Financially Simple

Sales projections are important to your organization's goal identification and planning. But have you ever considered what your sales projections can tell you about the health of your Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) firm?  In this episode, I discuss the significance of the data that informs your sales projections. Likewise, I explore how you can use your sales projections to measure your firm's performance against industry benchmarks, determine future hiring needs, and more! This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:  (01:35) How your sales projections can help you (03:05) What is a sales projection? (05:05) How do we calculate run rate? (08:43) Two key data points (09:33) Estimated future sales (14:16) Average Assets Under Management (AUM) (16:42) A word of caution   Our Favorite Quotes: "In order to affect the future, we must disturb the present. In order for us to grow something that is best-in-class, we have to do things that our peers who are average, are not willing to do." - Just

In the early stages of your Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) firm, it made sense to work with anyone who could fog a mirror. But as your firm grows, many of the clients that you served in the beginning may not offer your business the same value they once did. As a result, these clients can chip away at your firm's efficiencies, preventing you from gaining ground on your journey toward the eight-figure exit. In this episode, I discuss the power of saying, "No" to clients who are the wrong fit for your RIA. This tiny word is one that, as business owners, we don't often like to say. However, embracing the power of no could increase your bandwidth, enabling you to say yes to the clients who can truly help drive you to the exit of your dreams.   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:  (00:42) The eight-figure exit requires the correct client base (03:27) Business constraints (05:56) The Pareto Principle and Dunbar's Number (09:50) Learning the power of "No" (12:47) Reasons we "outgrow" particula

If you're working toward the eight-figure exit, you can no longer be the top producer in your firm. This means "firing" yourself. But how can you step away if doing so will cause a decline in your sales production? In the previous episode, I gave you some homework. After digging into your firm's data points, did your company align with the industry averages? Were you surprised by what you found? In this episode, I'm picking up where I left off, and giving you four tools to help you create scalable and repeatable sales processes that enable you to fire yourself so you can achieve the eight-figure exit. This week on The Financially Simple Podcast: (0:13) Part one recap (3:06) How do you maintain momentum in your absence? (3:57) Sales tracking (11:26) What are we going to track in the process? (14:30) Lead analysis (22:55) How do you improve prospect data? (27:25) Removing bad prospect data from your system   Our Favorite Quotes:  "In order for us to decentralize, we have to, often, fire ourselv

Sales is the lifeblood of every business. In order to grow, you must attract new clients and gain new revenue. As the owner of your RIA, you're likely the top producer in your firm. However, this is anathema to the eight-figure exit.  In this episode, I discuss why you must fire yourself, making way for new top producers to emerge. In doing so, you can decentralize and reduce your company-specific risk. I'll explain the metrics you need to monitor to ensure continuity once you're no longer pulling all the levers. Likewise, I look at how firing yourself could enable you to meet or exceed industry standards. If you're an RIA (or any other type of business) owner, you can't afford to miss this episode! This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (0:38) Why are you the top producer in your RIA? (1:33) A foreign concept (3:06) Decentralization from the sales process is a necessity (4:51) Multiplicative growth (5:53) The ability to meet or exceed industry standards (6:41) The day I decided to fire

Over the past few years, business owners have been through the wringer. From lockdowns to the Great Resignation, simply going to work has presented a much larger challenge than it did in the past. As a result, attracting and retaining great talent has become more important than ever. So how can you achieve this in your RIA? In this episode, I talk about the importance of employee incentive programs and the many different ways to show your team that you appreciate their loyalty and hard work. Likewise, I discuss 10 steps you can take to design and implement an employee incentive program to fuel your eight-figure exit! This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:  (1:45) Attract, engage, and retain talent (3:35) Incentive programs can drive profitability (5:13) How does an incentive plan tie into the eight-figure exit? (6:31) What should be included in your employee incentive program? (7:33) The importance of recognition and bonus pay (12:03) Ten easy steps (21:26) Something I've never seen in bu

For many of us, compliance can seem like a dirty word. Too often, this necessary aspect of your RIA is seen as "anti-sales" or as being against advisors. However, compliance plays a vital role in protecting you and your clients. So, how can you develop a compliance department that is both effective and efficient? In today's episode, I discuss how you can integrate compliance practices with your daily operations. Additionally, I will look at the risks associated with non-compliance. Finally, I will provide practical tips for creating tools that can eliminate compliance bottlenecks and mitigate risks to your firm and your clients.   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast: (0:52) Why do financial advisors cringe at compliance? (2:50) What types of compliance risk might you have? (4:08) The repercussions of non-compliance (5:18) Test your processes and team for weaknesses or holes (7:40) Create a compliance calendar (9:44) Develop a ticketing system (11:55) Build processes and structures for yo

Have you ever considered that you could drive greater profitability in your RIA (or any other business) through policies and procedures? Think about it... Your firm's governing documents such as the employee handbook, compliance manual, or company policy are meant to communicate policies and contingencies that can reduce risk and drive efficiency.   In today's episode, I'm going to discuss these important documents. As I do, I will explain which documents you should have in your RIA, and what types of information goes into each one. Finally, I will explain how well-kept governing documents can help you become more profitable and propel you toward the eight-figure exit.   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (0:57) What are the governing documents for an RIA? (3:34) How does a document written by an attorney impact your eight-figure exit? (6:40) Intrinsic value (7:50) Gaining efficiency by enforcing policies and procedures (10:33) What happens if you don't set the expectation?

