Financial Advisor Success

Running a successful advisory firm takes more than great client service - it also means learning how to lead a team and build infrastructure to support growth. This episode explores how developing leadership skills, hiring intentionally, and leaning into personal values can lay the foundation for a thriving, mission-driven business. Maggie Kulyk is the founder of Chicory Wealth, an RIA based in Decatur, Georgia, that operates virtually and oversees $760 million in AUM for 480 households. Listen in as Maggie shares how she grew from a self-described “terrible” manager into a visionary leader by making key hires with complementary strengths to her own, delegating wisely, and developing a strong leadership team. We discuss how her firm finds and trains homegrown advisors aligned with its values, how Maggie structured an internal ownership track for future successors, and why breaking away from a broker-dealer and going fee-only  was the right move for her long-term vision.  For show notes and more visit: https:/

High-net-worth retirees are hungry for clear, actionable retirement education - but often don’t know where to find it. This episode explores how hosting local educational seminars can create a consistent pipeline of engaged prospects and drive meaningful business growth for financial advisors. Ryan Morrissey is the founder of Morrissey Wealth Management, an RIA in North Haven, Connecticut, overseeing $140 million in AUM for 150 households. Listen in as Ryan shares how he organizes his retirement planning seminars through local adult education programs to attract his target audience, how he's found that charging a small nominal fee for the classes boosts participant engagement, and how offering a free consultation as a “bonus class” consistently converts attendees into new clients. We also discuss his transition from wirehouse to RIA ownership, how he navigates compliance as a growing firm, and why he’s focused on keeping his service model simple and impactful as he continues to scale. For show notes and more

Financial planning clients expect responsive, detail-oriented service—and the firms that deliver consistently are the ones that keep them for decades. Michelle Perry Higgins has seen that firsthand, and she joins us today to share how setting and maintaining high client service standards, alongside thoughtful listening and planning, can drive both long-term retention and organic growth. Michelle is a principal of California Financial Advisors, an RIA based in San Ramon, California, that oversees $2 billion in AUM for approximately 1,500 households. Listen in as she talks about how her firm has grown entirely organically, fueled by her "non-negotiable" service practices (such as ensuring no client waits more than 5 minutes for a meeting) and maintaining a greater than 99% client retention rate. She also explains how she uses tools like an “Everything Binder” to help clients organize their financial lives, why she builds time into her schedule after every meeting to record personalized notes, and how going deep

High-net-worth individuals often already have a financial advisor, but many aren’t receiving the in-depth investment education or portfolio customization they truly need. That's where Monish Verma comes in. He joins the show today to share his strategy for converting HNW prospects into clients, as well as how a tailored approach to alternative investments and client education can become a powerful differentiator for winning (and keeping) affluent clients. Monish is the CEO of Vardhan Wealth Management, a DBA of Summit Financial, based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, that oversees $560 million in AUM for 225 households. Listen in as he shares how his willingness to spend more time upfront educating prospects and clients has led to higher trust, retention, and referrals. You'll also hear how his team carefully vets alternative investments and helps clients understand where they fit in their portfolios, why he encourages mutual “interviews” with prospects to ensure good long-term fit, and how breaking away from t

Financial advisors frequently seek out relationships with Centers Of Influence (COIs) such as accountants and attorneys, but sometimes find that it's hard to get referrals from these professionals. Advisor marketing expert Dan Allison believes this is because COIs fear putting their own reputations on the line and joins the show today to explore how financial advisors can reframe COI relationships by reducing that risk and building real trust over time. Dan is the owner of The Exchange, a virtual content platform and community focused on helping financial advisors master client acquisition and relationship-building. Listen in as he shares how to approach the first COI meeting to set the tone for a high-value relationship, why building credibility often takes months (or even years), and how to use client feedback to reinforce the COI’s confidence in making future referrals. We also discuss creating regular touchpoints with COI partners, setting up COI mastermind groups to drive both learning and connection, an

After growing her AUM by $30 million in just two years, Misty Lynch has become a go-to financial planning expert for small business owners and families within her community. This is thanks in part to her reputation inside local Facebook groups frequented by her ideal target client, where she rarely promotes herself but is frequently recommended. Misty is the owner of Sound View Financial Advisors, an RIA based in Massachusetts that manages $46 million for approximately 100 households. In this episode, Misty shares how her early content creation efforts (including a blog and a podcast) laid the groundwork for greater visibility and referrals, as well as how purchasing a retiring advisor’s practice helped her jump-start firm ownership. You'll hear how she raised legacy client fees while implementing a scalable service model, how leveraging life coaching techniques has deepened her client relationships, and more. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/446

