Today, Jennipher Lommen, founder of Wildflower Financial, a fee-only firm out of Santa Cruz, California, is on the show. Jennipher is a career changer and entered this industry only a few years before she launched Wildflower four years ago. Jennipher homeschooled all three of her children and explained what it was like to begin looking to enter a new industry in her 40s.
With age comes maturity and experience, and quickly Jennipher found financial planning to be a perfect fit. Today she talks about her first few years in business: she worked with over 50 clients on a project basis in her first year and now serves a number of them on an ongoing basis. She talks about how the industry is in dire need of more women and how this profession is so accessible to anyone who is interested in being a listener, supporter, and advocate for their clients. She shares her perspective on the CFP® curriculum and how the Registered Life Planning process has been transformative for both herself and her practice.
If you’re interested in entering this profession later in life, then this episode is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/325
We’re joined today by XYPN member and founder of SJK Financial Planning, Wes Shannon. Wes has been running his Fort Worth, TX firm for six years and, despite feeling admittedly swamped, has reached the point where he feels like he’s built his ideal firm.
In this episode, Wes discusses the numerous business plans he wrote before starting his own fee-only firm and how to handle transitioning clients. Wes reflects on how hard the first three years were and how, at 64 clients, he’s benefiting from his preparation and endurance. Wes gives advice around the nuances associated with serving both individuals and 401(k)s for small businesses and how he established a buy-sell agreement with a like-minded advisor. Additionally, Wes talks about why networking has been so beneficial to him and how he strives to serve his clients as best as he can.
If you want to know what it’s like to be six years into building a firm that you love, then this episode is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/324
XYPN has conducted an Annual Benchmarking Study for the past four years. The comprehensive annual survey gathers core performance indicators of member participant firms and ultimately draws data-backed conclusions about the success of different business models, fee structures, and niches.
Today, Alan Moore and Michael Kitces, XYPN Co-Founders, discuss the study’s fifth annual results. As you’ll see, with our maturing network and member firms, the 2021 study shows a much clearer understanding of what’s working and not working in fee-only RIAs. This episode is particularly interesting and helpful for those considering starting the long play of the entrepreneurial journey. We encourage you to listen closely and go back to the previous conversations about the past surveys and use them as resources to build your ideal firm.
If you’re interested in what really works (yes, meaning proven with data) when building your firm, then this show is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/323
We’re excited to interview Kathleen Boyd, a CFP®, former financial planner, and now, XYPN’s Financial Planning & Process Coach. Kathleen is joining us for a second time, as she was on Episode 131 with Alan Moore four years ago talking about Diversity and Inclusion.
Today, Kathleen discusses the challenges advisors face when building their processes, how they can get overcome with analysis paralysis as they try to systematize, and she offers sage advice on how to avoid these pitfalls. She gives a lot of credit and love to the advisors who choose to start businesses, encouraging them to think outside the box on who and how they serve. Kathleen is a black, queer woman and has had a diverse and broad career in this industry—she’s been on Investment New’s 40 under 40 list—and she shares what it’s been like to find her place in this industry with the help of mentors, and what it’s been like to work at XYPN, a place she says embraces progressive thinking in a real way.
If you’re interested in how to leverage your financial planning experience in dynamic ways, then this episode is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/322
We’re excited for today’s episode with Ashley Foster, a Latino advisor and owner of Nxt:Gen Financial, a fee-only firm out of Houston, TX. Ashley started his career in the captive insurance space, learning how to sell and acquire clients. As many of our guests have experienced, Ashley started to feel drawn to the fee-only space and serving the community he wanted to and had a discussion with his former employer about changing his career trajectory to being a business owner.
Three years into it, Ashley is serving over 30 clients, primarily veterinarians. He’s making six figures and is loving life more than he could imagine. Ashley has a lot of great advice to share with you today—from how to navigate the exit from a company to leaning into the painful moments of the experience as opportunities for growth. Ashley is candid today and shares with us some of his most fulfilling experiences as an advisor.
