The Human Side of Money

Most Advisors are not lacking discipline. They are lacking capacity. In this episode, Brendan Frazier explores a common frustration inside advisory businesses. You know what needs to get done. You have clear priorities. But by the end of the day, the most important work is still unfinished. Instead, your time gets consumed by emails, meetings, and unexpected requests. That pattern is not a persona...

Most financial decisions aren’t math problems. They’re emotional.  In this episode, Brendan Frazier sits down with Parul Somani to break down why traditional decision-making frameworks fail when uncertainty is high and emotions are involved.  Parul shares her personal story of navigating a cancer diagnosis just days after giving birth and how that experience forced her to rethink how decisions are...

Most Advisors don’t struggle because they aren’t working hard enough; they struggle because their business hasn’t been intentionally designed to scale. In this episode, Brendan Frazier shares a powerful lesson from Ray Kroc, the visionary behind McDonald’s expansion, and how his approach to business transformation applies directly to Advisory firms. Kroc didn’t grow the business by improving the p...

Most financial planning is built around goals.  Goals like:  Retiring at 60  Spending more time traveling  Leaving a legacy through philanthropy   But there’s a structural flaw in that model: human beings are notoriously poor predictors of their future preferences. What we  think  will make us happy at 60 often looks very different once we get there.  Yet as Advisors, we routinely ask clients to d...

When you’re thinking about making a move to a new firm, there’s always a lingering question:  “Will my clients come with me?”   You think they will, but there’s no way to know for sure.  In this episode, Brendan Frazier shares a practical four step framework to help Financial Advisors confidently communicate a firm transition while maximizing client retention.  You’ll Learn:   Why client attrition...

Most of your clients’ financial planning goals don’t fail because they’re unrealistic. They fail because behavior hasn’t changed. In this episode, Brendan Frazier breaks down why clients struggle to follow through and achieve their most important financial goals and what Advisors can do to change that. If you want to help your clients maximize the likelihood of accomplishing their goals, you have...

This year’s “Best of” episode is a highlight reel of the most impactful, yet practical strategies discussed in this year’s Human Side of Money podcast episodes. These strategies are designed for Financial Advisors who want human-centric steps they can implement into their business’ growth plan. What You’ll Learn: Why generic “don’t worry” emails can backfire How a repeatable framework can help cal...

Most Advisors build plans around numbers. Emily Rassam builds them around people. In this episode of The Human Side of Money, Brendan sits down with Emily Rassam, Partner and Senior Financial Planner, to explore how she infuses purpose and emotion into every aspect of the planning process. Emily’s approach goes beyond spreadsheets and projections. It’s about helping clients clarify their values, a...

At 38, Rick Foerster became financially independent after helping build a healthcare startup that went public. By every external measure, he had “enough.” But internally, he felt restless, disoriented, and unsure of what came next. In this candid conversation, Rick and Brendan Frazier explore what happens on the other side of enough, when financial freedom collides with the deeper human questions...

Winning more clients and creating a more client-centric planning experience requires a shift. A shift away from the numbers. A shift towards the human. In this episode, Tim Maurer, Chief Advisory Officer at Signature FD shares his insights on building a human-first approach to transform both your prospecting and your planning. Instead of relying on advisor-driven presentations, Tim focuses on conn...

Most Advisors rely on technical expertise (IQ). But when you work with human beings, IQ alone often isn’t enough. You have to combine IQ and EQ (Emotional Intelligence). Shannon Harris, Managing Partner at Ecclesiastes Wealth Partners, has developed an approach that blends IQ with EQ by delivering values-based advice designed to reshape every client conversation. In this episode, she shares why sh...

What if everything you’ve been taught about preparing clients for retirement is only half the story? Fritz Gilbert spent a decade writing over 400 articles about life after work on his blog The Retirement Manifesto . But the real transformation happened after he actually retired . In this episode, Fritz reveals the surprising emotional challenges retirees face — from losing structure and identity...

