Heart of Advice Podcast, Presented by eMoney

Marcel V. Quiroga, CEO of TQM Wealth Partners, is a trailblazer with a personal, purpose-driven approach to financial planning. Marcel's journey as a single mother, daughter of immigrants, and woman navigating a male-dominated industry, highlights her philosophy of authenticity and inclusion. Her focus on empathy, connection, and actionable steps challenges traditional norms, encouraging financial professionals to move beyond transactional advising toward enhancing clients' overall quality of life. In this episode of the Heart of Advice Podcast, Marcel explains how her leadership style, shaped by her experiences overcoming cultural and systemic barriers, prioritizes empathy, listening, and creating opportunities for others. Marcel stresses that financial advising is not just about numbers but about empowering clients, fostering trust, and aligning financial strategies with values, healing, and dignity. Her mantra "If you don’t have a seat at the table, build your own," symbolizes her belief in breaking barriers and creating inclusive opportunities for representation within the finance industry.

Carl Richards started The Sketch Guy column in The New York Times from the hills of Utah, crafting clear, relatable insights about money with just card stock and a Sharpie. Since then, Carl has become a Certified Financial Planner™, built and sold a successful investment firm, and spoken at financial and investment events worldwide. His bestsellers, The Behavior Gap and The One-Page Financial Plan, have been translated into over ten languages and continue to resonate globally. Through his daily podcast, Behavior Gap Radio, which now has over 1,000 episodes and more than one million downloads, Carl shares new perspectives on aligning our resources with what truly matters. Carl also founded The Society of Advice, a community of financial planners dedicated to the craft of advice. His latest audio project, 50 Fires, backed by executive producers Chip and Joanna Gaines, explores the intersections of money and meaning with guests like Pete Holmes, David Whyte, Krista Tippett, and his favorite guest by far, his wife, Cori. Learn more about Carl’s work and background here. In this episode, Carl leads an exploration of the intersection of money, identity, and self-actualization. By delving into the psychology behind how people define themselves, he explains how professionals and clients can adopt intentional “forcing functions” to align their behaviors with their aspirations. From investing with purpose to navigating misaligned, aspirational regret, Carl provides practical and philosophical wisdom on becoming the person you strive to be—both for your clients and yourself. He also shares ideas about his new book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth Through Simple Sketches.

Brendan Frazier serves as Chief Behavioral Officer at RFG Advisory, where he leads the integration of behavioral finance into advisor-client relationships. He is also the creator and host of The Human Side of Money Podcast, a bi‑weekly series offering actionable strategies for advisors seeking to deepen trust, improve communication, and guide clients through emotionally charged financial decisions. In this episode, Brendan delves into the intersection of personal connection, emotional intelligence, and professional success, with a special focus on the financial advisory world. Through meaningful conversations, Brendan explores the art of building trust and fostering authentic relationships by guiding guests to speak from the heart. Reflecting on his experiences and consulting with thousands of financial professionals, he discusses how working effectively in the planner's role can feel closer to therapy than number-crunching.

Patti Brennan, CFP®, CFS, CEO of Key Financial Inc., has carved a remarkable path from her early career as a nurse to becoming a leader in the world of wealth management. Through her inspiring story, Patti demonstrates how her compassion-driven approach, honed during her nursing days, has profoundly shaped her financial planning firm. As a mother of four, she balanced building her business with raising a family, offering valuable insights into navigating work-life challenges faced by working moms. Her firm is known for its client-focused strategies, blending personalization, transparency, and technology to deliver tailored solutions that truly resonate with each individual. Patti’s philosophy rests on treating clients holistically, understanding not only their financial goals but also their emotional concerns—a perspective forged by her early experiences in healthcare. As the head of Key Financial Inc., Patti has embraced innovation to scale her services while maintaining the human touch. Above all, she believes the heart of great advice is addressing the deeper, often emotional concerns at the center of a client's life. This episode kicks off eMoney's 25th anniversary celebration, learn more here: https://emoneyadvisor.com/celebrate-25

What drives the next generation of financial planners? How can you help them succeed in your firm? Those are some of the topics we’re exploring in this episode of the Heart of Advice podcast with our guest, Hannah Moore, CFP®, CeFT®. As the founder of Amplified Planning, a financial planning training and education program, and head of The Externship, she brings her perspective on the next generation of financial planners, what they’re looking for, and what firms can do to shorten the learning curve and get new planners up to speed.

In this Heart of Advice Podcast episode, we explore the transformative impact that financial planning can have on clients’ lives, and how the future of financial planning is happening today. Our guest, Erin Voisin, CFP®, Managing Director of Wealth Management Services at EP Wealth, shares her experience getting into the financial planning profession, as well as all the different ways she’s elevating those around her. She delves into how she approaches connecting with and training the next generation of financial planners, including ways in which she’s advocating for women in this profession. This episode dives into the true value of financial planning, how it’s changing, and what others can do to promote a brighter future. Learn more about expanding the impact of financial planning here: https://emoneyadvisor.com/resources/ebooks/the-new-value-proposition-for-advisors/

How can you help clients find the right balance of saving for the future while enjoying their hard-earned wealth now? That’s the topic we’re diving into with our guest Eric Roberge, CFP®, the CEO of Beyond Your Hammock. In this episode, we explore the unique challenges and opportunities in serving high-net-worth clients during their peak earning years. Eric emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach that combines financial planning technology with emotional intelligence. With AI-enabled tools, savvy marketing strategy, and continuous learning at major conferences, his team is setting the bar high. Financial planning professionals looking to scale and modernize the client experience will find Eric's insights invaluable. Learn more about strategies to create a modern client experience here: https://emoneyadvisor.com/the-new-value-proposition-for-advisors-tips

Have you ever thought about what it would take to make your financial planning practice more inclusive? LGBTQ+ people are diverse, and their goals reflect a need for individualized solutions. Nearly 63 percent of people in the LGBTQ+ community feel most advisors don’t understand their financial challenges, and 48 percent of LGBTQ+ Americans have experienced discrimination by someone in the financial services industry. In episode 4 of the Heart of Advice Podcast, we chat with LGBTQ+ financial planner Jake Nuno, MS, CFP®, EA, about what makes LGBTQ financial planning different, what planners need to know to serve clients better, and what resources are available to make financial planning more inclusive. Explore more ways to make your financial planning practice more inclusive here: https://emoneyadvisor.com/candid-conversations-lgbtq-tips

Have you ever served a couple who couldn’t see eye to eye on financial decisions? In episode 2 of the Heart of Advice Podcast, we dive deep into keeping couples in financial alignment in your planning practice. Joining us are two guests with tips to help you navigate challenging conversations. First, we’ll hear from Sonya Lutter, Ph.D., CFP®, LMFT, Director of Financial Health and Wellness and Masters programs at Texas Tech University. She shares insights from her research, her training as a therapist, as well as a values exercise from her book, A Couples Guide to Love & Money. We’ll also learn from Michael Kothakota, Ph.D., CFP®, CEO of WolfBridge Wealth and a lecturer at Columbia University. He’ll share the knowledge he’s gained from creating financial plans for people going through a divorce, incorporating nonviolent communication, and using financial planning technology to help people talk about money. Learn more about strategies to use with couples here: https://emoneyadvisor.com/candid-conversations-tips