Behind The Advisor

We're excited to introduce you to Cathy Curtis, founder of Curtis Financial Planning, a fee-only firm out of Oakland, CA. Cathy has run her firm for over 20 years and shares just a sliver of her experience on the show today. Cathy is a solo advisor—and always has been. She serves women, specifically breadwinning women, and to this day, finds 1:1 client work her favorite part of running her firm. Cathy discusses flow and how to find it, the kind of insecurities women face as they try to understand their finances, and what it's like to vision board your future. She reminds listeners that outsourcing should be considered an investment, and there's no reason to try to do everything on your own, whether you hire or not. Cathy shares that her imposter syndrome went away when she finally niched, and since then, has found major success and fulfillment. Cathy has some incredible advice to share with you today, and if you're interested in what it's like as a solo advisor 20 years in, then this episode is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/313

We're excited to welcome Vinicius "V" Hiratuka, founder of Elevated Retirement Financial Services, on the show today. V serves just over 50 client households on an AUM basis, folding his financial planning and investment management into a single comprehensive fee. Despite being relatively young, V serves almost exclusively pre-retirees—and loves doing it. He talks about the oh-so-familiar feeling of wanting to do things differently and why breaking out on his own was so important to him. He reminds listeners to pay themselves first, from his own experience to not to be in a rush to venture out on your own. He talks about why his previous experience was integral in his decision to focus on this niche, how he's been able to leverage his youth as a value to his clients, and why he continues to work for a different business owner on the side. V's simplicity to his approach, along with his dedicated focus on the things that matter, is truly inspiring. If you're interested in the pre-retirement and retirement space but want to do it your way, then this episode will be for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/312

We're excited to have Alan Moore, the CEO and Co-Founder of XYPN, on the show today. XYPN just celebrated its 7th year, and it's been about a year and a half since Alan hosted his last #XYPNRadio episode. Today, he joins us to discuss what this whole journey has been like—from starting the business to managing a team through COVID, all while being a dad (now with three kids). Alan opens up about nerves, some worries that have lingered over the years, and reminisces on some of his favorite times at XYPN. He talks about the importance of hiring a team that complements his strengths and weaknesses and what it's been like to work alongside Michael Kitces as a co-founder. Alan gives valuable advice to our listeners through telling his stories—from which books helped him change his perspective to how to think of entrepreneurship as a creative outlet. If you want to know how XYPN and Alan Moore have evolved over the years, then this show is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/311

We're excited to welcome back Shane Mason and AJ Ayers, co-founders of Brooklyn FI, for a check-in on their growth trajectory since we last spoke with them on episode #221. Brooklyn FI now has 10 fully remote employees, serves over 200 client households, and is pushing the two million dollar mark in revenue. On the show today, we discuss what that growth has been like—from identifying great new talent for their team to handling the crazy demands of this year's tax season. They talk about why hiring an operations teammate was vital for their scalability and how their fee calculator helps with transparency. Shane and AJ share their take on their impact, why they got into this business, and how they've managed to keep up with the demands of their growing firm. You can sense their authenticity and their passion for what they do in this interview, and it's hard not to want to be part of their superstar team. If you're looking for some advice about growing and scaling your business, then this episode is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/310

We're excited to have four XYPN members and firm owners on the show today. Becky Meats, Bonnie Arnold, Molly Laughter, and Adrienne Ross were introduced to each other during their XYPN Launcher program in 2019 and have met every week since then as a mastermind group. We dig in and discuss what makes this group work—from the framework to the attitudes, and how they ensure the meetings and group are helpful for each of them. We talk about imposter syndrome, pivotal points in the group's history, and how being part of a group of others at the same level is helpful instead of being competitive. You'll hear them share stories of how the group has been a lifeline (in every sense) and how they couldn't imagine running solo firms without the support of a group like theirs. The laughter and energy this group shares is contagious and motivating. If you're not yet part of a study group or worry about the challenges that come along with running a firm on your own, this episode is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/309

We're honored to welcome Vince Hockett, XYPN's Chief Revenue Officer, to the show today. Vince joined the XYPN team just about one year ago and has brought decades of experience working at rapidly growing companies along with him. Today, Vince shares what it's like working with Alan and Michael as a fellow executive and what it's been like to manage the group of young leaders that ultimately deliver the promise of XYPN membership (and then some). Vince pulls the curtain back on his management style, which is unique and powerfully productive. We draw some similarities between the XYPN Network and the member firms that make up our community—specifically related to the building and scaling phases of the firm owner's journey. He talks about what it's like to work with the EOS model, what he sees as some of XYPN's business challenges, but most importantly, what it's been like to work at a progressive, disruptive company that lives and breathes its core values. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/308

Today, we're excited to introduce you to Kelly Klingaman, Vice President and Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA). Kelly has worked in the RIA space for the past 12 years, helping advisors around the country understand and communicate investment management strategies to their clients. Kelly explains that DFA partners with advisors to educate them on the academic research that DFA builds its principal theories around and how this credibility can be infused within their planning processes. Kelly discusses the decisions advisors face regarding their investment management programs and whether to outsource or manage them on their own. Because advisors are often limited in the amount of time they have to focus on the investment management aspect of their business, as well as the fact that many feel insecure about offering investment advice to their clients, she explains that the way advisors frame their investment services—the story they tell surrounding them—is often the most important aspect of how they approach investment management. Kelly points out that using anecdotes to explain why time in the market is better than timing the market can help a diverse crowd of investors understand the value of investing and the services you offer. If you're interested in learning how to better tell the story of your investment management philosophy, this show is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/307

In today's episode, we're honored to speak with Cindu Thomas-George, a professor and the owner of Shakthi Diversity and Equity Training. Cindu joins us to discuss what diversity, equity, and inclusion each mean and lays out a persuasive argument for DEI initiatives as a growth strategy within a business. She discusses the concepts of power and social capital and presents the moral case for considering these concepts within your work. She gives answers to tough questions like, "Is this conversation a political one?" and "What can advisors do to move the needle forward in the DEI space?" If you're interested in learning about how DEI makes businesses thrive, then this interview is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/306

Today, we have the privilege of talking to Terria Heng and Shelby Brown, two of XYPN's Compliance Coaches who together have nearly two decades of experience as examiners and compliance consultants. Terria and Shelby discuss with us their recommended approach to compliance, the time commitment required to ensure you're creating a culture of compliance within your firm, and several other compliance considerations that keep RIA owners up at night. They give great advice like how to trust your instincts, and they deliver valuable insight into how regulators and examiners approach their jobs. They discuss the required compliance changes involved when you add a teammate, approach SEC registration, or make a considerable mistake. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/305

Today we have the honor of speaking with Chris Dale and Julie Quick, two XYPN members and RIA owners who make a tremendous impact in their clients' lives as they focus on the complex niche of people in transition, specifically those dealing with grief. If you're interested in supporting and guiding clients through transition, this episode is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/304