Tag Archives: Branding

The Financial Advisor’s Long Game with Brad Johnson (Ep. 90)

Advisor, Business, Coaching, Consulting, Education, Finance, Financial, Financial Advisor, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What will separate the advisors who thrive over the next decade from those who get left behind?

Join Duncan as he sits down with Brad Johnson, co-founder of Triad Partners and host of the Do Business. Do Life. podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation on what it truly takes to build a sustainable, future-ready advisory business. Together, they explore how innovation, long-term thinking, and human-centered planning are redefining success in financial services. As demographic shifts accelerate and complexity increases for both advisors and clients, Brad shares insights on why advisors must evolve beyond portfolio management and toward holistic planning that balances growth, protection, income, and purpose.

The conversation also dives into the importance of resilience, perspective, and values, drawing on lessons from entrepreneurship, market cycles, and life itself. Brad outlines why the next decade may be the greatest opportunity Financial Advisors have ever seen, provided they embrace process, patience, and genuine service.

Key highlights include:

  • Why true financial planning goes far beyond portfolios and products
  • The impact of demographic shifts and the “silver tsunami” on advisory opportunities
  • How income planning and distribution strategies are often the missing link for retirees
  • The role of alternative assets, personal interests, and non-traditional wealth in modern planning
  • Building a business that serves life, not one that sacrifices it

Tune in for a thoughtful, practical discussion on becoming a trusted, long-term partner to clients while building a business, and a life, that endures through every season.

Promotions:


Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect With Brad Johnson:

About Our Guest:

Brad Johnson is co-founder of Triad Partners and the host of the transformative “Do Business. Do Life.” podcast. Embodying a humble upbringing in rural Minneapolis, KS, on a farm alongside his parents and brother, Brad’s roots instilled unwavering values of hard work and treating others with respect.

With a profound belief in the power of the “and” approach to life and business, Brad has revolutionized the financial advisory landscape. At Triad Partners, he forges an intimate and carefully curated community, redefining partnerships. Guided by his enduring principles, Brad empowers advisors to embrace growth, freedom, and joy in their professional and personal lives.

Prior to founding Triad, Brad was a Vice President of Advisor Development for over 13 years at Advisors Excel, one of the country’s largest Field Marketing Organizations.  In that role, Brad coached a group of independent advisors who gather more than $1 billion of assets annually. Before joining Advisors Excel to work closely with advisors, Brad was an analyst at Payless Shoe Source for three years.

Brad received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Emporia State University, where he played football. Brad currently lives in Silver Lake, Kansas with his wife, Sarah, and their three children.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

How to Win Liquidity Events with Roger Silk (Ep. 89)

Advisor, Business, Coaching, Consulting, Education, Finance, Financial, Financial Advisor, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What if your client could sell a highly appreciated asset without triggering capital gains tax? And what if you were the advisor who made that possible?

In this episode of the “Always On Podcast,” host Duncan McPherson sits down with Roger Silk, the CEO and co-founder of Sterling Foundation Management. They discuss the evolving role of financial advisors and the increasingly complex needs of high-net-worth clients. As financial landscapes shift, advisors must adapt to new challenges and opportunities, particularly when it comes to managing significant liquidity events.

Roger Silk shares his expertise on asset diversification trusts, a powerful tool that allows clients to sell appreciated assets without incurring capital gains tax. This episode highlights the importance of proactive planning and the strategic value of long-term partnerships between financial advisors and their clients.

Key highlights include:

  • The role of asset diversification trusts in tax-efficient asset management.
  • The necessity of early planning for liquidity events to maximize client benefits.
  • Strategies for financial advisors to strengthen client relationships through collaboration.
  • Insights into leveraging philanthropic solutions for wealth preservation and growth.

Tune in and discover the insights needed to become trusted partners in their clients’ financial journeys, ensuring both immediate and long-term success.

Promotions:

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect With Roger Silk, Ph.D.:

About Our Guest:

Roger D. Silk, Ph.D. , is the CEO of Sterling Foundation Management, LLC and President of Lifetime Perspectives, Inc. Dr. Silk is widely recognized as a leading expert and innovator in the emerging field at the intersection of finance and philanthropy.