James Conole's firm has experienced explosive growth over the past few years (expecting to double its revenue to more than $10 million in 2025) thanks in part to his YouTube channel, which educates and builds trust with ideal prospects before they ever book a meeting. James is the founder of Root Financial, an RIA based in Encinitas, California, that oversees $1.3 billion in assets under management for 630 client households. In this episode, he shares his YouTube strategy, including how narrowing his content focus to the needs of wealthy pre-retirees and retirees led to fewer views but better-fit clients. Listen in to learn how Root was able to implement a “one-meeting close” with prospects partly due to their familiarity with how the firm operates as well as how the firm systematized client onboarding into a five-meeting process. James also talks about creating the tech-centric “Root University” to ensure consistent advisor training, how his firm builds culture in a remote-first team, and what comes next as

When Libby Greiwe realized that most client onboarding processes felt either clunky or cold, she decided to transform her own. What she has developed—based on her years as both a financial advisor and coach—is a system designed to create a seamless, personalized client experience that not only demonstrates professionalism, but also inspires client referrals within their first 100 days with the firm. Libby is the founder of The Efficient Advisor, a coaching and consulting business based in Loveland, Ohio, that helps financial advisors build systems to run their firms with less stress and more efficiency. Listen in as Libby shares how she breaks down onboarding into three 30-day phases, how her firm tracked client “intel” for meaningful personalization, and what she believes is the key to client loyalty and long-term growth. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/444

Griffin Kirsch built a $200 million AUM firm in just five years—while maintaining a 70% profit margin. Delivering high-touch planning to business owners and real estate investors without charging fees on those assets, Griffin's focus on providing hard-dollar value to his clients (especially around tax strategy and real estate decisions) has fueled deep trust and strong referral-driven growth. Griffin is the owner of GK Wealth Management, an RIA based out of Nevada that oversees $200 million in assets under management for 450 households. In this episode, he shares how his unconventional model helped him scale quickly, how proactive outreach to businesses during the COVID pandemic sparked major momentum, and why he segments clients by complexity rather than AUM. He also explains how he developed partnerships with CPAs that generate ongoing referrals, as well as how outsourcing investments and empowering junior advisors allow the firm to grow sustainably—without necessarily relying on him at the center. For show

David Bahnsen has built a reputation for speaking his mind, not only on issues related to financial markets, but also on topics many advisors shy away from, like religion and politics. Which has paid off for him in the form of attracting $100 million of new client assets to his firm per month as his content has built his credibility, deepened audience engagement, and drawn in both like-minded clients and those who respect his authenticity. David is the Founder of the Bahnsen Group, an RIA based out of California that oversees approximately $7.5 billion in assets under management for 1,800 client households. In this episode, he shares how his unconventional content strategy has driven firm growth, why he made the strategic decision to step away from serving clients directly to focus on scaling the business, and how his unique compensation and development model fosters long-term success for his team. He also discusses integrating tax prep as a value-add rather than a profit center, expanding into smaller market

As advisory firms grow, so does the complexity of compliance—and Leila Shaver has built a business dedicated to helping them scale without costly missteps. She provides strategic guidance that keeps firms aligned with regulatory expectations as their teams, client bases, and responsibilities expand. Leila is the founder of My RIA Lawyer, a Georgia-based legal and compliance firm serving RIAs, broker-dealers, and other financial services companies. In this episode, she shares insights into when firms typically seek outsourced compliance support, the key differences between broker-dealer oversight and RIA regulation, and why firms might consider including their compliance professionals in business strategy business strategy decisions. You'll also hear about the latest developments in advisor-facing compliance technology and how Leila's own entrepreneurial journey mirrors that of the clients she serves. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/441

What if you could decode a client’s financial behavior before the first meeting? Nina Hajjar has done just that by creating a custom “money personality” assessment. This innovative tool helps her advisory team better understand client behavior, tailor communication styles, and deliver more personalized, consistent service across their $500-million practice. Nina is a partner at Stratos CA in Los Angeles, and she joins the show today to share how her framework transforms the planning process, complements traditional risk analysis, and even shapes advisor training through what she calls “the art of the meeting.” Listen in as she discusses her approach to acquisitions, lessons learned in hiring, and how personal growth—and gut instinct—have guided her leadership journey. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/440

Alvin Carlos made a strategic decision to build internal efficiency and client accountability into the heart of his planning process—a move that not only streamlined how his team manages financial plans and client tasks, but also helped him scale. Turning Monday.com into the operational core of his firm, he has carved out a niche in serving younger clients profitably, while keeping his tech stack lean and highly functional. Alvin is the CEO of District Capital Management, an RIA based out of Washington, D.C., that generates $850,000 of annual, primarily retainer-based, revenue serving 155 households. Listen in as he shares how he uses Monday.com and RightCapital together to streamline financial plan presentations and track client follow-on tasks and also leverages AI tools like Krisp to generate meeting summaries and action items at a lower price point than industry-specific options. He also talks about how he profitably serves clients in their 30s and 40s with a complexity-based retainer model—adjusting fees

In this episode, financial advisor Nikki Savage discusses her approach to enhancing client retention and satsifaction by engaging in thoughtful, intentional relationship-building—specifically asking deep questions that uncover her clients’ true needs and using that insight to create highly personalized experiences. Listen in as Nikki reflects on filtering feedback to stay true to her values and how building her practice authentically has been at the center of her success. She also explains why a strong advisor-client fit is essential, how she addresses client misconceptions to maintain focus during market volatility, and how in-person events help connect with her ideal target prospects by creating a comfortable setting to discuss financial challenges in their lives. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/438