If you’re interested in how to navigate out of the insurance world and into the fee-only space, this episode is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/321
Today, we’re excited to interview River Nice, XYPN member and founder of Be Intentional Financial, a fee-only firm focused on serving LGBTQ community members. River, whose pronouns are they/them, started their firm just over two years ago and has effectively served over 100 clients since opening.
River serves clients how they want to be served: through education and short-term relationships. River brings up a number of compelling points throughout the interview—questions of whether gender is a necessary consideration in planning, how our technology is set up to serve, or not serve, different communities, and reminding us how important it is to have representation within this industry. Their own personal journey is highlighted in this episode and how interestingly, through raising their own prices, they were able to have an even bigger impact on the communities they wanted to serve.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/320
#XYPNRadio’s very own host, Maddy Roche, is interviewed on the podcast today. Maddy is XYPN’s Senior Director of Member Success, a role in which she’s entirely dedicated to helping XYPN members be successful.
As the first employee, Maddy has been part of XYPN since the very beginning, and today, she shares her experience navigating change and the growth that comes along with it. She discusses how she inspires an “embrace change” mentality within her own team and offers advice on fostering a positive company culture and preserving that culture within a rapidly growing company. Maddy shares what it’s like to manage a team of managers—which she admits had a steep learning curve. We also spend some time reflecting on the fee-only movement, and the powerful role introspection plays in bettering yourself both personally and professionally. Having connected with thousands of fee-only advisors over the past seven and a half years, Maddy offers a unique perspective on what it really means to be a part of the XYPN movement, what exactly REAL financial planning entails, and the impact XYPN advisors have on the lives of others and on the industry at large. Maddy also shares her own experience working with a financial advisor and how recently engaging advisors who are also life planners has changed her outlook and shaped her trajectory.
If you’re interested in learning more about the story of #XYPNRadio’s host, Maddy Roche, what her seven and half year journey with XYPN has looked like, and how her introspective mindset and approach have helped her continuously better herself both as a team member and as a person, this episode is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/319
We’re excited to talk with Danika Waddell today, owner of Xena Financial Planning, a long-time follower of XYPN, and a relatively new entrepreneur. As you’ll hear, Danika has experienced rapid growth in her newly-launched firm and now serves over 60 clients just 13 months in. So, what’s her secret?
As we explore today, you’ll hear that it comes down to knowing your strengths and weaknesses and creating a dream team to help you stay sane and serve your clients. Danika discusses how she relies on and leverages her community, centers of influence, and coaches to help her stay on track. She talks about the nuances of pricing in Washington state and how she expects to change her firm in the future. Danika shares the softer side of how she approaches her firm, takes care of herself, embraces the abundance mentality, and is motivated by making financial planning accessible to more people.
If you’re interested in how to hit the ground running and find success when you launch your firm, then this show is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/318
We’re excited to welcome Tom Lo, XYPN Member and founder of Vested Financial Planning, on the show today. As his firm name alludes to, Tom works with Silicon Valley tech professionals and has a particular focus on helping clients through a liquidity event at their company.
Tom shares that he, too, went through a liquidity event at a tech startup and found it to be so complicated of an experience that it became one of his motivations to change careers and help others with his expertise. As Tom discusses today, a liquidity event at a tech startup is a great opportunity for sophisticated and technical planning from a third party, like himself, to provide unbiased perspective to those who are emotionally invested in the process. Tom dives into how he serves his clients effectively by outsourcing major components of his business—from asset management to bookkeeping. He discusses the softer side of being a business owner, too, like what it means to have control of your destiny, complete control of your business, and of course, flexibility.
If you’re interested in working with this niche or gaining any of what was just mentioned, then this show is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/317
Today we’re excited to have Jerry Kauffman, a Certified EOS Implementer on the show. EOS is the Entrepreneurial Operating System—a system designed to help entrepreneurs get more of what they want out of their businesses. XYPN integrated the EOS model into our organization just about three years ago, with the help of Jerry, and today we’ll discuss the core components of the system and how it can level up your business.