Dr. Silk has more than three decades of experience working with and advising wealthy clients, high net worth families, and the advisors who work with them on a variety of issues ranging from the use of private foundations to the integration of sophisticated charitable planning into multi-generational estate plans. He has worked with numerous investment, accounting, financial planning, and legal professionals to educate them, their firms, and their clients about the benefits and characteristics of a full suite of solutions, entities and planning tools.

Dr. Silk is the author of several books, including The Investor’s Dilemma Decoded (Wiley, 2024), Managing Foundations and Charitable Trusts (Bloomberg Press, 2011), Creating a Private Foundation (Bloomberg Press, 2003), and Politicians Spend, We Pay (Sterling Lifetime Press, 2022). He has published dozens of articles that have appeared in periodicals such as Estate Planning, Philanthropy, the Journal of Financial Planning and Trusts & Estates. He has spoken to audiences around the country on the types and uses of charitable entities, and he frequently conducts educational seminars for financial professionals focusing on integrating the full suite of charitable entities into the financial planning process.

Prior to co-founding Sterling, Dr. Silk was a Treasury officer at the World Bank, where he was responsible for a multi-billion-dollar repo portfolio.

Dr. Silk holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Applied Economics from Stanford University, as well as a B.A. in Economics (with distinction). He earned his CFA in 1990.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Moving Upstream: Scaling Up Your Business with Robert Montella (Ep. 86)

Advisor, Business, Coaching, Consulting, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Join host Duncan MacPherson and his guest Rob Montella of First Trust as they discuss moving upstream in client engagement, emphasizing the need to understand client needs and enhance services through advisory councils. Rob shares insights from his time at Goldman Sachs and First Trust, highlighting the importance of adapting strategies for high-net-worth clients.

Rob introduces “higher and fire” criteria, explaining how advisors can differentiate themselves with specialized services. The conversation also covers AI’s role in refining advisory approaches to better serve clients.

They also focus on legacy planning and engaging the next generation. Rob stresses the importance of documenting legacy wishes and adapting services based on client feedback.

Key Points:

  • Moving upstream in client engagement.
  • Enhancing services through advisory councils.
  • Differentiation with specialized services.
  • AI’s role in refining advisory approaches.
  • Legacy planning and multi-generational wealth management.

Tune in to discover how to elevate your advisory practice, leverage AI, and create lasting client relationships. This conversation is packed with insights that will inspire you to take your financial advising to the next level!

Resources Mentioned: Pareto Systems AI Whitepaper: paretosystems.com/ai-strategies-for-financial-professionals

Promotions:

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect With Robert Montella:

About Our Guest:

Rob Montella is a Vice President and Performance Coach at First Trust. For nearly 30 years, he has assisted financial professionals, business leaders, and institutions in maximizing efficiency and business growth. Rob’s objective for every client relationship is to become so essential to their success that he becomes their “first call” for anything related to the “business of running the business.” While any topic of conversation is within scope, Rob specializes in:

  • Developing emotional intelligence
  • Attracting, serving, and retaining wealthier clients
  • Acquiring, developing and retaining top talent
  • Personal and business branding
  • Behavioral Finance

Rob spent 15 years at Goldman Sachs as a Senior Strategist in their global consulting business, where he has captured and documented the practices of the elite around the world. His groundbreaking work in emotional intelligence in the financial services industry was featured in the book Educating People to be Emotionally Intelligent.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

AI-Powered Leadership for Financial Advisors: Habits, Culture, and Workflows (Ep. 83)

Advisor, Business, Coaching, Consulting, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In this Always On episode, Duncan MacPherson and Chris Jeppesen, Chief of Advisory Practices at First Trust, cut through the noise to show how modern financial advisory leadership blends clear operating rhythm, role clarity, and intentional culture, with AI as a practical tool to compress research, sharpen meeting prep, and turn ideas from books like Good to Great, Traction, and Atomic Habits into daily workflows that scale client loyalty and growth.

Key takeaways:

  • Establish a simple weekly leadership cadence to align priorities and decisions.
  • Define roles by outcomes, handoffs, and KPIs so accountability is unambiguous.
  • Segment service to set expectations, elevate experience, and protect capacity.
  • Use AI to prep agendas, summarize meetings, and automate follow-ups inside your CRM.

