Planning & Beyond®

Text us to share what you found helpful!You've run the numbers. The client can absolutely afford to take time off. And yet they won't. Or they want to, but they're terrified. Or they've mentioned burnout in every meeting for the last two years and still can't pull the trigger.Sabbaticals are showing up more and more in client conversations, and most advisors don't have a roadmap for navigating them. Not just the financial piece, but the human piece — the identity questions, the resistance, the fear of what comes next, and the return to work on the other side.In this episode, I'm joined by Cady North, financial advisor and author of The Art of the Sabbatical, who has built an entire area of her practice around helping clients plan for and navigate intentional work breaks. Cady brings both the planning expertise and a deeply personal experience with sabbatical, which makes her perspective incredibly grounded and real.We cover what a sabbatical actually is (it's not just for academics or people eating, praying, and loving their way around the world), why identity is often the biggest obstacle — not money — and what advisors can do to create space for clients to explore this without projecting their own fears onto the conversation.One insight that really stuck with me: most sabbaticals are completely unplanned. They start with burnout or a layoff, not a spreadsheet. That means your clients may already be in one without having prepared for it, and knowing how to support them in that moment is where advisors can offer something truly unique.You'll also hear about the "runway" framework Cady uses with clients actively in a sabbatical, how to recognize the signs that it might be time to bring this up, and what planning for return to work actually looks like — including how advisors can help clients negotiate their way back in stronger than before.RESOURCES AND GUEST INFORMATIONAbout Cady NorthCady North is a financial advisor, solo practice owner of North Financial Advisors, and the author of The Art of the Sabbatical. With over a decade of experience in financial planning, Cady has developed a specialty in helping clients navigate intentional work breaks — from the financial logistics to the mindset shifts that make them possible.Connect with Cady North:Website: cadynorth.com (Note: spelled C-A-D-Y N-O-R-T-H)LinkedIn: Cady NorthBook: The Art of the Sabbatical — available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold (print, ebook, and audiobook)Connect with Host Ashley Quamme:Podcast Website: PlanningAndBeyond.comLinkedIn: Ashley Quamme — Licensed Therapist & Financial Behavior SpecialistBeyond the Plan®: BeyondTheFP.comMonthly Newsletter: Subscribe at BeyondTheFP.com

Text us to share what you found helpful!You have clients who love you. You know it. They know it. And yet your referral pipeline is quieter than it should be.Here's the thing — it's probably not about satisfaction at all. According to Phil Bray, founder of the UK-based financial services marketing agency Yardstick, around 96% of clients say they would recommend their advisor in principle. But only about 50% have actually done it in the past year. That gap between "would refer" and "has referred" isn't a loyalty problem. It's an education problem.Phil spent over a decade as a financial advisor before building Yardstick into a 55-person agency focused entirely on marketing for financial planning firms. He's thought deeply about why referrals stall — and what advisors can actually do about it that doesn't feel pushy, desperate, or just plain awkward.In this episode, we talk through why asking for referrals might be the wrong approach entirely and what to do instead. Phil introduces a strategy built around three pillars — client education, communication, and appreciation — and walks through a six-step process advisors can weave into their annual review meetings. It's structured, but it feels natural. Genuinely natural.We also spend time on something that's changing fast: what happens between the moment someone gets a referral and the moment they actually reach out. Increasingly, that gap is being shaped by AI. Phil shares what his agency is seeing — including a 118% rise in AI-driven traffic to financial planner websites over the last six months — and what advisors need to be doing right now to show up when someone asks an AI to help them find the right fit.If you've ever felt uncomfortable asking clients to send people your way, this episode gives you a reframe and a roadmap.RESOURCES AND GUEST INFORMATIONAbout Phil Bray: Phil Bray is the founder of Yardstick, a UK-based marketing agency dedicated exclusively to financial planning firms. A former financial advisor of 13 years, Phil brings both practitioner insight and marketing expertise to helping advisors grow through referrals, client communication, and digital visibility. Since launching in 2017, Yardstick has grown to a team of 55.Connect with Phil Bray:Website: theyardstickagency.co.ukLinkedIn: Phil BrayConnect with Host Ashley Quamme:Podcast Website: PlanningAndBeyond.comLinkedIn: Ashley Quamme Beyond the Plan®: BeyondTheFP.comSubscribe to our YouTube Channel

