When Life Changes: Financial Planning for Major Transitions - Susan Bradley (Founder)

When Life Changes: Financial Planning for Major Transitions - Susan Bradley (Founder)

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Susan Bradley, founder of the Sudden Money Institute, creator of the Certified Financial Transitionist (CeFT®) designation, and author of Sudden Money: Managing a Financial Windfall. Susan has spent decades studying what happens when people experience major life transitions involving money. What began as work helping women receiving legal settlements eventually evolved into a career focused on understanding the human side of financial planning and the challenges clients face when life changes suddenly. In this conversation, Susan explains why many financial planning conversations focus heavily on the technical side of change while overlooking the emotional, behavioral, and decision-making challenges that often accompany major life events. Susan also discusses the concept of becoming a client's thinking partner rather than simply their financial expert. She explains how advisors can help clients move through major life changes by providing structure, perspective, and a safe environment for decision-making. Throughout the conversation, Susan challenges advisors to think beyond the technical plan and consider what clients are experiencing as they move from one stage of life to another. One of her most important observations is that while advisors often focus on the first year after a major life event, many transitions continue unfolding for several years as clients adjust to a new reality and redefine their identity, relationships, and goals. Susan's message is simple: Financial transitions are ultimately human transitions, and advisors who understand both sides can create a deeper impact for their clients. Guest Links Website: https://financialtransitionist.com [https://financialtransitionist.com/] Book: Sudden Money: Managing a Financial Windfall LinkedIn: Susan Bradley Certified Financial Transitionist (CeFT®): https://financialtransitionist.com [https://financialtransitionist.com/] Recommend a Podcast Guest 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7 [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7] The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

Marketing That Doesn't Feel Like Marketing - Jeremy Keil, CFP®, CFA® [Founder]

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Jeremy Keil, CFP®, CFA®, and Certified Kingdom Advisor®, founder of Keil Financial Partners, host of the Retirement Revealed Podcast, and creator of the Mr. Retirement YouTube channel. Jeremy joins Belle to talk about advisor marketing, branding, and niching down in a way that feels authentic rather than sales-driven. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience helping clients transition into retirement, Jeremy explains why successful marketing is not just about generating leads. It starts with understanding exactly who you serve and how you communicate with them. Jeremy breaks down the framework he uses for his own business: • Brand: Who you are and who you serve • Messaging: How you speak to those people • Marketing: How you help the right people find you Jeremy also explains how his retirement planning framework became part of his client experience and why advisors should think intentionally about how clients experience their process from the very first interaction. The conversation also explores Jeremy's work as a Certified Kingdom Advisor and how values, faith, and transparency can influence advisor-client relationships. Finally, Jeremy shares why he believes advisors should learn motivational interviewing, a communication framework originally developed in behavioral counseling that helps people move toward meaningful change through better conversations and questions. His message to advisors is simple: The best marketing often does not feel like marketing at all. It feels like clarity, consistency, and connection. Guest Links Website: https://keilfp.com [https://keilfp.com/] Podcast: https://keilfp.com/blogpodcast/ [https://keilfp.com/blogpodcast/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrRetirement [https://www.youtube.com/@MrRetirement] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrretirement/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrretirement/] Recommend a Podcast Guest 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7 [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7] The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

The Problem with Buy-and-Hold Investing - Vincent Randazzo [Portfolio Manager]

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Vincent Randazzo, CMT, portfolio manager at Tamaris Capital Management, co-portfolio manager of the Defender Risk Adaptive 500 ETF, and founder of ViewRight Advisors. Vincent has spent more than two decades studying market behavior, technical analysis, and portfolio risk. In this conversation, he joins Belle to talk about a research paper he recently co-authored called Navigating Lost Decades: Protecting Long-Term Compounding in Secular Bear Markets and why advisors need to think beyond short-term volatility and start planning for the market environments that can quietly damage wealth over time. Drawing on more than 155 years of market history, Vincent explains what "lost decades" really are, why they happen more often than many investors realize, and how extended periods of flat or negative returns can create both financial and behavioral challenges for clients. Vincent also talks about why valuation alone is rarely enough to guide investment decisions, why context matters more than headlines, and how having a clear process can help advisors stay confident when clients start asking tough questions during volatile markets. Guest Links Website: https://viewright.ai [https://viewright.ai/] LinkedIn: Vincent Randazzo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentrandazzo/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Recommend a Podcast Guest 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7 [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7] The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

Why Financial Advisors Can't Ignore Content Creation Anymore - David Keller,CMT [Founder]

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP® [https://www.linkedin.com/in/belleosvath/], welcomes David Keller, CMT, President and Chief Strategist at Sierra Alpha Research, a boutique investment research and consulting firm. David is also a CNBC contributor and the host of the Market Misbehavior YouTube channel and podcast, where he helps investors and advisors better understand market behavior through technical analysis and storytelling. With a unique background blending finance, psychology, and creative storytelling, David shares how he built a business around content creation and why video, podcasts, and social media are becoming essential tools for advisors looking to build trust and connect with clients. In this conversation, David shares: * Why advisors should embrace content creation and start before they feel "ready" * How authentic, human content stands out in a world increasingly filled with AI-generated noise * The importance of thinking beyond posting content and building a true "channel" or media platform * Practical tools and strategies for growing a presence, including analytics, coaching, and consistency * How content helps shift investors from emotional decision-making to evidence-based thinking David also explains how his own journey - from corporate roles at firms like Fidelity and Bloomberg to launching his own firm - was driven by a desire to communicate more effectively and connect with audiences in a more meaningful way. He emphasizes that advisors who show up consistently, share insights clearly, and present themselves as real people can build stronger relationships and stand out in a crowded marketplace. Guest Links * Website: marketmisbehavior.com [https://www.marketmisbehavior.com/] * YouTube: MarketMisbehavior [https://www.youtube.com/c/MarketMisbehavior] * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dckeller/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dckeller/] Recommend a Podcast Guest 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7 [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7] The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals or services mentioned.

Volatility Is the New Normal: Portfolio Construction for Today's Markets - David Marra [Co-Founder & CIO]

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes David Marra, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Markin Asset Management, a firm focused on combining quantitative and fundamental research to help investors navigate changing market conditions and manage downside risk. With decades of experience in investment research and portfolio construction, David breaks down what downside protection really means and why it has become increasingly important in today's faster-moving, more volatile markets. While many portfolios are built for growth, David explains how advisors can better evaluate risk, manage drawdowns, and build strategies that protect capital without giving up long-term opportunity. David also discusses how global forces—like geopolitical conflict, supply chain disruptions, and rising interest rates—are contributing to increased market volatility, and why advisors need to adapt their investment approach accordingly. He emphasizes that effective portfolio construction is not just about avoiding losses, but about managing downside risk while still positioning clients for long-term growth. Guest Links Website: https://markinfunds.com [https://markinfunds.com/]LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-marra-8693b44 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-marra-8693b44/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BMGNgsvfXT329U%2Bvofgj76g%3D%3D] Recommend a Podcast Guest 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7 [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7] The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals or services mentioned.