The idea of a flat organizational structure has gained steam in recent years. On its surface, it may seem like a good idea. However, without a clear leader, people often become confused about which direction to follow. In this episode, I take a close look at some of the most common types of organizational structures. Join me as I explain why the flat org chart might prevent you from achieving the eight-figure exit you desire!   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (0:40) My soapbox (1:40) Why organizational charts matter (3:48) Different types of organizational structures (14:00) The reason we're here (15:00) What got us here won't get us where we want to go (16:14) The lack of a clear leader can be confusing (19:10) Why you can't have a flat org chart in your RIA (25:46) Embrace hierarchy (26:27) How does an organization that truly conquers things structure its org chart?   Our Favorite Quotes:  "Having a powerful and scalable organizational structure is on

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can provide you with invaluable data to determine the health and direction of your RIA. However, with a seemingly endless number of KPIs to choose from, how can you know which ones to track in your organization? In this episode, I will uncover some of the mystique around KPIs, as well as explore which ones I believe every RIA should be tracking on their way to the eight-figure exit.     This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (0:37) What is a Key Performance Indicator? (2:49) Is it a metric? Not exactly... (4:07) KPIs that the financial advisory business owner should track... (7:10) Number of households per advisor (9:34) Average number of meetings per advisor (13:47) Your industry has KPIs that will drive you toward the 8-figure exit   Our Favorite Quotes:  "What gets measured gets improved." - Peter Drucker    "The KPI is like the roof of the house, and the metrics are like the walls that hold the roof up." - Justin Goodbread   About T

One of the most challenging aspects of owning any business is building a cohesive and committed team. Different personalities and skill sets have very different needs. On top of this, you must also know which personality types are suited for each role and put people in the correct seats. In this episode, I continue looking at how to build a committed team for your eight-figure exit. I also discuss the difference between the technician, the manager, and the executive, and putting yourself and others in the best position to succeed.   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:  (1:30) Your company will change (4:55) Who do you need in an RIA? (9:30) Why does it matter in light of the eight-figure exit? (11:05) Assessing your team's competencies (14:55) Developing an assessment plan (16:12) Creating micro-alignment for the eight-figure exit (18:13) What's the strategy?   Our Favorite Quotes:  "In order to grow, a firm needs to involve more people. With the arrival of more and mor

Have you ever considered what goes into building a team committed to working through an eight-figure exit with you? The phrasing of that question is significant. You see, building a team requires a great deal of forethought because it is a tactical movement. Likewise, you want to build a team that will work through an exit and not just to one. But why?   In this episode, I take a deep dive into this subject. I'll discuss the strategies of developing your team while driving toward your desired exit, as well as growing it through strategic hires. Additionally, I'll examine the impact a committed team can have on your firm's final value.   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (0:10) Why I chose this title (3:57) Why should you be concerned with growing your team? (7:35) Why does it matter to your employees? (11:52) How do you build a team that's committed to the eight-figure exit? (14:57) You might need new team members (17:17) Create a compelling EPV (18:30) Don't lose sight

As you work to prepare your business for the eight-figure exit, change is inevitable. What got you here won't necessarily get you there. This is true whether you own an RIA or an auto repair shop. Because of the disruptive nature of change, you must be prepared to enact proper change management within your team.   In this episode, I discuss why change is necessary for the eight-figure exit, and how proper change management can help you maintain your positive momentum even through periods of transition. If you're dreaming of making your own eight-figure exit, you don't want to miss this episode!   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (1:40) Change that necessitates strong change management (2:28) Change is hard (3:11) Change management is needed (6:51) Change is necessary (9:15) Six aspects of effective change management (17:08) How to implement change management   Our Favorite Quotes:  "In order to affect the future, we must disrupt the present." - Justin Goodbread  

Client attrition can be devastating to your goal of achieving the eight-figure exit. We work hard to acquire each client and it can feel deeply personal when they decide to leave. But what causes clients to leave an RIA?   In this episode, I look at the top reasons clients leave their advisors. By understanding why clients leave, you can take proactive measures to ensure that your book of business continues to grow and thrive, driving your toward the eight-figure exit.   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (3:51) From the business owner's seat (5:16) Loyal customers are more likely to refer (6:05) Why do clients leave their RIA? (7:21) Fixing the communication issues in your firm (9:35) Perception of value (10:46) Aligning the value proposition (13:53) Lagging technology (16:14) Poor chemistry (22:24) Shifting methodology   Our Favorite Quotes:  "Our younger generations are the generations that will often move the average age range of our book which causes

