Financial Advisor Success
Michael Kitces
The Financial Advisor Success podcast brings you real success stories and insights from the most successful financial advisors, and leading industry consultants, about how to take your advisory business to the next level. Get a glimpse of what it's like behind the scenes building a successful advisory business, and how entrepreneurial advisors navigate the inevitable highs, and lows, of growing a firm. Whether you're a new financial advisor trying to get started on the right foot, or an experienced advisor who's hit a wall, we're here to give you the insights and inspiration you need to break through and reach the level of success you want to achieve. Subscribe to the show, and get even more at the leading industry blog Nerd's Eye View at www.Kitces.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
16 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 1h 30min
Ep 482: Growing To $500M AUM In 7 Years by Connecting with Your Ideal Clients on LinkedIn with Justin Brownlee
Justin Brownlee, founder of Brownlee Wealth Management who oversees ~$500M for oil and gas professionals, built a boutique RIA by niching and using LinkedIn. He describes targeting specific companies, writing tiny-audience technical articles, and curating connections to reach the right decision makers. He also explains a fixed-fee model with included tax prep and the firm’s high-touch, low-client-count structure.
16 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 1h 30min
Ep 481: Leveraging Technology To Rapidly Scale Growth Delivering Financial Planning To Next Generation Clients with Adam Dell
Adam Dell, founder of Domain Money and serial fintech entrepreneur, explains how a tech-forward, flat-fee RIA scales financial planning for next-generation clients. He discusses building purpose-built planning software, using AI to automate back-office tasks while preserving human review, and growth strategies like direct-to-consumer and white-label partnerships.
26 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 1h 27min
Ep 480: Growing To $660M Of AUM By Leveraging SEO (And Now AEO) To Build A Durable Pipeline Of Good-Fit Prospects with Helen Stephens
Helen Stephens, founder of Aspen Wealth Management in Fort Worth managing hundreds of client households and ~$670M AUM. She recounts building durable growth through long-term SEO that evolved into AI-driven AEO, how content and tracking created a steady pipeline of right-fit prospects, and the internal succession and ownership transition plan keeping the firm independent.
5 snips
Mar 3, 2026 • 1h 30min
Ep 479: Maintaining Good Work/Life Balance While Adding Advisors And 4Xing The Firm To $315M with Andy Panko
Andy Panko, owner of Tenon Financial who scaled a flat-fee RIA to hundreds of millions while keeping work-life balance. He discusses why he hired mid-career advisors, how a flat-fee model clarifies time versus revenue, protecting lifestyle while growing, handling seasonal workload, and marketing via education to keep steady prospects.
62 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 1h 30min
Ep 478: Fixing Advisory Firm Marketing Funnels So The Phone Actually Rings With Prospects with Kendra Wright
Kendra Wright, owner of Rebel Media Agency and advisor marketing strategist, helps RIAs get clarity on ideal clients and build funnels that actually convert. She outlines the four common funnel break points, how to pick the right channel for your strengths, why content must be tightly targeted, and practical steps to move prospects from awareness to booking a call.
131 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 1h 30min
Ep 477: Finding Real Uses For AI Tools Not Just To Gain Efficiency But Create More (Customized) Value For Clients with Christopher Haigh
Christopher Haigh, CEO of Iconoclastic Capital and early AI adopter in advisory workflows. He discusses using AI not just for efficiency but to create customized client deliverables, dynamic proposals, automated note-taking, and integrated planning tools. Short, practical takes on AI integrations, compliance safeguards, and building branded, interactive presentations that make a firm’s value tangible.
5 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 1h 30min
Ep 476: Making The Decision To Add A Partner (After Leaving A Partnership Yourself) While Approaching $500M AUM with Kathy Longo
Kathy Longo, founder and president of Flourish Wealth Management who runs an RIA with hundreds of millions AUM, talks partnership choices and succession on her terms. She explains why she added an owner after leaving a prior partnership. She walks through a phased acquisition, financing and valuation math, operational changes for ownership, hiring improvements, and building durable firm culture.
31 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 1h 30min
Ep 475: Adding Deeper Tax Planning Capabilities (And Generating More Google Reviews In The Process) To Grow To $600M Of AUM with Erik Brenner
Erik Brenner, CEO of Hilltop Wealth and Tax Solutions who oversees about $600M AUM, shares how he built an integrated tax and wealth model. He explains running a separate profitable tax business, a three-tier tax offering, and using dinner seminars to drive nearly half of new clients. He also covers tools, outsourcing complex tax work, and a system for generating more Google reviews.
39 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 1h 30min
Ep 474: Gaining The Skills, Experience, And Team Needed To Serve UHNW Clients Effectively with Blair duQuesnay
Blair duQuesnay, Lead Advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management who specializes in UHNW tax and estate planning. She discusses what it takes to serve ultra‑wealthy families: advanced tax and estate strategies, when flat fees beat AUM, and the team structure needed for multimillion‑dollar planning. She also covers scaling, hiring the right specialists, and handling impostor syndrome while doing high‑stakes work.
44 snips
Jan 20, 2026 • 1h 30min
Ep 473: Defending Against AI By Focusing On The Uniquely Human Aspects Of (Fiduciary) Life Planning with George Kinder
In this discussion, George Kinder, founder of the Kinder Institute of Life Planning and a pioneer in fiduciary life planning, delves into the irreplaceable human connection in financial advising. He highlights how active listening and the EVOKE process empower advisors to help clients articulate their true values and aspirations. Kinder emphasizes that clients desire a life of purpose over mere financial metrics, sharing his insights from personal experiences and the transformative 'three questions' exercise—a tool to illuminate clients' priorities for a fulfilled life.