Text us to share what you found helpful!Have you ever gone over a financial plan with a client, checked every box, and then watched them walk out and implement almost none of it? It's one of the most frustrating experiences in this work — and it's more common than anyone likes to admit.Here's what might actually be happening: your client's nervous system is running the show.In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Alex Melkumian, licensed marriage and family therapist, financial psychologist, and founder of the Financial Psychology Center in Los Angeles. Alex has spent nearly two decades working at the intersection of mental health and money, and his latest book, Calm Money, makes a compelling case for why financial self-care isn't a luxury — it's often the prerequisite to any financial plan actually working.We talk about what financial self-care really means (hint: it's not just bubble baths and budgeting apps), why money continues to be the number one stressor for most Americans, and what it looks like when a client is in freeze mode right in front of you — even when they're nodding along.One of the most powerful moments in our conversation is when Alex shares this: "A triggered mind is a controlled mind." When clients are in fight, flight, or freeze, the best financial strategy in the world gets filtered through a nervous system that's in threat mode. That's why the plan doesn't stick. That's why nothing gets implemented.Alex also walks us through the structure of the Calm Money journal — daily check-ins, weekly pattern work, and monthly reflection — and why that kind of compassionate, consistent engagement with money can literally reshape how a client's brain responds to financial conversations over time.If you've been puzzling over clients who seem to understand your plan but won't follow through, this episode offers a framework for understanding what's actually going on — and a resource you can point them toward.RESOURCES AND GUEST INFORMATIONGuest Bio: Dr. Alex Melkumian is a licensed marriage and family therapist, financial psychologist, and founder of the Financial Psychology Center in Los Angeles. He is the author of Financial Psychology: Restoring Financial Wellness in the Post-COVID Economy and the newly released Calm Money, a financial self-care book and companion workbook. Dr. Melkumian has spent nearly two decades helping individuals, couples, and organizations navigate the emotional and psychological dimensions of money.Connect with Dr. Alex Melkumian:LinkedIn: Dr. Alex MelkumianInstagram: @FinancialPsychologyCenterWebsite: financialpsychologycenter.comCalm Money — Available now on AmazonFinancial Psychology: Restoring Financial Wellness in the Post-COVID Economy — Available on AmazonConnect with Host Ashley Quamme:Podcast Website: PlanningAndBeyond.comLinkedIn: Ashley Quamme — Licensed Therapist & Financial Behavior SpecialistBeyond the Plan®: Bey

Text us to share what you found helpful!You walk into a client meeting prepared with projections, strategies, and solutions. But something's off. Your client nods at the right moments, signs the paperwork, yet you sense there's a conversation happening beneath the surface that you're not part of.Dr. Michael Thomas, Associate Professor at the University of Georgia and author of Black Financial Culture, joins me to explore what he calls the "threads" that connect our financial behaviors to our identities, relationships, and cultural experiences. Michael's journey from accounting to financial planning education taught him something most advisors miss: the numbers are rarely the real story.Michael introduces a powerful metaphor that transforms how we think about client work. Imagine your client's financial life as a tapestry. Most advisors focus on individual threads, one behavior at a time, trying to "fix" what looks problematic. But those threads don't exist in isolation. They're woven together with family dynamics, cultural narratives, past traumas, and deeply held beliefs about worth and belonging. When you pull on one thread without understanding how it connects to the others, the entire fabric can unravel.This conversation goes beyond traditional behavioral finance. Michael shares how cultural context shapes everything from risk tolerance to spending behaviors in ways that standard questionnaires never capture. But this isn't just about understanding diverse clients. Michael offers a framework for empathy that applies to every client relationship.He explains why asking "what does this behavior provide that might not be obvious?" opens doors that direct questions keep closed. How recognizing that clients bring their whole selves to financial decisions changes the way you structure discovery meetings. Why the goal isn't to eliminate emotion from financial choices but to understand what those emotions are protecting.The technical work matters. But when you understand the threads connecting your clients' financial behaviors to their lived experiences, you stop solving the wrong problems.Connect with Michael Thomas:Website: www.blackfinancialculture.comBook: Black Financial CultureConnect with Michael on LinkedIn: Dr. Michael Thomas - University of GeorgiaConnect with Host Ashley Quamme:Podcast Website: Planning & Beyond®LinkedIn: Ashley Quamme - Licensed Therapist & Financial Behavior SpecialistBeyond the Plan®: Financial psychology integration servicesCheck out our YouTube Channel!

