How Chardét supports female founders in finding and using their deeper voice 05:41 Why human connection becomes more valuable as AI grows 09:27 What it means to call in the community you want to build 10:12 The difference between push marketing and pull marketing 14:29 Why Chardét chooses to show up unscripted 15:12 Finding the right balance between structure and authenticity 18:13 Who Chardét wants to call into her community 21:24 Listening beyond the words someone says 23:38 How Chardét creates safety and trust in conversations 25:21 Why using pauses is an advanced sales skill 29:10 Curiosity before selling 33:52 Nikki's three requirements before you sell to someone 36:23 The structure behind calling in an aligned community 37:29 Why an evergreen marketing ecosystem matters 38:59 The Little Something Extra with Chardét 39:59 Where to connect with Chardét About Chardét Ryel Chardét Ryel is a Behavior Change Specialist and serial entrepreneur with over thirteen years of marketing and business development experience. She started her career pitching to Fortune 500 companies while working for a tiny four-person startup in New York before starting her first company, a wellness brand, in 2013. As a visibility mentor and Forbes-featured Top 200 podcaster, Chardét supports female founders in using their voice to build authority, trust, and demand without relying on algorithms or constantly proving themselves online. Learn more at https://www.chardetryel.com/. About Nikki Rausch Nikki Rausch guides service-based women entrepreneurs who aren't yet comfortable with selling to confidently enroll more clients through natural, relationship-based conversations. Through practical strategies and proven frameworks, you learn how to create consistent business growth while staying true to your values. Whether you're building sales confidence, improving client enrollment, or refining your sales communication, Nikki shows you how to create sales that feel natural and results that feel inevitable.

There's a subtle moment in dating when everything can start to change. At first, you're paying attention to them. Do I like this person? Do I feel good around them? Are they kind? Interesting? Emotionally available? Do I want to see them again? Then you start to really like them, and suddenly the focus flips. Do they like me? Now you're checking your phone. Analyzing texts. Wondering why they took three hours to respond. Replaying the date and looking for clues. And without even realizing it, you've stopped deciding whether you want them and started trying to figure out how to make sure they want you. That shift matters. Because once being chosen becomes the goal, it's incredibly easy to abandon your own experience. You can overlook how anxious you feel around someone, make excuses for behavior you don't actually like, or become so focused on whether you're enough for them that you forget to ask whether they're enough for you. And this doesn't only happen while we're dating. It's one of the reasons rejection and breakups can hurt so much. Sometimes we're grieving the person. But sometimes we're also grieving the fact that they didn't choose us, and those are two very different wounds. In this Language of Love Bite, I'm talking about why we can become so consumed with being wanted, what attachment and old relationship wounds have to do with it, and the question I often ask people after a breakup that can completely change the way they see what they've lost. Because yes, you deserve to be chosen. But you're doing some choosing, too. In this episode, you'll learn: How to recognize when you've shifted from getting to know someone to auditioning for their approval Why uncertainty can make you obsess over texts, conversations, and tiny changes in someone's behavior The difference between actually wanting someone and wanting the validation of being wanted by them Why rejection can hurt even when the relationship itself wasn't right for you The question I ask after a breakup that can change the story you're telling yourself How to notice what your own experience is telling you about a relationship How to date without abandoning yourself in the process Whether you have experienced dating anxiety yourself or love someone who has, this episode will help you understand what is really happening beneath the surface and offer practical, compassionate tools to move forward with confidence. If this hits home, follow The Language of Love wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. If someone came to mind while you were listening, make sure to share this episode with them. You can also email me at languageoflovepod@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at languageoflovepod.com to have your own question answered in a future session. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taking time to savor a wild creature can be very rewarding.

Wondering how to lower cortisol naturally? Nurse Doza walks through five practical habits that support a healthier cortisol rhythm: managing everyday stress, getting morning sunlight, cutting screen time at night, using diaphragmatic breath work, and supplying the adrenal glands with the nutrients they run on. The goal is not crushing cortisol. The goal is rhythm, high when it should be high and low when it should be low. Featured Product Zen (Stress Relief) by MSW Nutrition, $69 If you are running on caffeine and adrenaline, your body is burning through the exact nutrients it needs to keep cortisol on a healthy rhythm. Zen is built to put them back. It pairs 125 mg of adrenal glandular tissue, sourced from Argentinian bovine for purity, with four standardized adaptogens: Asian ginseng, rhodiola, eleuthero, and schisandra. It also delivers vitamin C, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid (B5), the nutrients concentrated in adrenal tissue and used up fastest under sustained demand. Most stress formulas give you one botanical. Zen runs four, in one capsule taken twice daily, so you are not juggling a shelf of bottles. Supports the body's adaptogenic response Supports healthy adrenal physiological function Supports energy production and stamina Supports the body's response to everyday stress

Curious about something you heard on Drive Radio: The Extra Mile, looking for a car review, or have an automotive question? Connect with us live during the Drive-Radio live show! Call the KLZ560am studios in Denver Saturdays, 10 am–1 pm MT at 303-477-5600, or text your questions to 307-200-8222. Stream the show live on the KLZ560am app or at https://Drive-Radio.com. The Fuel-Saving Tricks That Work—and the Gimmicks That Don't. Gas prices are soaring, and car repairs are more expensive than ever. On this episode of Drive Radio – The Extra Mile, John Rush and Luke Cashman reveal insider secrets to slashing vehicle costs, saving big at the pump, and boosting your car's longevity—all with easy tips you can put into action today. Curious if those plug-in gas-saver gadgets are legit? Wondering if the cheapest gas is really a bargain? John and Luke dig into myths and must-dos: from the truth about Top Tier fuel and maintenance hacks, to tire tips and why skipping sketchy mods is smarter for both your wallet and your car. Think your roof rack or extra cargo isn't costing you? Think again! Discover how hidden weight — and even your driving style, like sudden starts and stops can quietly drain your fuel and wear out your car faster. Plus, John and Luke share clever ways to outsmart unavoidable car costs—from leveraging warranties and repair deals to stacking up rewards points for future maintenance. These simple strategies can help you save every time you hit the road!

We're on vacation this week, so are rerunning a fun “beach read” episode exploring if your nearest and dearest could be psychopaths. Miss us already? In an event exclusively for readers of American Purpose and Persuasion, Yascha Mounk will be interviewing Francis Fukuyama about his life and thought at 5pm on Sunday, September 6 at The Abbey Centre, London. Find out more and get tickets here. Paying subscribers of Persuasion and American Purpose can access a code for a free ticket here. Abigail Marsh is a professor in the Department of Psychology and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program at Georgetown University. In this week's conversation, Yascha Mounk and Abigail Marsh explore what to do if a child you know might be psychopathic, whether psychopathy is linked to charisma and success, and how to protect yourself. Wondering if you or a loved one might be a psychopath? Take the quiz! If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: leonora.barclay@persuasion.community Podcast production by Mickey Freeland and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google X: @Yascha_Mounk & @JoinPersuasion YouTube: Yascha Mounk, Persuasion LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wondering what it would be like to serve as a student missionary in Cambodia? Listen as Elena Adams shares how she and other student missionaries built a relationship with one very special student and how it sparked interest in the Bible among his family.                                                               ----------------Today's story is told by Elena Adams, a former student missionary on the Pnong Project in Cambodia.Subscribe and leave us a review if you enjoyed listening to today's story!

What separates a business that's actually worth buying from one that just looks good on paper? In the Season 3 finale of The Dickie and Donny Show, business coaches Dickie and Donny break down the four green flags they look for before buying, selling, or growing a business built to last. This episode covers what due diligence often misses, the signals that go beyond quality of earnings and point to a business with real longevity, legacy, and staying power. They start with purpose, explaining why a written business plan matters more than a founder's memory of "how it all started." From there they move into people, unpacking why long tenure among early employees is one of the strongest indicators of a healthy culture. Then it's process, where documentation living in one clear system beats scattered files across five platforms. Finally, profit, and why a business that can track, measure, and grow its cash flow is a business built to scale, not just survive. ✅ Why a written business plan is a green flag buyers look for ✅ How employee tenure reveals the true health of a business ✅ Why documentation in one place signals a business ready to transfer ✅ How tracked, measurable cash flow shows a business can actually grow Whether you're planning to buy, sell, or simply build a business with lasting value, this episode gives you a clear framework to evaluate where you stand. Wondering how your business measures up against these green flags?

This week's question comes from a protective mom navigating one of the most heartbreaking and misunderstood situations in family court.Her teenage daughter refuses to go to her dad's house. She's crying, begging not to go, and sometimes won't even get out of the car. She's too old to physically carry, and her mom doesn't want to force her in a way that could be traumatic. At the same time, she's terrified that if she doesn't somehow "make her go," the court will accuse her of alienation or violating the parenting plan.What is a protective parent supposed to do in a situation like this?In this Friday Coaching Corner, we explore the difference between facilitating parenting time and forcing a child, why that distinction matters, and how to navigate these impossible moments in a way that supports your child while making reasonable efforts to follow court orders.I answer the questions:What should I actually do when my teen refuses to get out of the car for parenting time?Where is the line between encouraging my child and forcing them?How can I show the court that I am supporting parenting time without traumatizing my child or appearing to alienate?Whether you're living this situation now or simply wondering how you would respond if it happened, this episode offers practical guidance, a trauma-informed perspective, and a mindset shift that can help you navigate one of the most difficult parenting dilemmas protective parents face.Want to have your questions featured on a Friday Coaching Corner? Send me a short summary of your situation and 2–3 questions at info@risingbeyondpc.com.Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice, mental health treatment, or a substitute for advice from professionals familiar with your specific situation. Every parenting plan and court order is different. If you have questions about your legal obligations or your child's safety, consult with a qualified attorney and other professionals knowledgeable about coercive control and family court dynamics. Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.htmlIf you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest 

This is the start of something new. The episodes you have told us you love most are the ones where the three of us sit down together, so we are making them a monthly gathering. Once a month, Tonda, Barbara, and I will open the letters and answer the questions women are actually asking: the real ones, the tender ones, the slightly awkward ones, and the ones you would only ask us at two in the morning with the door shut.If you are new to the show, here is who you are sitting with. I came out in my fifties, and I have kept all the receipts. Barbara is a psychotherapist who will advise you gently, and she means it as the highest compliment. Tonda has been out for more than forty years, so she has quietly seen most of it. We think of ourselves as the slightly older, slightly wiser, occasionally ridiculous friends who happened to get here first.This month we read five letters, and the same quiet question ran underneath every one of them. Woman after woman, wondering whether she is allowed to believe what she feels.Here is what we opened this month:How do I know if what I'm feeling is real, or if I am imagining it?I have never been with a woman. Am I allowed to call myself sapphic or queer at all?Is there such a thing as too late? (from a listener in her late sixties)What is compulsory heterosexuality, and how do I know if I have been living inside it?I know I am not straight, but I do not feel drawn to women the way I expected. Where do I fit?We talk about the comfort zone and the fear that shows up the moment you step out of it, the gatekeepers who think they get to decide who belongs (they do not), why it is never too late, and the grace you deserve when the feelings arrive on their own timeline instead of the one you imagined. Pour something you like, get comfortable, and come sit with us.

Wondering how to create video content that builds real audience relationships and drives sales? I interview Daryn Strauss to learn how to structure a binge-worthy video series using proven storytelling frameworks that turn casual viewers into loyal customers.Why Video Series Content MattersThe 4H Formula for Structuring Individual Videos for an Educational Video SeriesHow to Use Your Origin Story in Educational Video Series: The Story Vault & Re-HookingThe Golden Series Formula for Creating a Video SeriesHow to Choose a Repeatable Video Series FormatGuest: Daryn Strauss | Show Notes: socialmediaexaminer.com/733Review our show on Apple PodcastsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Launching on Kickstarter? Wondering what separates successful creators from everyone else? In this episode of Crowdfunding Demystified, Salvador Briggman talks with Johannes Faure-Brac, founder of Airmaan, about how his latest Kickstarter campaign raised over $315K by focusing on trust, product validation, and customer relationships instead of aggressive marketing. In this episode, you'll learn: Why this new approach can outperform old methods How extensive product testing reduced launch risk. Why this one thing helped turn backers into loyal brand advocates. How Kickstarter validated an entirely new product category. If you're planning a crowdfunding campaign or launching a physical product, this episode is full of practical advice you can immediately apply.  Resources and Tools Mentioned: Book a coaching call Subscribe for Weekly Crowdfunding Tips Fulfillrite: Kickstarter and crowdfunding reward fulfillment services. They come highly recommended! Download their free shipping and fulfillment checklist FREE Kickstarter Course Kickstarter Launch Formula Audiobook M Sofa on Kickstarter Airmaan Website

Running out of space in your fall cool flower beds? Wondering if there are any cool-season hardy annuals you can wait to plant until very early spring instead of this autumn? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss three cool flowers that you may want to wait to plant until very early spring, even if they are winter hardy in your area. They cover the advantages of planting Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum), and Stock (Matthiola incana) in very early spring rather than fall. Listen to the podcast and learn which flowers you can hold off on planting until very early spring and why this may be a better option!The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be posted to The Gardener's Workshop's YouTube channel, where all “Seed Talk” episodes are organized into a ⁠⁠⁠⁠playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠. In addition, auto-generated transcripts are available for viewing on YouTube. If there is a question or topic you would like to hear discussed on a future episode of “Seed Talk”, please fill out the form linked below. We would love to hear your suggestions!Mentions:⁠⁠⁠⁠"Seed Talk" YouTube Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to HarvestOnline Course: Warm Flowers from Seed to HarvestShop: Cool-Season Seeds#8 - Fall Bed Preparation for Very Early Spring Cool Flower Plantings#25 - Seed Starting & Transplant Timing#49 - Cool Flowers Fall Planting Checklist#75 - Cool Flower Succession Planting in Very Early Spring & Beyond#125 - Very Early Spring Cool Flower Planting FAQs⁠⁠⁠"Seed Talk" Topic Suggestion Form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TGW YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TGW iPhone App⁠⁠⁠⁠ (iOS App Store)⁠⁠⁠⁠TGW Android App⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Google Play)⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!⁠⁠⁠⁠The ⁠⁠⁠⁠"Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne"⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcast is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Gardener's Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠ and co-hosted by Lisa Mason Ziegler and Layne Angelo. Lisa is the founder and owner of The Gardener's Workshop, where Layne works as Seed Manager. Lisa is the award-winning author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the publisher of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Flower Farming School Online, Farmer-Florist School Online, and Florist School Online⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch ⁠⁠⁠⁠Lisa's Story⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with her on social media. Layne is an avid gardener, seed starter, and engineer who loves learning and applying her technical knowledge to all areas of life, including gardening and growing flowers. Thanks for joining us!

Wondering about the lunar eclipse meaning as it relates to the August full moon in Pisces? Late night on August 27 and into the wee hours of August 28, we had a full moon and a deep lunar eclipse. If you’ve been hearing that this is intense or life-changing, relax. Here’s what’s actually happening in the sky and how to use this moment in a calm, practical way without drama or dire predictions. What Happened in the Sky The lunar eclipse and the full moon are just one event, happening within a couple of hours of each other. It’s called a deep eclipse, although still a partial one, because the Earth’s shadow covered about 96% of the Moon. Not quite total, but close. While this is visually striking, there’s no impending disaster or chaos. You are OK. You don’t need to do anything special for the event, but it’s a useful time to pause, take stock, and make one clear choice that supports your well-being. Full Moon in Pisces This full moon is in Pisces, a sign linked with feelings, imagination, your spiritual life, rest, and intuition. A full moon is traditionally a time to reflect with the aid of that bright moonlight. Take time to notice your current results and make decisions about where you might need to tweak things to improve your outcomes. This is a great time to have compassion for yourself. Take care of your own needs rather than just serving others, and let go of what no longer serves you. Pay attention to any repeated gut feelings or intuitive messages, then check the facts before you dive in and take action. This is especially for any big decisions. If you’re feeling more emotional or tired, eclipses can do that. Honor your feelings. So, if you’re tired, rest. Identify your feelings and work through them. Talk to someone supportive or address your concern as calmly as you can. This is also a time to surrender and admit that you can’t control everything. Loosen the grip and accept what is. Or you make a plan to work toward a goal and do your best without getting worked up about every step along the way. Think about any behaviors you could tweak. If you’re prone to people-pleasing or procrastinating, this is a great time to work on either one. Maybe you’re avoiding a conversation, or you need to work on your financial goals. Now is the time to be honest with yourself and take one strategic action step or simply ask yourself where you need greater clarity in your life right now. Shortcomings of Modern Day Astrology Astrology is meant to give you a snapshot of your life using your birth, or natal, chart. With your chart done, you can see how an astrological event impacts different aspects of your life and where your opportunities look the brightest. It was never meant to be a constant emergency warning system. Today’s modern astrology leans toward psychological or pop astrology, and considered to be a self-help tool. That’s why planetary movements get translated into the similar language. It’s so repetitive. Every event is a time for self-reflection, strengthening boundaries, releasing, and personal growth. That’s  why the celestial messages sound so generic, because they are written to appeal to everyone.  Back in the day, astrology offered monthly horoscopes which were still sort of general but at least were tailored to your sun sign. Each conjunction or alignment doesn’t impact everybody the same way. Fear, urgency, and anger attract attention and get shared, which is why astrology related headlines often sound so dire. many practitioners resort to catastrophic headlines like, “this eclipse will change everything.” The way I look at this, don’t we already have enough to worry about without piling on a dramatic or ominous astrological events every month. This just adds more negativity to an already overloaded nervous system. A planetary alignment is not an emergency alert. An eclipse is not proof that your life is about to fall apart. If astrology leaves you feeling uneasy, powerless, or convinced disaster is unavoidable, take a step back. That’s not astrological wisdom, it’s factually more like fear-mongering marketing. Many use dire language  simply to get your attention and make you click. The Hoax of Barbault’s Basket First, let me explain who André Barbault was. A French astrologer, he first identified the four planets aligning in this basket shape back in 1955. He studied how this configuration corresponded to specific turning points in history. The most recent “Barbault’s Basket,” just happened on July 15–24, 2026. Many writers pointed this being a dramatic time for a new world order and that created a lot of catastrophic headlines. Guess what I learned after reading several, very long astrological discussions about the Basket? Nothing! That’s right, these long articles never drew a conclusion about what it actually meant. I also did an international review of the news for that July period and NOTHING big happened in the news. Some things escalated but those events had begun earlier. It was just a lot of hype and no substance. Red Flags of Fear-Based Astrology When a video or post says a transit will definitely cause a breakup, financial loss, illness, or catastrophe, there’s no need to continue engaging with it. The same is true for content that insists you must do something or offers the same alarming prediction for everyone. If it leaves you feeling panicky, that’s a red flag. A responsible astrologer says, “this may be a demanding period,” then explain what area might need extra attention. That’s very different from “disaster is coming.” If a post makes you feel scared or helpless, turn away and return to the facts of your life. Think about what’s actually happening and one sensible action you can take to improve your situation. Practical Actions for this Eclipse Choose one action from this list of simple steps to take after the eclipse: Cancel, shorten, or delegate one unnecessary obligation. Make one appointment you’ve been avoiding, whether medical, financial, or emotional support. Send one clear message: “I can’t do that this week,” “I need time to think about that.” Limit draining activity like social media, news consumption, or responding instantly to texts. Schedule one replenishing activity for the week. Take a walk, a bath, listen to music, call a friend, or go to bed early. The stars and planets can invite you to pause and look inward, but don’t let them run your life. Keep your feet on the ground, use your own good judgment, and let astrology help you ask better questions rather than add to your stress. Right now, everything is OK, and when you focus on what’s good, take care of your needs, and find ways to enjoy life, you’ll land on your feet. So What Does This Eclipse Actually Mean? This was one combined event. A deep partial lunar eclipse (about 96% coverage) and a full moon in Pisces rather than two separate happenings. Pisces themes for this full moon is about feelings, intuition, dreams, compassion, and creativity. No special ritual is required. This is just a good excuse to pause and make one clear choice that supports your well-being. Feel your feelings first, then check the facts before acting, especially on big decisions. Watch for fear-based astrology online. If you encounter any absolute predictions, doom language, and content that leaves you feeling powerless, feel free to click away. FAQs What does a lunar eclipse mean astrologically? A lunar eclipse amplifies the themes of the full moon it coincides with, often marking a turning point tied to letting go, emotional release, or a shift in perspective. It’s considered a heightened moment for reflection, not a sign that anything dramatic or dangerous is about to happen. What does the Pisces full moon mean for me? The Pisces full moon highlights emotions, intuition, dreams, compassion, and creativity. It’s a good time to notice recurring gut feelings, reflect on where you need more clarity, and choose one grounded action that supports your well-being rather than reacting on impulse. Is a lunar eclipse dangerous or a bad omen? No. A lunar eclipse is a natural planetary event, not a warning of disaster. Fear-based predictions online are often designed to attract attention and promote shares rather than reflect accurate astrological guidance. If a post leaves you feeling panicked, that’s a sign to step back and check the facts of your own life instead. How can I tell if astrology content is fear-based? Watch for absolute predictions, doom language, pressure to act or buy something quickly, claims that a sign is “cursed,” and content that leaves you feeling powerless. A grounded, responsible astrologer points out a possible theme and practical ways to work with it. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What does a lunar eclipse mean astrologically?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A lunar eclipse amplifies the themes of the full moon it coincides with, often marking a turning point tied to letting go, emotional release, or a shift in perspective. It's considered a heightened moment for reflection, not a sign that anything dramatic or dangerous is about to happen." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What does the Pisces full moon mean for me?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Pisces full moon highlights emotions, intuition, dreams, compassion, and creativity. It's a good time to notice recurring gut feelings, reflect on where you need more clarity, and choose one grounded action that supports your well-being rather than reacting on impulse." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is a lunar eclipse dangerous or a bad omen?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. A lunar eclipse is a natural planetary event, not a warning of disaster. Fear-based predictions online are often designed to attract attention and shares rather than reflect accurate astrological guidance. If a post leaves you panicked, that's a sign to step back and check the facts of your own life instead." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How can I tell if astrology content is fear-based?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Watch for absolute predictions, doom language, pressure to act or buy something quickly, claims that a sign is "cursed," and content that leaves you feeling powerless. A grounded astrologer names a possible theme and a practical area to watch — not a guaranteed catastrophe." } } ] } The post August Lunar Eclipse & Pisces Full Moon – What This Means appeared first on Intuitive Edge.

