Best Practices Podcast

Rethink Etiquette

Today, we have the privilege of hosting Susy Fossati, Founder & Director of Avignon Etiquette, one of Canada's leading authorities on modern etiquette, executive presence, and strategic soft skills, trusted by corporate leaders, families, and schools alike to cultivate confidence, sophistication, and lasting influence. Susy's expertise is grounded in global best practices shaped by elite instructors advising the world's most influential private households and high-performing organizations. She partners with forward-thinking organizations, families, and educational institutions to deliver tailored workshops, private coaching, and immersive experiences, helping participants navigate professional, social, and public environments with poise, strategic awareness, and authenticity. Whether preparing client-facing teams, guiding students in schools, or coaching families, Susy equips individuals and groups to strengthen trust, elevate personal and organizational brand, and build meaningful, cross-cultural relationships that leave a lasting impression. Join us as we dive into a conversation with Susy, a leading Canadian voice on etiquette. She brings insight and authority to every conversation on modern manners and professional poise. https://www.avignonetiquette.com [https://www.avignonetiquette.com] Susy Fossati, Founder & Director of Avignon Etiquette, one of Canada's leading authorities on modern etiquette, executive presence, and strategic soft skills, is trusted by corporate leaders. She partners with forward-thinking organizations, families, and educational institutions to deliver tailored workshops, private coaching, and immersive experiences, helping participants, families, and schools alike to cultivate confidence, sophistication, and lasting influence. Susy's expertise is grounded in global best practices shaped by elite instructors advising the world's most influential. She partners with forward-thinking organizations, families, and educational institutions to deliver tailored workshops, private coaching, and immersive experiences, helping participants in private households and high-performing organizations.

Operational effectiveness and the hidden cost of undocumented systems

In this episode, we dive into a topic that almost every growing financial services team faces — but few talk about openly: operational effectiveness and the hidden cost of undocumented systems. Our team has been working together since 2003. We're highly in sync. We move fast. We 'just know' how things work. But when a new team member joins, that rhythm becomes a barrier rather than a strength. The core issue isn't about one person's performance — it's about the absence of documented processes, clear KPIs, and a defined source of truth. So today, we're speaking with Katie Attard, an expert in operational effectiveness to unpack: * How teams unintentionally create invisible systems * Why undocumented culture becomes risky * And how to build scalable infrastructure without slowing momentum Learn more about our guest Katie Attard: https://www.konduitoperations.com/

Meeting Your Clients' Bigger Financial Needs Together

Special Guest, Karen Gowdy, Senior Estate and Insurance Advisor. Karen, with a remarkable 35-year career in the Financial Services & Insurance Industry, provides comprehensive advice for personal and corporate estate and insurance. Areas of expertise include estate creation and preservation techniques and corporate financial security planning, all with an emphasis on taxes and liquidity. Her work is especially key to delivering exceptional client experiences to all advisors and clients across Eastern Ontario. Beyond her advisory roles, Karen's mantra is family first. https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-gowdy-32503332/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-gowdy-32503332/] Unleashing Your Hero: Rise Above Any Challenge, Expand Your Impact, And Be The Hero The World Needs [https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/unleashing-your-hero-rise-above-any-challenge-expand-your-impact-and-be-the-hero-the-world-needs/9781400228768.html]

Categorize and Analyze

In this episode, we're talking about the importance of client segmentation and tiered service in financial advisory teams emphasizing the need for ongoing analysis and categorization of clients to enhance service delivery and business growth. Tools to go with this episode are located here. [https://advisors.to/content/uploads/Tool-Chapter-9.pdf]

Hiring a New Team Member

In today's episode, we're diving into a crucial topic for any growing business: Hiring a New Team Member, exploring smart strategies to build stronger, more effective teams. Before you jump into posting that job opening, it's essential to pause and reflect. Have you truly explored all options to meet your workload with your current team? Sometimes, reassigning roles, streamlining processes through automation, or reshaping client relationships can increase capacity without the need for new hires. If not, then it's time to look carefully at what skills your team is missing and design a role that fills those gaps — not one created just to help a specific person or out of convenience. Chapter 3 Tool [https://advisors.to/content/uploads/Tool-Chapter-3.pdf]