

Kitces and Carl - Real Talk for Real Financial Advisors
Michael Kitces, MSFS, MTAX, CFP and Carl Richards, CFP
A no-holds barred conversation for Real Financial Advisors with industry nerd Michael Kitces and client communication expert Carl Richards. One draws with a Sharpie, the other nerds out with spreadsheets, and both provide you with unique perspectives so that you can more effectively communicate with and serve your clients, run a more fulfilling practice, and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 2, 2019 • 39min
How Do You Optimize Your Practice To Maximize Your Happiness As A Financial Advisor?: Kitces & Carl Ep 09
In our ninth episode of “Kitces & Carl”, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss why some advisors wind up being unhappy in an otherwise “successful” practice, how some advisors have maximized their happiness by being intentional about building their business the way they want - or even “right-sizing” the advisory practice if necessary – and a few actionable ideas for advisors to do the same.

Jul 1, 2019 • 35min
What Would You Do With Your Time If You COULD Be More Productive As A Financial Advisor?: Kitces & Carl Ep 08
In our eighth episode of “Kitces & Carl”, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss how financial advisors are spending their time, strategies that can help advisors focus more on what they’re best at… and what might be accomplished by increasing your business (and personal) efficiency in the first place.

Jun 28, 2019 • 28min
Authenticity Vs. Professional Credibility And Admitting Your Own Financial Sins: Kitces & Carl Ep 07
In our seventh episode of “Kitces & Carl”, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to debunk some long-standing myths around what it really means to be a “credible” financial advisor, why authentically owning up to your personal financial mistakes actually helps build trust and credibility (and might even end up helping you gain new clients), and why being relatable as a human being (who makes mistakes from time to time) may be one of the more important traits you can bring to the table as a financial advisor.

Jun 27, 2019 • 27min
Building Resiliency For The Stress Of Being A Financial Advisor: Kitces & Carl Ep 06
In our sixth episode of “Kitces & Carl”, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss proactive steps advisors can take to prepare themselves to deal with and manage the stresses inherent in being a financial planning professional, some common but less-well-known sources of advisor stress, and how a subtle shift in mindset can help advisors make self-care a priority.

Jun 26, 2019 • 30min
Do Clients Really Value Getting Help Managing Their Behavior Gap?: Kitces & Carl Ep 05
In our fifth episode of “Kitces & Carl”, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss the question of whether advisors should even bother trying to communicate the value they provide when helping clients manage their “behavior gap”, why attempting to convince prospects that you can help them manage their behaviors is perhaps an uphill battle, and how maybe the best way to overcome the behavior gap (and the perceived value of getting help with the behavior gap) is by shifting a client’s perspective altogether.

Jun 25, 2019 • 32min
Does Social Media Really Matter For Financial Advisors?: Kitces & Carl Ep 04
In our fourth episode of “Kitces & Carl”, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss the question of the extent to which financial advisors should or “have to” participate in social media (or not), why it might be a worthwhile endeavor if done correctly, some ideas that advisors can use immediately to get more out of their social media efforts, and why, ultimately, using social media successfully is ultimately about a series of “micro interactions” to better connect with other individuals.

Jun 24, 2019 • 26min
The Importance Of Likability As A Financial Advisor: Kitces & Carl Ep 03
In our third episode of “Kitces & Carl”, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss the question of how important it is to be “likeable” as a financial advisor, why being your “authentic self” when it comes to communicating and interacting with clients might matter more, and why it’s important for newer advisors to avoid sending mixed signals to clients when trying to differentiate themselves.

Jun 24, 2019 • 27min
How To Price Your Financial Planning Services: Kitces & Carl Ep 02
In our second episode of “Kitces & Carl”, Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss the question of establishing a price for your financial planning services, why many advisors feel such anxiety over setting (and sticking to) their pricing model, the ways in which advisors can communicate their value to prospects and clients to justify their price, and why, many times, problems around pricing are really the result of our own inward confidence problems.

Jun 19, 2019 • 33min
Thinking About The Value Of Financial Planning: Kitces & Carl Ep 01
Michael Kitces and financial advisor communication guru Carl Richards sit down to discuss industry topics from their own unique perspectives. And in this inaugural episode, Michael and Carl talk about the Value of Financial Advice, efforts to quantify that value, and why we may need to move past the asset-based model in order to define and communicate the real value of financial planning to our clients and the public in general.