After the 1986 Tax Reform Act, Ed Slott made a strategic decision to specialize in IRAs—a move that not only set him apart in a niche field, but also helped him build a nationally recognized reputation as a leading expert. By leaning into his niche, he intentionally set himself apart from generalists by charging more to reflect the unique value he delivers. Today, Ed is the President of Ed Slott and Company, a financial education firm based in Rockville Centre, New York, offering seminars and newsletters for both financial advisors and consumers, with a particular focus on IRAs. In this episode, he shares how having specialized knowledge of the ins and outs of IRAs helped him stand out among other tax experts, the marketing strategies that grew his visibility (leading to a nationwide speaking business and the launch of his Elite IRA Advisor Group), and much more. For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/437

Nicole Gopoian Wirick is the President of Prosperity Wealth Strategies, an RIA based out of Michigan that oversees $70 million in assets under management for 40 households. What’s unique about Nicole is how she hired a branding consultant early on to develop a clear brand identity that reflects her financial planning philosophy and resonates with her ideal clients. This brand now acts as a filter for deciding which marketing opportunities are worth pursuing, helping her stay focused and aligned. Listen in as Nicole shares how she developed a distinct brand identity by first exploring her ideal lifestyle and values, leading to a “brand DNA” that shapes everything from her marketing to her client experience. She explains how this branding attracts clients seeking deep financial planning around estate and legacy issues, and how she built trust and referrals by nurturing relationships with centers of influence and delivering personalized, planning-led advice. Nicole also reflects on evolving her brand as she grow

Gideon Drucker is the CEO of Drucker Wealth, a hybrid advisory firm based out of New York City that oversees approximately $1 billion in assets under management for 800 client households. What’s unique about Gideon is how he launched a “Wealth Builder” service model to support high-income next-gen clients—within a firm traditionally focused on retirees. In just five years, the offering has added 275 client households and become the primary engine of growth for Drucker Wealth. Listen in as Gideon shares how he structured his firm’s Wealth Builder division with a high advisor-to-operations staff ratio to meet the complex needs of mid-career professionals, ensured profitability by setting a minimum fee while introducing gradual fee increases for existing clients by clearly tying them to the firm’s growing value. He also discusses how his clients regularly make referrals without directly being asked to, his transition from direct client service to firm leadership and management, and how his early cold-calling day

Vanessa N. Martinez is the CEO of Expressive Wealth, an RIA based out of Chicago that oversees $135 million in assets under management for approximately 70 client households, including 10 ‘core’ ultra-high-net-worth families. What’s unique about Vanessa is how her firm goes beyond traditional estate planning to help high-net-worth clients engage in in-depth legacy planning. This approach ensures clients pass down not just their assets, but also the values and principles that helped them build their wealth. Listen in as Vanessa shares how she guides clients through a multi-meeting discovery process to clarify their estate and legacy plans and articulate the family values they want to pass on, encouraging them to document these legacies to avoid future misunderstandings. She also explains how her deep involvement in clients’ lives, along with neighborhood-based client events, helps foster strong relationships and organic referrals. Vanessa also discusses the unique role of her firm’s Chief Clinical Officer in f

Cameron Passmore is the CEO of PWL Capital, a wealth management firm based out of Ottawa, Canada, that oversees just over $5 billion Canadian dollars (or approximately $3.5 billion U.S. dollars) in assets under management for 2,400 client households. What’s unique about Cameron is that after growing his firm’s revenue from $2 million to over $20 million as an independent firm over the past decade, he recognized that the next phase of growth required a different approach. By combining with a larger financial conglomerate, he positioned the firm to pursue another 10X growth opportunity in the decade ahead. Listen in as Cameron shares how his firm achieved explosive growth by serving early Shopify employees, building a content engine that has served as a key driver of inbound leads, and differentiating through a planning-first, passive investing approach that is not typical in the Canadian advice landscape. Cameron also discusses his firm's investment in an institutional-grade data lake to enhance the client exp

Seth Scott is the founder of Heartwood Financial Planning, an advisory firm in Fresno, California that manages $100 million in assets for 850 client households. What makes Seth’s approach unique is his development of an “input deliverable” that simplifies tax planning for his ideal target client, allowing him to demonstrate value without creating time-intensive, custom reports for each individual. By offering this tool, he not only saves time, but also builds trust with prospective clients who may later seek more comprehensive financial planning services. In this episode, Seth also discusses his transition into financial planning from previous jobs in urban planning and real estate, how he grew his business by serving retiring advisors’ client books without having to contribute upfront capital, and why he became a Certified Tax Preparer to better serve his niche. Listen in to hear how he makes inroads with his target clients by helping churches set up 403(b)(9) retirement plans and how his faith has guided hi