Simply Why

How do you communicate about money? Dennis and Katie work with many couples who have different communication styles. In this episode, they highlight the differences they see in communication styles and how that impacts the financial conversation. Katie and Dennis share how they help as advisors to facilitate a safe space for money conversations. Connect with Katie & Dennis: Connect with Katie:...

What stresses out your financial advisor? It may not be what you think. Katie and Dennis disclose common behind-the-scenes stressors for financial advisors and how they can trickle down to clients. Katie and Dennis reveal how they've designed a service model that helps to alleviate stress and allows their team to show up for clients in the best way possible. Connect with Katie & Dennis: Connec...

Even smart investors make mistakes! Dennis and Katie highlight the common mistakes made by both clients and advisors when it comes to investing. They explore what leads to these pitfalls and tips on how investors can potentially avoid them in the future. Listen in as they share real-life examples and reflect on their role as advisors in reframing perspectives to help clients avoid making mistakes...

Dennis and Katie are deeply committed to serving as advocates for their clients. Starting with how they built their independent advisory firm, they emphasize how each facet of the business was built with the end client's experience in mind. Katie and Dennis highlight their frustrations in the industry and how they are working to combat overly complex portfolios, insufficient plans, and limited acc...

Dennis shares a personal story of his daughter's recent inspiring coaching experience at the start of the soccer season. He laments the fact that once we leave school, many of us lose those valuable coaches in our lives. Katie and Dennis share how they go beyond the numbers to find coachable moments with their clients to build financial confidence and inspire purpose. Connect with Katie & Denn...

What happens when business partners disagree? Dennis and Katie share the disagreements they navigate as business owners and how they manage a safe space for conflict for their team. They also reveal how they coach clients through disagreements around finances by building their awareness and confidence. Stay tuned to the very end for a fun outtake after the credits! Connect with Katie & Dennis:...

Dennis and Katie are back to discuss the concept of "enough" in finances and in life. They offer some personal stories and client stories to help think about what "enough" means, the struggles you may face, and why comparison can be the enemy. Dennis and Katie emphasize that "enough" is not necessarily having the most, but rather discovering what is sufficient for your family and the life you want...

On the heels of Dennis’ 5-week family sabbatical, Katie and Dennis reveal the intentional planning that went into allowing a business owner to disconnect and step away. In a world that is numbers-driven, Katie and Dennis challenged themselves early on to define what quality of life meant to them and subsequently built that directly into their business plan. However, stepping away didn’t come natur...

As financial advisors, Dennis and Katie value their roles as collaborators with clients and as members of a client's professional team. They specifically examine estate planning and their perspective on representing the “human side” of what can seem like a technical, jargon-filled process. Additionally, Dennis and Katie cover some estate planning basics, common misconceptions, and the best approac...

How do you think about money and investing in your family? Katie and Dennis discuss the purpose of an investment philosophy and why it is valuable for couples and families. They share how an investment philosophy adds discipline, consistency, and focus to ensure both spouses understand their money picture. Katie and Dennis share how their own past experiences shaped their individual personal inves...

Complexity in your financial life can feel like a bad habit. You can tolerate it for a while, but ultimately it causes challenges, confusion, and disappointment. In the financial industry, complexity shows up in various ways. At times, it is used as a justification rather than a true purpose. Dennis and Katie share how they help clients find simplicity in their already complex financial lives. The...

Not all financial advisory firms are created equal. The 401(k) has significantly increased the current number of pre-retirees who have amassed over $1M in investable assets. However, not every firm is designed to serve high-net-worth families. Katie and Dennis offer insight into how they intentionally built their firm to serve their ideal client. From hiring credentialed advisors down to the desig...

After attending an industry conference, Dennis and Katie felt challenged to revisit the standard questions prospective clients ask when evaluating a financial advisor. In this episode, they discuss how to deepen those initial conversations to create a meaningful human connection. They also highlight some red flags to look for when speaking with an advisor who may not be the best fit for your famil...

Why do opposites attract? Join Dennis and Katie as they introduce their (professional) partnership and the stumbling blocks they overcame as two former colleagues turned business owners. They share tools and resources that help them embrace their differences, align their instincts, create a shared vision, and prioritize what makes the journey worthwhile. Listen in for compelling insights into how...

As financial advisors and business owners, hosts Dennis Morton and Katie Brown are focused on providing purpose-driven financial advice to couples and families. On this podcast, they take a step back from their day-to-day advisor duties to discuss the meaningful decisions families make about money. Sometimes they agree...and sometimes they don't. But they both believe that it's not just about the...