The Efficient Advisor: Tactical Business Advice for Financial Planners

What does it actually look like to build a fast-growing advisory firm without sacrificing the depth of your client relationships? In this episode, I’m sitting down with financial advisor Emily Rassam to take a behind-the-scenes look at the client experience, workflows, and team structure she’s used to build a thriving practice serving approximately 270 families. We dig into how behavioral finance shapes everything from prospect conversations to financial plans, why every meeting in her ...

If you think AI in your advisory practice means meeting notes, follow-up emails, and asking ChatGPT to write something for you, we need to talk. Because what AI can do inside of an advisory practice has changed dramatically—and I think most of us are still thinking way too small. AI for financial advisors has moved far beyond note-taking, meeting summaries, and drafting follow-up emails. In this episode, I’m joined by Gabe to explore the next evolution: agentic AI and what it looks like when ...

In this episode, we're talking about something that might feel a little uncomfortable for advisors who love spreadsheets, checklists, and action plans—but it may be one of the most important conversations you'll have all year. Libby sits down with author, speaker, and former financial advisor Ellen Rogin to explore what abundance really looks like inside an advisory practice. From the way you think about money to the energy you bring into client meetings, Ellen shares how shifting from scarci...

One of the hardest conversations many financial advisors avoid isn't about investments or markets—it's about their own fees. If you've ever looked at your client list and realized your fee schedule has evolved over the years into something inconsistent, you're not alone. In this very candid conversation, Libby sits down with advisor Todd Lester to discuss how he tackled a firm-wide fee increase after more than 30 years in the business. Todd shares the mindset shifts, compliance consider...

You built the process... so why aren't you (or your team) following it? This episode is all about the difference between creating great processes and actually getting your team to follow them. While most advisors spend time documenting workflows, the real challenge is building habits that stick when business gets busy. Libby shares practical strategies for turning systems into your firm's default way of operating, helping advisors reduce mistakes, create consistency, and build a busines...

If you've ever wondered whether Systems to Scale Group Coaching is the right next step for your business, this episode is for you. Libby pulls back the curtain on exactly who the program is designed for, who should wait, and why so many successful advisors eventually realize they don't have a revenue problem—they have a capacity problem. You'll hear the philosophy behind the program, what transformation advisors can expect over the 10-month coaching experience, and answers to many of the most...

One of the biggest mistakes I see growing advisory firms make is waiting too long to define roles and responsibilities. When your team is small, it's easy for everyone to pitch in wherever needed. But as your firm grows, those blurry lines quickly turn into confusion, duplicated work, bottlenecks, and frustration. In this episode, I share one of the exercises we teach inside our Systems to Scale Group Coaching Program that helps advisors create clear job roles before they become a problem.&nb...

If you've ever wondered whether a three-day workweek is actually possible as a financial advisor, this episode is your practical roadmap. In Part 2 of this series, I move beyond the story of how I built my business and dive into exactly what it takes to intentionally reduce your schedule without sacrificing client experience or business growth. From annual planning rhythms to delegation, systems, and CEO thinking, I break down the step-by-step framework I would follow if I were building towar...

If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to build a successful advisory firm while working fewer hours, this episode pulls back the curtain. After receiving more than 80 questions from advisors, I'm sharing the honest story behind my three-day workweek. From the systems and team structure that made it possible to the mistakes, trade-offs, and mindset shifts along the way, this is the first of a two-part series that dives into exactly how I redesigned my business to support the life I wa...

This week, I'm joined once again by Adam Holt, founder of Asset-Map, for a conversation every advisor needs to hear. We dive into one of the biggest challenges facing advisory firms today: technology adoption. It's easy to get excited about a new tool, but it's much harder to fully integrate it into your business and unlock its true value. We talk about why so many advisors end up underutilizing the software they already own, how successful firms approach implementation differently, and what ...

As advisors, we spend a lot of time working in the business—but not nearly enough time working on the business. In this episode, Libby pulls back the curtain on the exact quarterly CEO Day framework she recently led for her Systems to Scale alumni community. With Q2 coming to a close, she shares how to create the space for strategic thinking, avoid turning your CEO time into a glorified catch-up day, and walk away with a clear plan for the next 90 days. Whether you're a solo advisor or ...

What if you could get back 100 to 200+ hours a year without sacrificing the quality of your investment management? In this episode, Libby sits down with Darol Ryan, Managing Partner of Main Management, to discuss one of the biggest hidden time drains in many advisory firms: portfolio management. From researching investments and preparing for review meetings to managing custom portfolios and rebalancing accounts, advisors often spend countless hours on work that may no longer be the highest an...

Efficiency is one of the most common goals financial advisors share, but very few can actually define what it means—or measure it. In this episode, Libby challenges the traditional metrics advisors often use to gauge success and introduces four simple KPIs that provide a much clearer picture of productivity, efficiency, and scalability. If you've ever wondered whether you're truly building a business that gives you more freedom, more impact, and better results without simply working longer ho...