As business owners, we understand the importance of operational efficiency. But did you know your RIA's operational efficiencies could be the difference between making your eight-figure exit and missing the mark? Knowing that the efficiency of your operations has a direct correlation to your firm's valuation is one thing. However, understanding the biggest drivers could position you to take control of your practice and steer it toward the exit you desire.   In this episode, I take a look at how your efficiencies affect your RIA's value. Similarly, I take an in-depth look at some of the biggest drivers of operational efficiency, and how you can use them to maximize value.   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (2:18) The drivers of operational efficiency are actually perspectives (3:07) The owner's perspective (11:40) The customer's perspective (15:54) Your team's perspective (17:35) Client's do not come first (18:07) How do you influence operational efficiency?   Our Fav

If you want to make the eight-figure exit, you need to begin planning for it right now. Too many people fail to realize the complexity of proper succession planning and the time required to do it correctly. As a result, many business owners reach their exit, receiving only a fraction of what they could have or worse, nothing at all!   In this episode, I look back at the relay race and what it can teach us about proper succession planning in your RIA. I also discuss the ways you can begin decentralizing and preparing your firm's leadership for your eight-figure exit.   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (0:35) The relay race and business (3:40) What causes a poor transition? (6:24) Effectively passing the baton (7:22) Examine your current processes & develop a complete system (8:42) Creating capacity & implementing new processes (10:12) Clean the office (11:35) The depth of your bench (13:44) Improve collaboration and training to increase engagement   Ou

Leadership is one of those things that can make or break any business. Great leaders inspire others to become the best possible versions of themselves. In turn, this could lead your RIA to become best-in-class. But how do you inspire your leadership team to exhibit the authority, responsibility, and accountability that can permeate your entire organization?   In this episode, I'll talk about what it means to have a culture of authority, responsibility, and accountability. Similarly, I'll explore how it can impact your eight-figure exit. Finally, I'm going to take a look at what works and what doesn't, giving you seven ways to implement this type of culture in your own firm. Regardless of the industry you're in, this is one episode you don't want to miss! This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (1:07) How do you make way for the eight-figure exit? (2:02) How are you impacting your employees? (3:23) The carrot and stick (5:33) Reduction of micro-management (7:38) Authority, responsibility,

Working toward the eight-figure exit is challenging under normal circumstances. However, attempting to drive real and lasting growth is nearly impossible when your senior management team is operating under a silo mentality. When your team is siloed, it can cost you valuable time and resources as you work toward your objectives. So, what can you do to break down the silos that stand in your way, as an RIA? In this episode, I discuss the hazards a silo mentality presents to your firm. I also outline eight ways you can tear down the informational and collaborative barriers within your firm. As you work toward your eight-figure exit, ensuring that your organization's leadership is united toward the same vision is imperative. However, don't check out just because you're not a financial advisor. This information could be applied to any business!   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:  (2:33) What is the Silo Mentality? (3:26) The Issues That Create a Siloed Management Team & Their Consequences (6:

As RIA owners, we often make the mistake of thinking that the only way to drive greater profitability is to cut costs. While managing expenses is certainly a factor, company culture is one of the greatest drivers of profitability.  In this episode, I explain how your RIA's culture could be the key to an eight-figure exit. I also look at some of the signs of a toxic company culture. Likewise, I'll discuss the importance of identifying the culture a buyer will want, and provide tips for changing a culture from the inside out.   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast: ●        (1:40) Defining Company Culture & its Impact on Your RIA ●        (3:17) Culture in the Advisory Space ●        (4:04) Firm Culture & What You Can Learn From Your Employees ●        (6:55) Why Type of Culture Would the Buyer Want? ●        (8:01) Culture Drives Profitability & Other Benefits ●        (11:16) The Impact of Employee Recognition ●        (11:50) Determining What Your Company Culture Is ●        (1

As a financial advisor, does it ever feel like you're trudging through mud? You work, and push, and drive to try to reach your goals but no matter what you do, you just end up exhausted and frustrated at your results. If this is you, strategic planning might be the key to start seeing real movement in your RIA. In this episode, I explore strategic planning in the RIA space. I discuss some interesting statistics surrounding planning and breakdown how you can predictably plan to reach your eight-figure exit. The strategic planning principles I cover can be applied to all industries, however. So don't miss this episode!   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:  (0:25) The Recurring Question I Get from Financial Advisors (2:15) An Introduction to Strategic Planning in the RIA Space (3:43) Why "Shooting from the Hip" Doesn't Work (5:35) 8 Stages of Strategic Planning (14:16) The Problem with Strategic Planning (16:31) Grandiose Ideas (17:59) How to Approach Your Strategic Plans   Our Favori

Technology has come a long way in a very short time. With all of the advancements, financial advisors have access to tools that can help drive operational efficiency, improved client experience, and many other desirable outcomes. Unfortunately, many of us are still thinking about tech the wrong way, and failing to use it to its full potential.   In this episode, I take a look at technology in each of the eight key areas of business. I'll also provide some insights into how you could strategically implement technology in your business to drive it toward the eight-figure exit. Regardless of the industry your business is in, you don't want to miss this episode!   This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:    (0:03) Tangible benefits of embracing technology (3:34) Evaluating your current tech stack (6:36) Technology in 8 Key Areas (7:25) Using Technology in Your Business Planning (8:44) Using Technology in Your Business Leadership (10:41) Using Technology in Your Sales Department (11:26) Using T