 With Louis Diamond Vanguard's acquisition of Altruist could reshape RIA custody, bringing together Altruist's technology with the scale, capital, and reputation of one of the industry's best-known brands. In Summary Vanguard's acquisition of Altruist brings one of the financial industry's most established brands together with one of RIA custody's fastest-growing challengers. In this Rapid Reaction Industry Update, Louis Diamond looks beyond the reported $4B+ purchase price to consider what the combination could mean for advisors—what he sees as the good news, the potentially negative outcomes, and everything in between. Altruist gains the capital, scale, and brand recognition that could help it compete more aggressively for larger RIAs and breakaway teams. Vanguard gains a technology-forward custody platform and greater access to the independent advisor channel. The larger implication may be increased competition across RIA custody. With Schwab and Fidelity controlling much of the market, a Vanguard-backed Altruist could create new pressure around technology, pricing, service, referrals, and innovation—while raising new questions about how Vanguard balances its growing advice business with its role as custodian. The Storyline RIA custody has long been dominated by Schwab and Fidelity, particularly since Schwab's acquisition of TD Ameritrade. Altruist emerged as one of the few credible challengers, building its position around modern technology, lower costs, and an advisor-focused platform.   But technology was only part of the equation. For larger breakaway teams in particular, Altruist faced another hurdle: brand recognition. Advisors could be impressed by the platform while still wondering how clients accustomed to names like Merrill, UBS, Morgan Stanley, Schwab, or Fidelity would respond to an unfamiliar custodian.   Vanguard changes that equation.   Louis examines why the acquisition makes strategic sense for both companies, from Vanguard's push to expand access to financial advice to Altruist's opportunity to operate with the backing of a well-capitalized, long-term owner.   For advisors, however, the bigger story is what happens next. A stronger competitor in custody could affect everything from technology and pricing to referral opportunities and the choices available to breakaway advisors.   There are also important questions still unanswered. Vanguard operates its own advice businesses. Altruist's speed and fintech culture may be tested inside a much larger organization. And while Vanguard says Altruist will remain independent, the longer-term operating model remains to be seen.   The deal may not change advisors' options immediately. But it has the potential to change the competitive dynamics surrounding those options considerably.   Topics Covered Vanguard's acquisition of Altruist RIA custody competition Schwab and Fidelity Altruist's technology and Hazel AI Vanguard's financial advice strategy Custodian brand recognition for breakaway advisors Advisor referral networks Custody and technology pricing Direct advice and custodian conflicts The future of RIA platforms and Supportive Independence > Download a transcript of this episode… Listen and Learn Highlights for Advisors Why is the Vanguard-Altruist acquisition significant for RIA custody? (03:53)Louis explains why custody has remained highly concentrated around Schwab and Fidelity and how combining Vanguard's scale and reputation with Altruist's technology could create a much stronger third competitor.   What problem does Vanguard potentially solve for Altruist? (05:01)Altruist has built a strong reputation among advisors for its technology, but larger breakaway teams have sometimes questioned whether clients would recognize or trust the brand. Vanguard could significantly reduce that concern.   Why does buying Altruist make sense for Vanguard? (07:00)Vanguard has more than 50 million investors and has publicly discussed the need to expand access to financial advice. Louis considers how Altruist could give Vanguard both additional capacity and a stronger connection to independent advisors.   What does Altruist gain from Vanguard beyond capital? (09:51)Louis discusses the significance of having a long-term, investor-owned parent rather than remaining dependent on successive rounds of venture capital, while gaining additional resources to develop custody, technology, and Hazel AI.   How could this acquisition change the choices available to breakaway advisors? (12:33)The combination of Altruist's technology with Vanguard's brand could make the platform more viable for larger teams that previously hesitated because of client recognition and trust concerns.   Could Vanguard become a meaningful source of client referrals to RIAs? (13:42)With millions of existing investors and more demand for advice than Vanguard can necessarily serve internally, Louis considers whether a future referral program connecting Vanguard clients with Altruist RIAs could become an important competitive advantage.   What are the potential risks of the Vanguard-Altruist combination? (16:54)The acquisition also raises questions around Vanguard's competing advice business, Altruist's long-term independence, differences in corporate culture, innovation speed, and talent retention.   What could happen next across the custody market? (20:00)Louis offers several predictions, including responses from Schwab and Fidelity, wider adoption of Hazel AI, a potential Vanguard-Altruist referral channel, and greater use of Altruist by breakaway advisors.   Key Takeaways Vanguard's acquisition of Altruist could introduce a more formidable competitor into an RIA custody market heavily concentrated around Schwab and Fidelity. Vanguard addresses one of Altruist's biggest challenges with larger breakaway teams: providing a widely recognized financial brand that advisors can more easily explain to clients. Altruist gives Vanguard a technology-forward entry point into RIA custody as Vanguard continues expanding its strategy around access to financial advice. Advisors could benefit from greater competition through pressure on custody and technology pricing, service, product development, and innovation. A future referral channel could become an important part of the combination, particularly given Vanguard's enormous investor base and Altruist's growing network of RIAs. The acquisition also introduces potential conflicts and execution risks, including Vanguard's own advice businesses, the integration of two very different corporate cultures, and questions about whether Altruist can maintain its speed and independence over time. For breakaway advisors, the custody shortlist may have changed: Altruist can now pair its technology and fintech capabilities with the capital and reputation of Vanguard. https://youtu.be/UlgCBjLXrnw Quotable Moments “Custody is really a trust business.”— Louis Diamond (05:55) “Every time a well-capitalized player shows up, especially in custody, advisors win.”— Louis Diamond (12:33) “Really, it's tech-forward independence now without a brand trade-off.”— Louis Diamond (13:42) “There are always innovators showing up from outside the establishment, and every time one succeeds, advisors end up with more options and more leverage and more negotiating power than they had the year before.”— Louis Diamond (22:44) FAQs Why is Vanguard acquiring Altruist? Louis sees several strategic reasons for the acquisition. Altruist gives Vanguard an established technology and custody platform serving more than 6,000 advisors, while potentially expanding Vanguard's ability to reach investors through independent financial advisors. It may also provide another distribution channel for Vanguard investment products and future offerings. What does Vanguard's acquisition mean for Altruist? Altruist gains the backing of one of the world's largest and best-known investment firms while retaining, at least initially, its brand, leadership, and operating structure. Vanguard's capital could allow Altruist to continue investing in custody capabilities, technology, and products such as Hazel AI without relying on additional venture funding rounds. How could the acquisition affect RIA custody competition? Schwab and Fidelity currently dominate RIA custody. Louis believes a Vanguard-backed Altruist could become a stronger challenger by combining Altruist's technology and pricing model with Vanguard's scale, capital, and reputation. That could increase competitive pressure around pricing, service, technology, and innovation. Why could the deal matter to breakaway advisors? Altruist's technology has attracted advisor interest, but some larger breakaway teams have questioned whether clients would be comfortable holding substantial wealth with a less familiar custodian. Vanguard's ownership could substantially reduce that brand-recognition hurdle and make Altruist a more viable option for larger teams. Could Vanguard refer clients to advisors using Altruist? No referral program has been announced. However, Louis believes it is an important possibility to watch. Vanguard has more than 50 million investors, while Altruist provides access to thousands of independent advisors. Connecting investors seeking human advice with RIAs on the Altruist platform could create a meaningful new referral channel. Are there risks for advisors using a Vanguard-owned custodian? Potentially. Vanguard operates its own financial advice businesses, creating some of the same competitive concerns advisors have raised about other custodians with retail advice operations. Other questions include whether Altruist will remain operationally independent over time and whether its culture and pace of innovation can be maintained under Vanguard ownership. What happens next for Altruist, Schwab, and Fidelity? Louis expects the competitive response to be worth watching. He believes Schwab and Fidelity could respond through technology, AI, pricing, or other changes to their advisor offerings. He also expects Altruist to compete more aggressively for breakaway teams and sees the potential for Hazel AI to expand well beyond advisors who custody assets with Altruist. Does the Vanguard-Altruist deal change anything for advisors immediately? Not necessarily. The transaction still needs to close, and its longer-term impact will take time to emerge. But for advisors evaluating custodians, independence, or the value they receive from existing partners, the acquisition adds another factor to consider as the competitive landscape evolves. Louis sees several strategic reasons for the acquisition. Altruist gives Vanguard an established technology and custody platform serving more than 6,000 advisors, while potentially expanding Vanguard's ability to reach investors through independent financial advisors. It may also provide another distribution channel for Vanguard investment products and future offerings. Altruist gains the backing of one of the world's largest and best-known investment firms while retaining, at least initially, its brand, leadership, and operating structure. Vanguard's capital could allow Altruist to continue investing in custody capabilities, technology, and products such as Hazel AI without relying on additional venture funding rounds. Schwab and Fidelity currently dominate RIA custody. Louis believes a Vanguard-backed Altruist could become a stronger challenger by combining Altruist's technology and pricing model with Vanguard's scale, capital, and reputation. That could increase competitive pressure around pricing, service, technology, and innovation. Altruist's technology has attracted advisor interest, but some larger breakaway teams have questioned whether clients would be comfortable holding substantial wealth with a less familiar custodian. Vanguard's ownership could substantially reduce that brand-recognition hurdle and make Altruist a more viable option for larger teams. No referral program has been announced. However, Louis believes it is an important possibility to watch. Vanguard has more than 50 million investors, while Altruist provides access to thousands of independent advisors. Connecting investors seeking human advice with RIAs on the Altruist platform could create a meaningful new referral channel. Potentially. Vanguard operates its own financial advice businesses, creating some of the same competitive concerns advisors have raised about other custodians with retail advice operations. Other questions include whether Altruist will remain operationally independent over time and whether its culture and pace of innovation can be maintained under Vanguard ownership. Louis expects the competitive response to be worth watching. He believes Schwab and Fidelity could respond through technology, AI, pricing, or other changes to their advisor offerings. He also expects Altruist to compete more aggressively for breakaway teams and sees the potential for Hazel AI to expand well beyond advisors who custody assets with Altruist. Not necessarily. The transaction still needs to close, and its longer-term impact will take time to emerge. But for advisors evaluating custodians, independence, or the value they receive from existing partners, the acquisition adds another factor to consider as the competitive landscape evolves. 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. Related Resources  Rise and Reinvent: Joe Duran on Building and Rebuilding World-Class Firms From Insurance Sales to $8B RIA: A Northwestern Mutual Breakaway Story Diamond Consultants 4th Annual Advisor Transition Report View the transcript of this episode… Vanguard Acquires Altruist: What It Means for RIAs, Custody & Breakaway Advisors With Louis Diamond Louis Diamond (00:06): Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for financial advisors. Today’s episode is a special rapid reaction industry update, Vanguard acquires Altruist, what it means for advisors in the industry. I’m Louis Diamond, and this is The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors. Mindy Diamond (00:28): 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. (01:21): 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. Louis Diamond (02:05): Funny how the biggest news in the business almost never comes from the firms everyone is watching. On Wednesday, August 26th, 2026, Vanguard announced its acquiring Altruist. If you asked me a year ago to name the company most likely to buy an RIA custodian, Vanguard would not have been near the top of my list. Vanguard was in the RIA custody business once. They left in 2003 and handed roughly $120 billion of advisor assets to TD Ameritrade on the way out. 23 years later, they’re buying their way back in, reported $4 billion or more. So let’s talk about what happened, why it matters, and where I think it goes from here. (02:48): What happened? On August 26th, 2026, a definitive agreement was announced out of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. A deal is closing later this year where Vanguard is acquiring Altruist, the relative upstart RIA custodian. The price, an undisclosed number, but a reported $4 billion, some outlets reporting $4.6 billion or more. Either way, more than double their last private market valuation at the end of April 2025. Another element is Altruist is staying as a standalone. They’ll keep their brand, CEO, management team, and operate the same model just as a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanguard. Altruist in one breath, for those unaware, was a custodian and fintech company founded in 2018 by Jason Wenk. They became a self-clearing custodian, third largest as far as number of advisors served, north of 6,000 advisors, and had a reputation for serving smaller or upstart advisors, but recently started getting into more of the larger market breakaway space. (03:53): One estimate I’ve seen peg’s Altruist market share of RIA custody at around 6%, but you compare that to about three quarters of the market for Schwab and Fidelity combined. So a relatively small player, but a rapidly emerging player and threat in US RIA custody. This is not the first time Vanguard has been involved with Altruist. They reportedly were an early investor in Altruist back in 2020 and former Vanguard CEO, Bill McNabb, has been on the board of Altruist, so a lot of history between the firms. Let’s get into now why I think this is interesting for the industry as a whole. In my view, custody has never really been all that competitive, especially since TD Ameritrade sold to Schwab. You really had an oligopoly between Schwab and Fidelity. Sure, there’s a number of compelling, say more boutique custodians, whether Pershing Advisor Solutions, Goldman Sachs, which was another newer entrant to custody, LPL, Raymond James, First Clearing, and a number of others are also in the space, but it is a market that is dramatically dominated by the two largest players. (05:01): So I think this matters because you add an amazing venerable brand and reputation of Vanguard with this scrappy upstart custodian, and all of a sudden you can see a world where custody is one of the more competitive spaces in the industry. Altruist, in my view too, was one of the first credible challengers to the incumbent custodians in 20-ish years. Goldman has since picked up some decent market share and certainly they’re attractive for the segment of advisors. But Altruist with their tech-forward approach, low fees, and even just the way they went to market as an antagonist to Schwab and Fidelity, they’re a big deal and I think this just magnifies what they’re able to do. The gap though for Altruist was brand and reputation. Sure, they had amazing tech. No one ever has doubted that. Hazel AI, which they recently launched has been very well received. (05:55): Advisors I’ve worked with who have demoed the platform are incredibly impressed. The big Achilles heel though for Altruist has been my clients don’t know who Altruist is. Why would my clients put their millions of dollars of wealth with a self-clearing custodian that doesn’t have the same scale or reputation as the incumbent custodians? Well, that really goes away here. And at the end of the day, custody is really a trust business, but you’d have to think that a client would trust their assets held with Vanguard or with Altruist through Vanguard in a very similar way that they would trust assets held by Bank of New York Mellon or Charles Schwab or Fidelity Investments or Goldman Sachs. So to me, Vanguard acquiring Altruist solves that problem in one sentence, very simple. Why I think this makes sense for Vanguard? Salim Ramji, the CEO of Vanguard, has been saying since he arrived from BlackRock two years ago that only one in five Americans work with a fee-based financial advisor and that quality advice shouldn’t be a luxury good and this shortage is only going to get worse as advisors retire. (07:00): This is really him putting his money where his mouth is and really trying to make financial advice, human directed financial advice more accessible to everyday Americans and the upper echelons of wealth in this country. Vanguard as a company has over 50 million reported investors and over 12 trillion in assets. A lot of these people want Vanguard advice, but Vanguard hasn’t had the manpower or the capacity to deliver it itself. Buying Altruist over time can certainly solve that capacity gap and make it so that a human-based financial advisor or any of Vanguard’s internal platforms now have a greater ability to provide advice to Americans looking for financial advisors in the United States. I think this also means more distribution capability for Vanguard funds. Not that Vanguard has ever had a problem with distribution. They have a relatively small wholesaling force compared to other firms, but given their cost and reputation and performance, they’re really on pretty much every platform. (08:04): Most advisors have some clients that are invested into Vanguard mutual funds or ETFs, but this I think just gives them a greater ability to distribute Vanguard products, probably in a similar way to Goldman’s approach. When Goldman entered US RIA custody, in large part, they were doing it for distribution of different things. For Goldman, it was private markets and lending and other types of products. Vanguard is more ETFs and mutual funds, but Vanguard has also been pushing more into the private market space, so I can definitely see a world in which they can ratchet up the distribution of their products in a fairly cost-efficient way. I think to me, the most interesting thing about this marriage is the mission overlap is quite real. When Vanguard started, and to this day, their goal was to provide quality investment products at a fraction of the cost of the incumbents so that investing can be accessible to everyday Americans. (08:59): That’s exactly the verbiage that Jason Wenk and Altruist has used from the beginning, where they want to become a all-in-one hub or tech-enabled custodian so that an advisor, regardless of their size and a client regardless of their AUM, have the ability to get quality advice. I recently listened to a podcast called Acquired. We’ll link it in the show notes, but it’s a three-hour in-depth look into the building of Vanguard. And if you combine that with the podcast episode that I recorded with Jason Wenk, the CEO of Altruist, if you play them side by side, the parallels are eerily similar. So we’ll link both into the show notes, but I really think both of these firms were cut from the same cloth and really from the beginning, both have gone against the grain and tried to rattle incumbent players in the industry. So at least on paper, seems like a very good match. (09:51): Why does this deal make sense for Altruist? For one, for Jason Wenk and his leadership team, this has to be the outcome you drew up, maybe even better. Founding a new custodian in 2018, selling it in 2026, eight years later for over $4 billion, that’s a pretty incredible return on time for this team. They deserve it all and built something special and really entered into a space where no one wanted to venture just given the market share of the major incumbents, but good for them and has to feel good to pull off this type of sale. I think the big thing too is the buyer is the story. Vanguard as a company, it’s investor owned. They’re not private equity owned. They’re not VC backed like Altruist was. So Altruist can get off of the fundraising treadmill. They don’t have to worry about fund life or a five-year hold period or an eventual sale to a strategic. (10:42): Now they can really just focus on the business at hand, having one of the most well-capitalized companies in the world as their capital backer and owner. And every advisor on a PE-backed platform knows the question hanging over every relationship, who owns this next? That’s a question they won’t have to answer anymore at all, and they can really just focus now going forward. I think this also gives Altruist a fortress balance sheet and a ton of capital to keep pushing and developing their Hazel AI platform, which was launched in September 2025. Hazel’s an AI tax planning tool, kind of AI superpower that really has taken the industry by storm and has started to be sold as a standalone product to RIAs. And from what I’ve seen, they’ve sold it to over 1600 new RIAs just in the first month alone for $60 a seat per month, and that’s available to folks if they custody at Altruist or not. (11:36): So this, I think, just gives them an ability to distribute their fintech solutions and certainly develop their custody platform in a way that maybe was challenging or not as possible before. They can also take a longer term view instead of having to worry about they raised a series F, whatever comes after F and an eventual sale, investors wanting to get a return on capital, they can now focus on building over the long term, which has been Vanguard’s strategy all along. I think too, this will give Altruist the ability to invest in new capabilities that they didn’t have before, whether it’s lending or whether it’s more on the product side. It takes a lot to be a custodian. It seems like a relatively straightforward business just holding assets, but there’s a lot of products, solutions, really requirements that everyday investors and RIA clients have, and I think this will just ratchet up Altruist’s ability to close some of the capability gaps that they’ve had since they launched and they’re very transparent about those. (12:33): What I’m most excited about this, just coming from my vantage point in the industry, is why should an advisor care? To me, there’s five things that advisors should really take notice of with this acquisition. First one’s competition. Every time a well-capitalized player shows up, especially in custody, advisors win. Schwab and Fidelity have fought Vanguard in the asset management space for decades, and more recently in financial advice. Now you’re adding custody against a firm that doesn’t need to be profitable the next quarter, and all of a sudden we very much have an arms race and some competition is good for pricing, for service, for innovation, and I think this is going to be only positives for clients across the country, having another competitive option and keeping the incumbents really on their toes. Another reason, the breakaway shortlist has changed. Objection I always heard about Altruist was, “The tech is great, the AI seems cool, but how do I explain the name Altruist to a 68-year-old client who’s leaving Merrill or UBS or Morgan Stanley?” (13:42): While someone may still get some objections because Vanguard may not have the same brand cache as Goldman Sachs or UBS Private Wealth or Merrill Private Wealth, that objection got a lot weaker today. Really, it’s tech-forward independence now without a brand trade-off. It’s a genuinely different offer in the market than it was before. Third, I think this is one that hasn’t been talked about much, but should be watched closely, potential for referrals. Schwab confirmed last week that it was taking the SAN or the Schwab Advisor Network client referral minimum from two million to five million. For anyone not aware, referrals from the retail branches of Schwab and Fidelity are one of the major organic growth funnels for many of the top RIAs in this country and have driven valuations to billions and billions of dollars for firms that are in this program. (14:36): I really do see this as being a potential new massive referral opportunity of Vanguard existing clients and customers to Altruist custody to RIAs at a time when Schwab is trying to keep more of those referrals from themselves, which is a very savvy strategy, but at the same time, probably creates a bit of an opening for Altruist and Vanguard to become a really good referral hub for clients, which is a major draw for signing up new RIAs as clients, for breakaway advisors, et cetera. (15:07): So more details need to come there. We don’t even know if they’re starting a referral channel, but I have to imagine that’s high in the punch list and will be a very compelling offering in the marketplace. Yeah, think about it. Vanguard is 50 million investors and a CEO who said multiple times that they don’t have enough advisors or humans to deliver this advice. So perfect. You now have a massive array of RIAs and more and more coming to the table who offer that advice and being able to still serve them, still keep the assets in-house, but do it in a way where Vanguard doesn’t have to scale up their advisor force. They now have advisors to refer to. Fourth is pricing. I think the Vanguard effect is going to be real here. When Vanguard started, and even to this day, they’ve been the one who’ve pushed down the expense ratio on mutual funds and ETFs. (15:56): It’s been a massive benefit to investors across this country. It’s been Altruist’s playbook all along too, more focused on the advisor, so offering amazing tech and a custody platform for virtually no cost to an advisor. So I would say whatever you’re paying for technology, for custody, and really anything else that Altruist and Vanguard might touch, I would expect it to go down potentially and just have more pressures on the incumbent firms to really sharpen their pencil or to get more creative on pricing and innovation. I think that the fifth thing to keep in mind is Schwab has long used its scale and positioning in the market to best competitors, whether it was going to $0 on tickets for equities and ETFs, et cetera, a number of years ago or a number of other strategies they’ve taken. Now you have a firm that has similar scale as Schwab, a reputation for playing the long game and being comfortable making less money in the process. (16:54): So again, massive benefit to the advisors to have another major player driving down costs and increasing innovation in the space. But this is not all positives. As with anything, there’s the good and the bad, and also some open questions. The biggest, I think, downside or potential thing to watch here, and certainly if you are a BDO at a custodian, this is the line you’re using, “Vanguard has