Text us to share what you found helpful!You've been there. A couple sits across from you in a discovery meeting, and something feels off. Maybe one partner shifts in their seat when you ask about spending patterns. Maybe the other answers too quickly, cutting off their spouse mid-sentence. You can't quite put your finger on it, but your spidey sense is telling you there's more to the story.Enter Dr. Jenny Olson, Assistant Professor at Indiana University, whose research reveals what might be happening beneath the surface in about 30% of the couples sitting in your office. Jenny studies financial infidelity, and spoiler alert, it has nothing to do with affairs. Instead, it's about something far more common and surprisingly relatable: intentionally engaging in financial behaviors you expect your partner will disapprove of, then concealing them.We're talking hidden Amazon packages, undisclosed bonuses, secret savings accounts (yes, even virtuous saving can create betrayal), and splurge purchases tucked away in closets. The kicker? Both partners might be doing it simultaneously, creating what Jenny calls "financial infidelity asymmetry," where neither person realizes the other is also concealing financial behaviors.In this conversation, Jenny breaks down the actual definition of financial infidelity, dispelling myths (no, it's not just general secrecy about eating extra Oreos) and highlighting why interdependent financial resources make this different from other types of secrets. You'll learn the six domains where financial infidelity shows up most often, from hidden spending to concealed income to those "virtuous" secret savings that still violate transparency.More importantly, you'll walk away with practical strategies for your next couple meeting. Jenny shares specific question frameworks that focus on behaviors rather than accusations, helping you create space for honest conversation without putting clients on the defensive. You'll learn what nonverbal cues to watch for (hint: pay attention to the speed and intensity of those head turns between partners) and why avoiding the word "infidelity" altogether might be your best move.This episode gives you permission to ask about something most advisors sense but don't know how to address, all while maintaining the boundaries of your role. Because when couples aren't sharing the full financial picture with each other, they're probably not sharing it with you either.RESOURCES AND GUEST INFORMATIONConnect with Dr. Jenny Olson:Personal Website: jennyginolson.comFinancial Infidelity Scale: Available through website LinkedIn: Jenny OlsonConnect with Host Ashley Quamme:Podcast Website: PlanningAndBeyond.comLinkedIn: Ashley Quamme Beyond the Plan®: BeyondTheFP.comYouTube: Subscribe at @BeyondthePlanSolutions

Adam Holt, founder and CEO of Asset-Map and former financial planner, discusses how advice delivery must evolve by 2030. He covers why human skills like empathy and behavioral coaching will outlast tech, how visual maps can deepen family and multi-generational relationships, and what firm structures and skills advisors should invest in now to stay relevant.

