64. Why Advisor Growth Feels Broken Right Now

64. Why Advisor Growth Feels Broken Right Now

Every wealth management firm wants growth. More leads. More meetings. More assets. Yet despite increased spending on marketing, lead generation platforms, AI outreach, and prospecting tools, many advisors are finding that growth feels harder than ever. Pipelines may be full, but conversion remains frustratingly low. In this episode, we explore the trust gap that exists in modern prospecting. While firms have access to endless financial and demographic data, they often know very little about what prospects actually care about, what motivates them, or whether they are emotionally ready to begin an advisory relationship. As AI makes generic outreach infinitely scalable, authentic human understanding becomes increasingly valuable. We discuss why personalization is becoming the new competitive advantage, how behavioral science can improve prospect engagement, and why the future of advisor growth may depend less on finding more leads and more on helping people feel understood before the first meeting ever begins. Connect with us!  * Marla Sofer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlasofer/] * Knomee [https://knomee.com/]

63. Why Retirement Planning Starts with Purpose, Not Risk with Gary Preisser

For decades, retirement planning has revolved around a familiar process: determine a client's risk tolerance, build a diversified portfolio, and hope the numbers work out. But what if that entire framework starts in the wrong place? In this episode, we explore why cash flow, timing, and purpose may matter far more than traditional risk questionnaires. As retirees transition from accumulating wealth to actually using it, many discover that the biggest challenge is not growing their assets. It is understanding what those assets are meant to accomplish. From vacations and family milestones to philanthropy and personal fulfillment, financial decisions become deeply tied to life itself. We unpack why volatility is not the same thing as risk, how advisors can help clients spend with confidence instead of fear, and why the future of wealth management may depend less on portfolios and more on helping people define what their money is actually for. Connect with us!  * Marla Sofer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlasofer/] * Knomee [https://knomee.com/] * Stonebriar Wealth Advisors  [https://www.stonebriarwealthadvisors.com/] * Gary Preisser on LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/garypreisser/]

62. The Missing Piece in Financial Planning with Sonya Lutter

In this episode, I sit down with Sonya Lutter, Certified Financial Planner, licensed marriage and family therapist, and a leading voice at the intersection of money and mental health. As a co-founder of the Financial Therapy Association, Sonya has spent her career helping the industry bridge the gap between technical expertise and human understanding. We explore what financial advisors are still missing when it comes to client relationships, why being present matters more than having the right answers, and how financial therapy has evolved from a niche idea into a critical part of modern wealth management. Sonya shares how advisors can better navigate emotions, family dynamics, and unspoken influences that shape financial behavior. If you are looking to deepen trust, improve discovery, and better understand the human side of money, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you show up for clients and what it truly means to guide them. Connect with us!  * Marla Sofer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlasofer/] * Knomee [https://knomee.com/] * Sonya Lutter on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonyalutter/] * Sonya Lutter’s website [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonyalutter.com&urlhash=o13M&isSdui=true&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BNVnwE9%2BVRoy4e8zKXuEBtw%3D%3D]

61. Defining a Range of Good with Natalie Taylor

In this episode, I sit down with Natalie Taylor, CFP®, nationally recognized financial planner, fintech consultant, and founder of the Goodland Group, to explore what it really means to deliver advice that works in real life and not just on paper. With over 20 years in financial planning and a decade building inside fintechs like Learnvest, SoFi, Monarch Money, and Ellevest, Natalie brings a rare and refreshing perspective on what human-centered planning actually looks like in practice. We talk about why the "do it with you" model is the underserved middle ground that clients actually want, how defining a range of good decisions replaces the pressure of a single right answer, and why co-creating goals with clients leads to dramatically higher follow-through. Natalie also shares her "choose your regrets" framework for equity compensation decisions, how she uses base hit versus home run goal buckets to establish risk capacity, and why she sees goals not as a fixed destination but as an evolving container. If you are an advisor looking to move beyond the hundred-page plan and build relationships where clients actually implement the advice, this conversation will shift how you think about discovery, empowerment, and what it means to truly know your client. Connect with us!  * Marla Sofer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlasofer/] * Knomee [https://knomee.com/] * Natalie Taylor on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalietaylorcfp/] * The Goodland Group [https://www.thegoodlandgroupadvisors.com/]

60. Purpose Over Profit in Financial Planning with Wesley Rowlands

In this episode, I sit down with Wesley Rowlands, partner and advisor at Atikan Wealth Partners, to explore a different approach to financial planning that starts with purpose, not products. With nearly two decades of experience and a deeply personal connection to the impact of money, Wes brings a perspective rooted in both technical expertise and lived experience. We talk about why most advisors start in the wrong place, how his education-first process changes the dynamic with clients, and why redefining risk is critical in today’s world of self-funded, multi-decade retirements. Wes also shares how behavioral finance, vulnerability, and values-based conversations create stronger, more meaningful client relationships. If you are looking to deepen your discovery process or rethink how you guide clients through complex financial decisions, this conversation will challenge you to focus less on tactics and more on understanding the person behind the plan. Connect with us!  * Marla Sofer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlasofer/] * Knomee [https://knomee.com/] * Wesley Rowlands on LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesrowlands/] * Atikan Wealth Partners [https://www.atikanwealth.com/]