Behind The Advisor

Today, we have an exciting conversation with Ryan Mohr and Eric Thomas, owners of Clarity Capital Management, a fee-only firm out of Portland, OR, where we talk about all things partnering—how to do it, when to do it, and all of the potential benefits. Three and a half years ago, Ryan started his firm as the sole owner and built it to serve over 45 client households. As the pressures of growth continued, the desire to bring on a partner was at the forefront of his mind. On today's show, Eric and Ryan talk about their decision to partner together, how they established equity buy-in for Eric, and the process they followed to finalize their agreements. Eric discusses why the timing was right for him to transition into the fee-only space now vs. when Ryan originally opened the firm. Ryan shares what it was like to offer equity into the company that he built from the ground up. This discussion provides a great example of how to partner with intentionality after a strong foundation has been built. If you're interested in what it's like to bring a partner into an established firm, this show is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/303

Today we're excited to welcome Pearl Michalson, XYPN's Internship Coordinator, to the show. Pearl has built XYPN's internship program from the ground up and has a wealth of expertise when it comes to all things interns and internships. From identifying top talent to training managers on how to best utilize interns, a lot goes into making an internship a successful and rewarding experience for all. Pearl shares her unique theory around internship programs with us and the wide variety of work that interns can accomplish, which will be of interest to many of our listeners. Her experience in organizational leadership allows her to speak to the importance of communication within organizations and why new and diverse talent elevates a company. As opposed to thinking of interns as another person to manage, she invites our listeners to seek out what an intern can teach them, how they can improve the organization, and see the world through a different lens. Pearl has advice regarding what to look for in interns, how to train them, and how to consider what they can do within a company if given the opportunity.If you're interested in hiring an intern, then you're not going to want to miss this episode. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/302

We're incredibly excited to have Ashlee deSteiger and David Rae—two XYPN advisors and RIA owners—on the show today to talk about everything that comes along with working having your spouse as a coworker. Ashlee's husband joined her firm, Gunder, after seeing the momentum and freedom she enjoyed while running the firm, while David hired his husband at his firm strategically to support not just his firm, but his lifestyle as well. In this episode, you'll hear Ashlee and David discuss the good, bad, and the ugly of working with your spouse—from how they take walks (alone) to tag-teaming duties. They also talk about the decision to hire a spouse generally and what it's like to market your firm with your spouse and serve clients as a team. Ashlee shares what it was like growing her firm during COVID and with three small kids at home. David reminds us of how good things can be when we define our ideal life and work towards it each day while embracing the inevitable challenges. Whether you're starting your firm with your partner or just starting your firm, you won't want to miss this episode. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/301

Today, we have two remarkable XYPN members—Tremaine Wills and Charles Ho—on the show. Tremaine and Charles both left the broker-dealer space knowing they were destined to do more meaningful work. Both ended up finding major fulfillment in being owners of their very own independent RIAs. We speak with both Tremaine and Charles about their previous professional backgrounds, including the tears that were shed, the pressure that was applied, and the emptiness they both felt around the work they were doing. We discuss the ideas of time freedom, mission-driven work, and what it feels like to burn out. Tremaine and Charles talk very transparently about what it took in terms of support, mental stamina, and confidence to make the leap and become their own bosses. They highlight what success means to each of them and how, despite the pressure they felt from their employers, it wasn't about making money. Instead, success to them is all about making an impact. If you're feeling dissatisfied or unfulfilled in your current position, then this show is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/300

We're thrilled to have four incredible XYPN members on the show with us today: Alexandra Baig, Neil Mahoney, Todd Sensing, and Matthew Ricks. Each advisor has built a practice that either focuses entirely on or incorporates special needs planning—a unique niche that brings its own challenges, and of course, rewards. From soft skills like trust and sensitivity to having deep technical expertise, specific requirements are needed to serve the special needs community. Alex, Neil, Todd, and Matthew share their individual approaches to working within this niche. Some adjust their payment structures and service models to serve their clients better, while others have developed particular marketing techniques that resonate with this community. They also touch on the importance of staying up to date on the ever-evolving nuances within the special needs space and how you should be ready to speak the language of your clients, meeting them where they are. If you're interested in working with the special needs community, or just hearing what it's all about, then this show is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/299

Today, we're excited to talk with three extraordinary people—Aaron Agte, Michael Reynolds, and Trishul Patel—with three remarkable things in common: they are all RIA owners, XYPN members, and, to top it off, podcasters. In today's episode, we discuss the intricacies of hosting a podcast as a primary component of a RIA marketing strategy. You'll learn that each of these advisors approaches their podcasts a little differently in terms of structure, format, and purpose. Aaron and Trishul team up to host their podcast together, while Michael hosts a live show and finds this to be the format that is best suited for him. These three share their experiences leveraging this intimate medium, how listeners desire insights, not information, and how podcasting has allowed them to establish credibility among their listeners and within the industry. They also offer their expertise about which platforms and technology to utilize and tips for keeping a cadence that works for you while maintaining a passion that's contagious. If you're interested in exploring what podcasting can do for your firm, this episode is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/298

We're excited to have Cathy Morgan and James Hindes on the show today to talk about their respective firms, Assess Financial Freedom and ENOW Financial. While Cathy and James own two separate RIAs, they share many similarities, both having entered the industry from other careers (and both being XYPN members, of course!). Cathy was and is a CPA, while James spent most of his career in the tech industry. If you're contemplating a career change or have been there and done that, then this show is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/297

We're excited to have John Mason and Tommy Blackburn on the show today. John and Tommy are partners at Mason & Associates, a fee-only firm out of Newport News, Virginia. Tommy and John are friends, first and foremost, but also business partners, both working at a firm that John's uncle and father started together in the early 80s. If you're interested in what it's like to transition an existing firm into the fee-only space and to do it with a dear friend, then this show is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/296

We're honored to have XYPN Director of Brand Communications, Kelly Moorman, on the show today to talk about all things brand. Kelly is a trained chemist, but married her experience with large data sets and analytical writing with her passion for storytelling to carve out a career in marketing. Today, she shares some of her best advice as a professional marketer and brand builder. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/295

We're excited to have XYPN member Anna N'Jie Konte, the founder of the fee-only firm Dare to Dream Financial Planning out of Kensington, MD, on the show today. Anna started her firm in August of 2019 and now serves 27 clients, most of whom are business-owning women of color—clients who are just like Anna. If you're interested in what it would be like to build a business as a mom and as a woman of color, this show is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/294