its own advice business, personal advisor, digital advisor, and a CEO who stated that his goal is that an advisor is in every investor’s pocket.” So now you have the custodian that’s holding your client’s assets also running one of the largest advice operations in the country. We’ve heard this concern in the past about Schwab or Fidelity where you have RA custody and then these firms have massive retail distribution networks. So certainly Vanguard, I think, will be in the same lane. (17:46): And if you look at a Pershing or an LPL or Raymond James, it’s a little bit different because they don’t have their own channels in the same way that Schwab or Fidelity do. So certainly if you’re BNY Mellon in particular, which is a straight B2B custodian, this is a clear point of differentiation for Vanguard, Altruist and certainly versus the other custodians. Next one is Vanguard has said that Altruist will remain a standalone business. The brand will stay intact, the management team, et cetera. But in fairness, every acquirer says versions of the same thing. The real test is let’s wait two years, three years and see how converging roles or similar roles across the firm start to converge into one, and over time will they more Altruist brand and human capital into one structure. (18:36): Right now we don’t know, but I’m always a bit skeptical with acquisitions that you have the honeymoon period, takes time for the deals to close, and then what happens a couple of years down the line? Either as there’s new executives in charge, there’s turnover, or just there’s certain synergies that can be had, and the best way to do it is by combining operations and the like. (18:56): The next risk, I think it might sound a little bit mundane, but it’s culture and speed. Vanguard based in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Altruist in LA, very different cultures. Altruist as a fintech company has been superfast to market, building, breaking things, innovating. And Vanguard, I think they’ve been extremely innovative on pricing, on product development, but I’ve never heard amazing reviews about Vanguard’s technology. So does this convergence of cultures create an issue? Does it create more bureaucracy for Altruist trying to build stuff? Is there a cultural mismatch when it comes to speed of market and innovation? And I think the last thing to keep in mind or to watch is the talent drainage at Altruist post-closing. Yes, I was a FinTech company and custodian offering equity, lots of upside for people that have taken this journey with them. Vanguard notoriously is the opposite. They don’t offer equity to anyone and they offer their employees high base salaries and you have a culture of longevity within the firm. (20:00): So after the lockup period is done for, or the earn out period is done for any Altruist equity owners and many of their employees, does that cause some talent drainage where folks want to go onto the next big thing, think what will happen to all the amazing SpaceX employees a year from now when their IPO lockups are done? Does that lead them to another opportunity? All these are questions I don’t know, but trying to play devil’s advocate. I think the biggest potential negative is just the Vanguard advice business as a competitor, a conflict to RIA custody. Let me give you a couple of predictions before we wrap here. I think Schwab and Fidelity will respond fast, whether it’s on the AI front or because the pressure is really on. I don’t know, maybe the $5 million referral minimum that Schwab just announced, maybe that sunsets after a period of time. I have no idea. (20:53): I’m also excited to see, we’ll call it the tech face off between Altruist and Robinhood. Robinhood acquired TradePMR, which is on the Wells Fargo First Clearing platform and is in the process of launching an RIA custodian themselves. So now you have, I think, two pretty incredible tech-forward custodians really trying to gain market share, so that will be fun to watch. Could there be a threat in the RIA platform space? So RIA platforms meaning RIAs, we call them supportive versions of independence, where advisors can plug into, they get technology, compliance, operations, et cetera, and still own their business. Given the end-to-end tech stack that Altruist boasts, and they’ve also been in development of their own corporate RIA, does that become that much more of a competitive feature that could possibly become a solution in and of itself that takes a dent out of these RIA platforms playbook? (21:45): I don’t know, but I think it’s possible. Altruist Hazel AI, does that push even well beyond custody? There’s a ton of AI and fintechs popping up around the industry. Hazel has certainly taken a lot of headlines and attention. With Vanguard behind it now, does that push the price lower? Does it help their distribution? Maybe you picture this, if you have a Vanguard-owned product sitting in the daily workflow of a competitor’s advisors, so let’s say you’re a Morgan Stanley, you’re a Schwab advisor, et cetera, do you now have a Vanguard-owned product in Hazel as part of your workflow or your fintech stack? Could be interesting. I will call a referral channel for Vanguard or Altruist, we’ll say within the next year or two. I think it would be crazy if that didn’t happen and that will be a massive disruptor. And finally, my prediction is more breakaways landing in Altruist. They’ve started to crack that door, but now with the powerful brand and reputation behind them, the sky’s probably the limit. (22:44): So in closing, a guy, Jason Wenk, started a company in 2018 in Los Angeles because he thought independent advisors deserve better software at a lower price. Eight years later, one of the most respected financial institutions in the world paid $4 billion for it, and the reason is he was right in that bet. There are always innovators showing up from outside the establishment, and every time one succeeds, advisors end up with more options and more leverage and more negotiating power than they had the year before. It’s a consistent theme across the industry. So nothing changes tomorrow, deals take time, deals have a way of falling apart, but if you’re evaluating custodians, thinking about independence for the first time, wondering whether your current partner is going to keep earning your business, today is a good day to reopen that question. And if you’re an advisor, I think cheer this on and be excited. (23:42): And as a industry participant, I am very excited to see how this deal takes hold and how this pushes the rest of the industry to innovate and continue to be better. So that’s it for today. Thank you for hearing my ramblings, and I’ll see you next time. Mindy Diamond (24:02): 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.   Vanguard Acquires Altruist: What It Means for RIAs, Custody & Breakaway Advisors With Louis Diamond Louis Diamond (00:06): Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for financial advisors. Today’s episode is a special rapid reaction industry update, Vanguard acquires Altruist, what it means for advisors in the industry. I’m Louis Diamond, and this is The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors. Mindy Diamond (00:28): 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. (01:21): 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. Louis Diamond (02:05): Funny how the biggest news in the business almost never comes from the firms everyone is watching. On Wednesday, August 26th, 2026, Vanguard announced its acquiring Altruist. If you asked me a year ago to name the company most likely to buy an RIA custodian, Vanguard would not have been near the top of my list. Vanguard was in the RIA custody business once. They left in 2003 and handed roughly $120 billion of advisor assets to TD Ameritrade on the way out. 23 years later, they’re buying their way back in, reported $4 billion or more. So let’s talk about what happened, why it matters, and where I think it goes from here. (02:48): What happened? On August 26th, 2026, a definitive agreement was announced out of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. A deal is closing later this year where Vanguard is acquiring Altruist, the relative upstart RIA custodian. The price, an undisclosed number, but a reported $4 billion, some outlets reporting $4.6 billion or more. Either way, more than double their last private market valuation at the end of April 2025. Another element is Altruist is staying as a standalone. They’ll keep their brand, CEO, management team, and operate the same model just as a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanguard. Altruist in one breath, for those unaware, was a custodian and fintech company founded in 2018 by Jason Wenk. They became a self-clearing custodian, third largest as far as number of advisors served, north of 6,000 advisors, and had a reputation for serving smaller or upstart advisors, but recently started getting into more of the larger market breakaway space. (03:53): One estimate I’ve seen peg’s Altruist market share of RIA custody at around 6%, but you compare that to about three quarters of the market for Schwab and Fidelity combined. So a relatively small player, but a rapidly emerging player and threat in US RIA custody. This is not the first time Vanguard has been involved with Altruist. They reportedly were an early investor in Altruist back in 2020 and former Vanguard CEO, Bill McNabb, has been on the board of Altruist, so a lot of history between the firms. Let’s get into now why I think this is interesting for the industry as a whole. In my view, custody has never really been all that competitive, especially since TD Ameritrade sold to Schwab. You really had an oligopoly between Schwab and Fidelity. Sure, there’s a number of compelling, say more boutique custodians, whether Pershing Advisor Solutions, Goldman Sachs, which was another newer entrant to custody, LPL, Raymond James, First Clearing, and a number of others are also in the space, but it is a market that is dramatically dominated by the two largest players. (05:01): So I think this matters because you add an amazing venerable brand and reputation of Vanguard with this scrappy upstart custodian, and all of a sudden you can see a world where custody is one of the more competitive spaces in the industry. Altruist, in my view too, was one of the first credible challengers to the incumbent custodians in 20-ish years. Goldman has since picked up some decent market share and certainly they’re attractive for the segment of advisors. But Altruist with their tech-forward approach, low fees, and even just the way they went to market as an antagonist to Schwab and Fidelity, they’re a big deal and I think this just magnifies what they’re able to do. The gap though for Altruist was brand and reputation. Sure, they had amazing tech. No one ever has doubted that. Hazel AI, which they recently launched has been very well received. (05:55): Advisors I’ve worked with who have demoed the platform are incredibly impressed. The big Achilles heel though for Altruist has been my clients don’t know who Altruist is. Why would my clients put their millions of dollars of wealth with a self-clearing custodian that doesn’t have the same scale or reputation as the incumbent custodians? Well, that really goes away here. And at the end of the day, custody is really a trust business, but you’d have to think that a client would trust their assets held with Vanguard or with Altruist through Vanguard in a very similar way that they would trust assets held by Bank of New York Mellon or Charles Schwab or Fidelity Investments or Goldman Sachs. So to me, Vanguard acquiring Altruist solves that problem in one sentence, very simple. Why I think this makes sense for Vanguard? Salim Ramji, the CEO of Vanguard, has been saying since he arrived from BlackRock two years ago that only one in five Americans work with a fee-based financial advisor and that quality advice shouldn’t be a luxury good and this shortage is only going to get worse as advisors retire. (07:00): This is really him putting his money where his mouth is and really trying to make financial advice, human directed financial advice more accessible to everyday Americans and the upper echelons of wealth in this country. Vanguard as a company has over 50 million reported investors and over 12 trillion in assets. A lot of these people want Vanguard advice, but Vanguard hasn’t had the manpower or the capacity to deliver it itself. Buying Altruist over time can certainly solve that capacity gap and make it so that a human-based financial advisor or any of Vanguard’s internal platforms now have a greater ability to provide advice to Americans looking for financial advisors in the United States. I think this also means more distribution capability for Vanguard funds. Not that Vanguard has ever had a problem with distribution. They have a relatively small wholesaling force compared to other firms, but given their cost and reputation and performance, they’re really on pretty much every platform. (08:04): Most advisors have some clients that are invested into Vanguard mutual funds or ETFs, but this I think just gives them a greater ability to distribute Vanguard products, probably in a similar way to Goldman’s approach. When Goldman entered US RIA custody, in large part, they were doing it for distribution of different things. For Goldman, it was private markets and lending and other types of products. Vanguard is more ETFs and mutual funds, but Vanguard has also been pushing more into the private market space, so I can definitely see a world in which they can ratchet up the distribution of their products in a fairly cost-efficient way. I think to me, the most interesting thing about this marriage is the mission overlap is quite real. When Vanguard started, and to this day, their goal was to provide quality investment products at a fraction of the cost of the incumbents so that investing can be accessible to everyday Americans. (08:59): That’s exactly the verbiage that Jason Wenk and Altruist has used from the beginning, where they want to become a all-in-one hub or tech-enabled custodian so that an advisor, regardless of their size and a client regardless of their AUM, have the ability to get quality advice. I recently listened to a podcast called Acquired. We’ll link it in the show notes, but it’s a three-hour in-depth look into the building of Vanguard. And if you combine that with the podcast episode that I recorded with Jason Wenk, the CEO of Altruist, if you play them side by side, the parallels are eerily similar. So we’ll link both into the show notes, but I really think both of these firms were cut from the same cloth and really from the beginning, both have gone against the grain and tried to rattle incumbent players in the industry. So at least on paper, seems like a very good match. (09:51): Why does this deal make sense for Altruist? For one, for Jason Wenk and his leadership team, this has to be the outcome you drew up, maybe even better. Founding a new custodian in 2018, selling it in 2026, eight years later for over $4 billion, that’s a pretty incredible return on time for this team. They deserve it all and built something special and really entered into a space where no one wanted to venture just given the market share of the major incumbents, but good for them and has to feel good to pull off this type of sale. I think the big thing too is the buyer is the story. Vanguard as a company, it’s investor owned. They’re not private equity owned. They’re not VC backed like Altruist was. So Altruist can get off of the fundraising treadmill. They don’t have to worry about fund life or a five-year hold period or an eventual sale to a strategic. (10:42): Now they can really just focus on the business at hand, having one of the most well-capitalized companies in the world as their capital backer and owner. And every advisor on a PE-backed platform knows the question hanging over every relationship, who owns this next? That’s a question they won’t have to answer anymore at all, and they can really just focus now going forward. I think this also gives Altruist a fortress balance sheet and a ton of capital to keep pushing and developing their Hazel AI platform, which was launched in September 2025. Hazel’s an AI tax planning tool, kind of AI superpower that really has taken the industry by storm and has started to be sold as a standalone product to RIAs. And from what I’ve seen, they’ve sold it to over 1600 new RIAs just in the first month alone for $60 a seat per month, and that’s available to folks if they custody at Altruist or not. (11:36): So this, I think, just gives them an ability to distribute their fintech solutions and certainly develop their custody platform in a way that maybe was challenging or not as possible before. They can also take a longer term view instead of having to worry about they raised a series F, whatever comes after F and an eventual sale, investors wanting to get a return on capital, they can now focus on building over the long term, which has been Vanguard’s strategy all along. I think too, this will give Altruist the ability to invest in new capabilities that they didn’t have before, whether it’s lending or whether it’s more on the product side. It takes a lot to be a custodian. It seems like a relatively straightforward business just holding assets, but there’s a lot of products, solutions, really requirements that everyday investors and RIA clients have, and I think this will just ratchet up Altruist’s ability to close some of the capability gaps that they’ve had since they launched and they’re very transparent about those. (12:33): What I’m most excited about this, just coming from my vantage point in the industry, is why should an advisor care? To me, there’s five things that advisors should really take notice of with this acquisition. First one’s competition. Every time a well-capitalized player shows up, especially in custody, advisors win. Schwab and Fidelity have fought Vanguard in the asset management space for decades, and more recently in financial advice. Now you’re adding custody against a firm that doesn’t need to be profitable the next quarter, and all of a sudden we very much have an arms race and some competition is good for pricing, for service, for innovation, and I think this is going to be only positives for clients across the country, having another competitive option and keeping the incumbents really on their toes. Another reason, the breakaway shortlist has changed. Objection I always heard about Altruist was, “The tech is great, the AI seems cool, but how do I explain the name Altruist to a 68-year-old client who’s leaving Merrill or UBS or Morgan Stanley?” (13:42): While someone may still get some objections because Vanguard may not have the same brand cache as Goldman Sachs or UBS Private Wealth or Merrill Private Wealth, that objection got a lot weaker today. Really, it’s tech-forward independence now without a brand trade-off. It’s a genuinely different offer in the market than it was before. Third, I think this is one that hasn’t been talked about much, but should be watched closely, potential for referrals. Schwab confirmed last week that it was taking the SAN or the Schwab Advisor Network client referral minimum from two million to five million. For anyone not aware, referrals from the retail branches of Schwab and Fidelity are one of the major organic growth funnels for many of the top RIAs in this country and have driven valuations to billions and billions of dollars for firms that are in this program. (14:36): I really do see this as being a potential new massive referral opportunity of Vanguard existing clients and customers to Altruist custody to RIAs at a time when Schwab is trying to keep more of those referrals from themselves, which is a very savvy strategy, but at the same time, probably creates a bit of an opening for Altruist and Vanguard to become a really good referral hub for clients, which is a major draw for signing up new RIAs as clients, for breakaway advisors, et cetera. (15:07): So more details need to come there. We don’t even know if they’re starting a referral channel, but I have to imagine that’s high in the punch list and will be a very compelling offering in the marketplace. Yeah, think about it. Vanguard is 50 million investors and a CEO who said multiple times that they don’t have enough advisors or humans to deliver this advice. So perfect. You now have a massive array of RIAs and more and more coming to the table who offer that advice and being able to still serve them, still keep the assets in-house, but do it in a way where Vanguard doesn’t have to scale up their advisor force. They now have advisors to refer to. Fourth is pricing. I think the Vanguard effect is going to be real here. When Vanguard started, and even to this day, they’ve been the one who’ve pushed down the expense ratio on mutual funds and ETFs. (15:56): It’s been a massive benefit to investors across this country. It’s been Altruist’s playbook all along too, more focused on the advisor, so offering amazing tech and a custody platform for virtually no cost to an advisor. So I would say whatever you’re paying for technology, for custody, and really anything else that Altruist and Vanguard might touch, I would expect it to go down potentially and just have more pressures on the incumbent firms to really sharpen their pencil or to get more creative on pricing and innovation. I think that the fifth thing to keep in mind is Schwab has long used its scale and positioning in the market to best competitors, whether it was going to $0 on tickets for equities and ETFs, et cetera, a number of years ago or a number of other strategies they’ve taken. Now you have a firm that has similar scale as Schwab, a reputation for playing the long game and being comfortable making less money in the process. (16:54): So again, massive benefit to the advisors to have another major player driving down costs and increasing innovation in the space. But this is not all positives. As with anything, there’s the good and the bad, and also some open questions. The biggest, I think, downside or potential thing to watch here, and certainly if you are a BDO at a custodian, this is the line you’re using, “Vanguard has its own advice business, personal advisor, digital advisor, and a CEO who stated that his goal is that an advisor is in every investor’s pocket.” So now you have the custodian that’s holding your client’s assets also running one of the largest advice operations in the country. We’ve heard this concern in the past about Schwab or Fidelity where you have RA custody and then these firms have massive retail distribution networks. So certainly Vanguard, I think, will be in the same lane. (17:46): And if you look at a Pershing or an LPL or Raymond James, it’s a little bit different because they don’t have their own channels in the same way that Schwab or Fidelity do. So certainly if you’re BNY Mellon in particular, which is a straight B2B custodian, this is a clear point of differentiation for Vanguard, Altruist and certainly versus the other custodians. Next one is Vanguard has said that Altruist will remain a standalone business. The brand will stay intact, the management team, et cetera. But in fairness, every acquirer says versions of the same thing. The real test is let’s wait two years, three years and see how converging roles or similar roles across the firm start to converge into one, and over time will they more Altruist brand and human capital into one structure. (18:36): Right now we don’t know, but I’m always a bit skeptical with acquisitions that you have the honeymoon period, takes time for the deals to close, and then what happens a couple of years down the line? Either as there’s new executives in charge, there’s turnover, or just there’s certain synergies that can be had, and the best way to do it is by combining operations and the like. (18:56): The next risk, I think it might sound a little bit mundane, but it’s culture and speed. Vanguard based in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Altruist in LA, very different cultures. Altruist as a fintech company has been superfast to market, building, breaking things, innovating. And Vanguard, I think they’ve been extremely innovative on pricing, on product development, but I’ve never heard amazing reviews about Vanguard’s technology. So does this convergence of cultures create an issue? Does it create more bureaucracy for Altruist trying to build stuff? Is there a cultural mismatch when it comes to speed of market and innovation? And I think the last thing to keep in mind or to watch is the talent drainage at Altruist post-closing. Yes, I was a FinTech company and custodian offering equity, lots of upside for people that have taken this journey with them. Vanguard notoriously is the opposite. They don’t offer equity to anyone and they offer their employees high base salaries and you have a culture of longevity within the firm. (20:00): So after the lockup period is done for, or the earn out period is done for any Altruist equity owners and many of their employees, does that cause some talent drainage where folks want to go onto the next big thing, think what will happen to all the amazing SpaceX employees a year from now when their IPO lockups are done? Does that lead them to another opportunity? All these are questions I don’t know, but trying to play devil’s advocate. I think the biggest potential negative is just the Vanguard advice business as a competitor, a conflict to RIA custody. Let me give you a couple of predictions before we wrap here. I think Schwab and Fidelity will respond fast, whether it’s on the AI front or because the pressure is really on. I don’t know, maybe the $5 million referral minimum that Schwab just announced, maybe that sunsets after a period of time. I have no idea. (20:53): I’m also excited to see, we’ll call it the tech face off between Altruist and Robinhood. Robinhood acquired TradePMR, which is on the Wells Fargo First Clearing platform and is in the process of launching an RIA custodian themselves. So now you have, I think, two pretty incredible tech-forward custodians really trying to gain market share, so that will be fun to watch. Could there be a threat in the RIA platform space? So RIA platforms meaning RIAs, we call them supportive versions of independence, where advisors can plug into, they get technology, compliance, operations, et cetera, and still own their business. Given the end-to-end tech stack that Altruist boasts, and they’ve also been in development of their own corporate RIA, does that become that much more of a competitive feature that could possibly become a solution in and of itself that takes a dent out of these RIA platforms playbook? (21:45): I don’t know, but I think it’s possible. Altruist Hazel AI, does that push even well beyond custody? There’s a ton of AI and fintechs popping up around the industry. Hazel has certainly taken a lot of headlines and attention. With Vanguard behind it now, does that push the price lower? Does it help their distribution? Maybe you picture this, if you have a Vanguard-owned product sitting in the daily workflow of a competitor’s advisors, so let’s say you’re a Morgan Stanley, you’re a Schwab advisor, et cetera, do you now have a Vanguard-owned product in Hazel as part of your workflow or your fintech stack? Could be interesting. I will call a referral channel for Vanguard or Altruist, we’ll say within the next year or two. I think it would be crazy if that didn’t happen and that will be a massive disruptor. And finally, my prediction is more breakaways landing in Altruist. They’ve started to crack that door, but now with the powerful brand and reputation behind them, the sky’s probably the limit. (22:44): So in closing, a guy, Jason Wenk, started a company in 2018 in Los Angeles because he thought independent advisors deserve better software at a lower price. Eight years later, one of the most respected financial institutions in the world paid $4 billion for it, and the reason is he was right in that bet. There are always innovators showing up from outside the establishment, and every time one succeeds, advisors end up with more options and more leverage and more negotiating power than they had the year before. It’s a consistent theme across the industry. So nothing changes tomorrow, deals take time, deals have a way of falling apart, but if you’re evaluating custodians, thinking about independence for the first time, wondering whether your current partner is going to keep earning your business, today is a good day to reopen that question. And if you’re an advisor, I think cheer this on and be excited. (23:42): And as a industry participant, I am very excited to see how this deal takes hold and how this pushes the rest of the industry to innovate and continue to be better. So that’s it for today. Thank you for hearing my ramblings, and I’ll see you next time. Mindy Diamond (24:02): 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.  

