The Perfect RIA

In this episode of The Perfect RIA podcast, Matt and Micah dive into the world of value adds – those extra touches that keep clients from heading for the exit. The duo serves up a practical ranking system, categorizing value adds from simple to complex - where it might require a few extra cups of coffee. They reveal how these reports can transform client comprehension from confused head-scratching...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn recaps a discussion between Matt and Catharine Tindall to unravel the complexities of S-corporation structures for financial advisors. Catherine challenged advisors to move beyond the simple question of "Should I become an S-corp?" and instead dive deeper into the strategic considerations. Matt and Catherine both underscored an essential truth: While the...

In this episode of The Perfect RIA, Matthew Jarvis and Catherine Tindall, CPA ,explore the intricate world of tax strategies specifically tailored for financial advisors. Their conversation cuts through the complexity of S-Corp structures and tax planning, offering practical wisdom for professionals looking to optimize their financial approach. Catherine brings her expertise to the forefront, chal...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn recaps a discussion between Matt and Micah about one of the most challenging aspects of running a financial advisory practice: knowing when—and how—to fire clients. The episode dove into practical strategies for managing client expectations, beginning with establishing clear communication policies. When clients challenge advice, it often signals that the...

In this episode of the Perfect RIA Podcast, Matt and Micah tackle the delicate dance of knowing when—and how—to part ways with clients. They challenge the very notion that advisors can simply "fire" clients, arguing instead that you must first earn that right through consistent value delivery. They explore the fascinating psychology behind client-advisor tensions, revealing how unmet expectations...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn highlights the impact of delegating your bookkeeping. On Monday, Matt and Duff Tucker from BELAY kicked off with a reality check every advisor needs—your books might be messier than you think, and that could mean big trouble. However, delegation isn't just to stay compliant but to also save time, money, and sanity. Doing your own books is probably costin...

In this episode of The Perfect RIA podcast, Matthew Jarvis sits down with Duff Tucker from BELAY to tackle a topic that makes many financial advisors squirm: bookkeeping delegation. They dive into why clean books aren't just about avoiding audit headaches but are fundamental to running a thriving practice. The conversation reveals the psychological tug-of-war many advisors experience—feeling they...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn highlights succession planning and the lessons learned from a successful merger. On Monday, Matt sat down with Jenny Martella from Modera, who shared her remarkable journey of growing her advisory firm from $19 million to $250 million before joining a larger organization. Jenny reflected on the key lessons from her career, emphasizing that success comes...

In this episode of the Perfect RIA Podcast, Matthew Jarvis sits down with financial powerhouse Jenny Martella, whose journey from managing $19 million to $250 million before joining Modera is nothing short of inspirational. Jenny shares wisdom that goes beyond numbers, revealing how meaningful connections shaped her success story. She unpacks the secret of effective succession planning (hint: it's...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn highlights advisor mindsets and M&A strategies in the financial advisory world.  Monday's episode featured Matt and Micah reflecting on insights from their recent mastermind event, where "financial undressing" revealed a fundamental truth: no two practices are alike. They challenged advisors to abandon the "I'm the best" mentality, warning that pride cre...

In this episode of the Perfect RIA Podcast, Matthew Jarvis is joined by Ted Jenkin to discuss the high-stakes world of mergers and acquisitions in the financial advisory industry. They expose the gap between self-proclaimed M&A "experts" and those with genuine deal-making prowess. They highlight how proper negotiation tactics can transform a mediocre deal into a goldmine—and why having a professio...

In this episode of the Perfect RIA Podcast, hosts Micah Shilanski and Matthew Jarvis discuss humility and why even advisors with the fanciest letterheads need it. The duo dives into the ecosystem of advisory practices (spoiler alert: not all are created equal) and unpacks the sometimes brutal realities of mergers and acquisitions. Whether your practice is a boutique operation or an industry behemo...

