Zombie Advisor

Planning Beyond the Sale: Flexible Strategies with David Soczek, CLU, ChFC (Ep. 9)

What happens when plans meet reality and reality changes everything? How do you prepare for outcomes you cannot predict while still making confident decisions today? In this episode, James Knapp interviews David Soczek, CLU, ChFC, Owner and Vice President of National Benefits Group, about building flexible strategies for business owners. They explore how planning for multiple outcomes, not just ideal scenarios, shapes better decisions. David explains the importance of collaboration with advisors, attorneys, and CPAs, along with balancing simplicity and complexity. The conversation also highlights how insurance, estate planning, and business succession intersect in real client situations. Key takeaways: * Why planning must account for unexpected life events like death, divorce, or shifting business outcomes * How collaboration between advisors, CPAs, and attorneys leads to more complete client solutions * The challenge of balancing simple strategies with complex financial realities and client comfort levels * Why fairness in family business transitions often requires separating business control from financial outcomes * How flexibility in insurance and estate structures can create better long term outcomes for business owners * And more! Connect with us! * Boyum Wealth Architects [https://myboyum.com/about-boyum-wealth-architects/] * LinkedIn: James Knapp, CFP® [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knapp-cfp%C2%AE-1183474/] * LinkedIn: Boyum Wealth Architects [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boyum-wealth-architects/] * info@boyumwa.com [info@boyumwa.com] * Subscribe to the podcast here! [https://zombieadvisor.blubrry.net/] Connect with David Soczek: * LinkedIn: David Soczek [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsoczek/] * Website: National Benefits Group [https://nbgllc.com/home] About Our Guest: Dave joined National Benefits Group (NBG) in 2004 and became an owner in 2009. His responsibilities include guiding clients through the design, implementation and administration process of non-qualified plans for both private and public companies. Dave began his financial services career in 1992 with a local office of a national firm where he specialized in the design and implementation of individual financial plans. In 1995, Dave joined the original NBG, with an emphasis in plan administration of non-qualified plans. In 2000, when NBG was purchased by Marsh & McLennan, Dave remained with their national executive and non-qualified plan group as a client executive. While at Marsh, Dave specialized in the design and implementation of corporate owned life insurance and non-qualified plans. Dave holds the professional designations of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and is an active member of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU). Dave resides in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis with his wife, Janet, and has survived raising two children, Samantha and Sydney, both of whom now have graduated college and on to their next adventures in life.

From CPA Track to Client-First Advice with Stewart Rallis (Ep. 8)

Great advisors do more than present information. They listen closely, stay steady when conditions shift, and build relationships that last. What separates a responsive advisor from one who simply goes through the motions? In this episode of Zombie Advisor, James Knapp talks with Stewart Rallis, Managing Principal at Stairway Partners, about his path from studying accounting to building a long career in financial advice. They cover early lessons from Doug Lennick, why goals still matter, how advisors can avoid becoming disconnected from clients, and why discipline, curiosity, and genuine human connection remain central to meaningful long-term advice. Key takeaways: * Stewart shares how an accounting path and a small business pushed him toward financial advice and client work * A spontaneous job offer from Doug Lennick changed his direction and started his advisory career * The episode explains how goal setting and focusing on what you control still shape planning today * Stewart describes zombie advisors as people who show up, report out, then fail to truly engage * James and Stewart stress discipline, emotional control, and real curiosity about clients’ lives * And more! Connect with us! * Boyum Wealth Architects [https://myboyum.com/about-boyum-wealth-architects/] * LinkedIn: James Knapp, CFP® [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knapp-cfp%C2%AE-1183474/] * LinkedIn: Boyum Wealth Architects [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boyum-wealth-architects/] * info@boyumwa.com [info@boyumwa.com] * Subscribe to the podcast here! [https://zombieadvisor.blubrry.net/] Connect with Stewart Rallis: * LinkedIn: Stewart Rallis [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-rallis-13002417/] * Website: Stairway Partners [https://www.stairwaypartners.com/] About Our Guest: Stewart Rallis is the Managing Principal at Stairway Partners. Stew is responsible for institutional strategy, business development, and client relationship management at Stairway Partners. Previously, Stew held senior advisory and management positions at several large financial institutions, including American Express, Prudential, and Morgan Stanley. Stew has served as manager and portfolio liaison for a variety of institutional investment relationships, and in his role, worked closely with their investment boards and financial committees to develop and implement portfolio strategy. Prior to joining Stairway Partners, Stew was Managing Principal of a private investment firm, where he led the firm’s institutional consulting and advisory business. Stew has over 35 years of investment experience and holds a Bachelor of Science Business degree in Accounting from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