Wondering if your homeschooler is “on grade level”?In this episode, I answer a listener who recently pulled her 10-year-old twins out of public school and is wondering where in the world to start. Do you give placement tests? Look for learning gaps? Choose curriculum based on their age? Or, as she hilariously asks, just “wing it like a hippie”?We're talking about how to figure out what your child actually needs without getting caught up in arbitrary grade levels, why I sometimes intentionally choose easier curriculum, and what to do when learning gets frustrating.I'll also share my biggest advice for families transitioning out of public school.You're not going to want to miss this one!

Have you thought about adding affiliate marketing to your subscription box business but you're not sure where to start? Are you wondering where to find good affiliates and how to manage them on the back end? This episode is for you!  Today we're diving into all things affiliate marketing for your subscription box business. I'll explain how affiliate marketing can significantly boost your revenue, expand your customer base, and strengthen your subscription box brand.  Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where brands reward individuals (affiliates) for marketing or driving traffic and sales to their services or products, including subscription boxes. This type of marketing is a win/win for both the brand and the affiliate.  Wondering how affiliate marketing works?  A subscription box owner creates an incentive (one-time or recurring) and generates specific links or codes for each affiliate to allow for accurate tracking. Each affiliate promotes that subscription box owner's box on their own platforms to their own audiences. For every action taken (i.e., subscribing) the affiliate is paid the incentive.  To get started:  Identify what makes a good affiliate for your brand Clearly define your ideal customer and niche and use affiliates who have the same person in their audience.  Make sure any potential affiliate aligns with your beliefs and morals.  Finding potential affiliates Start with your subscribers - do any of them already have a following?  Look at influencers who have the same ideal customer - bloggers, YouTubers, TikTokers, other content creators.  Follow them, like and comment on their content, start building a relationship before approaching them about being an affiliate.  Build an affiliate program that is a win/win for both parties Define your commission structure. Options include:  Recurring revenue share - what % of your profit?  One time payment upon sign up.  Set up affiliate software - I use Affiliately - and set up a payment schedule.  Create assets for affiliates - make it easy for them to promote! Email swipe files Graphics with different formats Social media captions Schedules and timelines Send links regularly Affiliate marketing is an important part of my subscription box marketing strategy. In fact, in my recent launch (which happens to be my biggest launch ever), 22% of all sales came from my 5 affiliates!  Join me for this episode as I walk you through how to use affiliate marketing in your subscription box business. Whether you're a new subscription box entrepreneur or a seasoned pro, I have actionable takeaways for you!  Join me in all the places:  Facebook Instagram Launch Your Box with Sarah Website  Are you ready for Launch Your Box? Our complete training program walks you step by step through how to start, launch, and grow your subscription box business. Join today!

Back-to-school season often brings more than new teachers, new classmates, and new routines.For many protective parents, it also marks the beginning of a new round of smear campaigns.Whether it's with teachers, other parents, coaches, family members, or professionals involved in your case, someone who uses coercive control often looks for opportunities to shape the narrative before you have a chance to tell your own story.The result? Anxiety. Isolation. Self-doubt. And the overwhelming urge to defend yourself.But what if your greatest strength isn't convincing everyone you're telling the truth?What if it's learning to stay grounded in your values while allowing your consistency to speak louder than their accusations?In this episode, we explore practical mindset shifts that can help you respond differently to smear campaigns while protecting both your peace and your credibility.In this episode, we answer:How do I stop a smear campaign from taking over my thoughts and emotions?When should I respond to false accusations—and when is it better not to?How can I protect my credibility without constantly defending myself?If you've ever found yourself replaying conversations, worrying about what other people think, or wondering how to protect your reputation without losing yourself in the process, this episode is for you.Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.htmlIf you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest 

Norm Hitzges kicks off college football season by breaking down the preseason rankings, why the Big Ten and SEC dominate the top teams, and which schedules could derail a national championship run. Plus, a candid interview with Cowboys Ring of Honor legend Cliff Harris on his undrafted journey to Dallas, the brutal toll of old-school football, and why he thinks Charlie Waters deserves recognition too. Norm also digs into why Jerry Jones seems suddenly willing to trade away future draft capital to chase a Super Bowl now.

Send us Fan MailThere is a moment in your career when you may still be showing up to meetings, answering emails, and doing your job, but something inside you has already shifted.You have not resigned yet. You may not even be actively job searching. But you have stopped believing there is a real future for you where you are.I call that moment “crossing the bridge.”In this episode of The Mid-Career GPS Podcast, I'm talking about what happens when a mid-career professional emotionally detaches from their job long before they turn in their notice. If you are feeling disengaged, overlooked, stalled, or uncertain about whether to stay or leave, this episode will help you slow down, get honest, and make a more intentional career decision.I share a story from my own leadership experience when a simple set of one-on-one questions revealed something I could not ignore. People on my team were already planning their exits. Within a few months, nine out of ten of them had moved on. That experience taught me a powerful lesson about employee disengagement, leadership, retention, and what people need before they decide there is no future left for them inside an organization.Crossing the bridge is not the same as having a bad day, feeling frustrated, or being disappointed by one decision. It is deeper than that. It is the point where hope starts to disappear.For many mid-career professionals, that happens after repeated missed promotion opportunities, unclear feedback, broken trust, leadership changes, stalled growth, or a growing disconnect between where the organization is headed and what they want for their career.If you have been wondering whether it is time to leave your job, this episode will help you examine what is really going on before you make your next move. I walk you through practical career coaching prompts to help you clarify what you need, advocate for yourself, explore internal opportunities, and decide whether your next chapter can happen where you are or somewhere else.I also flip the lens to leadership development and employee retention. If you are a manager or senior leader, this episode will help you notice the warning signs before a resignation lands in your inbox. Great employees rarely leave in one moment. They often leave in stages. By the time they resign, they may have been emotionally gone for months.And when someone has truly crossed the bridge, more money or a counteroffer may not solve the real problem. Sometimes the most effective leadership move is not convincing them to stay. It is helping them finish strong, transfer knowledge, leave with dignity, and preserve the relationship.In This Episode, You'll Learn:• What “crossing the bridge” means in your career• Why people often leave emotionally before they resign officially• A real leadership story about one-on-ones that revealed who was preparing to leave• The warning signs of disengagement, emotional detachment, and lost hope at work• Why frustration alone does not always make someone leave• What changes when a mid-career professional stops believing there is a future where they are• How stalled growth, missed promotions, broken trust, and leadership changes affect retention• Questions to ask yourself before deciding to resign• How to communicate what you need before you decide to leave• Why internal career options should be explored before jumping too quickly• What managers should notice before a resignation happens• Why counteroffers often fail when money is not the real issue• How strong leaders help employees finish well and exit with dignityCareer Coaching Questions to Ask YourselfIf you are wondering whether you have crossed the bridge in your current job, start by asking yourself:• Do I still believe there is a future for me in this organization?• Have I clearly communicated what I want next in my career?• Have I advocated for the promotion, opportunity, visibility, or leadership role I want?• Am I reacting to a frustrating moment, or am I responding to a repeated pattern?• What would need to change for me to feel re-engaged?• Have I explored internal opportunities before assuming I need to leave?• Am I staying because I want to be here, or because I am afraid to make a move?These questions matter because career clarity does not come from panic. It comes from telling yourself the truth and making a strategic decision from there.For Leaders and ManagersIf you lead a team, this episode is also an invitation to pay closer attention.Your best people may not always tell you they are disengaged. They may keep performing. They may stay professional. They may continue delivering results. But underneath the surface, they may already be deciding whether they still have a future with you.Strong leaders notice the shift before the resignation. They ask better questions. They listen for what is not being said. They create space for honest career conversations before it is too late.And when a valued employee decides their next opportunity is not available inside the organization, strong leaders help them leave well. That means helping them finish strong, transfer knowledge, preserve relationships, and exit with dignity.Retention is not only about keeping people. It is also about leading them well, even when their next chapter is somewhere else.Why This Matters for Mid-Career ProfessionalsAt mid-career, your decisions carry more weight. You are not just looking for any next job. You are looking for a role, organization, and career path that align with who you are now and where you want to go next.If you are feeling stuck, overlooked, or disconnected from your work, this episode will help you determine whether you are dealing with a temporary frustration or a deeper career signal.You deserve to make your next move with clarity, not resentment. You deserve to know whether there is still room for you to grow where you are or whether it is time to build your next chapter somewhere else.Listen to This Episode If You Are:• Thinking about leaving your job but unsure whether it is the right move• Feeling disengaged, overlooked, or emotionally detached at work• Wondering whether you still have growth potential in your current organization• Struggling after being passed over for a promotion or leadership opportunity• Trying to decide whether to stay, transfer internally, or start a job search• Leading a team and wanting to improve retention and employee engagement• Managing someone who may be preparing for their next career move• Looking for career clarity, leadership growth, and a more intentional next stepIf this episode made you realize you may have already crossed the bridge in your current role, do not rush your next move. Get clear first.Take time to identify what you want, what you need, what you have already asked for, and whether your next opportunity can happen where you are or somewhere else.And if you are ready to get more strategic about your next career move, I invite you to connect with me and explore how coaching can help you build your Mid-Career GPS with more clarity, confidence, and direction.Support the showIf this episode resonated with you and you want more support in how you SHOW UP for your career and life, there are two ways we can work together.Learn more about my SHOW UP Leadership Lab, my monthly membership program, at https://www.johnneral.com/showupIf you would like to learn more about how I can help you as your leadership and career coach, visit https://www.johnneral.com/workwithme.Get John's free weekly leadership and career newsletter at https://www.johnneral.com/the-mid-career-gps-newsletterOther ways we can connect:Connect with John on LinkedIn here.Get John's books on Amazon here.  Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.  Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here.This podcast is listed in Feedspot's Top 90 Best Executive Career Podcasts.https://podcast.feedspot.com/executive_career_podcasts/

