Between Now and Success

I recently had the pleasure of joining Dave Zoller on his YouTube channel, Streamline My Practice, to discuss something I've been thinking deeply about lately: the difference between owning a business and being owned by your business. If you're a financial advisor wondering whether you've built a thriving enterprise or just created a demanding job for yourself, this conversation is for you. Dave and I discuss: The Four Levels of Advisory Business Evolution The Identity Shift That Changes Everything The Power of a Compelling Three-to-Five-Year Vision Two Real-World Examples of Extreme Freedom The Get-Keep Framework Technology, AI, and Practical Action Steps for Advisors

Most people spend their lives trying to eliminate tension: Work or rest. Control or flow. Clarity or creativity. But a well-lived life isn't free of tension—it's guided by how we hold it. In this podcast, I walk through the three polarities I'm using to guide my life and work in 2026, and reflect on how last year's polarities shaped some of my most meaningful experiences—from sailing and writing to health, family, and business. Rather than problems to solve, these are tensions to navigate—and learning to hold both sides has quietly changed how I make decisions, set direction, and define success. My three 3 Polarities for 2026 are: Mythos – Method Living a meaningful story and building the discipline to bring it to life. Compass – Wind Setting a clear direction while adapting to changing conditions. Precision – Poetry Writing and thinking with clarity without losing what moves people. Along the way, I also reflect on: Why "balance" often leads to frustration How experience earns you the right to loosen your grip What sailing teaches us about leadership and decision-making Why rest isn't laziness—and control isn't always wisdom This conversation is for leaders, advisors, creators, and anyone who senses that life is asking for integration, not optimization. If you've ever felt pulled between two good things—and wondered why choosing one never feels right—this podcast is for you.

Guest: Nikki Henderson, a world-class professional sailor. In 2018, Nikki became the youngest skipper to lead a team in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. At the age of 25, over the course of more than 40,000 miles of ocean racing, Nikki led a diverse team of mostly amateur sailors from 16 countries to an extraordinary second place finish. She's also skippered numerous transatlantic races and won the Race to Alaska. In a Nutshell: How do you define your job as a leader? Nikki Henderson says that what she does as a skipper is pull together disparate individuals, build them into high-performing amateur teams, and then compete in the most extreme sailing races in the world. I experienced Nikki's leadership first hand a few weeks ago when I sailed with her in the Caribbean 600 as part of her amateur crew. This was a grueling 600-mile race around 11 Caribbean islands. Despite long odds, we ended up finishing third and celebrated on stage with our prize: a big bottle of rum. On today's show, Nikki Henderson and I discuss making life transitions, paradoxes and polarities in leadership, and decision-making under pressure and uncertainty.

The discussion delves into personal growth from 2024 and the introduction of polarities for 2025. Balancing dreams with everyday life emerges as a key theme, emphasizing the tension between ambitions and family connections. The speaker shares insights on transitioning from stability to entrepreneurship and finding flow amidst challenges. Practical strategies are offered for navigating the balance between control and flow, encouraging listeners to embrace life’s cycles in a holistic manner.

Guest: Dr. Preston Cherry, AFC®, CFT-I™, CFP®, Ph.D., an entrepreneur, coach and speaker. Dr. Cherry is the creator of the Life Money Balance™ approach and founder of Concurrent Financial Planning. His new book is Wealth in the Key of Life: Finding Your Financial Harmony. In a Nutshell: "Songs in the Key of Life" is one of Stevie Wonder's most famous albums. In a similar vein, Dr. Preston Cherry wants people to find that kind of harmony between their money, their values, and their lives. And advisors who can help folks create a financial life that really sings are going to connect more deeply with clients and empower them to live -- and plan -- with more intention. On today's show, Dr. Preston Cherry and I discuss his new book and his unique perspective on how to bring purpose, balance, a "permission to prosper" and a little bit of rhythm to your financial planning process.

Kendra Wright, owner of Rebel Media Agency and former rock 'n roll marketer, shares unique insights from music to finance. She emphasizes the power of great copy and how it should reflect the voice of clients. The conversation dives into effective website strategies, showcasing real-world examples to help financial advisors enhance engagement. Kendra also highlights the importance of storytelling in marketing, utilizing client reviews, and crafting websites that resonate with ideal clients, ultimately showcasing how authentic communication drives success.

After I left Peak Advisor Alliance (now Carson Coaching), I settled on the idea of starting my Between Now and Success podcast as part of my next chapter. I figured podcasting would be a great way to stay in touch with people in our industry, keep networking, and learn from the best of the best. Now, 10 years later, across five separate podcasts, I've recorded more than 850 episodes, the vast majority of which are interview shows. Thanks to podcasting, I went from having a handful of trusted mentors to learning from hundreds of world-class teachers. While I could easily list dozens of unique and actionable ideas I've learned from a decade of podcasting, these 10 insights stand out.

Guest: Mindy Diamond, the founder and CEO of Diamond Consultants and the author of a fantastic new book called Should I Stay or Should I Go? In a Nutshell: Between the competition for top talent at large firms and the proliferation of smaller lifestyle RIAs, many advisors feel like they need to be constantly evaluating their career options. But the grass is not always greener, and FOMO should never be the lead driver of a major career decision. Instead, advisors should follow their internal compass towards opportunities that will help them accomplish what matters the most to them in their lives and work. On today's show, Mindy Diamond shares the process she uses to help advisors clarify their goals and make the right decision for their careers. We also explore the concept of living your best business life and how aligning your personal values with your professional environment is a key to long-term success. Mindy offers practical advice for advisors at any stage of their careers on assessing your options, asking the right questions, and understanding when it's time to stay put or make a move.

Guest: Eric Brotman, CFP®, AEP®, CPWA®, is a Principal and the Chief Executive Officer of BFG Financial Advisors. Eric began his financial planning practice in Baltimore in 1994, and founded Brotman Financial Group in 2003, which later became BFG Financial Advisors. He and his team focus on supporting families and individuals by providing comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services. Eric is also the author of Don't Retire... Graduate!: Building a Path to Financial Freedom and Retirement at Any Age. In a Nutshell: As a founder/advisor, how does your role evolve over time? I frequently have these conversations with my coaching clients where we discuss what does the advisor want their role to be. In the early stages of your career, you have to do everything, but as the business grows, you have to decide what you're going to double down on and what you're going to let go of. There's no one answer that fits every advisor. Some advisors naturally and easily segue into a leadership role and give up most, if not all of their lead advisor client relationships. Other advisors do not enjoy the management role of running the business, managing people, and they prefer the relationship side of the business and business development. Regardless of which route you want to go, you have to figure out how to build the team and the infrastructure around you so that every function within the organization is getting taken care of at a high level such that you can focus on what you do best, what you enjoy the most, and that moves the needle for the company. On today's show, Eric Brotman and I have a wide-ranging conversation that touches on evolving your role over time, succession planning, transitioning clients, teamwork, scalable processes, and how to accelerate organic growth without losing a human touch.

Dave Zoller, CFP® and owner of Streamline Financial Services, shares his expertise on leveraging YouTube marketing to generate leads for financial advisors. He emphasizes the importance of consistency, meticulous analytics, and the personal touch that connects him to clients. Zoller discusses his successful strategies for content creation, viewer engagement, and transforming leads into clients, while also revealing his challenge in managing high demand. Those with substantial assets seeking advisory roles are encouraged to reach out, as he's expanding his team!