Summary:  In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn highlights one advisor's journey going independent. On Monday, Matthew Jarvis welcomed Carmine Corino, CEO of Cornerstone Planning Group and author of the Amazon bestseller "Broken Dealer." Their conversation dove deep into the complexities of transitioning from traditional broker-dealer channels to independence in the financial advisory world....

Summary:  Ever wonder what happens when a seasoned financial advisor finally breaks free from the broker-dealer world? In this episode of the Perfect RIA podcast, Matthew Jarvis interviews Carmine Corino, author of 'Broken Dealer' and CEO of Cornerstone Planning Group. Carmine shares his compelling transition from the broker-dealer world to founding his own RIA, offering a candid look at the chall...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn highlights the ever-present challenge of advisory fees and client perceptions. Matt and Micah emphasized on Monday that the fee conversation isn't just about the percentage – it's about the value delivered. While they acknowledged that a 1% fee might indeed be too high for an advisor who's not actively engaging with clients, they argued that consistent v...

In this episode of The Perfect RIA podcast, Matt and Micah tackle the ever-present elephant in the room: advisor fees and the true value behind those dollar signs. They discuss how clients, naturally protective of their hard-earned wealth, often wrestle with the age-old question: "What am I really getting for my money?" Matt and Micah advocate for advisors to own their worth confidently and stress...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn recaps an insightful conversation between Matt and executive coach Kristen Burke about the art and science of goal achievement. While many advisors start the year with enthusiasm, that initial energy often wanes as the first quarter progresses. Kristen, drawing from her extensive experience coaching advisors since 2009, revealed that success lies not in...

In this episode of The Perfect RIA podcast, Matthew Jarvis and Kristin Burke tackle the often frustrating gap between setting goals and actually achieving them. They explore why many financial advisors' ambitious plans fall short and reveal the key elements that transform good intentions into tangible results. They unpack the four essential pillars of goal achievement: clarity, confidence, courage...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn highlights the origin story of why Matthew Jarvis and Micah Shilanski started The Perfect RIA. Matt and Micah revealed how the landscape of financial advising was once shrouded in mystery, with successful advisors keeping their strategies close to the chest, and they found themselves navigating through well-meaning but often theoretical advice from peopl...

In this episode of The Perfect RIA Podcast, hosts Micah Shilanski and Matthew Jarvis cut through the noise of conventional industry wisdom. As advisors everywhere dive into their new year planning, these seasoned pros share what actually drives success in financial planning – and it's not what most Instagram gurus would have you believe. They tackle the real challenges of entrepreneurship in finan...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn highlights why estate planning often becomes a mere checkbox for financial advisors despite its critical importance. On Monday, Micah shared his successful approach of making estate planning the first priority with new clients, emphasizing the value of supporting clients throughout the entire process rather than simply directing them to an attorney. He a...

In this episode, Matthew Jarvis and Micah Shilanski dive deep into the often misunderstood world of estate planning. They reveal how many clients mistakenly consider estate planning a simple checkbox task when it actually requires ongoing attention and care. They share invaluable insights from their years of experience, emphasizing that successful financial advisors must actively guide their clien...

In this week's Follow Up Friday, Amber Kuhn recaps a powerful conversation between Matthew Jarvis and financial advisor Tony Hixon, author of "Retirement Stepping Stones." The episode dives into the human side of financial advising, sparked by a personal tragedy that transformed Tony's approach to retirement planning. This devastating experience led Tony to revolutionize his approach to retirement...

In this episode of The Perfect RIA, Matthew Jarvis welcomes Tony Hixon for a deeply personal conversation about the often-overlooked emotional dimensions of retirement planning. Sharing the heart-wrenching story of his mother's struggle with mental health after retiring, Tony reveals how this experience transformed his approach to financial advising. He discovered that while managing money is cruc...

In this week's recap, Amber Kuhn highlights the discussion about turning your January business aspirations into tangible growth. On Monday, Matt and Micah emphasized that successful financial advisory practices need more than just revenue goals – they need sustainable double-digit client growth to maintain and increase practice valuations. The heart of their message centered on the sometimes uncom...