Text us to share what you found helpful!You've got your CRM humming. Your workflows are tight. Your service calendar is consistent. So why aren't clients more engaged?Here's what most advisors miss: efficiency doesn't equal engagement. A frictionless experience is table stakes, not a differentiator. And if you're only solving for your own pain points instead of what clients actually need, you're leaving massive opportunities on the table.Julie Littlechild, CEO and Founder of Absolute Engagement, has spent decades helping advisors understand what clients truly want. Spoiler: they can't tell you unless you ask. And most advisors never ask the right questions at the right time.In this conversation, Julie walks through her Experience Innovation Framework, the evolution from efficient to engaging to enduring client experiences. You'll learn why the data you're drowning in isn't the data you actually need, and how to capture real-time insights about how clients are thinking and feeling at critical moments in their journey.We talk about the psychological barrier that keeps advisors from asking for feedback (hint: it's fear dressed up as "people are over-surveyed"), the difference between transactional questions and transformational ones, and why asking about life goals in an onboarding form doesn't cut it anymore.Julie shares practical starting points, whether you're a solo advisor or building a team. The framework isn't about doing everything at once. It's about knowing where you are and what comes next. Start with one or two key touchpoints. Mix a few simple questions. Position it as what's in it for the client, not what's in it for you.And here's the kicker: just asking for feedback can increase referrals. Not because you did anything with it yet, just because you asked.If you're ready to move beyond checking the boxes and start building experiences that actually deepen relationships and accelerate growth, this one's for you.RESOURCES AND GUEST INFORMATIONConnect with Julie LittlechildWebsite: AbsoluteEngagement.comLinkedIn: Julie LittlechildBlog: Subscribe at AbsoluteEngagement.com for research and insights Connect with Host Ashley QuammePodcast Website: PlanningAndBeyond.comLinkedIn: Ashley Quamme Beyond the Plan®: BeyondTheFP.comYouTube Channel: @BeyondthePlanSolutions

Text us to share what you found helpful!You know the feeling. A couple walks into your office and you ask about their goals. They say "security" and "freedom" in the same breath, and you're thinking... aren't those kind of opposites? Or a client tells you they value family connection, but their calendar tells a completely different story. These moments highlight something we don't talk about enough in financial planning: we're not just managing money, we're creating experiences around what matters most.Dr. Meghaan Lurtz returns to Planning & Beyond® for a special conversation about the work we've been doing behind the scenes at Beyond the Plan®. Instead of a traditional interview, Meg and I are pulling back the curtain on something we're calling the Five Core Domains framework: security and freedom, connection and relationship, growth and discovery, health and vitality, and impact and legacy.Here's what makes this different from other values-based approaches you've heard about. These domains aren't just conversation starters or discovery questions. They're the foundation for creating actual experiences with your clients. Because here's the thing advisors keep asking us: "Yeah, I get that I should talk about values, but what does that actually look like? How do I make that a thing?"That's exactly what we're addressing. Through this framework, you'll understand why security and freedom live in constant tension (and why that's not a problem to solve), how to spot when clients are seeking connection versus just checking boxes, and what it means to facilitate growth rather than just deliver advice. Meg brings her research expertise and I bring the therapeutic lens to break down how these domains show up in real client conversations.We're also sharing what's coming in 2026: client-facing tools that do the heavy lifting for you. Think structured experiences your clients can engage with before they come back to you, so you can spend your time facilitating meaning rather than extracting information. We're talking about things like guided money conversations for couples, values exercises that go deeper than typical discovery, and frameworks that help clients connect their daily decisions to what they say matters most.If you've ever felt like financial planning should be about more than optimizing portfolios and running projections, this conversation will give you language and structure for what you've been sensing all along. Listen in to discover how these five domains can transform the way you think about client relationships and the experiences you create in your practice.RESOURCES AND GUEST INFORMATIONConnect with Dr. Meghaan Lurtz:Substack: Less Lonely Money (monthly articles on money, relationships, and feelings)Free version: Public articles exploring financial psychology conceptsPaid version (for advisors): Includes client-facing newsletters, meeting flows, and discussion guidesLinkedIn: Dr. Meghaan LurtzWebsite: Beyond the Plan® - www.beyondthefp.comConnect with Host Ashley Quamme:Podcast Website: PlanningAndBeyond.comLinkedIn: Ashley Quamme Beyond the Plan®: www.beyondthefp.com Monthly Newsletter: Subscribe at BeyondTheFP.comYouTube: @BeyondthePlanSolutions

