Info

Financial Advisor Success

The Financial Advisor Success podcast brings you real success stories and insights from the most successful financial advisors, and leading industry consultants, about how to take your advisory business to the next level. Get a glimpse of what it's like behind the scenes building a successful advisory business, and how entrepreneurial advisors navigate the inevitable highs, and lows, of growing a firm. Whether you're a new financial advisor trying to get started on the right foot, or an experienced advisor who's hit a wall, we're here to give you the insights and inspiration you need to break through and reach the level of success you want to achieve. Subscribe to the show, and get even more at the leading industry blog Nerd’s Eye View at www.Kitces.com.
RSS Feed
Financial Advisor Success
2025
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2024
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: August, 2025
Aug 26, 2025

Scaling an advisory firm quickly requires more than just marketing - it demands intentional infrastructure, rapid lead conversion systems, and a team built for volume. This episode explores how investing heavily in digital marketing, building internal efficiencies, and empowering advisors can drive explosive growth without sacrificing client service.

Gabriel Shahin is the CEO of Falcon Wealth Planning, an RIA based in Ontario, California, that oversees $1.4 billion in AUM for 1,500 households.

Listen in as Gabriel shares how his firm grew from $200 million to $1.4 billion in just five years by generating 2,500 leads per month and onboarding nearly 500 clients annually. We dive into how his team maximizes paid ads on Google with targeted landing pages and lead magnets, why content creation for SEO and “answer engine” optimization is central to their strategy, and how they ensure fast follow-up by assigning staff to manage inbound leads. Gabriel also discusses his firm's revenue-based compensation model for its advisors, why he views his advisors as his top clients, and how stepping out of day-to-day operations has allowed him to focus on leading the firm into its next phase of expansion.

For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/452

Aug 19, 2025

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://www.kitces.com/451

Aug 12, 2025

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 visit: https://www.kitces.com/450

Aug 5, 2025

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 deeper in client conversations uncovers what really matters.

For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/449

1