Financial advisors often engage with a variety of prospects, each with unique needs and motivations. Some prospects approach an advisor with an immediate ‘problem to be solved’, such as a fast-approaching retirement date. These situations often narrow the focus of the prospecting conversation, giving the advisor a clear opportunity to affirm their value (e.g., “I […]
#FASuccess Ep 421: Integrating Tax Preparation Without Hiring In-House CPAs To Bring More Tax-Focused Value, With Daniel Friedman
Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 421st episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast! My guest on today’s podcast is Daniel Friedman. Daniel is the CEO of WMGNA, a hybrid advisory firm based in Farmington, Connecticut, that oversees approximately $270 million in assets under management for 200 client households. What’s unique about Daniel, though, is how […]
22 Top Financial Advisor Podcasts To Listen To In 2025
There is no shortage of written content available for financial advisors to enhance their technical skills, grow in their careers, and run more successful planning practices, from books to research studies to long-form written content. Of course, given the demands of their busy schedules , finding time to dig into this content can be a […]
Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (January 18–19)
Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that at a time when brokerage firms’ cash sweep programs come under increased scrutiny (and as the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates), Charles Schwab (the largest RIA custodian) continues to slash sweep rates for client […]
Social Security Fairness Act: Planning Considerations For The Repeal Of The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) And Government Pension Offset (GPO)
For most people, Social Security benefits are calculated using a single formula, which takes into account the individual’s history of earning income on which they paid Social Security tax. But historically, a subset of workers that spent at least part of their careers in positions that did not pay Social Security tax – including many […]
#FASuccess Ep 420: Making Financial Planning More Repeatable Without Losing The Customization Where Clients Prioritize What Matters Most, With Michelle Underwood Gass
Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 420th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast! My guest on today’s podcast is Michelle Underwood Gass. Michelle is the Founding Principal of Paradigm Advisors, an RIA based in Dallas, Texas, that oversees approximately $110 million in assets under management for 80 client households. What’s unique about Michelle, though, is […]
Rebuilding The Kitces Members Section And The State Of The (Nerd’s Eye View) Blog
With another strong year in the markets, most advisory firms are near or at record highs for their revenue, their numbers of clients, and the headcounts of their teams. Which is surprising to some, given that a decade ago, the emergence of so-called “robo-advisors” was supposed to displace human financial advisors and compress advisory fees. […]
Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (January 11–12)
Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that the “Social Security Fairness Act” was signed into law this week, eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provisions, which previously reduced the Social Security benefits of individuals who worked […]
Kitces & Carl Ep 155: How Do You Know You Are Adding Value Versus Just Trying To Justify Your Fees?
While financial advisors offer valuable services for their clients, it can sometimes be challenging to gauge how much clients actually value those services. On one hand, a client’s willingness to pay an ongoing fee for financial advice suggests that they find the advisor’s services worthwhile. On the other hand, the term “financial advice” often refers […]
How Employer Roth Contributions To Solo 401(k) Plans Reduce The QBI Deduction (And Increase Taxes) For Self-Employed Workers
Solo 401(k) plans are a popular retirement savings vehicle for self-employed business owners. One of their key features is the ability to make contributions both as an “employee” of the business and as the “employer”, i.e., the business itself. By maximizing both the employee employer contributions, solo 401(k) plan owners can often save significantly more […]