Building a Client-First Practice in the RIA Space with Haris Kopic (Ep. 7)

Choosing the right business model can shape your entire career as a financial advisor. But what drives someone to leave commissions behind and embrace independence? In this episode, James Knapp sits down with Haris Kopic, CFP®, who recently joined Boyum Wealth Architects after 16 years in the industry. Haris shares his journey from graduating during the 2008 financial crisis to finding his footing in the RIA space, driven by a desire for client-centric service and fiduciary responsibility. Together, they explore memorable client experiences, the importance of curiosity in financial planning, and how going above and beyond creates lasting trust. Haris discusses: * His transition from commission-based sales to the independent RIA model and why fiduciary duty matters * A creative airport solution that saved a client $10,000 annually on life insurance premiums * Common mistakes advisors miss, from outdated policies to overlooked tax strategies * How curiosity and problem-solving define the best client relationships * Advice for new advisors and those looking to specialize and find their niche * And more! Connect with us! * (651) 289-6444 * Boyum Wealth Architects [https://myboyum.com/about-boyum-wealth-architects/] * LinkedIn: James Knapp, CFP® [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knapp-cfp%C2%AE-1183474/] * LinkedIn: Boyum Wealth Architects [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boyum-wealth-architects/] * info@boyumwa.com [info@boyumwa.com] * Subscribe to the podcast here! [https://zombieadvisor.blubrry.net/] Connect with Haris Kopic: * LinkedIn: Haris Kopic [https://www.linkedin.com/in/haris-kopic-cfp%C2%AE-b77863173/] About Our Guest: Haris Kopic, CFP®, is a Wealth Architect at Boyum Wealth Architects with 16 years of experience in the industry. After graduating from Iowa State University in 2008, Haris navigated the challenges of the financial crisis before finding his way to the RIA space in 2011. His approach to financial planning is rooted in curiosity, teamwork, problem-solving, and a commitment to fiduciary responsibility. Haris specializes in helping clients navigate complex financial decisions by understanding their motivations, values, and long-term goals, while delivering the kind of white glove service that builds lasting trust.

Dead Wrong Tax Decisions Business Owners Keep Making with Chris Wittich (CPA Perspective) (Ep. 6)