Resources:

Promotions:

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect With Chris:

About Our Guest:

Chris Jeppesen is the head of advisory practices at First Trust, a firm known not only for its robust investment product line which includes UITs, ETFs, SMAs, and VAs (to name a few) but also for its commitment to the growth of financial advisors. First Trust has dedicated many years to finding (and investing in) creative ways to help financial advisors grow their practices. Chris’ goal over the last 18 years has been to give financial advisors the tools to develop an efficient business model focused on building long-term client trust and loyalty. Chris is also the co-author of The Advisor Playbook and The Blue Square Method.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Scaling Smart: Process, People and the Promise of AI with Kevin Bishopp (Ep. 81)

Advisor, Business, Coaching, Consulting, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Join Duncan MacPherson as he reconnects with Kevin Bishopp, Vice President at First Trust, to explore the four key stages in an advisor’s business evolution: growing, teaming, scaling, and exiting. They unpack how AI is reshaping productivity, client experience, and enterprise value, and why execution and process are the real differentiators for future-ready professionals.

Highlights:

  • How AI boosts capacity, consistency, and client impact
  • The importance of process in scaling and succession
  • Why focusing on your niche builds referability
  • Practical steps to make your business sale-ready

Whether you’re just getting started or thinking about your eventual exit, this conversation offers powerful insights to help you stay intentional and future-ready. Tune in to learn how to harness AI, refine your process, and build enterprise value at every stage of your business evolution.

Resources:

Promotions:

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect With Kevin Bishopp:

About Our Guest:

Kevin Bishopp is a Vice President and Performance Coach for the Advisor Consulting Group at First Trust. His focus is the best practices and mission-critical strategies that propel professionals/firms to be truly unique within the industry. His insights into key metrics, resource allocation, team structure, marketing and client acquisition equip professionals/firms to make high-quality strategic decisions that can generate dynamic results. Prior to joining First Trust, Kevin spent 12 years with Russell Investments, where he held positions as Director of Practice Management, RIA Channel Head and Business Development Director. In those roles, he focused on coaching, content creation, sales management, national account management, and business development. Before joining Russell Investments, Kevin spent 5 years as a wealth manager for The Bishopp Group LLC, a family-owned wealth management practice. In 1994, he started his career in financial services as an associate for Principal Financial Group. Kevin holds an MBA from the Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and a BA in Finance from Eastern Washington University.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Levelling Up Your Business with Chris Garcia (Ep. 80)

Advisor, Business, Coaching, Consulting, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How do you build a business that grows without losing its soul?

Find out as Duncan MacPherson sits down with Chris Garcia, Private Wealth Advisor and CEO of The Azimont Group, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC.

Chris shares how he evolved from a solo advisor into a multi-advisor enterprise by focusing on process, stewardship, and a powerful brand narrative. With a team of 20 and growing, Chris has built a scalable, referable, and succession-ready business, by design.

In this episode, they explore:

  • Why process is your best defense against commoditization
  • The importance of articulating your professional contrast
  • How to create a brand that clients and advisors want to be part of
  • The difference between living your legacy and leaving one
  • How to scale without sacrificing the client experience

Whether you’re building a team, refining your process, or thinking about enterprise value, this episode is packed with insights you can act on right away.

Resources Mentioned:

Promotions:

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect with Chris Garcia

About Our Guest:

Leveraging a strong foundation in financial study and years of planning experience, Chris Garcia is dedicated to guiding clients on their path to financial independence, turning lifelong dreams into tangible, actionable accomplishments.

A graduate of Texas State University with a degree in Finance, Chris quickly discovered his calling in helping individuals build confidence in their financial futures. Through thoughtful planning and a client-first approach, he empowers people to move forward with clarity and purpose. With a team of professionals and a comprehensive process in place, Chris enables his clients to focus on what matters most, without being distracted by what’s outside of their control.