Text us to share what you found helpful!What happens when a client couple who's made remarkable progress hits an unexpected setback? In this real-time case consultation, financial planner Jim Grace and I work through exactly this scenario - a couple who went from financial stress to thriving, only to face a sudden income loss that threatens to derail their momentum.This isn't your typical podcast episode. You're getting a behind-the-scenes look at actual case consultation work between an advisor and financial behavior specialist. We explore what happens emotionally when clients regress to old patterns during stress, how advisors can navigate their own surprise and uncertainty in difficult moments, and practical strategies for helping couples get back on track without falling into old defensive cycles.If you've ever felt caught off guard by a client's sudden change in circumstances, or wondered how to address the emotional weight of setbacks without overstepping your role, this conversation gives you concrete tools. We discuss the power of "jumping into the well" with clients rather than just pointing to the ladder, recognizing when shame might be at play (and where your boundaries are), and helping couples remember they already have the blueprint for moving forward - they've done it before.Whether you work with a financial behavior specialist or not, you'll walk away with actionable approaches for your next challenging client meeting.Resources and Guest Information:Connect with Jim Grace:Website: modernfinancialwellness.comLinkedIn: Jim GraceInstagram: @modernfinancialwellnessPodcast: Modern Financial WellnessMentioned in this episode:Brené Brown's "Empathy vs. Sympathy" video on YouTubeBeyond the Plan® services for advisorsConnect with Host Ashley Quamme:Podcast Website: Planning & Beyond®LinkedIn: Ashley Quamme - Licensed Therapist & Financial Behavior SpecialistBeyond the Plan®: Financial psychology integration servicesNewsletter: Monthly insights on the human side of planning at beyondthefp.com

Text us to share what you found helpful!You've seen it happen: one partner takes notes while the other zones out. Tension surfaces when discussing spending. Only one person shows up to quarterly reviews. Sound familiar?This episode tackles the messy, emotional work of helping couples navigate money together. I sit down with Heather and Douglas Boneparth, authors of "Money Together," to explore why traditional financial planning often misses the mark with couples—and what you can do differently.We dive into the hard stuff: invisible labor that goes unvalued, career sacrifices that breed resentment, cultural and religious differences shaping financial decisions, and how mental health factors like ADHD impact financial engagement. This isn't about joint accounts versus separate accounts—it's about the power dynamics, contribution definitions, and deeply held beliefs that actually drive financial behavior.You'll learn how to spot warning signs that money conflicts are about something deeper, how to invite both partners into conversations without creating defensiveness, and when to refer to specialists. Heather shares a powerful insight from their research: couples where one partner earns less or no income consistently said they don't feel free to spend. Not because of budget constraints—because they've lost agency around money. That's not a communication problem. That's a power dynamic undermining every strategy you build.Whether you work primarily with couples or occasionally navigate partnership dynamics, this conversation equips you with frameworks for thinking differently about the human side of financial planning.RESOURCES AND GUEST INFORMATIONAbout Heather and Douglas Boneparth:Douglas Boneparth is a Certified Financial Planner with nearly two decades of experience and the founder of Bonafide Wealth. Heather Boneparth is a corporate attorney who brings a unique perspective on career transitions, power dynamics, and equity in relationships. Together, they are the authors of "Money Together: A Practical Guide to Navigating Money in Relationships."Connect with Heather and Douglas:Website: Do Money TogetherBook: Money TogetherConnect with Heather and Douglas on LinkedInNewsletter: The Joint AccountResources Mentioned in the Episode:"Fair Play" by Eve Rodsky - Documentary on HBOConnect with Host Ashley Quamme:Podcast Website: Planning & Beyond®LinkedIn: Ashley Quamme - Licensed Therapist & Financial Behavior SpecialistBeyond the Plan®: Financial psychology integration services