The Uncommon Advisor

Transitioning from free advice to paid financial planning can feel uncomfortable—especially when you've been serving your existing clients for years without charging for it. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , business strategist Alicia Byers breaks down how to make the shift to fee-based planning within your current book of business —without damaging relationships or starting from scratch....

Being responsive, available, and always saying yes might make you a great advisor—but it can also quietly burn you out. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , business strategist Alicia Byers unpacks the hidden cost of being "the nice advisor." While over-delivering may feel like exceptional service, it often leads to overextension, lack of boundaries, and a business that starts running you . T...

Should you actually segment your book of business— or is it just another administrative exercise that changes nothing? In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , business strategist Alicia Byers breaks down one of the most common pieces of advice financial advisors hear: " You should segment your clients." While segmentation can be incredibly powerful, many advisors turn it into a complicated scori...

Prospecting is one of the most common frustrations for financial advisors. When the pipeline slows down, the instinct is usually the same: I just need to meet more people. But what if the real problem isn't prospecting— it's clarity? In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , business strategist Alicia Byers explains why many advisors struggle with new client growth even while working hard, network...

What if the key to building a meaningful advisory career isn't just measuring progress— but remembering it? In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , business strategist Alicia Byers shares a personal tradition that has shaped how she thinks about business, growth, and reflection. Each year, she and her husband choose a word and a small object to represent their year together— creating a visual re...

Are you tracking the numbers that actually drive growth in your advisory business—or just the ones that tell you what already happened? In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , business strategist Alicia Byers breaks down the three simple metrics every financial advisor should be tracking to understand the true health and momentum of their practice. Most advisors focus on revenue and production—b...

In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia tackles one of the most overlooked skills in an advisor's career: how to introduce yourself in a way that actually creates conversation. You're at a networking event. Someone asks, "So what do you do?" If your answer sounds like, "I do retirement planning" or "I offer comprehensive financial plans," chances are the conversation quietly dies. Not bec...

In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia dives into a conversation most high performers don't see coming: the addiction to productivity. What if the anxiety you're feeling isn't because you're behind… but because you don't know how to stop? For financial advisors and entrepreneurs, measurable progress is everywhere—revenue goals, meetings, launches, client growth. Every completed task deli...

Most financial advisors don't have a goal problem — they have a standards problem. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers challenges the traditional New Year rhythm of setting bigger goals and instead uncovers the real reason advisors stay stuck year after year: your goals can only grow as high as the standards you hold yourself to. Alicia breaks down the difference between inspira...

Asking for feedback is powerful… but acting on it? That's where the transformation happens. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers takes you deeper into the world of client feedback—specifically how to ask the questions that actually matter and how to turn client responses into clarity, confidence, and real business growth. You'll learn: The difference between random feedback and p...

Grab your feedback guide here: https://byersstrategygroup.myflodesk.com/feedbackquestions Feedback isn't criticism—it's clarity. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers reframes the way financial advisors think about client feedback. Instead of fearing it, she shows you how to use feedback as a mirror —one that reflects what's working, what's not, and how your clients truly experien...

Can AI actually make your advisory practice more human ? In this powerful episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers sits down with Alison Simmons , founder and CEO of Lead Smarter Co. , to talk about how financial advisors can use AI not as a gimmick—but as a strategic thought partner . Alison pulls back the curtain on practical, approachable ways to integrate AI into your business operations...

If it causes you to rush, it's not the right opportunity. In this honest and transparent episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers gets real about the cost of constantly saying "yes." She challenges the glorified pace of hustle culture and explores why rushing undermines your best work, your peace, and your client relationships. You'll learn how to: Identify rushed opportunities that drain fo...

Most advisors help clients with money—yet avoid looking at their own numbers. In this eye-opening episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia welcomes tax strategist, Enrolled Agent, business owner and overall powerhouse Sarah Tatum to expose the hidden mistakes advisors make with their business finances. They unpack how to confidently understand your numbers, choose the right entity, build a proacti...

Most advisors treat policy and product clients like transactions. Uncommon Advisors turn them into relationships. In Episode 13 of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers shows you how to welcome product and policy clients with intention—so they feel seen, valued, and excited to work with you long after the paperwork is signed. Discover how small, meaningful welcome gifts can build loyalty, spark refe...

When a client says "yes" to financial planning , it's more than a transaction—it's a moment of trust. And that moment deserves more than a confirmation email. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers shows you how to design thoughtful, memorable onboarding gifts that reinforce trust, reflect your brand, and make clients feel truly seen. No expensive baskets or cheesy swag—just intent...

In Part 2 of the High-Performance Team series, Alicia Byers takes you beyond building a strong foundation of drive and talent — and into creating lasting results. Learn how to generate real impact, grow an engaged audience, and expand your team's reach so the world experiences the work you do. Plus, discover how to spot and eliminate the silent killer of team performance: self-defeating thinking....

High-performing teams don't just happen—they're built with intention. In this first of a two-part series, Alicia Byers unpacks the two essential foundations of every high-performing team: drive and talent . Learn how to craft a mission your team actually rallies behind, use purpose to fuel perseverance, and uncover and develop the natural strengths of your team members. If you're ready to create a...

Too many advisors treat rest like a reward — something they get after a busy season or major event or accomplishment. In this episode, flip the script and learn why rest should be a strategy built into your business plan. Learn why consistent time off leads to better creativity, sharper decision-making, and more effective leadership, plus practical ways to schedule daily, weekly, and quarterly res...

Chaos isn't a strategy—and neither is cramming everything into every day.  In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers shows you how to use theme days to protect your top priorities, stay focused, and stop the constant pivoting that drains your energy. Learn how to group your glass-ball activities, build predictable rhythms for your team and clients, and finally take back control of you...

Most advisors don't have a time management problem—they have a prioritization problem. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers introduces the powerful "glass balls vs. ping pong balls" framework to help you identify what really matters in your business. Learn how to protect the priorities that keep your business thriving, avoid getting lost in busywork, and stop chasing every distra...

Referrals aren't just a script to memorize—they're the natural outcome of creating client experiences worth talking about. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia unpacks the final piece of the client experience puzzle: advocacy . Discover how to generate both intentional and unintentional referrals, use feedback to deepen relationships, and turn satisfied clients into true advocates for...

Happy clients are good. Loyal clients? Game-changing. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers shares how to move beyond "satisfied" and build lasting loyalty through intentional retention strategies. From making annual reviews something clients actually look forward to, to creating memorable touchpoints that spark referrals and advocacy—this episode is packed with ideas you can put...

Engagement is the difference between a transaction that ends with a signature and a relationship that grows for years. The truth is, frequent and relevant communication is the number one predictor of client satisfaction in financial services. In this episode of The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers shares how to design intentional, ongoing engagement that keeps you top of mind and tip of tongue. Fro...

It's time to stop doing the same old thing in the same old way — and start creating first impressions that last.  In this episode of  The Uncommon Advisor , Alicia Byers unpacks how to turn ordinary first impressions into remarkable ones. From your website and inquiry response to your first meeting and that first "wow" moment, you'll learn how each touchpoint sets the tone for trust, loyalty, and...