For important information on how Chris can interact with you on social media, please visit: www.ameriprise.com/social

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Scalable by Design: Lessons in Intentional Growth with Jimmy Lee (Ep. 79)

Advisor, Business, Coaching, Consulting, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Explore the intersection of leadership, scalability, and client impact through Duncan MacPherson’s compelling conversation with Jimmy Lee, Founder and CEO of The Wealth Consulting Group, and an advisor who operates at both the strategic and client-facing levels of his firm.

Together, they unpack what it takes to build a business that is both transferable and transcendent.

Key takeaways include:

  • The advantages of having both a C-suite and client-facing perspective
  • Why being sale-ready is about structure, not timing
  • How to lead with values while still pursuing growth
  • The difference between running a business for clients and with clients
  • Reflections on intentional leadership, culture, and the long game of legacy

This conversation offers a rare look into how high-performing advisors align their business models with long-term outcomes, without sacrificing the human side of the profession.

Resources Mentioned:

Promotions:

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect with Jimmy Lee

About Our Guest:

Jimmy Lee is the founder and CEO of The Wealth Consulting Group (WCG).   WCG is a hybrid RIA consisting of 43 branch locations and 123 advisors affiliated with the firm with over $8.5 billion in assets under advisement as of 5/31/25.

WCG’s purpose is “Making Life Better” with a mission of helping financial advisors spend 80% of their time in their genius.  The company’s vision is to help 100,000+ lives with an effortless one stop wealth management experience.  WCG is an award winning firm being named as a leader by USA Today, Newsweek, Financial Advisor Magazine, Citywire, Investment News, etc.

Jimmy is a fixture in the tier one financial media as a regular on networks such as CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg, Reuters, BBC News, BNN Bloomberg, etc.  He has also been profiled in the Wall Street Journal, quoted by many financial publications, is a regular contributor for Kiplinger, and a Best In State financial advisor by Forbes.  He resides in Las Vegas.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Engineering a Sale-Ready Business: The Playbook behind Boyce & Associates’ Success with Eric Boyce and Kelly Griggs (Ep.78)

Advisor, Business, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What if your business could grow, evolve, and even be sold… without being dependent on you?

That’s exactly what Eric Boyce and Kelly Griggs of Boyce & Associates Wealth Consulting are building. In this episode, they unpack how they’ve methodically engineered their business for scalability and succession, turning ideas from The Blue Square Method into real-world results.

They’ve gone beyond client service, they’ve built a client experience that’s proprietary, repeatable, and deeply embedded into their culture.

Here’s what we covered:

  • How they transformed best intentions into a living, breathing playbook
  • The steps they took to professionalize their onboarding and service workflows
  • Why process, not personality, is their greatest asset
  • How the P3 Approach (Protect, Plan, Prosper) underpins their entire client journey
  • What advisors can learn about creating transferable value and long-term continuity

If you’re working toward building enterprise value, or just looking to elevate your structure, this episode will give you a clear look at what that progression can look like.

Resources Mentioned:

  • The Blue Square Method: www.paretosystems.com/#the-blue-square-method

Promotions:

  • Pareto Systems Coaching for Financial Advisors: www.paretosystems.com

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect with Eric Boyce and Kelly Griggs of Boyce & Associates Wealth Consulting:

About Our Guests

Eric Boyce is the Founder, President and CEO of Boyce & Associates Wealth Consulting, Inc. and Boyce & Associates Business Valuations, LLC. Eric has worked in finance, treasury management, investment research, and portfolio management since 1991 and has served in various leadership capacities during his 30+ year professional career.

Eric earned his B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and his M.S. in Finance from the University of Texas at Dallas. Eric earned his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute and previously completed the Non-Qualified Plan Adviser (NQPA) program sponsored by the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA). He also earned the designations of Chartered Investment Counselor (CIC) and Certified Cash Manager (CCM). He is an active member and past President of the CFA Society of Austin. He is a member of the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA), the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), and the Society of Financial Service Professionals (FSP).

Eric is also very active in his community. He currently serves on the City Council for the City of Cedar Park (TX), having previously served as President of the Cedar Park Economic Development Corporation and as Chairman of the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission. Eric is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. He also serves as a senior member of the joint Investment Committee for the Ascension Seton Hospital and Dell Children’s Medical Center Endowment Funds and previously as Treasurer and Investment Committee Chair for the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Austin.

