The Efficient Advisor: Tactical Business Advice for Financial Planners

If you're anything like most financial advisors, you've collected hundreds of valuable resources over the years: articles, calculators, PDFs, client-friendly graphics, and planning tools. But if they're scattered across bookmarks, downloads, and random folders, they're almost impossible to find when you actually need them.  In this episode, I share one of the simplest organizat...

If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to build a successful advisory firm while working fewer hours, this episode pulls back the curtain. After receiving more than 80 questions from advisors, I'm sharing the honest story behind my three-day workweek. From the systems and team structure that made it possible to the mistakes, trade-offs, and mindset shifts along the way, this is t...

If there's one thing every financial advisor says they value, it's time. But when it comes to running our own businesses, many of us make decisions that protect our bank account while quietly sacrificing months or even years of our lives. In this episode, I challenge that mindset and explore why buying speed, guidance, and systems is often one of the smartest investments you can make. I&...

This week, I'm joined once again by Adam Holt, founder of Asset-Map, for a conversation every advisor needs to hear. We dive into one of the biggest challenges facing advisory firms today: technology adoption. It's easy to get excited about a new tool, but it's much harder to fully integrate it into your business and unlock its true value. We talk about why so many advisors end up u...

One of the hardest conversations advisors have is about changing expectations with long-time clients. If you've created (or maybe inherited) a service model that's packed with quarterly meetings simply because "that's how it's always been," this episode will help you rethink what truly delivers value. I'll share a simple client script you can use to confidently t...

As advisors, we spend a lot of time working in the business—but not nearly enough time working on the business.  In this episode, Libby pulls back the curtain on the exact quarterly CEO Day framework she recently led for her Systems to Scale alumni community. With Q2 coming to a close, she shares how to create the space for strategic thinking, avoid turning your CEO time into a glorified catch-up...

If you've ever struggled to come up with meaningful gifts, memorable client experiences, or even remember the little details that matter most to your clients, this episode is for you. In this Efficient Friday episode, Libby dives into the power of building a Client Intel Process—a simple but powerful system for gathering, storing, and using personal information to deepen relationships and cre...

What if you could get back 100 to 200+ hours a year without sacrificing the quality of your investment management? In this episode, Libby sits down with Darol Ryan, Managing Partner of Main Management, to discuss one of the biggest hidden time drains in many advisory firms: portfolio management. From researching investments and preparing for review meetings to managing custom portfolios and rebala...

As the end of the quarter approaches and the halfway point of the year comes into focus, many advisors are planning CEO Days to step back and think strategically about their businesses. But before you jump into goal-setting, planning, and big-picture thinking, there’s one important step that can dramatically improve the quality of your strategic work. In this episode, Libby shares why an Admin Day...

Efficiency is one of the most common goals financial advisors share, but very few can actually define what it means—or measure it. In this episode, Libby challenges the traditional metrics advisors often use to gauge success and introduces four simple KPIs that provide a much clearer picture of productivity, efficiency, and scalability. If you've ever wondered whether you're truly buildi...

If you've been listening to the podcast lately, you know we've been talking a lot about client experience, onboarding, and the first 100 days. And this week, I’m coming to you from the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago, where I’m speaking at a conference and taking notes on one of the most recognized customer experience brands in the world. As I’ve watched the little details and thoughtful touches...

In this episode, Libby sits down with Summer Webb from American Estate & Trust to unpack what alternatives actually are, why more advisors are exploring them, and how firms can offer these types of investments in a more streamlined and compliant way. Whether you're completely new to alternatives or already managing some private investments for clients, this conversation helps demystify th...

When onboarding feels chaotic behind the scenes, clients feel it too. In this episode, Libby breaks down one of the simplest yet most powerful systems she ever implemented to reduce client anxiety, improve communication, and create a more professional onboarding experience: the weekly client update email, also known as the “Domino’s Pizza Tracker” for your practice. Drawing from real-world lessons...

In this episode, we’re diving into one what can be one of the biggest friction points of the onboarding process: helping clients gracefully leave their previous financial advisor. While most advisors focus on paperwork and transfers, this conversation is all about the psychology behind the transition and how small process tweaks can dramatically reduce friction, hesitation, and transfer delays. Yo...

In today’s episode, Libby breaks down exactly what The First 100 Days course is, who it’s designed for, and why a remarkable onboarding experience can completely transform a financial advisory business. From creating smoother operations to increasing referrals and client retention, this episode gives advisors a behind-the-scenes look at how intentional onboarding impacts every stage of the client...

The GOAT is here!!! If you’ve ever referenced client experience, onboarding, or retention in your business, you’ve probably already felt his influence. This conversation goes deep into why the first 100 days matter more than most advisors realize, and why so many businesses are leaking clients before they ever have a chance to become long-term relationships. If you’ve ever thought “our onboarding...

Today’s episode is a powerful reminder that even the best financial planning recommendations can be overshadowed by a broken onboarding experience. Libby shares the story of how a process mistake during a client onboarding led to losing a nearly $2 million account — and the lessons advisors can take away to create smoother, more intentional client experiences during the first 100 days. In this epi...

In this episode, Libby sits down with advisor Aaron Schmerling to unpack what happens when you take a process most advisors overlook and turn it into a strategic advantage.  Aaron shares how his business was already successful and growing, but like many advisors, he hadn’t given much intentional thought to the onboarding experience. After being introduced to the First 100 Days framework, he began...

It’s not just *what* you give, it’s *when* you give it. And that timing alone can completely change how your client perceives your gift or gesture.  In this episode, we’re breaking down a counterintuitive but powerful approach to client gifting that helps you move from transactional relationships to deeply personal client connections. You’ll learn how to use timing, intention, and personalization...

In this episode, I’m getting really tactical about what delegation actually looks like in real life—not just the idea of it. I’m joined again by Kyle Willis  from Belay, and we’re breaking down exactly what you can hand off to a virtual assistant, how to do it, and what changes when you stop trying to do everything yourself. I share what I’m seeing inside my coaching programs as advisors step into...

Have you ever noticed how polished and proactive your process feels when you’re winning a new client… and then how it subtly shifts once the paperwork is signed? In this episode, we’re digging into what really happens in that first 100 days after a client says yes, and why it might be the most overlooked and highest-impact part of your entire business. If you’ve ever felt like your onboarding is “...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re the bottleneck in your business, or like you just need a few more hours in the day to get everything done, this episode is going to challenge that thinking. In this conversation, we unpack the real cost of trying to do it all on your own and explore what it actually looks like to buy back your time in a way that moves both your business and your life forward. From d...

If you’ve ever had a client ask for something and your immediate reaction was “ugh… I really don’t want to do that,” but then you said yes anyway… this episode is for you. We’re talking about one of the most important skills for advisors: how to say no without making it weird, without damaging the relationship, and without creating a bunch of friction in your business. In this episode, we’ll discu...

In this episode, we dive into the future of client communication for financial advisors. Tom Fields shares how combining technology, AI, and a client-first mindset can transform the advisory experience through a white-labeled app. From streamlining workflows to keeping clients genuinely engaged, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for advisors ready to elevate their practice. What...

There’s a phrase that shows up in a lot of advisory firms that seems harmless on the surface, but quietly creates friction in both the team dynamic and the client experience. In this episode, we unpack why the term “junior advisor” might be doing more damage than you realize and how small language shifts can have a big impact on trust, confidence, and the way your clients perceive your team.  How...