Ep 449: Growing To $2B AUM Organically By Setting High Client Service Standards with Michelle Perry Higgins
Release Date: 08/05/2025
Ep 453: Improving Efficiency By Turning Client Meetings Into Working Sessions So There Is Less Follow-Up To Manage with Becky Walsh
Financial Advisor Success
Delivering financial planning efficiently doesn’t have to mean compromising on depth or personalization. This episode explores how a “working session” model can streamline the client experience, reduce prep and follow-up time, and still create space for thoughtful, relationship-driven planning. Becky Walsh is the founder of Oak Maple Finance, an RIA based in Burlington, Vermont, that oversees approximately $80 million in AUM for 75 client households. Listen in as Becky shares how she structures her onboarding into a six-month planning sprint with four real-time working sessions,...
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Ep 452: From $200M To $1.4B In 5 Years By Spending 15% Of Revenue On Marketing (That Still Works) with Gabriel Shahin
Financial Advisor Success
Scaling an advisory firm quickly requires more than just marketing - it demands intentional infrastructure, rapid lead conversion systems, and a team built for volume. This episode explores how investing heavily in digital marketing, building internal efficiencies, and empowering advisors can drive explosive growth without sacrificing client service. Gabriel Shahin is the CEO of Falcon Wealth Planning, an RIA based in Ontario, California, that oversees $1.4 billion in AUM for 1,500 households. Listen in as Gabriel shares how his firm grew from $200 million to $1.4 billion in just five years by...
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Ep 451: Evolving Your Leadership Style And Hiring Process As The Firm Grows From 1 To 20 Team Members with Maggie Kulyk
Financial Advisor Success
Running a successful advisory firm takes more than great client service - it also means learning how to lead a team and build infrastructure to support growth. This episode explores how developing leadership skills, hiring intentionally, and leaning into personal values can lay the foundation for a thriving, mission-driven business. Maggie Kulyk is the founder of Chicory Wealth, an RIA based in Decatur, Georgia, that operates virtually and oversees $760 million in AUM for 480 households. Listen in as Maggie shares how she grew from a self-described “terrible” manager into a visionary...
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Ep 450: Adding $80M To Your Practice In 7 Years By Providing Financial Education Through Local Seminars with Ryan Morrissey
Financial Advisor Success
High-net-worth retirees are hungry for clear, actionable retirement education - but often don’t know where to find it. This episode explores how hosting local educational seminars can create a consistent pipeline of engaged prospects and drive meaningful business growth for financial advisors. Ryan Morrissey is the founder of Morrissey Wealth Management, an RIA in North Haven, Connecticut, overseeing $140 million in AUM for 150 households. Listen in as Ryan shares how he organizes his retirement planning seminars through local adult education programs to attract his target audience, how he's...
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Ep 449: Growing To $2B AUM Organically By Setting High Client Service Standards with Michelle Perry Higgins
Financial Advisor Success
Financial planning clients expect responsive, detail-oriented service—and the firms that deliver consistently are the ones that keep them for decades. Michelle Perry Higgins has seen that firsthand, and she joins us today to share how setting and maintaining high client service standards, alongside thoughtful listening and planning, can drive both long-term retention and organic growth. Michelle is a principal of California Financial Advisors, an RIA based in San Ramon, California, that oversees $2 billion in AUM for approximately 1,500 households. Listen in as she talks about how her firm...
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Ep 448: Attracting More Ultra-HNW Clients By Taking The Time To Due Diligence More Alternative Investments with Monish Verma
Financial Advisor Success
High-net-worth individuals often already have a financial advisor, but many aren’t receiving the in-depth investment education or portfolio customization they truly need. That's where Monish Verma comes in. He joins the show today to share his strategy for converting HNW prospects into clients, as well as how a tailored approach to alternative investments and client education can become a powerful differentiator for winning (and keeping) affluent clients. Monish is the CEO of Vardhan Wealth Management, a DBA of Summit Financial, based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, that oversees $560 million...
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Ep 447: Getting A Healthy Flow Of New Clients From Centers Of Influence By Addressing The Referral Risk They Fear The Most with Dan Allison
Financial Advisor Success
Financial advisors frequently seek out relationships with Centers Of Influence (COIs) such as accountants and attorneys, but sometimes find that it's hard to get referrals from these professionals. Advisor marketing expert Dan Allison believes this is because COIs fear putting their own reputations on the line and joins the show today to explore how financial advisors can reframe COI relationships by reducing that risk and building real trust over time. Dan is the owner of The Exchange, a virtual content platform and community focused on helping financial advisors master client acquisition and...
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Ep 446: Getting Known In Your Local (Facebook Group) Community To Quickly Add $30M In The First Two Years with Misty Lynch
Financial Advisor Success
After growing her AUM by $30 million in just two years, Misty Lynch has become a go-to financial planning expert for small business owners and families within her community. This is thanks in part to her reputation inside local Facebook groups frequented by her ideal target client, where she rarely promotes herself but is frequently recommended. Misty is the owner of Sound View Financial Advisors, an RIA based in Massachusetts that manages $46 million for approximately 100 households. In this episode, Misty shares how her early content creation efforts (including a blog and a podcast) laid the...
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Ep 445: Leveraging Educational YouTube Videos To Drive Hundreds Of New Clients Per Year with James Conole
Financial Advisor Success
James Conole's firm has experienced explosive growth over the past few years (expecting to double its revenue to more than $10 million in 2025) thanks in part to his YouTube channel, which educates and builds trust with ideal prospects before they ever book a meeting. James is the founder of Root Financial, an RIA based in Encinitas, California, that oversees $1.3 billion in assets under management for 630 client households. In this episode, he shares his YouTube strategy, including how narrowing his content focus to the needs of wealthy pre-retirees and retirees led to fewer views but...
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Ep 444: Driving More Client Referrals In The First 100 Days By Crafting An Exceptional Onboarding Experience with Libby Greiwe
Financial Advisor Success
When Libby Greiwe realized that most client onboarding processes felt either clunky or cold, she decided to transform her own. What she has developed—based on her years as both a financial advisor and coach—is a system designed to create a seamless, personalized client experience that not only demonstrates professionalism, but also inspires client referrals within their first 100 days with the firm. Libby is the founder of The Efficient Advisor, a coaching and consulting business based in Loveland, Ohio, that helps financial advisors build systems to run their firms with less stress and...
info_outlineFinancial planning clients expect responsive, detail-oriented service—and the firms that deliver consistently are the ones that keep them for decades. Michelle Perry Higgins has seen that firsthand, and she joins us today to share how setting and maintaining high client service standards, alongside thoughtful listening and planning, can drive both long-term retention and organic growth.
Michelle is a principal of California Financial Advisors, an RIA based in San Ramon, California, that oversees $2 billion in AUM for approximately 1,500 households. Listen in as she talks about how her firm has grown entirely organically, fueled by her "non-negotiable" service practices (such as ensuring no client waits more than 5 minutes for a meeting) and maintaining a greater than 99% client retention rate. She also explains how she uses tools like an “Everything Binder” to help clients organize their financial lives, why she builds time into her schedule after every meeting to record personalized notes, and how going deeper in client conversations uncovers what really matters.
For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/449