Eric has been married for 32 years to Joanne, and they have two adult children.

Kelly Griggs serves as the Vice President of Financial Planning for Boyce & Associates Wealth Consulting.

As a Financial Advisor, she holds multiple advanced licenses including Wealth Management Specialist and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor.

She is especially energized by guiding women on how to plan a secure retirement and truly own their financial footing in life.

Kelly is also the Founder and President of Networking BossBabes, a 501c3 nonprofit for women business owners in the Austin area.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

In this episode of the Always On Podcast, Duncan MacPherson sits down with Whit Lanier, CEO and Co-founder of Amplify Reviews

The Power of Reviews: Unlocking Advocacy and Compliance with Whit Lanier (Ep. 77)

Advisor, Business, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode of the Always On Podcast, Duncan MacPherson sits down with Whit Lanier, CEO and Co-founder of Amplify Reviews, to unpack the growing role of client testimonials in financial services. As trust continues to shift online, reviews have become more than just social proof, they’re a scalable strategy for activating advocacy, attracting ideal clients, and staying compliant.

They discuss how financial professionals can build a review process that’s automated, compliant, and genuinely impactful. Whether you’re just beginning to explore online reviews or looking to refine your current strategy, this episode provides a practical playbook.

Topics covered include:

  • How online reviews act as “referral rehearsals” and support client advocacy
  • The role of testimonials in building professional contrast and client trust
  • What advisors need to know about SEC rules and compliance-friendly language
  • Why reviews are one of the most powerful authority signals for SEO
  • Ways to integrate review requests into onboarding and review meetings
  • The difference between one-off campaigns and long-term, automated strategies

Resources:

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect with Whit Lanier:

About Our Guest

Whit Lanier is the CEO and co-founder of Amplify Reviews – a platform focused on helping financial advisors embrace online reviews on their own terms.

A serial entrepreneur, Whit’s previous start-up was the leading healthcare technology vendor for enabling hospitals to publish verified patient ratings and reviews. That company was acquired at the end of 2014, and by 2021 the platform had processed over 60 million patient reviews for 400 of the country’s largest health systems.

Whit’s career spans management consulting, marketing, product marketing, product management, and executive/general management roles. Whit holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Outside of Amplify Reviews, Whit plays bass guitar in a local Atlanta rock and roll band (Penny Western) and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is married with three daughters and a mini-goldendoodle

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Volatility, Value, and Vision: How Leading Financial Advisors Are Winning in Changing Times (Ep. 76)

Advisor, Business, Education, Finance, Financial, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode of Always On, Duncan MacPherson welcomes back Chris Jeppesen, Chief of Advisory Practices at First Trust, for a timely conversation rooted in real-world field experience. As volatility continues to test the industry, the best financial advisors aren’t retreating, they’re leaning in. Duncan and Chris unpack how the most effective teams are embracing this environment as a catalyst for deeper relationships, elevated leadership, and long-term enterprise value.

They explore the mindset and tactical shifts that top performers are making, from transitioning toward advice-centric models and AI adoption, to scaling their practices without diluting the client experience. The conversation also addresses the advisor’s personal evolution, with insights on leadership, strategic planning, and legacy-building.

Key takeaways include:

  • How to “value stack” with proactive communication, personalized planning, and future-focused conversations
  • What advisors must do now to stay ahead of shifting client expectations and emerging competition
  • Why AI isn’t optional, and how to use it to develop IP, scale client acquisition, and enhance team efficiency
  • Leadership, delegation, and building a business that creates both freedom and fulfillment

Resources:

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

Connect With Chris:

About Our Guests:

Chris Jeppesen is the head of advisory practices at First Trust, a firm known not only for its robust investment product line which includes UITs, ETFs, SMAs, and VAs (to name a few) but also for its commitment to the growth of financial advisors. First Trust has dedicated many years to finding (and investing in) creative ways to help financial advisors grow their practices. Chris’ goal over the last 18 years has been to give financial advisors the tools to develop an efficient business model focused on building long-term client trust and loyalty. Chris is also the co-author of The Advisor Playbook and The Blue Square Method.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More