Jerry talks through the major components of the EOS model—from setting rocks, to the meeting rhythm, to deciding measurables of your scorecard. He discusses the difference between the visionary role and the integrator role and even gives us some behind-the-scenes takeaways from working with Alan Moore and Michael Kitces, both visionaries.
Jerry will be hosting an interactive Pre-Conference workshop at #XYPNLIVE 2021, where he will share the benefits of implementing this system for your company. Check out more details and register for that event here.
EOS is a core component of how XYPN runs its business, and today's episode will give you some ideas on how to get more out of your business using EOS principles.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/316
We’re excited to welcome Daniel Kopp to the show today. Daniel is the owner and founder of Wise Stewardship Financial Planning—a two-year-old, 100% virtual fee-only firm that serves over 25 widows and military personnel.
Today, Daniel talks about what it was like starting his firm while navigating some difficult personal circumstances. While he waited for approval to start his firm, he conducted 100 informational interviews, prepared for his CFP®, and got clear on who he wanted to serve and how. Despite pricing himself a little low out of the gate, today, Daniel has a backlog of clients reaching out and credits a lot of his accelerated growth to the investments he made in GoogleAds early on and targeting his niche in Facebook Groups. Daniel shares the importance of a supportive advisor community as he continues to grow his firm and how he would have never started on this journey if he didn't know what was possible thanks to some of the original stories shared on #XYPNRadio.
If you’re interested in what it’s like to build a niche-focused intentional firm, then this episode is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/315
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to starting or scaling a practice, and today, we sit down for a conversation with XYPN member Spencer Stephens who has taken his own path starting and scaling his firm. Stephen, like many folks, is interested in building a lifestyle practice vs. an enterprise practice. He founded Rooted Interest, a fee-only firm in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2017, and today, he discusses why he serves a smaller client base than other comparable firms.
He discusses why he continued to stay employed at his father’s CPA practice full time while building his firm. Spencer is a dad of five, and it was important for him to get into the giving profession to help his clients in the ways that work best for them while not sacrificing what is best for himself and his family. Spencer talks about his intentionality in building slowly, his annual expenses (hint, it's still under the 10k mark), and what his plans are for ramping his business up.
If you’re considering starting a practice at a slower rate or on a part-time basis, then this episode is for you.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/314
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: http://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: http://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: http://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: http://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: http://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: http://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: http://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. Last year, Cindu shared some of her lifetime of experience and expertise with the XYPN Team. Later this year, you’ll have a chance to learn from her, too—Cindu will be delivering a three-hour interactive workshop as an add-on Pre-Conference event at #XYPNLIVE 2021, so don’t miss out.
Today, 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?” Today’s conversation highlights the power of the work being done by financial advisors who are bringing financial planning and literacy to communities who have not had access to it before. If you weren’t previously convinced that financial planning is an inherently impactful, helping profession, Cindu sets the record straight.
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: http://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. Terria and Shelby’s perspective on compliance is refreshing, and you can’t help but absorb some of their energy and passion for all things compliance.
If you’re interested in how your compliance responsibilities will evolve as your scale your firm, this show is for you.
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.
To begin our conversation, Julie and Chris define grief and explain the complexities and emotions of the grieving process. They discuss how essential it is to humanize the experience of grief and to understand the longevity and vulnerability associated with processing grief—a perspective that is necessary when working with someone in transition. You'll hear Chris and Julie discuss the unique aspects of their firm and service model that allow them to be much more than just financial planners to their clients—they often introduce their families to their clients and share their own stories of grief. Given the time commitment of this type of advising relationship, questions arise about scalability. You’ll hear their tips for continuing to build a practice while maintaining a meaningful relationship with each one of their clients founded on support, friendship, and empathy.
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: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/304
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: http://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: http://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: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/301