What if better tax planning started long before April, or even before you decide to sell your business? This episode pulls back the curtain on how small business owners and advisors can think differently about taxes, compensation, and long-term planning. In this episode of Zombie Advisor, James Knapp sits down with Chris Wittich, MBT, CPA, and partner at Boyum, to talk through real-world tax planning strategies for business owners at every stage. Chris shares how his career in tax started at age 15, preparing returns by hand, and how that early experience shaped his practical, people-first approach today. Together, they identify common gaps James and Chris see when reviewing new business tax returns, especially in owner compensation and retirement planning. The conversation also explores how tax strategy changes when a business owner is preparing for an eventual sale, whether to private equity, family, or internal successors. The episode wraps with an important look at estate organization, Minnesota estate tax considerations, and why clarity and preparation matter just as much as tax savings. What to expect: * Why the owner pay strategy is often the first sign of missed tax planning * How compensation decisions impact retirement plans, FICA taxes, and flexibility * What business owners should consider years before selling their company * Estate planning realities, organization tips, and common pitfalls families face * And more! Resources: * Estate Organization [https://myboyum.com/services/tax/estate-trust/] Connect with us! * Boyum Wealth Architects [https://myboyum.com/about-boyum-wealth-architects/] * LinkedIn: James Knapp, CFP® [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knapp-cfp%C2%AE-1183474/] * LinkedIn: Boyum Wealth Architects [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boyum-wealth-architects/] * info@boyumwa.com [info@boyumwa.com] * Subscribe to the podcast here! [https://zombieadvisor.blubrry.net/] Connect with Chris Wittich: * LinkedIn: Chris Wittich, CPA [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswittich/] About Our Guest: Chris Wittich is a partner at Boyum Wealth Architects and holds both an MBT and a CPA designation. With nearly 20 years of experience working with individuals and small business owners, Chris specializes in tax planning, business strategy, estate tax matters, and advisory support for the beauty and salon industry. His approach focuses on helping clients make informed decisions through clarity, organization, and long-term thinking.

When Experience Still Leads to the Wrong Advice with Andrew Kronschnabel (Ep. 5)

Even experienced professionals can end up with the wrong advice when planning is driven by products instead of perspective. In this episode, we unpack how “zombie advisors” quietly undermine good decision-making, even for highly sophisticated clients. In this episode of Zombie Advisor, James Knapp sits down with Andrew Kronschnabel, SVP / Head of Investment & Marketing Strategy, Seaport Global. Andy shares his professional journey through multiple market cycles and offers a candid personal story about his own experience working with a “zombie advisor.” Despite his CFA background and deep market expertise, Andy explains how fear, shaped by early career market crises, combined with a lack of holistic planning, led him into a whole life insurance policy that did not align with his age, risk capacity, or long-term goals. The conversation explores how siloed advice, poor questioning, and incentive-driven recommendations can result in misaligned outcomes. James and Andy also discuss the critical differences between institutional and retail advising, the importance of context and accountability, and why true fiduciary advice requires advisors to challenge assumptions rather than simply sell solutions. What to expect: * A real-world example of how product-first advice can fail even sophisticated investors * The difference between institutional portfolio management and comprehensive retail planning * How life experience and fear influence risk tolerance more than spreadsheets * Why fiduciary advice requires curiosity, context, and client-first accountability * And more! Connect with us! * Boyum Wealth Architects [https://myboyum.com/about-boyum-wealth-architects/] * LinkedIn: James Knapp, CFP® [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knapp-cfp%C2%AE-1183474/] * LinkedIn: Boyum Wealth Architects [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boyum-wealth-architects/] * info@boyumwa.com [info@boyumwa.com] * Subscribe to the podcast here! [https://zombieadvisor.blubrry.net/] Connect with Andy Kronschnabel: * LinkedIn: Andy Kronschnabel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-kronschnabel] * kronsch@mac.com [kronsch@mac.com] About Our Guest: Andrew Kronschnabel SGAM Advisors LLC, Management Committee Member and Penn Capital Management Committee Member Andrew joined Seaport Global Holdings in April 2023 and serves on the Penn Capital Management Committee for SGAM Advisors, LLC.   His additional responsibilities include institutional sales, collaborating on market strategy research, and assisting firm leaders in efforts to better serve institutional clients. Prior to joining Seaport, Andrew was the Portfolio Manager and Head of Investment Grade Credit at MetLife Investment Management LLC. He joined MetLife in September 2017 following its acquisition of Logan Circle Partners (LCP). At MetLife, he was responsible for all core-based, corporate, and long/short credit strategies. He has over 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LCP in 2007, he was a member of the portfolio management team at Delaware Investments where he was responsible for core-based and high-grade products from 2000 to 2007. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Economics and Politics from Colorado College and is a CFA charter holder.