Wondering about homeschool freedom and flexibility? And how homeschooling might be a fit for your family? On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy talk with Cheryl Daley, author, speaker, and host of the popular Homeschool How To podcast, to trace the exact chain of events that took her from a six-figure New York State government career to building a homeschool life rooted in freedom, relationships, and real-world learning.Cheryl shares why she treated homeschooling like a research project, interviewing more than 120 families to test assumptions about socialization, academics, and what kids “miss” when they don't follow a standard school track. We talk about deschooling, child-led learning, and the mindset shift from checking boxes to teaching kids how to learn. If you've ever worried about prom, sports, or whether you're doing “enough,” you'll hear practical ways families create options without copying school at home.We also dig into reading and literacy through the lens of the science of reading: why phonics fell out of favor, how balanced literacy failed too many kids, and what structured literacy gets right. Plus, we explore the trade-offs of digital textbooks, handwriting, and online learning tools, including how “smart” programs can still be gamed when a child is focused on time instead of mastery.If you're curious about homeschooling, curriculum overwhelm, or how to start simply with read-alouds, nature walks, and meaningful projects, this conversation will steady your next step. Even if you're a seasoned homeschooler, the conversation should resonate with you in validating ways. Subscribe, share this with a parent who's on the fence, and leave a review so more families can find it.ABOUT US:The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! CONNECT WITH US:Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com Social Media: @TheBrainyMomsSubscribe to our free monthly newsletterVisit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

When's the last time you heard yourself say something like, "Typically, our process works this way," or "Usually, this is what I charge"? These words may seem harmless. You may even use them to sound warm, flexible, and easy to work with. However, qualifiers such as typically, usually, generally, and kind of can unintentionally create uncertainty in the mind of your prospective client. Instead of reinforcing your expertise, these small words may diminish your authority and invite questions or negotiations you never intended to create. In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, Nikki explains when qualifiers strengthen a sales conversation, when they weaken your message, and how removing unnecessary qualifiers creates more confidence and clarity for you and your buyer.   The Transformation Before listening, you may find yourself: Using words like typically and usually without noticing how often they show up in your sales conversations. Softening statements about your process, pricing, timelines, or expectations because you don't want to sound pushy. Wondering why clients sometimes question or negotiate things you thought were clearly stated. Believing you need to soften your expertise in order to come across as warm and approachable.   After listening, you learn how to: Recognize qualifiers that may be diminishing your authority and credibility. Know when a qualifier serves an important purpose and when it creates unnecessary doubt. State your pricing, process, timelines, boundaries, and expectations with greater clarity. Communicate confidence without sacrificing warmth or kindness.   Key Takeaways   In this episode, Nikki shares: What a qualifier is and how qualifiers subtly change the meaning of your statements. Why typically and usually are useful when you're communicating an exception, but can diminish your authority when you're stating your expertise. Why qualifiers are particularly dangerous when you're stating your price. The early sales lesson Nikki learned from her longtime mentor, Russ Short, to state your price "as if you're saying the time of day." How confidence and kindness work together in relationship-based selling. A simple Authority Test you can use to identify unnecessary qualifiers in your sales conversations. The Qualifier Rule: Exceptions, Not Expertise   Nikki offers a simple rule to remember: Qualifiers belong with exceptions, not expertise.   When you're talking about your: Process Pricing Timeline Boundaries Expectations Expertise   State the fact.   You don't need to qualify it.   Instead of: "Typically, our projects last six to eight months."   Say: "Our projects last six to eight months."   Instead of: "Usually, this is how onboarding works."   Say: "Here's how onboarding works."   This clarity allows you to stand confidently in your expertise while creating a buying environment where your prospect knows what to expect.   Removing qualifiers isn't about sounding harsh, rigid, or aggressive. You can communicate with confidence and clarity while still bringing warmth and kindness to the conversation. When Qualifiers Strengthen the Sales Conversation   Qualifiers aren't always a problem.   They serve an important purpose when you're pointing out an exception or letting someone know you're doing something differently for them.   For example: "Typically, we meet every other week. Because of your timeline, we're going to meet weekly."   In this situation, typically is useful because you're establishing the standard before explaining the exception.   This also makes sure your client recognizes when you're extending a favor or modifying your normal process.   The key isn't eliminating every qualifier from your vocabulary. It's becoming intentional about when you use them. Be Especially Careful With Qualifiers Around Pricing   One of the most important places to remove unnecessary qualifiers is when you state your price.   Compare: "Typically, we charge $5,000 for this service."   with:   "The investment for this service is $5,000."   The first statement suggests there may be room for something different.   The second creates clarity.   Nikki shares a lesson from her longtime sales mentor, Russ Short:   When you state your price, state it as if you're saying the time of day.   No apology. No unnecessary explanation. No qualifier.   Simply state the investment.   When you're intentionally offering an exception or special pricing, a qualifier may be appropriate.   Otherwise, your price is your price.   The Authority Test   Before making an important statement in a sales conversation, ask yourself: "Am I stating a fact, or am I qualifying a fact?"   Listen for words and phrases such as: Typically Usually Generally Kind of Just Maybe Normally   Then consider whether this qualifier creates clarity or quietly gives away some of your authority.   When you're stating a fact about your business, practice stating the fact without softening it.   A Quote Worth Remembering "Qualifiers belong with exceptions, not expertise."   Try This This Week   Review one recent sales conversation.   When you use Zoom or another platform that provides transcripts, pull up the transcript and search for: Typically Usually Generally Kind of Just Maybe   You can also use AI to identify qualifiers throughout the conversation.   For each one, ask: "Is this qualifier creating clarity, or is it quietly giving away my expertise and authority?"   Then choose one qualifier you use regularly and practice removing it when you're stating facts about your process, pricing, timeline, boundaries, expectations, or expertise.   Notice how this small language shift changes the confidence and clarity of your sales conversations.   Who This Episode Is For   This episode is especially valuable when you: Want to sound more confident in your sales conversations without coming across as pushy. Find yourself softening statements about your pricing or process. Want prospective clients to recognize your expertise and credibility. Struggle to state your price without explaining or qualifying it. Want to communicate clear boundaries and expectations while maintaining rapport. Keep the Conversation Going   Did today's episode make you notice some of the qualifiers showing up in your own sales conversations? Here are a few places to continue learning:   Explore the Sales Maven Society: https://yoursalesmaven.com/sales-maven-society/   Discover more relationship-based selling strategies: https://yoursalesmaven.com   Listen to more episodes of the Sales Maven Show: https://yoursalesmaven.com/sales-maven-podcast/ Timestamps 00:25 Why qualifiers can diminish your authority and credibility 01:02 The client question that inspired this episode 02:15 What is a qualifier, and why does it matter in sales? 03:32 Comparing statements with and without qualifiers 04:21 When typically and usually are exactly the right words to use 05:47 How qualifiers can create doubt in the mind of your buyer 07:20 Why qualifiers are especially dangerous when stating your price 08:31 The sales lesson Nikki learned from her mentor Russ Short 10:05 How qualifying your price can unintentionally invite negotiation 11:08 Why women often use qualifiers without realizing it 12:21 Confidence and kindness aren't opposites 13:06 The Authority Test: Are you stating a fact or qualifying a fact? 14:02 Real-world examples of removing unnecessary qualifiers 16:19 How to review your own sales conversations for qualifier language 17:39 When qualifiers serve an important purpose 18:31 Final reminder: Qualifiers belong with exceptions, not expertise   About Nikki Rausch   Nikki Rausch guides service-based women entrepreneurs who aren't yet comfortable with selling to confidently enroll more clients through natural, relationship-based conversations. Through practical strategies and proven frameworks, you learn how to create consistent business growth while staying true to your values. Whether you're building sales confidence, improving client enrollment, or refining your sales communication, Nikki shows you how to create sales that feel natural and results that feel inevitable.

Wondering if your child's struggles are ADHD, Anxiety, or Dysregulation? The answer may be deeper than a diagnosis. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge explains how Regulation First Parenting™ helps parents understand emotional dysregulation and support lasting calm by addressing the nervous system first.Parents often ask, "Is it ADHD? Anxiety? Or something else?" If you've been caught in an endless cycle of searching for the "right" diagnosis, this episode offers a powerful mindset shift.Behavior is communication, and what you're seeing on the outside is often your child's overwhelmed nervous system asking for help.Instead of chasing labels, discover more about how becoming a dysregulation detective helps you understand what your child truly needs. Learn simple questions that reduce overwhelm, uncover patterns, and help you respond with calm instead of confusion. Is It ADHD, Anxiety, or Dysregulation? How Can You Tell?Many children with ADHD, anxiety, OCD, autism, or other challenges can look remarkably similar. They may worry excessively, lose focus, shut down, or become emotionally reactive.A diagnosis explains what your child has—but it doesn't always explain what's driving the behavior.Rather than asking, "What's wrong with my child?" begin asking, "How regulated is my child's nervous system?" That single shift changes everything.Key takeaways:Different diagnoses can share the same dysregulated nervous system.Focus on regulation before chasing labels.Behavior is communication—not defiance.For example, two children may both struggle to focus—one with ADHD and one with anxiety—but both are reacting to an overwhelmed nervous system.Why Does My Child Melt Down Even When Nothing Seems Wrong?Meltdowns rarely happen "out of nowhere." Parents should be curious about what happened before the behavior.Ask yourself:Was it after school?Was sleep poor?Were they overstimulated?Has their stress been building for days?Patterns reveal nervous system overload. Once you begin spotting those patterns, you're no longer reacting—you're understanding.How Do I Know What My Child's Nervous System Needs?Instead of focusing only on stopping behaviors, ask:What happened right before this?What state is my child's nervous system in?What does my child need before I ask them to do something difficult?The answer might be:MovementA snackA hugA breakA visual reminderA calmer approach from youHelping doesn't mean perfection—it means less reactivity and more success over time.If you're tired of walking on eggshells or feeling like nothing works…Get the FREE Regulation Rescue Kit and finally learn what to say and do in the heat of the moment.Become a Dysregulation Insider VIP at www.drroseann.com/newsletter and take the first step to a calmer home.Why Does Regulating Myself Help My Child?One of the biggest breakthroughs parents experience is realizing they don't need to control every behavior—they need to regulate themselves first.When you stay calm:Your child borrows your regulation.Power struggles decrease.You break the cycle of co-dysregulation.Let's calm the brain first. Everything else becomes easier from there.

What if your biggest retirement fear isn't running out of money?In this retirement video, I walk through the retirement situation of a 60-year-old couple with $500,000 saved for retirement—and the concern that weighs on them most: what happens if one spouse dies?Retirement planning isn't just about whether your retirement money lasts. It's also about making sure the surviving spouse can maintain their retirement lifestyle, manage taxes, navigate Social Security, and handle the financial changes that come with losing a spouse in retirement.

I'm Trying So Hard Not to Pass This On“What if my child ends up struggling because of me?”If you've ever asked yourself that question, you're not alone.For many mothers navigating eating disorder recovery, one of the deepest fears isn't only their own healing—it's the possibility that the food fears, body shame, or wounds they've worked so hard to untangle might somehow become part of their child's story.And sometimes that fear can make motherhood feel like constant surveillance.Watching what you say.Watching what they eat.Watching how they talk about their body.Replaying the comment you wish you hadn't made.Wondering whether one imperfect moment means you've already done damage.In this episode of Lift the Shame, we're staying with that fear—and gently questioning the enormous responsibility mothers can place on themselves when “I want things to be different for my child” quietly becomes “Then I can never get this wrong.”Because eating disorders are complex. You have influence, but you do not have total control. And breaking a generational cycle doesn't require you to become a perfectly healed mother.Sometimes it looks much more ordinary than that.Noticing.Getting curious.Seeking support.Taking responsibility.Coming back.Repairing when something needs repair.And allowing the relationship to be bigger than one hard moment.In this episode, we'll explore how the desire to protect our children can turn into hypervigilance, why influence and control are not the same thing, how to think about repair without turning it into another standard to perform perfectly, and what it might really mean to change what gets passed down.Because your children aren't only witnessing your wounds.They're also witnessing what you do with them. 

Annie Steicke is a RVP with Arbonne. For 13 years she believed great leaders stayed strong no matter what. They didn't let their team see them struggle. They stayed positive, held everything together, and carried the weight silently. From the outside, her business looked successful. Inside, leadership was getting heavier. In this episode of Behind the Rank, Annie shares what happened when she realized she had spent years confusing perfomrance with leadership, why pretending everything was okay slowly disconnected her from her self and the people she loved most, and how one simple act of telling the truth changed everything. Together, we explore: Why so many good leaders mistake emotional disconnection for strength The hidden cost of always feelilng like you have to hold it together for everyone else What happened when Annie shared a post she'd spent years believing she could never write What LOVE-LED Leadership looks like when you stop performing and start leading form who you really are If you've ever felt like being a strong leader meant hiding what you were carrying, I think this conversation will help you see leadership, and yourself, in a completely different way. Wondering why your business only works when YOU'RE working? Join me for my brand new free, live diagnostic Leadership Ceiling Experience! It's a weekly live session that happens at 12 ET on Tuesday each week.  https://courses.yourvirtualupline.com/ceiling 

Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: www.holmbergpodcast.com, www.98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wondering where to eat in Austin? We're sharing 11 of the best restaurants in Austin, Texas, from Caribbean and Mediterranean flavor bombs to steakhouses, Italian favorites, smash burgers, and gorgeous lakeside dining. Whether you're visiting Austin or a local looking for your next great meal, these are the restaurants we recommend again and again!In this episode, we cover: Canje, Ezov, La Piscina, The Kimberly, Hula Hut, Quince Lakehouse, Intero, ATX Cocina, Birdie's, NADC, and Steiner Ranch Steakhouse. Listen to here what's good and the occasion that would bring you into these spots.Austin hotels we recommend:​The LINE Hotel – Great location and view of the lake and bats​Hotel Van Zandt – Great rooftop pool vibes​The Downright Hotel – Cute pink, fun decor and a great pool vibe.​Lake Austin Spa Resort – All-inclusive wellness resort on the Lake, it is absolutely amazing! You can also book a spa day, see our Lake Austin Spa Review before you go!Check out fun things to do in Austin that we recommend on Viator. These are perfect if you don't have a car or want to have some unique experiences on this trip.Find a great flight deal to Austin with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.—---------------------------------------Shop: Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: www.holmbergpodcast.com, www.98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

They Said It gives us yet another update on Gonzalez and his contract situation. Why is this still a thing? The Krafts just need to pay him and move on.

