Financial Advisor Success

Andrew Leonard, Managing Partner of Geometric Wealth Advisors, talks about how his firm tripled AUM in 4 years by focusing on team talent density, hiring, and training. He discusses the challenges of growing assets under management, integrating tax services, and maintaining a high-touch client experience. The podcast also explores remote team management, specialization, and navigating the 'dangerous middle' phase of firm expansion.

Hans Blake, founder of Intelligent Investing, discusses creating a client dashboard focusing on behavior over returns. He shares insights on high-level financial goals, leveraging technology for behavioral finance, and positioning his firm for high-net-worth clients. They explore the benefits of integrating technology, navigating vendor negotiations, and the holistic wealth management approach for couples nearing retirement.

Michael Collins, CEO of WinCap Financial, shares insights on growing his firm by $10 million annually using SmartAsset leads. He discusses his marketing strategy, content creation, and lead conversion methods. Collins emphasizes the value of persistence, innovation, and technology in achieving business growth and client engagement.

Explore how a financial advisor navigated a major health event while growing her firm, focusing on strategic hiring, niche development, and networking. Learn about managing challenges of a brain tumor diagnosis, overcoming personal struggles, and driving growth through difficult times. Delve into building a strong professional network, balancing high-powered careers with caregiving, and leveraging prestigious platforms like TEDx talks for career advancement.

Discover how Abundo Wealth revolutionized financial planning, empowering clients to take control while generating 30 new clients monthly. Eric shares strategies for workload balance, fee structure evolution, and client expectations. Explore the pivotal role of referrals, social media marketing, and the firm's commitment to vision. Learn about empowering clients through technology tools, team scalability, client retention rates, price adjustments, and growth strategies in the financial advisory business.

Discover how Rob Schultz manages over 20 client meetings per week using structured agendas, efficient preparation with a paraplanner, and technology like Microsoft Word's audio transcription. Dive into his journey from kinesiology to financial planning, growth strategies through acquisitions, and the evolution of financial advisory practices towards client-centric services and succession planning.

Learn how financial advisor Dianne Nolin transformed her firm's marketing strategy by turning a loss-leading service into a profitable revenue stream. She emphasizes clear value communication, client relationships, and knowing when to seek advice. The podcast also discusses special events for top-tier clients, navigating post-divorce financial planning, and the challenges of career transitions in the financial advisory field.

Ben Hockema is the Founder of Illuminate Wealth Management, an RIA based out of Illinois that oversees $100 million in assets under management for 55 households. Ben's unique journey in the advisory world saw him rise from intern to partner over 13 years at a growing firm, only to discover a cultural mismatch. He navigated this challenge by engaging passive equity investors for his new startup RIA, enabling him to acquire a portion of his client base and establish the business he truly envisioned. Listen in as Ben shares his strategic journey in the financial advisory world and details his rapid growth from $16M to $100M in assets under management in three years. You'll also hear about his evolution from intern to partner, his realization of a misalignment with his firm's vision, and how he navigated the emotional challenges of leaving long-standing business relationships, finding invaluable support in a peer advisor study group and learning the power of asking 'dumb' questions for career growth. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/373

Melody Townsend, President of Townsend Financial Planning, shares how restructuring her business model to reflect the entire value to clients quadrupled her revenue. The transition from financial planning to a more inclusive wealth management approach enhanced client services. The challenges of scaling a business, team building, and the evolution of Melody's role as a leader are also discussed.

David Savir is the Co-Founder and CEO of Element Pointe Family Office, a fee-only RIA based out of Miami that oversees almost $1.6 billion in assets under management for 50 client households. David's unique approach at Element Pointe, developed over eight years and catering to high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients, involves an Equity Appreciation Rights plan that allows team members to share in the firm's growth. After a 3-4 year vesting period, key members can invest their earnings into becoming future partners, gaining equity, voting rights, and a place on the management team. Listen in as David shares his journey of working with ultra-high-net-worth clients, leading to a strategic focus on this group and a move away from "emerging wealth" clients to better align with their value delivery. He also discusses Element Pointe's evolution from investment management to offering comprehensive financial planning and family office services, his transition from a corporate background at Goldman Sachs and J. P. Morgan to establishing an independent firm, and the challenges of adapting to an independent firm's demands, from team management to technology integration. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/371