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
Oct 1, 2019 • 1h 58min
Ep 144: The Past, Present, And Future Evolution Of The RIA Custody Model with Tom Bradley
Tom Bradley, former president of TD Ameritrade Institutional with 25+ years steering RIA custody platforms. He walks through the shift from manual trading to open-access APIs. They discuss how custodians really make money, the role of cash sweep strategies, and why scale and tech investments shape custody’s future.
Sep 24, 2019 • 1h 48min
Ep 143: Getting Local Clients Via Google Search With A Niche Of Serving Independent Women with Cathy Curtis
Cathy Curtis, founder of Curtis Financial Planning who manages ~$60M for mainly independent single women, shares how niching and targeted online marketing attract clients via Google search. She discusses tailoring her website and intake to build trust, using minimum fees and ongoing plans, and how outsourcing and tools help a solo practice scale.
14 snips
Sep 17, 2019 • 1h 27min
Ep 142: Creating A Structured Relationship-Building Calendar To Enhance Trust With Affluent Clients with Matt Oechsli
Matt Oechsli, Founder and CEO of Oechsli Institute, delves into the art of building trust with affluent clients. He emphasizes the importance of personal details, like knowing clients' children's names, to strengthen relationships. Matt discusses the significance of structured relationship-building calendars over traditional client events, advocating for intimacy and personalization. He also shares strategies for new advisors, highlighting the need for genuine connections that enhance trust and drive referrals, transforming transactional interactions into lasting partnerships.
Sep 10, 2019 • 1h 57min
Ep 141: Building The Differentiated Foundation For Successful Advisor Marketing with Kristen Luke
Kristen Luke, founder of Kaleido Creative Studio and marketing specialist for multi-advisor RIAs, explains her six-part marketing wheel and why defining an ideal client matters. She covers tracking trigger events in your CRM, focusing on SEO and long-form content, repurposing audio for discoverability, and prioritizing a few high-impact channels rather than random marketing.
Sep 3, 2019 • 1h 56min
Ep 140: Transforming Your Advisory Business By Shifting Your Mindset After Hitting The (10-Year) Capacity Wall with Adam Cmejla
Adam Cmejla, founder of Integrated Planning and Wealth Management who serves optometrists, explains how narrowing to one niche transformed his firm. He describes shifting mindset from hours to value, relaunching niche content and funnels, raising recurring planning fees, and building repeatable, scalable processes that freed time for family.
Aug 27, 2019 • 1h 55min
Ep 139: Plugging In For Large Firm Support To Refocus Your Time On Clients Instead with Michele Clark
Michele Clark, senior portfolio manager with 25+ years who ran an independent hourly planning practice, shares her nontraditional financial services journey. She talks about door-knocking to Schwab teaching, building an hourly RIA, pricing and scaling workflows, and why she decided to plug into a larger firm to refocus time on client relationships.
9 snips
Aug 20, 2019 • 1h 52min
Ep 138: Leveraging A Media PR Strategy To Attract Ultra-High-Income (Millennial) Clients with Douglas Boneparth
Douglas Boneparth, founder of Bone Fide Wealth, focuses on ultra-high-income millennials and shares his journey transitioning from a traditional model to a media-driven strategy. He discusses the importance of relatability in financial planning, addressing unique challenges like student debt. Douglas highlights innovative insurance solutions, the advantages of the RIA model, and the delicate balance between professional growth and personal life. His insights are invaluable for young advisors looking to connect with a younger demographic in today's financial landscape.
Aug 13, 2019 • 1h 55min
Ep 137: The Evolution Of How Financial Advisors Solve Client Problems Across Industry Channels with Lou Tranquilli
Lou Tranquilli is the founder of Tranquilli Financial Advisor, an independent full-service financial firm that oversees $100 million in assets under management for 110 clients. Now focused on a niche that has helped triple his firm in under four years, Lou joins the show to discuss how his advisory firm has evolved over more than two and a half decades in business. Listen in as he explains how he is transitioning into the independent RIA channel after having started out as a traditional life insurance sales agent, as well as how he has structured his firm. You'll get valuable tips for growing your business, hiring the right people, and more. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/137
Aug 6, 2019 • 1h 54min
Ep 136: Leveraging Risk Tolerance And Financial Planning Software Upfront To Deepen Conversations With Prospects with Nina O'Neal
Nina O'Neal, a partner and investment advisor at Archer Investment Management, shares insights on navigating the world of financial advising while balancing life as a parent. She highlights the effectiveness of using Riskalyze to shift client conversations from mere performance to understanding behavior. Nina also discusses empowering female advisors through her network and the importance of building a supportive firm culture. Get ready for practical tips on integrating technology like eMoney for better client engagement and planning.
Jul 30, 2019 • 1h 46min
Ep 135: Developing The Systematized Business Development And Financial Planning Playbooks To 10X Your Advisory Business with Kathryn Brown
Kathryn Brown, co-founder of Morton Brown Family Wealth, shares her inspiring journey from facing breast cancer to launching a thriving advisory firm. She emphasizes the importance of hiring a data expert early to streamline decision-making and drive business development. Kathryn discusses creating playbooks for efficient workflows and client engagement. She also explores the need for intentional culture and processes, revealing how personal challenges shaped her conviction in financial planning. Her journey offers valuable insights for aspiring advisors.