What if the most important trust-building moments with clients aren’t during meetings, but actually in between them? It turns out that your communication between meetings ( texts, emails, calls, etc.) can significantly impact trust, satisfaction, and client retention. In this conversation, Dr. Megan McCoy shares her breakthrough research on the power of between-meeting communication and how Adviso...

Most retirees prepare financially, but still feel lost when they step away from work. Why? Because emotional readiness is just as critical as a fully funded retirement account. Tony Hixon, CIMA®, RFC® knows this firsthand. After a personal tragedy reshaped his view of retirement, he realized that wealth without purpose leaves a void. Fortunately, Tony created an innovative solution.  In this episo...

What if your onboarding process could become your most powerful referral engine? Most advisors overlook onboarding as a strategic growth tool—and that’s a mistake. In this episode, Brendan Frazier sits down with Libby Greiwe, founder of The Efficient Advisor, podcast host, and author of The First 100 Days: The Advisor’s Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience. Libby walks through how to asses...

The most common mistake advisors make with prospects? They deliver a logically-driven pitch showcasing all the ways they can help. But, prospects make decisions with the emotional part of the brain. And, that’s why logical pitches fall on deaf ears. Stacy Havener, Founder and CEO at Havener Capital Partners, has raised billions for boutique asset managers, and she did it with words, not numbers. H...

What if retirement planning wasn’t just about saving but about learning how to spend? In Part 2 of The Human Side of Retirement,  Brendan Frazier continues his conversation with Dan Haylett to explore the emotional and psychological aspects of decumulation. They dig into the behavioral side of this transition, why a “save, save, save” mindset can hold clients back, and how to reframe retirement as...

Retirement isn’t just about reaching a number – it’s a deeply personal transition that requires more than financial planning. By understanding what truly matters beyond the numbers, you can better support clients in creating meaningful and fulfilling retirements. In Part One of this episode, Dan Haylett emphasizes the importance of shifting the focus from financial figures to human connection, pur...

Financial planning is a service-based business. You’re selling the invisible. It can’t be seen, touched or experienced before buying. Prospects are forced to search for other ways to evaluate the value of working with you (most of which are NOT great options to inform such an important decision!). Fortunately, Michael Lecours, a financial advisor and co-founder of fpPathfinder, joined the show to...

The conversations you have with clients during uncertain markets are the most important you’ll ever have. Helping them safely and confidently navigate times like these is likely the single most important thing you’ll ever do… If you know how to do it! In this episode, Brendan walks through a 4-step framework to equip you with everything you need to confidently guide your clients through uncertain...

The conversations you have with clients during uncertain markets are the most important you’ll ever have. Helping them safely and confidently navigate times like these is likely the single most important thing you’ll ever do… If you know how to do it! In this episode, Brendan walks through a 4-step framework to equip you with everything you need to confidently guide your clients through uncertain...

Talking about money remains one of the most challenging topics for many, often shrouded in silence and taboo.  Why do we hesitate to engage in money conversations, and how can financial advisors help break this cycle? Join Brendan Frazier as he chats with Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, the mastermind behind KBK Wealth Connection and author of “Breaking Money Silence.”  Together, they delve into why we’...

Financial advice is no longer just about offering services—it’s about creating real, meaningful experiences for clients.  Because an experience unlike any other is the difference between a one-time sale and a lifelong client. You want to create experiences so exceptional that your clients aren’t even interested in hearing about an alternative.  And, they can’t wait to tell their friends and family...

If you want to grow your advisory business by bringing on new clients, you have to get three things right: Your marketing, messaging and meetings. Marketing: You have to attract the right prospects and repel the wrong ones. Messaging: You have to connect with the prospect. Meetings: You have to create an experience that infuses trust and clarity. Most advisors execute one or two of these at a high...

We all have an idea of what retirement will be like. But what happens when reality doesn’t match your expectations? For many, the transition from a structured career to unstructured free time isn’t as easy as it seems. That’s exactly what happened to Tom Pendergast. Tom is a retired professional who found himself facing an unexpected challenge: boredom In this episode, Tom reveals his personal jou...