Shannon Spotswood – CEO, RFG Advisory Choosing a platform isn't just about technology or economics. It's about finding a partner that helps you build the business you actually want to own. Shannon Spotswood explains why growth without compromise starts with choosing the right partner. In Summary What should advisors really look for in a platform partner? Jason Diamond sits down with Shannon Spotswood, CEO of RFG Advisory, to discuss why the best platforms do more than provide technology and operational support—they help advisors build stronger businesses. Shannon shares lessons from helping grow RFG into one of the industry's leading supportive independence firms, covering everything from private equity partnerships and advisor experience to enterprise value, branding, and overcoming the fear that keeps many advisors from pursuing the business they truly want. The Storyline Most advisors evaluating independence compare technology, payouts, and service offerings. Shannon Spotswood believes they're asking the wrong first question. After spending two decades in institutional investing and later helping to rebuild RFG Advisory from the ground up, Shannon has developed a philosophy centered on partnership. She argues that the best platforms function less like vendors and more like long-term business partners, helping advisors spend more time with clients, build enterprise value, and create businesses aligned with their vision rather than forcing compromises. Jason and Shannon discuss what meaningful support actually looks like, why the right private equity partner can accelerate growth rather than restrict it, and why advisors should demand evidence – not marketing promises – when evaluating a platform. The conversation also explores one of the industry's biggest obstacles to change: fear. Shannon explains why outdated assumptions about transitioning firms continue to prevent advisors from building businesses they enjoy, even though data suggests the experience is often far less disruptive than many believe. Ultimately, the discussion reframes independence itself—not as the destination, but as the beginning of choosing the right long-term partners. Topics Covered Evaluating advisor platforms as long-term business partners Building an independent business without compromise Enterprise value and organic growth Private equity as a strategic growth partner Advisor experience and client experience Branding and authenticity in wealth management Overcoming fear and transition myths Technology, outsourcing, and operational leverage Leadership, succession, and organizational growth The future of supportive independence   > Download a transcript of this episode… Listen and Learn Highlights for Advisors Why should advisors think of a platform as a business partner? (10:00) Shannon explains why technology and service alone aren't enough—and why the right partner should help advisors build the business they ultimately want to own. What does “growth without compromise” actually mean? (10:00–17:30) RFG's philosophy centers on helping advisors focus on their highest-value work while surrounding them with integrated support designed to drive enterprise value. Can private equity make a firm better? (25:00) Rather than debating whether private equity is good or bad, Shannon explains why success depends on choosing a partner whose values and long-term vision align with yours. How should advisors evaluate competing platforms? (43:00) Her advice is simple: don't rely on marketing. Speak with advisors already using the platform and ask firms to demonstrate – not simply promise – how they solve problems. Why does fear keep so many advisors from making a change? (48:30) Shannon discusses the “PTSD” many advisors carry from outdated transition stories and why today's reality often looks very different. What does the future of advisor platforms look like? (34:00–42:00) The conversation explores advisor demand for greater personalization, stronger brands, AI-enabled efficiency, and partners that help advisors grow without sacrificing independence. Key Takeaways The best advisor platforms function as long-term strategic partners—not simply service providers. Enterprise value grows when advisors spend more time serving clients and less time managing operations. Private equity can be highly beneficial when partners share a common vision and respect management autonomy. Advisors should evaluate firms based on demonstrated execution rather than marketing claims. Fear remains one of the biggest barriers to advisor movement despite significant improvements in transition support. Authentic branding and deeper client relationships will become increasingly important as AI reshapes wealth management. https://youtu.be/jaSt3-mO0so Quotable Moments “The right partners make you better. The wrong ones can quietly hold you back.” “Don't tell me. Show me.” “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” “Your team deserves to be happy. You deserve to be happy.”   FAQs What should advisors look for when evaluating an advisor platform? Shannon believes advisors should look beyond technology and economics and evaluate whether a platform acts like a true long-term business partner that helps them grow and build enterprise value. How does RFG define “growth without compromise”? By providing integrated support – from technology and compliance to marketing and coaching – that allows advisors to spend more time with clients while maintaining control of their businesses. Is private equity always good or bad for advisor firms? No. Shannon argues that success depends less on private equity itself and more on choosing partners who share the firm's long-term vision and values. Why do advisors hesitate to make a move? Fear and outdated perceptions about transitions still influence decision-making, even though today's transition experience is often much smoother than advisors expect. How should advisors compare competing platforms? Talk directly with affiliated advisors, ask for measurable evidence of results, and focus on how a platform responds to advisor feedback rather than marketing claims. How is AI changing advisor businesses? AI should enhance – not replace – the advisor relationship by creating operational efficiencies that allow advisors to spend more time delivering personalized advice. Shannon believes advisors should look beyond technology and economics and evaluate whether a platform acts like a true long-term business partner that helps them grow and build enterprise value. By providing integrated support – from technology and compliance to marketing and coaching – that allows advisors to spend more time with clients while maintaining control of their businesses. No. Shannon argues that success depends less on private equity itself and more on choosing partners who share the firm's long-term vision and values. Fear and outdated perceptions about transitions still influence decision-making, even though today's transition experience is often much smoother than advisors expect. Talk directly with affiliated advisors, ask for measurable evidence of results, and focus on how a platform responds to advisor feedback rather than marketing claims. AI should enhance – not replace – the advisor relationship by creating operational efficiencies that allow advisors to spend more time delivering personalized advice. Related Resources How to Evaluate a Firm Beyond the Obvious: A Framework for Advisors Why You Should Stay at Your Current Firm   Shannon SpotswoodCEO Shannon Spotswood is a 25+ year industry veteran with a tremendous amount of experience across both retail and institutional finance and an outstanding reputation built on her passionate leadership and ongoing success in investment banking, hedge fund portfolio management, business development and retail wealth management. Joining RFG in 2015, Shannon recognized the opportunity to channel her entrepreneurial experience and passion for service into leading a mission to create an Advisor-focused RIA of the Future delivering a supported independence platform that empowers Financial Advisors to build the businesses they want to have, without compromise. Shannon's career has been characterized by her determination to build something bigger than herself. Having fallen in love with finance at only age 14, she was focused on making an impact in a male-dominated industry. After graduating from college, Shannon spent 20 years in San Francisco working in institutional finance. She began her career in investment banking and eventually achieved her dream job as a Portfolio Manager of a long- short equity fund at Symphony Asset Management. The company was acquired by Nuveen in 2001. After a decade at that firm and now a mother of 3 young children, Shannon turned her entrepreneurial passion in a new direction with a drastic pivot to start a luxury children's clothing brand, Busy Bees. Taking her years of experience in qualitative analysis of retail companies, Shannon and her business partner built the brand from the ground up, ushering its' growth from a garage to “Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop” over the course of a few years. Shannon and her family made the decision to move from the Bay Area to Birmingham, Alabama to be closer to family. And shortly after, the call to return to her first love, finance, grew to great to ignore. In 2015, Shannon joined RFG Advisory as President, leading RFG as the firm has grown from $1.8B to over $5B. In July of 2024, Shannon was named CEO of RFG Advisory and currently serves in that role. 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… Growth Without Compromise: Building Around the Advisor Experience A conversation with Jason Diamond and Shannon Spotswood, CEO of RFG Advisory. Jason Diamond: Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for Financial Advisors. Today’s episode is Growth Without Compromise: Building Around the Advisor Experience. It’s a conversation with Shannon Spotswood, the CEO of RFG Advisory. 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: The right partners make you better. The wrong ones can quietly hold you back. Most conversations about independence focus on platforms as providers of technology, service, or infrastructure. Shannon Spotswood sees them differently. She believes advisors should evaluate a platform the same way they’d evaluate any long-term business partner, by asking whether it will help them build the kind of firm they ultimately want to own. That’s exactly what we explore in this episode. Shannon is the CEO of RFG Advisory, a firm that has grown from a startup into one of the industry’s leading supportive independence platforms. Along the way, she’s developed a unique perspective on what advisors should be looking for beyond economics and technology, and why the right partner can accelerate growth, strengthen culture, and help create a business that’s built to last. It’s a conversation that goes well beyond advisor platforms. We explore why Shannon believes so strongly in growth without compromise, what private equity can look like when the partnership is aligned, why firms shouldn’t try to be everything to everyone, and how advisors can separate marketing promises from meaningful support. We also spend time on a topic that comes up in nearly every transition conversation my team has with advisors, fear. Shannon shares her perspective on why outdated assumptions about making a move continue to hold advisors back and why asking better questions and demanding evidence instead of promises can fundamentally change the way advisors evaluate every opportunity in front of them. Whether you’re considering independence, evaluating your current platform, or simply thinking about what comes next for your business, I think you’ll find Shannon’s perspective both practical and though-provoking, especially the sage advice in her words, “Don’t tell me, show me.” There’s a lot to take away from this conversation, so let’s get to it. Shannon, thanks so much for joining me. Thrilled to have you here. Shannon Spotswood: It’s excellent to be here. I’m really looking forward to it. Jason Diamond: Me too. Let’s dive right in. I want to start with your background. You spent 20 years in San Fran as an investment banker, then as a portfolio manager at Symphony Asset Management before even touching the world of wealth management. So what made you walk away from, we’ll call it the institutional world and enter the world of wealth management? Shannon Spotswood: It’s a little bit of a circuitous story, but I’m going to take us on the short route. I fell in love with Wall Street as a teenager, so I knew I wanted to work on Wall Street. My dream job was actually the time that I spent at Symphony Asset Management. I was a hedge fund manager for them for six years running a long/short equity fund. I then had three children in three and a half years. The firm was acquired by Nuveen Investments, and we grew very large, and I was on this really interesting trajectory within the institutional investment management world. And somewhat of the unexpected happened to me in 2010, we’d come through the financial crisis. I looked around the room, I had these three young children, and having loved finance since a very early age, I couldn’t crawl on an airplane anymore. I fell out of love with what was honestly my first love. And I made a pretty radical pivot. I left Symphony, the tallest building at the time in San Francisco, and I partnered with a woman, and we built a luxury children’s clothing company for the next three years. So about as radical of a move as you can make, a $30 billion firm, big team, a tremendous growth ahead of us to upside down boxes of infant cashmere in a garage that flooded when it rained. So I had my startup in a garage moment. And while I was running the children’s clothing company, my husband and I took a big leap of faith and decided to move from San Francisco to Birmingham, Alabama to get closer to family, to raise our kids in the South, and just manifest the life that we wanted. In the third year of running the kids’ clothing business, we checked every box of our initial business plan, and I turned to my business partner and I was like, “Now what? Should we raise capital? Should we open stores? Should we diversify manufacturing?” And we realized this beautiful little luxury brand that we had created was exactly what it needed to be. And so we restructured the company and I punched out of that. And I spent, really for the first time in my life, about five months in deep contemplation. What was the first hedge fund that I was a part of in San Francisco, my tour of duty through investment banking as an analyst associate and helping them start an M&A group. This incredible decade that I’d spent at Symphony, and then this wild out of left field moment of building a luxury children’s clothing brand. And it had such an epiphany, Jason. And it was this, that I was on the ground floor of all of those businesses. And my aha moment was, oh my gosh, I’m a builder. What I love more than anything is sitting at the intersection of talent and opportunity and what I think is truly one of life’s greatest gifts, and certainly I think the most fun way to live your professional life, which is building something. So I put my resume together and I titled… It wasn’t even really a job search. It was more, I was new to Birmingham. I wondered if there was anything I could be of service in being a part of building something. So I put that resume together and I titled it Seeking the Intangible. And I was looking for that opportunity of talent and building something bigger than myself. And it was through some networking with my across the street neighbor who went on to become a board member of RFG who thought all I did was sell his wife incredibly expensive clothing who networked me to Bobby White, who’s the founder of RFG. And in the first 10 minutes of my conversation with Bobby, and I’ll tell you, both of us went into that meeting thinking it was going to be a filler meeting. He was doing a favor for a friend, and I had seen a little bit of the wealth management industry after Nuveen had acquired Symphony and was like, “That’s not really my bag. My jam is more on the institutional side of things.” And 10 minutes into our very first meeting, we both canceled the rest of our day, and we spent the next two and a half hours in his office having a conversation that really started with what if. What if we took RFG, which had been founded in 2003, and at the time was an OSJ with LPL, what if we took that business and we tore it all the way down to the ground? And we rebuilt it from the ground floor up to be a platform that is designed, that is intentionally engineered, to serve independent advisors? What would it look like to be a client experience company first, a technology company second, and a corporate RIA third? And I’ll tell you, walking out of that meeting, I was like, “This is it. This is it. This is the intangible. This is an opportunity to really build something very special.” And that’s how I found myself sitting in this talking to you today. Jason Diamond: Wow. So there’s a lot to unpack there. Thank you for sharing. And you shared it with a degree of vulnerability that I personally, I have a two-year-old and a three-week-old as of this recording. So it resonates with me. I think it resonates with a lot of advisors, people in our, and honestly, probably most industries, the constant pull in multiple different directions. And I love what you called it, seeking the intangible. And it sounds like you didn’t go in with any preconceived notion about… Many of our guests, by the way, that is the case. They walk in saying, “I knew since I was two years old I wanted to be in wealth management. I wanted to help be a steward of client…” And I love that your circuitous route took you a different direction. I want to talk more about the firm, and we’ll dive in on some of these elements of your background also. But before we do, you mentioned a little bit of, at a high level, what RFG is. Give me a little more context, types of advisors you serve, types of clients you serve. And if you don’t mind, provide some stats around size as well. Shannon Spotswood: Absolutely. So we are on a mission to help independent advisors build their business without compromise by driving organic growth to create enterprise value. And I share that because in our mission statement is the passion that links us all together, which is helping independent advisors build what they want to envision for their clients, what they believe is the best representation of their vision and their values. So we are a platform, a full turnkey platform for independent advisors. We talk about our services as a flywheel. There’s a very intentional interdependency from technology to marketing to compliance to talent to investment management to coaching, operations, transition services, and capital solutions. All of it is knit together very thoughtfully in order to be able to deliver to the advisors on our promise to help them operationalize and professionalize their business, to serve their clients and to generate that organic growth, which is what translates into enterprise value. What is so cool about the RFG advisor community, and I think is really the thread that binds between our teams and our advisors team is this servant heart growth mindset that you find it in every nook and cranny of RFG and certainly within all of our advisor partners. So the advisor profile for us, we do tend to skew a little bit younger. Average age is 45 years old. Organic growth across all of our advisors is north of 10%. So we’re very focused and leaned in on growth. We do have advisors that are lifestyle. We talk about them as lifestyle scaling and enterprise, and they run all along that growth at growth spectrum, depending on what do they want to build in their lives, what is going to help them really realize their dreams? And we’ll talk about this a little bit and just the growth of the firm and what we’ve been building, but we are at $9 billion. So it’s been a big run in 2026, as I say, 10 years of pre-game warmup to be able to really talk about that level of growth. So just knocking on the door of $10 billion and truly, Jason, I can tell you, I feel like we’re just getting started. I feel like we are just at the beginning of the J-curve as advisors are really realizing that their most valuable asset is their time and the amount of enterprise value that they can create being independent. There’s a lot of different flavors of that. We’ve got some incredibly well-capitalized and very strong competitors, but the collective awareness around this bull market for advice that we’re sitting at the very beginning of is shining such a bright light on what does it mean to be independent? What does it mean to be really supported by a partner who’s all in to help them win? And that’s where we find ourselves. And by design, that’s where we find ourselves. Jason Diamond: Yeah, and it’s an exciting time. I completely agree. The space, the vertical you’re in, probably as much or more than any other pocket of the industry. You took the words out of my mouth, the J-curve. I completely agree with the story you’re telling. There’s one component of your background that I do want to ask about, which is many RIAs, platforms, and the like, the leadership team is intentionally ex-advisors in their own right. So I’m curious, do you think of it as a benefit or maybe to what degree is it not a benefit that you have never been an advisor and served clients? I do love the idea that you’re a business builder and you’re helping advisors to build a business. That’s not lost on me, but I’m curious specifically about never having been an advisor. Shannon Spotswood: I think it is so critical that we were advisor-founded. What we like to say is we’re advisor-founded and professionally-led. Bobby founded the firm in 2003. We partnered in 2015. Our third partner, Rick Wedell, who’s our chief investment officer, managing partner, joined in 2016. So the three of us really co-founded the version of RFG that is- Jason Diamond: The right version. Shannon Spotswood: … expressed in the market today. But you’re a hundred percent right to double click on this. And I think it is such an important area for reflection for advisors in terms of where are their greatest skills? Where does their passion lie? And what are they interested in building? That very first day that I met Bobby, his telling of the story is he looked at my resume the morning that we were meant to meet, and he is like, “Well, why would I hire her? She could do my job.” And he often talked about that where you get to this point as an advisor where the business is scaling and growing. And we certainly are seeing this in a lot of the larger teams that we’re talking to and the relationships that we’re beginning to build within the pipeline of these advisors who were attracted to the industry because they wanted to serve clients and find themselves as accidental CEOs, COOs, their chief cook and bottle washer to advisor to all of these C-suite titles. And it’s not amplifying their natural skillset and it’s not aligned with what is actually their passion for the business. So I give a tremendous amount of credit to Bobby for recognizing more than 10 years ago really what it would take and how he could align team around him and build partnerships around him to be able to maximize the impact that we can have for advisors. So that north star of keeping advisors front and center is truly our, it is woven into our DNA and it is our north star. So we are a client experience company by design. We talk about it all the time, whether it’s how we’re building our team, how we’re thinking about investing in technology, how we’re soliciting feedback for advisors. I always say one of our greatest strengths as an organization is we’re active listeners and then we actually execute on it. Our best ideas come from our advisors, but you’ve got to have that posture as a firm that everything you do is orienting around how do we help advisors operationalize, professionalize, drive organic growth, and create enterprise value? And you can’t do it sometimes. You’re either all in, chips all in, only winning when your advisors win, and only having that lens of will this benefit the advisor and their team or not. It’s not something that you can just dip your toe in and out of. And I think RFG, having that foundation from which to always build is absolutely critical. Jason Diamond: Can I try and paraphrase or synthesize, and you tell me if I get this right? The pitch is something to the effect of, “We are really good at what we do. Let us take all the BS off of your plate so that you can go out and be an advisor. Service your client and prospect.” Do you find that story is resonating more over time? I mean, you’ve been with the firm now long enough to see this kind of cycle of movement towards independence. How has that story evolved over time? Do you find it easier to tell? Shannon Spotswood: Oh my gosh, without question. And I would even put a shorter term window on it. I would say in the last 12 to 15 months- Jason Diamond: Oh wow. Shannon Spotswood: … there has been a collective awakening by advisors, and I think there’s a lot of contributing factors to that. One is obviously as we are all aware, the majority of the industry is now private equity backed. There has been a real focus on the aggregator model, transitioning advisors into a W-2 model. And as that has played out and that financial engineering has translated into some incredible valuations and returns, there has also been simultaneously advisors picking their head up and like, wait a minute, I wanted to get independent so I could serve my clients in a way that I felt best represented my vision and my values. And I’m finding myself increasingly in a captive environment. All the while the technology is getting better, the valuations are getting larger, the ability to control both your branding and what that means for your family legacy is increasing. So over the course of the last 15 to 18 months, that story has just, while it’s been there for a long time, the independent movement was obviously sparked more than, gosh, now 16, 20 years ago in earnest. Now it’s just the passion and the knowledge that advisors are showing up to conversations in recognizing I want more. I want to spend my time where I want to spend it. I want to serve more families. I want to be well-positioned for generational wealth transition. I want to own the enterprise value. I want to build my team and I want the best tech. And that to me is exactly why we’re at the beginning of this J-curve. Jason Diamond: Yeah, I think you nailed it. And I agree with you that this notion of independence is not a destination in and of… It’s too broad of a term I think to use. And there are plenty of advisors who either started at one version of independence and need something different now, or to your point, thought they were going independent only to realize perhaps there’s elements of the business that aren’t as independent as they realized. And that’s where I think a firm like RFG to me, it’s not an accident that your firm fills this niche. This was advisor demand driven. Advisors said explicitly and implicitly, “We want to be independent. We want to own our equity. We want to have control over the things we like, but we want a support partner that helps us with all the back office, the middle office, investment management, the flywheel,” as you call it. Shannon Spotswood: That’s right. Jason Diamond: One other element of your journey to this point that I want to ask about, the succession journey or the journey to CEO, and I’m only asking because it’s somewhat recent, I think it was 2024, so we’re about two years in CEO. For the eight years prior to that, you were president. Shannon Spotswood: Yes. Jason Diamond: And this dynamic is near and dear for a lot of advisors. This idea you’re the heir apparent, but the date hasn’t happened until it happened. Was that a smooth transition date or did you find yourself, and I hope you can be honest about it, and if not, I understand, but I think this is something that a lot of advisors in their own businesses struggle with. So as somebody who’s gone through a major succession journey in the last two years, I’m curious what your thoughts are. Shannon Spotswood: The timing coincided with us bringing on a growth capital partner. So we closed on that partnership with Long Ridge in the fall of 2023, and we really set our sights on how do we bring this capital into the business and invest in our team, invest in our technology, invest in this desire to help independent advisors build their business. And Long Ridge really shares that long-term strategic belief that independence and the corporate RIA model is the ultimate winning model. So we have a lot of room to run there. So entering into that growth partnership with Long Ridge really provided a natural opportunity for that succession conversation to take place and to be able to take the company to the next leg. So we’ve tripled the size of the company over the course of the last two and a half years. Jason Diamond: Good for you. Shannon Spotswood: And as I said, I feel like we’re just getting started. I always joke we’ve had the longest pre-game warmup in history. In a lot of ways that’s by design. For me, the way that I can sleep at night is knowing that we are waking up as a team in this unified front to walk the walk for our advisors. It is incredibly important to us to honor the promise that we’ve made, whether it’s on tech or talent or transition services or marketing growth. So being able to lean in and deliver that, it takes a long time to build that institutional know-how and to be uncompromising in consistently making hard decisions, whether it’s around talent or the investments that you’re making or how you’re running and growing and building the firm. And so Bobby reached and Long Ridge and all of us reached this point where it was just a very natural way. And I think it was such a gift that I had such a long warmup, if you will, in the bullpen, running the day-to-day of the business as president, being so close to sweating the details of how we built the foundation, how we run the firm. And then obviously Ed Swenson joined us as president in last fall in October of 2025, having joined our board when we partnered with Long Ridge. So he joined our board in September of ’23, and he and I set up a call every other week. So we just became this incredibly trusted confidant of mine as we made a lot of strategic investments and key strategic decisions in that first 15 to 18 months of our partnership with Long Ridge. So to be able to build and attract the caliber of talent that we have to RFG, I mean, I’m totally biased and talking my own book, but I think we have the best leadership team. Doug Nelson joined us from Long Ridge as our CFO in November of last year, just bringing that rigor, particularly around capital strategies into our C-suite. So it was the right time to make that transition. And what I would say for founder advisor-led firms, it’s all about what are your growth ambitions? It’s what are your growth ambitions? Without question, when I joined and Bobby and Rick and I set upon this journey to tear the entire company down and build this robust tech stack and be at the forefront as an innovator in that space, that was experience that I had from my 20 years in San Francisco. And Rick had this incredible institutional pedigree having spent 12 years at Bain Capital plus two years at Stanford Business School, complimenting this authenticity that Bobby brought as an advisor, bringing that together. So recognizing as a founder advisor, if you have growth ambitions to 10X your business, it’s going to require that you bring high caliber talent to the table and allow for that room both from an equity participation perspective, but also just from what does the business need as it continues to scale up? Jason Diamond: That’s exactly right. And part of this gets back to private equity sometimes gets a bad rep in our space, but the reality is capital from private equity enables a lot of what you’re talking about. And I give you a lot of credit. I mean, you make the half joke about the longest pregame warmup ever, but I think of it as you learned on your own dime and you built all the kinks and ironed out all the kinks prior to having this critical mass of advisors on your platform. And we’ve seen certainly plenty of firms go that route too. So I give you credit for that. I think because we’re on the topic, let’s talk about it, private equity. Positive experience, negative experience, neutral, neither good nor bad. Just give me your… I don’t want to make the episode about the perils- Shannon Spotswood: Right. Jason Diamond: … and benefits of private equity capital, but just curious what your experience has been. Shannon Spotswood: I think this is one of those life lessons. Choose your partners wisely and great things can happen, whether it’s in your marriage or your friendships- Jason Diamond: Spouse. Yep. Shannon Spotswood: … or your business partners. And Long Ridge found us very serendipitously. I mean, we were probably two years from even contemplating bringing in a growth capital partner. They were introduced to us by a former board member and they were in our offices in January of 2023. And the most important things for us were twofold. Number one, they shared our vision and belief that the corporate RIA independent is the winning model for the industry and for advisors and clients. And number two, who they are as people is very much who we are as people. They’re builders. Jason Diamond: Culturally. Shannon Spotswood: They have this servant heart growth mindset that they share with us. So I feel incredibly blessed to say they’re amazing partners. And what’s interesting, and I’ll share this very openly, they’re the majority owners of RFG. We were very early in that time of bringing them on. They have always honored the promise that they made to us, which is we run the business. They are a strategic partner. They’re a great thought partner. They are the capital provider, but there has been multiple examples where we have made business decisions where there’s been some heat in the kitchen, in the boardroom, and we’ve felt very strongly about it. So I just couldn’t say enough great things about them. And one thing that I will just share, and I say this because they’ve shared this with me, I have had this incredible personal journey of growth bringing such a deep bench in Long Ridge into the firm. And that has been certainly challenging at times. Do hard things, get comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s the ultimate definition. But I really think that is something that never gets talked about is what it means in upskilling the caliber of your talent, yourself, how you have to grow and evolve as an individual has been really, I won’t say it’s been easy, but I look back on what I’ve learned over these two years and just feel prepared as a leadership team, how we operate as a team, what is expected of us to be able to deliver and execute for our advisors in this next leg of growth. Jason Diamond: I think your marriage analogy is the perfect one, and I’m going to use it. And honestly, in a lot of ways. First of all, marriage is hard, good or bad. It’s hard. Second of all, it’s the ultimate… The institution of marriage is not good or bad. Private equity capital is not good or bad, but your answer is the right one. Pick your partner very wisely. My favorite part of your answer, because it’s the most original, was around a good capital backer, a good partner, whatever you want to call it, pushes you to be better. And I think that you’re surrounding yourself with, by definition, some of the smartest people in the industry, and that can’t be a bad thing. And the proof is in the pudding. The growth trajectory you’ve seen, it’s certainly no accident. I think part of it is tied to your incredible stewardship. You don’t have to answer that. You don’t have to be humble, but I’ll attribute it to you. That brings me to my next question. Shannon Spotswood: I do have to say really quickly. Jason Diamond: Please do. Shannon Spotswood: I will be celebrating my 27th wedding anniversary in October. So yeah, pick your partners. Jason Diamond: Congrats. And I feel equally blessed, I assume as you do. I have a great partner, I’ll say. I don’t know if she’s listening right now, but she’s a great spouse. What I was going to say though, good segue, I think there’s been more in recent years, but not a ton certainly of female C-suite wealth management executives. How do you feel about your role? Do you feel an increased burden? Is it an honor to you? Is it something that you don’t think much about at all? I’m curious what your thoughts are. Shannon Spotswood: I feel immense gratitude. I mean, just in general, leading RFG and locking arms with our team and our advisors is, I mean, a gift of a lifetime. I was incredibly fortunate to not just have mentors during my 20 years in San Francisco, but to have true sponsors. Whether it was the first hedge fund I worked at, I took that job because it was a female portfolio manager and at the time one of the only in the country. And she really opened up her heart to me and poured into me. And then 10 years at Symphony, the founding partners of Symphony, they dropped me into the deep end of the pool and gave me a lot of rope to make a lot of mistakes and continued to invest. So I have this foundation from which to build and to lead and to be ready for this role. I couldn’t do any of this without my partners. Rick and I have been partners for more than 10 years. It really does take a village in the same way that it takes a village to raise your family. It takes a village to find the courage and the strength to lead in a way that really honors the gravity of the mission. But I’ll tell you this. One, I knew I wanted to work on Wall Street from a very young age, so I chose this. I knew what I was getting into, that it was a male-dominated industry. I have made particularly, this is one of the unique facets of the wealth management business, we have phenomenal both male and female talent, and I have made the strongest female relationships on this side of the business as compared to the institutional side of the business. So I think there is a richness to our side of the industry that doesn’t get enough air cover. There are just phenomenal leaders, and I think increasingly so, we’re seeing more women stay in the game and raise into positions within the C-suite and leading these firms. I will tell you one thing in 2019, and I really give a lot of credit to Bobby for this in coaching me, is I was raised by wolves on Wall Street without question. I sat on a trade desk, I was completely comfortable with compartmentalizing emotion, and I made it a mission to develop intentionally my emotional intelligence. And that truly unlocked everything for me, and I think plays such a huge part of who I want to be and who I challenge myself to be as a leader. And so it’s funny when I get the question asked of me about being a female CEO, because I think that’s what people feel must be like came very intuitively to me, but I had to learn it. I had 20 plus years of being able to run with boys and I needed to develop that skill. And it is a skill that I challenge myself on a daily to continue to lean into. And I think it is increasingly important both for men and women who aspire to leadership to hone the strategic and execution alongside that emotional intelligence. Jason Diamond: Great answer. And I think you know I admire a lot about you, but it’s certainly one of the things I admire most about you is over the last couple years in particular you’ve been a real beacon of positivity, of empowerment in that regard. You’re active on socials, you’re active at industry events, you’re always willing to talk to people. And honestly, that to me is the answer. A lot of people complain about this as a problem, and I want to just take a second to applaud you because I think you and your firm actually do something to at least try and actively solve some of this. And also you mentioned it earlier, but same thing with some of the next gen dynamics. You skew much younger than the average firm on the industry. And I think that too is to your credit around, okay, we’ve identified that we have a major succession problem in our industry. What are we doing to solve that? Shannon Spotswood: Absolutely. Jason Diamond: Let’s talk about growth a little bit. I agree with your thesis. This space you occupy, no better time to be in it. We’re at the perfect spot on the J-curve. Unfortunately, we are not the only two people to think that. There are also, I think, some other firms. This space has become crowded. What do you think about that? Just the fact that there’s more competition than ever. I mean, my view of it is there are enough quality advisors to go around, but curious what you think. Shannon Spotswood: Anytime I find myself wading into the waters of fear and scarcity around this topic, I’m reminded that 67% of the assets still remain within the wirehouse and IBD space. We got lots of room to run. I believe in a mindset of abundance. The data will tell us that the demand for advice is increasing by 30% over the next decade while the number of advisors is decreasing by 1%. So we’ve got, find me another industry where you see a graph that looks like that. On top of that, next gen, which I think this is so fascinating, next gen actually wants more advice when compared to the baby boomers. So baby boomers created our industry, and here we are sitting on $87 trillion worth of generational wealth that’s going to begin to transition. That doesn’t even include all of the wealth that will be monetized through real estate and family-owned businesses. It is a tsunami. And what is, I think, really interesting is that next gen recognizes the value of their time. I’m sure if I had a conversation, Jason, with you and my husband about how intentional you want to be in terms of showing up for your children and the equal nature of parenting, that alone is changing the way the next gen thinks about both their professions as well as their family life, which means you by default have to hire professionals to do the things that you don’t want to spend the time doing. Jason Diamond: Really good point. Shannon Spotswood: So we have this incredible convergence that’s happening right now, and it’s coming at a time that technology is finally going to allow us to serve more families more intentionally along that wealth spectrum. So it is like, bring it on. There is more than enough to go around. We are in an era of abundance. And what I worry the most about, and this, it’s like climb up on the soapbox and let’s roll, about independence because I see and have so many conversations with advisors where they have been willing to accept such a compromised service experience that they would never allow to be delivered to their clients. So advisors are delivering this 24-hour concierge, high-touch, deeply thoughtful experience, estate planning, tax planning, financial planning, multi-generational conversations. They’re in it. They’re in the trench. And then they turn around and their service partner is so subpar. They’re compromising their growth. They’re burying them in compliance and ops and clicks and swivel chair and tech that doesn’t work. So we’re at the very beginning of this bull run for advice. And I think advisors who recognize, I want to serve more families, I want more control over my time, I want to be able to build enterprise value on my personal balance sheet, have room to do it. So I welcome the competition. I think the best way to talk about it is iron sharpens iron. I learn so much from our peers and like, ah, they did this or they did that. How do we think more disruptively, more innovatively? How do we do it differently? So I think there’s a lot of room for all of us. You’re going to be busy, my friend. You’re already sitting there advising the lion’s share of the big deals, and I think you guys are just getting started as well. Jason Diamond: Yeah, it certainly feels like a bull market for advice and also I think a bull market for some of the… You allude to an interesting paradox, which is some of the biggest and most sophisticated advisors in the industry have really high-touch impressive service models, but they don’t seem to demand the same in return. I have some thoughts as to why. I think one could just be Kool-Aid drinking, like you don’t know any better and you’ve been there for so long. There’s just so much friction associated with moving a business and fear associated that it’s unless things get really dire or unless I find something that’s better enough or meaningfully better enough, I can gut it out. But the third one that comes to mind is these firms we’re talking about have unequivocally, they do a lot of good, a lot of bad, but unequivocally one of the things they do really well is brand. Shannon Spotswood: Yeah. Jason Diamond: How do you reconcile that question with a firm that obviously doesn’t have a brand that the average American consumer would know? Shannon Spotswood: We take a posture on this that is rooted in an Accenture study that was conducted several years ago, but I think still remains so true today, is that advisors think that the value proposition that their clients are looking for, either it’s that big monobrand that’s advertising at the Super Bowl or the alpha they’re ever able to generate or the portfolio investments. But the clients tell us that what they’re looking for in an advisor is, do you get me? Do you share my values? And do I want to spend time with you outside the office? And that is basically distilled down the way we talk about it is people connect with people. So now more than ever, particularly if you take a big step back and you think about the influencer economy and how brands, big brands, Nike or big consumer brands have really leaned into niche branding. How do I get my brand into the hands of someone who’s very passionate about it? So advisors who develop their own brand, who have a presence on social, who have a presence in AEO and SEO, who are leaning in and expressing not only their client experience, but their vision and their values through their brand, I actually think as this generational wealth unfolds, that authenticity carries so much more weight than is my name on a football stadium. So it is those three factors. It’s just I’m comfortable. I don’t want ripple. It is friction and fear for sure. And then it’s like that branding is up for grabs because we certainly see one of the most fun parts of advisors joining RFG, this is a big part of what we do is helping them design and develop or reimagine their brand name, their logo, all the rest of it. Once that creative energy is unlocked and you get to tell your story, your my why, that connective tissue is so powerful with the clients and with the growth that comes from that because I mean, I truly believe people connect with people. They’re looking for that. And I think more so now than ever with AI. Jason Diamond: You just took the words out of my mouth. Do you think AI perpetuates that? Shannon Spotswood: I think people are craving that. And this is why advisors who are powered by AI without question are going to win. Advisors are not going to be disrupted by AI unless they haven’t made the move to get themselves in a position to be able to leverage the technology, the brand, the talent, the maximizing of their time. But especially with something as important and as personal as money, as you walk through life, I mean, you are at the very beginning. I’m sending, I’ll have all three kids in college. But as you make these critical decisions in your life, whether it’s getting married or starting a business or changing jobs or buying your first house, buying your vacation house, all of these things, you can go right or you can go wrong. And having a trusted partner who really understands you, I actually think that we’re going to see the fees paid for advisors increasing as there is a greater premium placed on, I want deeply personal relationships that are tailor-made for me. Jason Diamond: But I assume the flip side of that is you have to do more. You as a firm and you as an advisor have to do more, and you can’t just raise fees with the same service model. So I think what is the corollary of that? What are some of the ancillary growth areas that you do beyond the financial planning and asset management that says, “We’re worth that money you’re going to pay us”? Shannon Spotswood: It is, and I love the work that wealth.com is doing here. I mean, the estate planning and tax planning, making that more accessible along that continuum of wealth spectrum, the blurring of the lines between ultra high net worth and high net worth, and then mass affluent is so exciting. Better, more robust planning is good for our industry overall. Obviously there’s a huge amount of demand on the tax side of things, particularly the 1040. It’s easy to find a CPA to do the cool complex stuff. It’s increasingly more challenging for advisors. That’s an area that I know a lot of firms have leaned into. We’re certainly doing a lot of work. But so much of this, Jason, is showing up at the right time for clients with the resources. It’s a really interesting conversation about, yes, you have to do more for your clients, but you don’t have to do more for all your clients at exactly the same time. Jason Diamond: That’s well said. The flip side of that is as an advisor, because ultimately the advisors are the ones making this decision. There are a lot of firms, and not even just firms that you would be competitors with, because the reality is you and I understand the industry landscape and where various firms fit in. For many advisors, it’s a long list of various firm names that they’ve heard. So what are some things that you think advisors should be asking a firm like you or a business development person at your firm to suss this out? How does an advisor go about understanding if a platform is empty or is really going to be able to deliver in all these areas? Shannon Spotswood: Remember back in the day when the Wall Street Journal used to run have a monkey throw a dart and see if you can beat the pros on stock picking? I love to do that with regards to our advisors. We always tell our prospects, “Throw a dart at any advisor that’s affiliated with RFG and call them. Certainly we can provide a list of advisors who we think you’re going to most align with in terms of what your growth ambitions are or the way you want to run your business or who you are, life stage, all the rest of it.” But I do think that getting that unfiltered experience, the good, the bad, the ugly. We always are like, “Are we perfect? Absolutely not. Do we though immediately want the feedback so that we can iterate to excellence to get better? Absolutely. Get that firsthand testimony.” So that’s number one. Number two is don’t tell me, show me. There are so many, and it always pulls at my heart because as much as I love to win business and transition advisors, and I think that we’re working certainly at RFG on some really interesting technology that is anchored around removing that friction and fear by speeding up the time that you can make that transition in. And the tech is finally there to allow for this. So I think we’re going to be able to take variable number two and at least make that box a little bit smaller. But if I’m sitting as an advisor, I would want to see the evidence. Show me how you’ve solved the problems that advisors have brought to you. How have you refined your tech stack? How have you invested in your team? How have you made the decisions where the ROI can be measurable and tangible? And I think too often I’m surprised that advisors get, it’s almost as if they get overwhelmed by the amount of information that they’re taking in trying to compare all these different firms. If I’m ever asked, I’m like, please work with a third-party recruiter. You need someone not only to act as an interpreter, but you need someone to help really keep your top three priorities at the front of your decision-making matrix, because it really is apples to oranges to orangutans and you get decision fatigue. And then advisors end up making this decision that is anchored in like, well, this is the highest payout, and I’m willing to take all of these sacrifices and paper cuts for this highest payout. And that is just such a travesty. So it’s like, know what you want. What are your top three problems that you’re trying to solve? Talk to advisors that you get to pick just so you can do some secret shopping, and then demand evidence of how the firm, the platform has responded to feedback and gotten better as a result because that will tell you, are they really going to walk the walk or are they just going to talk the talk? Jason Diamond: I’m super grateful that you gave specifics there because it’s an easy question to dodge and talk around. So I completely agree. Your first answer, actually all three of those points you just made, but certainly doing name-blind calls, and I say name-blind because advisors worry about confidentiality. I think that’s one of the best and most underrated tools to learn about a firm is advisors now have so many colleagues. There’s been this diaspora of advisors where advisors know advisors everywhere. And that’s a benefit if you wanted to go and just network and have conversations with other advisors on your own. But if you’re worried about confidentiality, there’s certainly the mechanisms, and we do this all the time for advisors to set up name-blind calls. You dial into a conference line, it’s John Smith, and you pick an advisor’s brain and say, “Hey, you moved your book from LPL to RFG, and tell me what that experience was like and what were the positives? Give me all the negatives.” To your point, you want advisors to ask those questions in advance. It’s better to ask those questions than to end up in the wrong marriage with the advisor. Shannon Spotswood: Absolutely. And the other thing is what an easy answer to BS around is tell me who’s a good fit for your firm. And it’s like, “Everyone’s welcome here.” Jason Diamond: Everybody. Yeah. Shannon Spotswood: It’s just not true. RFG is not a good fit for an advisor who is not open to using technology, who is not interested in outsourcing investment management, who doesn’t want to have a conversation about how are you spending your time and do you want to create enterprise value? Do you want to grow? So it really is important to have that vulnerability and that honesty and the answer to that question. Jason Diamond: I love it. We have time for one more. I can’t believe it’s been almost an hour. Shannon Spotswood: I know, it flies by. Jason Diamond: We speak with plenty of advisors who aren’t considering a move, but I’m interested. I think you have a really nice lens into the industry. What is one thing you wish advisors knew? You have a megaphone to just talk to advisors who maybe are considering change, but maybe aren’t. What’s the questions they should be thinking about? What keeps you up at night? Just what would be your public service announcement? Shannon Spotswood: I’m going to focus on the friction and fear because that’s the number one barrier to making a move is PTSD, either first person PTSD or the collective negative experience that the industry has had. It took me 90 days to transition. I got sued by my former firm. I lost all these clients. I didn’t have income. The wise tales of fear are very widely trafficked and widespread. And what I would say to an advisor is everything you want is on the other side of fear. And I look at all of this data that suggests exactly the opposite, which is you have the relationship with the client. You have the trust with the client. You are the one who they call on Sunday night when they need a shoulder to cry on or sage advice for making a decision. Just believe it with the core of your being because what we see is 99% of assets transition, whether it’s a restrictive transition or you’re taking full data, that the majority of assets are transitioning within 30 days, that this is still a free country, and you can make a move while honoring your contract around non-solicitation, non-competes, and non-associations. So it is like this fear of holding advisors back is preventing them from realizing and monetizing this enterprise value, but equally as importantly, loving their business. Have fun. This should be fun. We spend the majority of our life at work. And so being able to surround yourself with people who win when you win, with a team who’s aligned and isn’t just drudgery with all their operations compliance headaches that they’re dealing with. Your team deserves to be happy. You deserve to be happy. And that fear factor is holding so many advisors back. So that’s my advice is that it just doesn’t have to play out that way. And I think not just at RFG, collectively where we are as an independent industry with technology, with the way that AI is changing and our ability to harness data and business intelligence, getting to that point of next best action, how am I spending my time, how am I realizing, what is the blueprint for realizing my growth goals is more tangible now than ever. That’s immediately where I go. Jason Diamond: I’ve never been an advisor. I’ve never had a book of business, so I don’t want to minimize the fear, but I will say this. If we speak to advisors, let’s say a year post-transition, by far the number one thing we hear from them is, “I wish I did this sooner.” Shannon Spotswood: Wish I did it sooner. Jason Diamond: And that to me is the most telling data point there is to your point about fear and getting over it. Shannon Spotswood: So I do this exercise all the time with our team as we’re onboarding advisors is I want you to go home and look at your spouse and tell them, “I’m going to leave my job. I have no certainty that everything is going to work out. We might not receive any kind of compensation. Are you cool with that?” Walk that emotional journey. And while there’s plenty obviously that we can do with Capital Solutions to ease the financial fear associated with it, I still think at the baseline, it’s a great exercise to keep everyone very humble. You are asking an advisor to take their life’s work. And someone was sharing this analogy with me the other day and I was like, “Oh my gosh, that’s so good,” which is imagine moving houses. It’s such a hassle packing up moving one house. Now imagine moving 400 households or 1,200 households. It’s a lot, but I always hear the same thing, “I wish I’d done it sooner.” Jason Diamond: Thank you for sharing. You had some really sage wisdom that you shared with our audience. I can’t wait to see the next chapter, the continuation of the J-curve. This has been a fantastic episode, Shannon. Thank you. Shannon Spotswood: I love being with you, Jason. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. 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.   Growth Without Compromise: Building Around the Advisor Experience A conversation with Jason Diamond and Shannon Spotswood, CEO of RFG Advisory. Jason Diamond: Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for Financial Advisors. Today’s episode is Growth Without Compromise: Building Around the Advisor Experience. It’s a conversation with Shannon Spotswood, the CEO of RFG Advisory. 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 re

