Behind The Advisor

We often hear how the network of support and connection that XYPN offers is a strong component of success. In today's episode, we learn that for our guest, Leland Gross, CFP®, the founder of PeaceLink Financial Planning, "community" wasn't just a benefit, it was essential after a life-changing event pulled his focus from building his business. In September 2021, Leland launched his firm and discovered that same month that his wife was pregnant! Three months later, they received the devastating news that their baby would need open heart surgery just after birth. Leland shares how his XYPN study group jumped in to help him keep his business from failing. While he focused on his family, they got set up so they could call Schwab on the client's behalf, helped craft emails and communications to clients, and basically did anything else they could do to support him while he cared for his family. With their assistance during that critical time, and Leland's strategic social media and podcast leveraging, he is now serving 45 client households (in less than 18 months!) in the self-employed niche—all while experiencing major changes and hardships to his growing family. Leland’s story really shows how perseverance and support can get us through unimaginably difficult times and help us still find success.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/367 

If you’re wondering whether taking custody of client accounts and a virtual assistant is right for your independent advisory firm, this episode’s for you! Taking custody can be a scary decision, but sometimes it's the right one. Just ask XYPN member Kate Yearwood Young, CFA, CFP®, founder of Yearwood Young Advisors.  From engineering to Wall Street to founding a successful business, she acquired the skills and services to meet her client’s needs where they are.  And their needs dictated that she take custody. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/366

If you are interested in learning highly effective, yet simple ways to use data-driven market research to find and maximize your niche, this episode is for you! In this candid and informative conversation with XYPN member Marlon Wesh, MBA, founder of Wesh Financial, we learn how Marlon’s early experience in HR for the Marine Corps helped formulate his firm’s operational systems. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Y ou can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/365

If you’re interested in the impact being a student of your own art can have on your priorities and business, this episode is for you!  Terry Bradford-Crane MBA, CFP® of Bradford-Crane Company went to the Naval Academy for college with a dream of becoming a pilot and an astronaut. Just as she was finishing her training program, the US repealed a law prohibiting women from serving in combat zones, and she was one of the first women to receive orders to serve on an aircraft in a combat zone. Her first job out of the military was with Merrill Lynch, and she talked about how valuable the four years she spent there were for her career, mainly based on their amazing training program.  In 2019, she decided to focus more on her financial planning business and started to scale. Most recently, she's been focused on her planning practice and become super intentional about her time and priorities to ensure the right work gets done. I was really impressed with her intentionality and she shared her goals for the business and how it will ultimately support her and her husband as they transition into the next phase of their lives. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/364  

If you’re interested in how finding your niche can change everything and how well the equity compensation niche has worked for XYPN member Christine Amill Centeno, CFP®, MS, founder of Simplicity Wealth Management, this episode is for you! Christine started her career in financial services at Ameriprise in 2007 and worked in a variety of broker's side roles until she ultimately decided to launch her own firm in 2019. Having just celebrated her firm's fourth birthday, she has grown quickly with over 40 client households and 400,000 of recurring revenue. How has she had so much success? You probably guessed it, she has a really well defined niche. Christine specializes in equity compensation, and almost all of her growth from the last two years have been from client referrals. She also shared about her experience hitting the ceiling, realizing that she was working way too many hours and had let the business really take over her life. She hit the reset button, defined her financial mission statement, and has been really intentional about building the business to support her life moving forward.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/363

If you’re interested in learning how employment contract restrictions can seriously disrupt your plans to take clients with you should you decide to break away from your broker, as well working through growth and fee structuring decisions, this episode is for you! XYPN member John Underhill, CFP®, founder of Acorn and Oak Wealth Management, based in Raleigh, North Carolina shares how his journey from ski bum to managing parts of a ski resort, and then several Starbucks helped bolster his business acumen as well as humility—in the best ways. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/362 

In this fun conversation with XYPN member Brian O'Neill, CFP®, founder of Winged Wealth Management and Financial Planning, we hear how niching not only what you know, but who you know can radically grow your business—even in the first year!   Brian spent the first 20 years of his career as an Air Force pilot, during which time he developed a passion for personal finance. Brian launched his firm in January 2021 and came out of the starting gates hot, working with 30 clients in his first year, 23 of which were retainer clients. He's grown quickly and shared that he'll gross over $200,000 in 2023, just his third year in business.   He shared his marketing secret sauces that helped him grow quickly as well as build upon the equity of trust his fellow fighter pilots feel towards each other. Finally, we talked about his view of the future of the business and how that's changed from a plan to stay solo to a desire to grow, not only to serve more clients in need of his services but also his family—in the form of a succession plan for his business. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/361

If you are interested in what it takes to transition from a long-term wirehouse position to solo RIA ownership, what it means to truly answer a calling, and how to sustainably serve others without being self-sacrificing, this episode is for you! Kaysian Gordon, founder of Kaysi Gordon Financial Planning, spent 14 years at UBS focusing on financial planning for ultra-high net worth clients. Seven years ago, she started a weekly devotional blog, which later helped her build a niche working with women of faith in transition. In late 2021, Kaysian launched her own firm with XY Planning Network's help, growing rapidly with 60 households in under a year. We also discussed how being a single mom has shaped her business and life design. Her clear niche and personal journey make her story truly inspiring. Enjoy the conversation! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/360

If you're interested in learning about the advantages of growing your firm with like-minded advisors, hiring a virtual assistant, and having a supportive spouse, this episode is for you! Mike Troxell, founder of Modern Financial Planning, started his career in tech as an accountant but eventually transitioned into financial planning. Though he loved his job at an RIA, he decided to launch his own firm when the timing unexpectedly aligned, despite just having his first child and expecting a second. Mike's firm focuses on clients with RSUs or stock options, often in the tech industry. We talked about how he helps clients with those unique financial decisions and his decision to bring on another advisor and hire a virtual assistant. It's a great interview full of insights and fun stories! You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/359

If you’ve ever found yourself questioning what “having it all” looks like for you, how to pull focus on those visions and find balance as you start and run your business, this episode is for you. In this reflective and empowering conversation, XYPN member Betty Wang, CFP®, founder of BW Financial Planning, shares a very real look into her journey from a career in financial services on the buy side, to taking time off to care for her children with medical issues to returning to the industry in private equity and ultimately deciding to do her own thing as a firm owner.  While she doesn’t describe herself as an entrepreneur—because she doesn't fit the image that she had of what it means to be an entrepreneur—she has built a very successful firm. She launched in 2018, but struggled to put herself out into the world, so she didn't see much traction early on.  That all changed in 2020 when she made the decision to lean into the uncomfortable parts of the business, primarily selling financial planning and the relationship with her as the product of her business—and it has grown rapidly since.  She shares how she has been able to be intentional with her time—focusing on working 25 hours a week so she can spend time with her kids (something she hadn’t envisioned being a priority in the beginning of her career).  She also shares tools she uses to help with what she calls life planning—a way for her to focus on living from a fulcrum of integrity, according to her values.  There are many aspects of Betty’s story that you may find familiar, but mostly I think you’ll appreciate her ability to turn the unexpected into an intentional and meaningful life.  I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! - Alan You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/358