Ready For Retirement Root Financial's Backstory: How and Why the Company Was Founded
In their new podcast, Root Talks, James and Ari open up about the story behind Root—their financial advisory firm—and how it grew from humble beginnings into a nationwide company with hundreds of clients, a 30-member team, and nearly $1 billion in managed assets.
James shares how the unexpected twist of being forced out of a stable financial advisor role led him to reevaluate everything. That introspection sparked the vision for Root, a firm built around purpose-driven financial planning. For him, it’s always been about using money as a tool to create meaningful lives—not just about building wealth for wealth’s sake.
Ari talks about his journey to joining Root, which started with his persistence in convincing James to bring him on board. What drew him in? The firm’s deep integrity and mission. He reflects on how his own experiences with financial stress and lack of literacy growing up inspired him to make a difference in people’s lives.
Together, they dive into what makes Root’s approach unique: blending financial management with holistic life planning. It’s all about helping clients align their money with their values and purpose.
To cap it off, they share some exciting news: Root is expanding its reach with a new YouTube channel, more social media content, and increased team engagement. It’s all part of their commitment to growth, innovation, and leaving a lasting impact on their clients and the industry as a whole.
Submit your request to join James:
On the Ready For Retirement podcast: Apply Here
On a Retirement Makeover episode: Apply Here
Timestamps:
0:00 - Root Talks
2:09 - The roots of Root
5:38 - James and Ari meet
7:22 - The vision
11:08 - Focusing on integrity, not sales
13:46 - Business challenges
17:43 - More than financial planning
23:06 - Self-starters and systems
25:59 - Final thoughts from James
27:37 - Get connected
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