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, including family court.More and more protective parents are telling me that their ex has suddenly started sending perfectly written messages, using AI to draft legal documents, or threatening to subpoena their ChatGPT conversations.It's understandable to feel intimidated.But does AI actually give an abusive person more power?Or is it simply another tool that can be used well—or misused?In this episode, I'm joined by divorce coach and author Rina Rosewell to unpack the growing role of AI in coercive control, post-separation abuse, and family court. We discuss both the opportunities and the limitations of AI, along with practical ways survivors can use it without becoming dependent on it.In this episode, we answer:Should I be worried if my ex suddenly starts using AI to write messages or court documents?Can AI actually help me communicate, organize my case, and reduce the emotional toll of post-separation abuse?What are the limitations of AI, and why shouldn't it replace the support of safe, trusted people in your healing?Whether you're curious about AI, already using it, or feeling anxious because your ex has discovered it, this conversation will help you separate fear from facts and use this technology in ways that support—not replace—your healing.About Rina: Rina Rosewell is a CDC Certified Divorce Coach, High-Conflict Coach, and Amazon bestselling author of AI ARMOR: Your Digital Defense Solution for Coparenting with a Narcissist. She helps post-separation abuse survivors use AI strategically to communicate, document, and protect themselves when their ex weaponizes every interaction.Find Rina:https://lifeafteranabusiverelationship.com/https://rinas-newsletter-fbfe96.beehiiv.com/Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.htmlIf you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest 

