The STATS CHAT

What should financial advisors revisit with clients before the year ends? In episode 29 of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan discuss three key areas: taxes and required minimum distributions, retirement income and spending, and beneficiaries and estate planning. Discover how better questions, CRM reminders and simple email outreach can help uncover changes in clients’ lives and keep plannin...

Better client meetings may start with better questions. Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan break down 10 questions financial advisors can use to uncover what prospects really want from retirement, along with the income needs, market concerns, tax questions, family considerations and potential objections that shape their decisions. They also introduce the 70/30 Challenge, encouraging advisors to spend le...

What happens when new financial advisors receive a defined process instead of being told to simply shadow someone and figure it out? Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan are joined by Dwight Burkhalter, Senior Vice President of Marketing, to break down Gradient's eight-week Advisor Launch program and the results from its first five cohorts. They discuss training, accountability, advisor retention, pr...

What could you accomplish with 15 extra hours every week? Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan break down “The 15-Hour Problem” and explain how delegation, automation, better workflows and more intentional use of staff can help financial advisors reclaim valuable time. They also share a simple five-day audit that puts every task into one of three categories: keep it, delegate it or automate it. Because so...

There are roughly 90 days left in 2026. What can financial advisors realistically do now to finish the year strong? Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan break the final stretch into three focused goals: production, marketing, and operations. Learn how to reverse engineer your production target, commit to one marketing initiative, eliminate an operational bottleneck and use a simple weekly scorecard to sta...

Will AI eventually replace financial advisors, or will it make good advisors even more valuable? In Episode 24 of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan discuss how artificial intelligence is changing financial advice and why advisors should embrace it rather than fear it. They explore where AI can improve efficiency, analyze information and give advisors valuable time back while also examining...

Life insurance can be a valuable part of an advisor’s practice, but underwriting, case design and the time involved can make it something financial services professionals dismiss. In Episode 23 of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan explain how the GLB Partner Advantage gives advisors a turnkey way to bring in a life insurance specialist while maintaining the client relationship. They walk th...

Google reviews can do more than improve your online reputation. They can become a powerful source of new business. In Episode 22 of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan break down how one advisor created a repeatable process for generating reviews and turned his Google presence into what they call a “digital referral.” They discuss when to ask for reviews, how to follow up, why your Google Bus...

What separates a productive first appointment from one that feels like a sales pitch? In Episode 21 of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan share two questions financial advisors can use to better understand prospective clients before presenting a solution. Through real-world role play, they explore how asking about a client’s ideal retirement and biggest concerns can uncover the goals, fears...

Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan are joined by Keith Gangl, Senior Portfolio Manager at Gradient Investments, for a market update covering the S&P 500, corporate earnings, oil prices, AI and retirement investing. Keith breaks down what is driving market performance, why broader participation beyond the market’s largest stocks matters and how investors can think about diversification and risk as th...

What are Trump Accounts, and how can financial advisors use them to create more meaningful planning conversations? In Episode 19 of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan are joined by Brian Lucius, Chief Distribution Officer at Gradient Financial Group, to discuss eligibility, contributions, compound growth and the $1,000 federal pilot contribution. They also explain how Trump Accounts can open...

Your office can do more than provide a place to meet with clients. It can help start conversations, simplify complex financial concepts and reinforce the value you provide. In this episode of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan explain how advisors can use the Bear vs. Bull and Math of Rebounds posters from Marketing Central to illustrate downside protection, market recovery and the importanc...

What does a better client process look like for financial advisors? In this episode of STATS Chat, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan break down the five-step New Gen Process, from prospecting and discovery to retirement planning, implementation and ongoing client service. They share practical ways to ask better questions, use technology more effectively, strengthen client relationships and create more...

Marketing isn’t about doing everything. It’s about choosing the strategies that consistently produce results. In Episode 16 of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan discuss the effectiveness of seminars and lead generation, how to evaluate marketing ROI, and practical ways financial advisors can generate more appointments and grow their businesses.

Hiring talented people is important but having a repeatable process that helps them succeed is what drives long-term growth. In Episode 15 of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan discuss how Advisor Launch and Office Launch help advisory firms simplify onboarding, create consistency and help new advisors and staff become confident contributors more quickly. They also explore why many firms str...

Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan return to Studio 26 after Gradient Gala in Mayakoba, Mexico, to recap the event, share key business takeaways, and introduce Gradient’s new Concierge Program. They also discuss why advisory offices should brand new advisors early to build credibility, support retention, and strengthen long-term firm growth.

In episode 13 of Stats Chat, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan discuss how financial advisors can use Every Door Direct Mail (also known as USPS EDDM) as a low-cost way to reach more local prospects. They break down how advisors can use postcards to promote seminars, retirement income conversations, Social Security analysis, office updates, tax planning, and other marketing messages. This episode is a...

In episode 12 of Stats Chat, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan sit down with Jaclyn Gladhill, Media Strategist at Gradient, to discuss how financial advisors can use podcasting to build trust, share their personality, and stay connected with clients and prospects. Jaclyn breaks down why podcasting, YouTube, and short-form video are powerful tools for advisor growth, plus how consistent content can help...

In Episode 11 of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan sit down with Brian Lucius to talk about why financial advisors need more than one marketing channel to grow. From seminars and referrals to radio, TV, client events, and community sponsorships, this episode covers how advisors can build a stronger marketing strategy, create more consistent lead flow, and avoid relying too heavily on one so...

In this episode of STATS Chat, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan break down Gradient’s tactical coaching model and how it helps financial advisors grow with more structure, efficiency, and support. They discuss the evolution of advisor businesses, the importance of operations, sales, marketing, and leadership, and how programs like Launch, Blue Angels, Top Gun, and U University help advisors identify g...

In episode 9 of STATS Chat, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan discuss why social media marketing is a major opportunity for financial advisors. They break down how platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube can help advisors build trust, stay visible, support seminars and events, and create more consistent touchpoints with clients and prospects. You’ll also hear practical ideas for posting educatio...

In episode 08 of STATS Chat, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan sit down with Tony Shore, Gradient’s Director of Radio, to talk about how financial advisors can use radio, podcasting, and YouTube to build credibility and generate more qualified leads. Tony shares insights from more than 24,000 financial radio shows, including why radio leads can be different from seminar leads, how long advisors should...

In episode 07 of STATS Chat, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan break down the Compass Report and how it helps financial advisors bring retirement planning conversations together in one clear, client-focused presentation. They discuss leading with concepts instead of products, using conservative assumptions, showing retirement income projections, and explaining the value of Monte Carlo simulation. Brad...

What does it take to grow from $180 million in assets under management to $9 billion? In Episode 6 of Stats Chat, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan sit down with Mike Binger, President of Gradient Investments, to discuss the growth of Gradient Investments and how advisors can strengthen their wealth management offering. Mike shares how Gradient Investments supports financial advisors through portfolio...

Social Security is one of the most important pieces of a retirement plan, yet it is often the most overlooked. In this episode of STATS CHAT, Brad Zinda and Kalen Sigecan explain why Social Security should be treated as a core retirement asset, not just a box to check at the end of the planning process. They discuss common claiming mistakes, the difference between maximizing benefits and making th...