Norm Hitzges breaks down 10 sharp reactions to the Dallas Cowboys preseason opener against Seattle, digging into roster battles at running back, tight end, cornerback, and edge rusher while flagging concerns about the pass rush and offensive tackle depth. He also examines the Texas Rangers late-season collapse and looks ahead to a payroll crunch that could shape the 2027 roster, then closes with an inspiring college football story of Montana linebacker Solomon Tuiasopupu, a ninth-year player who battled back from five lost seasons to injury. Packed with Cowboys analysis, Rangers commentary, and NFL and college football betting insight, this episode delivers Norm's signature no-nonsense sports takes.

Send us Fan MailGetting passed over for a promotion is painful. But getting passed over and then hearing nothing about why can feel even worse.In this episode of The Mid-Career GPS Podcast, I dig into what happens after an internal promotion rejection when your leader or organization does not give you a clear explanation. For many mid-career professionals, the silence can create anxiety, frustration, and a lot of mental noise. You start filling in the blanks. You question your performance. You wonder if you are not visible enough, not strategic enough, or not seen as ready for the next level.But here is the truth: silence does not always mean failure. It often means your organization does not know how to talk about promotion readiness, leadership potential, and career growth in a clear and helpful way.I talk about the difference between managing someone's performance and developing their career. Your manager may know how to evaluate your current work, but that does not mean they are equipped to help you grow into your next leadership opportunity. When your conversations are only about output, deadlines, and deliverables, your career momentum can quietly stall.If you have been passed over for an internal promotion, this episode will help you stop spiraling and start gathering useful data. I walk you through how to ask for a feedback conversation with confidence, how to listen without getting defensive, and how to recognize patterns over time so you can make a more informed decision about your future.Because in this current job market, career clarity matters. If your leader and organization are not willing to invest in your growth, you have to decide whether they deserve your long-term time, energy, and loyalty.In This Episode, You'll Learn:• Why getting passed over for a promotion hurts more when no one explains the decision• How ambiguity after a promotion rejection creates anxiety and unhelpful stories• Why many leaders avoid career conversations about potential, readiness, and growth• The difference between managing performance and developing a career• How resentment can lower your visibility and cost you influence• How to ask for an intentional feedback conversation with confidence• What to listen for when your leader gives you feedback• Why you should not defend, argue, or re-interview for the role during the conversation• How to look for patterns and use them as career data• How to decide whether your current leader and organization can truly support your growthWhy This Matters for Mid-Career ProfessionalsAt mid-career, doing good work is no longer enough. You need to know how decision makers see your leadership, your readiness, your visibility, and your potential.When you do not get the promotion, the goal is not to immediately assume something is wrong with you. The goal is to get clearer about what happened, what was missing, what was never communicated, and what you can do next.That clarity helps you make better decisions. You may decide to stay and build a stronger case for your next promotion. You may decide to repair your relationship with your manager. Or you may realize that your current workplace is not the best place for your next level of growth.Either way, you deserve more than silence.Key TakeawayIf you were passed over for a promotion and no one told you why, do not let the silence become the story. Ask for the conversation. Listen for patterns. Gather the data. Then decide whether your current organization is still the right place for your leadership, growth, and career goals.Listen to This Episode If You Are:• A mid-career professional who was recently passed over for a promotion• Struggling to understand why you did not get selected for an internal role• Wondering whether your manager is truly invested in your career growth• Feeling stuck, overlooked, or undervalued at work• Trying to improve your visibility, influence, and promotion readiness• Deciding whether to stay in your current organization or explore a new opportunity• Looking for career clarity in a challenging job marketCall to ActionIf this episode resonates with you, I invite you to listen, subscribe to The Mid-Career GPS Podcast, and share it with another mid-career professional who is trying to figure out their next move.And if you are tired of being passed over, overlooked, or left to figure out your career growth on your own, visit johnneral.com to learn how I can help you build your Mid-Career GPS and create a career path with more clarity, confidence, and momentum.Support the showIf this episode resonated with you and you want more support in how you SHOW UP for your career and life, there are two ways we can work together.Learn more about my SHOW UP Leadership Lab, my monthly membership program, at https://www.johnneral.com/showupIf you would like to learn more about how I can help you as your leadership and career coach, visit https://www.johnneral.com/workwithme.Get John's free weekly leadership and career newsletter at https://www.johnneral.com/the-mid-career-gps-newsletterOther ways we can connect:Connect with John on LinkedIn here.Get John's books on Amazon here.  Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.  Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here.This podcast is listed in Feedspot's Top 90 Best Executive Career Podcasts.https://podcast.feedspot.com/executive_career_podcasts/

Wondering if your child is meeting speech milestones? A speech language pathologist explains early language development, red flags, and when to seek help. In this episode, Allison sits down with speech language pathologist Dinalynn Rosenbush to answer some of parents' biggest questions about early speech and language development. Together, they discuss what language milestones really mean, why online milestone charts can sometimes create unnecessary anxiety, and how parents can support speech development naturally at home. Dinalynn explains the difference between speech sounds and language, why conversation is more valuable than talking at your child, and how to create a language-rich environment that encourages communication from infancy through the preschool years. They also discuss common concerns with younger siblings, what to do when children become frustrated because they can't express themselves, and why parents should trust their instincts if they feel something isn't quite right. Whether your child is saying their first words or beginning to speak in sentences, this conversation offers practical, reassuring guidance for supporting healthy communication development. In this episode, you'll learn: What speech and language milestones parents should watch for Why milestone charts can be confusing and how to interpret them The difference between speech sounds and language development How many words toddlers should be using at different ages How to create a language-rich home environment Why younger siblings sometimes talk later How to respond when children become frustrated trying to communicate Simple ways to encourage more conversation throughout the day When to seek a speech-language evaluation Why trusting your parental instincts matters Chapter Markers: 00:00 Meet speech language pathologist Dinalynn Rosenbush 01:30 What is the "Language of Play"? 03:45 Understanding speech and language milestones 08:00 Why milestone charts can be misleading 12:30 How many words should toddlers be saying? 18:30 Why younger siblings sometimes talk later 23:30 Helping children who get frustrated communicating 26:00 Creating a language-rich home 31:00 Speech red flags parents shouldn't ignore 34:30 Trusting your instincts and seeking help early 39:30 Where parents can learn more Learn more about Dinalynn and her work  Click here to listen to the episode on YouTube  Give your child the gift of better sleep. Allison's free, age-specific guides show you exactly how many hours of rest kids need to grow, learn, and thrive—no matter their age. Get your free copy now: 0-2 Years Old or 3 to 10 years old From baby sleep to toddler sleep, daycare naps to sleep training—How Long 'Til Bedtime? is the podcast for parents who want practical, guilt-free sleep tips they can actually use. Hosted by pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, each episode delivers real solutions for every stage—from navigating newborn sleep struggles and weaning night feedings to helping your 3-year-old fall asleep independently (and stay asleep!). Whether you're trying to make sense of daycare sleep patterns, craving your evenings back, or simply need a working mom podcast to keep you grounded, you're in the right place. Want more from Allison? Sign up here to get her weekly email with podcast updates and other helpful parenting topics. Enjoying How Long 'Til Bedtime? Your rating and review help Allison reach and support more parents. On Apple Podcasts: Click here, scroll to the bottom, rate the show, and tap "Write a Review." On Spotify: Click here to leave a rating or review. Don't miss an episode—subscribe so you're always up to date! Connect with Allison: Instagram | Facebook | Website | YouTube  

When's the last time you had a great sales conversation with a corporate prospect, asked about their budget, and got...nothing?   They want a proposal. They're interested in working with you. But they either can't or won't tell you what they have available to spend.   Now you're left wondering how you're supposed to create the "right" proposal when you don't have enough information.   In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, Nikki shares how to navigate this common corporate sales situation without guessing, overthinking, or walking away from a potentially great client.   You learn why your proposal doesn't have to be perfect. Instead, it can become the starting point for a more productive sales conversation that gets you closer to the right solution for your prospect. The Transformation Before listening, you may find yourself: Struggling to price a proposal when a corporate prospect won't share their budget. Feeling pressure to create the perfect proposal on the first try. Wondering whether a prospect who won't provide a budget is serious about hiring you. Assuming the proposal needs to result in an immediate yes or no. Questioning whether multiple sales conversations mean the deal isn't moving forward. After listening, you learn how to: Create a proposal even when you don't have a clear budget. Give prospects options that make it easier to continue the sales conversation. Use a circle-back call to gather more information and refine your offer. Recognize when a prospect is still engaged, even when the sales process takes multiple conversations. Stay curious and confident as you work toward the right solution for both you and your prospect. What You Learn In this episode, Nikki shares: Why a prospect who won't give you a budget isn't necessarily playing games or wasting your time. How to structure a proposal when you don't know what the prospect is prepared to spend. Why offering two or three options creates a more productive conversation than presenting one solution. Why Nikki recommends presenting proposal options from the highest investment to the lowest. How a circle-back call allows you to gather the information you couldn't get during the initial discovery conversation. Why you shouldn't automatically "bless and release" a prospect simply because they won't provide a budget. How Nikki used multiple proposals and conversations to earn a corporate client. Why an engaged prospect is worth staying in conversation with, even when the sale takes longer than expected. The Proposal Is the Starting Point, Not the Finish Line When a corporate prospect doesn't provide a budget, it's easy to believe you have to somehow figure out the perfect scope and price before sending your proposal.   Nikki encourages you to think about it differently.   The proposal isn't the finish line. It's an invitation to the next conversation.   Your first proposal gives the prospect something tangible to respond to.   They can tell you: "We like this piece." "We don't need that." "What if we added this?" "This is more than we planned to spend." "Could we structure it differently?"   This information gives you something you didn't have before.   Now you're no longer guessing. You're gathering information that allows you to refine the solution and continue the sales conversation. The Two-to-Three Option Proposal Strategy When a prospect hasn't provided a budget, Nikki recommends offering at least two and no more than three options.   One option creates a yes-or-no decision.   Multiple options create a conversation.   When presenting three options, Nikki recommends starting with the highest-investment solution and working down from there.   The goal isn't to create three versions simply for the sake of having options. Each solution should give the prospect a meaningful way to think about what they need, what's most important, and what they're willing to invest in.   Once they respond to the options, you gain valuable information that can guide the next version of your proposal.   And remember, more isn't necessarily better. Too many choices create decision overwhelm, and a confused mind does not buy. Stay Curious and Stay in the Conversation A corporate sale may require more conversations than you expect.   Nikki shares an example from her own business where earning a corporate client took multiple proposals and approximately five to seven conversations.   The prospect continued to engage, provide feedback, bring additional decision-makers into the conversation, and clarify what the organization needed.   This engagement mattered.   Nikki's approach is simple: As long as they're staying in the conversation with you, stay in the conversation with them.   There is a difference between a prospect who continues to engage and one who repeatedly asks for more work without providing useful feedback.   When they're participating in the process, stay curious. Use what you learn to continue refining the solution until you determine whether there's a fit. A Quote Worth Remembering "Stop trying to create the perfect proposal when you don't have the perfect information to do so." Try This This Week Think about a proposal you're currently creating, or one you've been hesitant to send because you don't have enough information.   Instead of asking yourself: "How do I create the perfect proposal?"   Ask: "What can I put in front of this prospect that gives us something meaningful to discuss?"   Create two or three thoughtful options, then schedule a circle-back call to review them together.   Stay curious about their response. What they like, don't like, question, add, or remove gives you valuable information about what it takes to earn their business. Who This Episode Is For This episode is especially valuable when you: Sell consulting, training, coaching, or professional services to corporate clients. Struggle with pricing when a prospect won't share their budget. Create customized proposals for organizations. Feel pressure to close corporate sales quickly. Want your sales conversations and negotiations to feel collaborative instead of pushy. Want to become more confident selling services to corporate decision-makers. Keep the Conversation Going Did today's episode give you a new way to think about corporate proposals and sales conversations? Here are a few places to continue learning: Explore the Sales Maven Society: https://yoursalesmaven.com/sales-maven-society/ Discover more relationship-based selling strategies: https://yoursalesmaven.com Listen to more episodes of the Sales Maven Show: https://yoursalesmaven.com/sales-maven-podcast/ Timestamps 00:25 Why corporate prospects sometimes won't give you a budget 00:56 Setting the stage: Asking about budget during the discovery call 02:02 Why the proposal is the beginning of the conversation, not the finish line 03:11 What may really be happening when a prospect won't share their budget 04:26 Why multiple proposal options create a better sales conversation 05:45 A client example: Using three proposal options to negotiate the right solution 08:24 Why you should schedule a circle back call before sending the proposal 10:43 When a missing budget is not a reason to bless and release the prospect 14:53 Why Nikki stays in the conversation as long as the buyer stays engaged 16:01 Corporate sales may require multiple conversations before the yes 17:40 The two-to-three option rule and avoiding decision overwhelm 18:30 Creating a safe space for an open sales dialogue 19:18 Final reminder: Stay curious, stay engaged, and stop trying to create the perfect proposal About Nikki Rausch Nikki Rausch guides service-based women entrepreneurs who aren't yet comfortable with selling to confidently enroll more clients through natural, relationship-based conversations. Through practical strategies and proven frameworks, you learn how to create consistent business growth while staying true to your values. Whether you're building sales confidence, improving client enrollment, or refining your sales communication, Nikki shows you how to create sales that feel natural and results that feel inevitable.

Wondering why your Instagram content isn't converting the way it used to? I interview Ellen Mackenzie to discover a three-part Instagram marketing strategy for 2026.Why Instagram Feels Different in 2026How to Create Natural-Feeling Instagram Reels for MarketingHow to Create Natural-Feeling Instagram Carousels for MarketingHow to Find Your Format Mix and Posting Cadence With Instagram MetricsHow to Amplify High-Performing Organic Instagram Posts With Paid AdsGuest: Ellen Mackenzie | Show Notes: socialmediaexaminer.com/731Review our show on Apple PodcastsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: www.holmbergpodcast.com, www.98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.