Practical Wisdom from A Financial Advisors 4q3d2k

This episode is the first in a series, “Greater Together,” highlighting the experiences of A who maintain other professional hips as well. PJ Wallin, A/PFS, CFP®, Founder of Atlas Financial in Richmond, Virginia, talks about his experience as a founding member of the XY Planning Network and why he then ed A in 2016. To learn more about the A, please visit www.Alanners.org. To learn more about PJ Wallin, please visit www.AtlasFG.com.

Most of the financial planning industry is so focused on Assets Under Management, those words describe both the size of a firm and how much clients pay for advice. With the AUM model being so prevalent, why would you switch to a different way to charge—and, more importantly, a different way to practice? Our guest, Steve Swicegood, CFP®, shares his professional journey from the insurance business to comprehensive Financial Life Planning—a journey he took because his clients wanted more of his unbiased advice. To learn more about the A, please visit www.Alanners.org. To learn more about Steve Swicegood, please visit https://www.ConsciousMoney.com.

Most of the financial planning industry is so focused on Assets Under Management, those words describe both the size of a firm and how much clients pay for advice. With the AUM model being so prevalent, why would you switch to a different way to charge—and, more importantly, a different way to practice? Our guest, Steve Swicegood, CFP®, shares his professional journey from the insurance business to comprehensive Financial Life Planning—a journey he took because his clients wanted more of his unbiased advice. To learn more about the A, please visit www.Alanners.org. To learn more about Steve Swicegood, please visit https://www.ConsciousMoney.com.

Income tax is about far more than return preparation. Can you transform this annual filing chore into something else, helping your clients understand how their decisions throughout the year save them (or cost them) thousands of dollars? Our guest, Jonathan M. Heller, CFA, CFP®, EA, explains how tax planning integrates with the holistic financial plan and adds value for your clients, whether or not you prepare their returns. Jon is the co-author of the whitepaper Tax Alpha: How to Add Measurable Value with Tax-Focused Financial Planning (https://www.alanners.org/amainsite/consumer/media/tax-alpha). To learn more about the A, please visit www.Alanners.org. To learn more about Jonathan Heller, please visit www.KEJFinancial.com.

The label lifestyle practice suggests that the advisor has greater-than-average freedom with their time, but at the cost of restricting their own professional revenue. Do you have to choose between limited business success and overcommitment of your time? Or is it really possible to have both a life that’s balanced and a practice that provides a solid living? Our guest, Troy Von Haefen, CFP®, explains how he maintains lifestyle he's chosen and achieves the compensation that a professional financial advisor is worth. To learn more about the A, please visit www.Alanners.org. To learn more about Troy Von Haefen, please visit www.VHFinancialManagement.com.

For decades, financial advisors have heard that the future of the profession is in fee compensation. But the transition from commissions to fees is still a daunting challenge for many. Our guest, Meredith Briggs, CFP®, shares her journey: from selling products in the name of financial advice, to her ideal quality of life as a partner in a fiduciary, fee-only practice that’s dedicated to helping clients to really plan — and achieve — financial and life goals. To learn more about the A, please visit www.Alanners.org. To learn more about Meredith Briggs, please visit www.TaconicAdvisors.com.

Sometimes it seems financial plans are focused more on products or investment theory instead of how clients live their real lives. Adding more value for the client, by using a process that focuses on what makes a real difference to them, starts with looking at how they actually experience their money day by day. And this point of view compels us to challenge some widely held assumptions about how to deliver financial planning. Our guest, financial planning pioneer and A founder Bert Whitehead, JD, MBA, discusses seven core concepts holistic financial planners can apply to acknowledge the reality of what it’s like to create a plan for a real, living person, instead of a financial institution. To learn more about the A, please visit www.Alanners.org. To learn more about Bert Whitehead, please visit www.BertWhitehead.com.

Financial Planning is about more than investments. Other subjects like taxes, insurance, and estate planning are also crucial to a household's financial future. But with guidance on each of these subjects coming from different professionals, each with their own agenda, how can a consumer follow a consistent, coordinated plan? Our guest, Kelly Adams, CFP®, EA of Harbor Light Planning, discusses what it means to be a holistic financial planner. To learn more about the A, please visit www.Alanners.org. To learn more about Kelly Adams, please visit www.HarborLightPlanning.com/.

If you're a tax practitioner, you've probably thought about expanding your business to include financial planning. But how do you actually do that, and what should you expect the process to be like? Our guest, Bridget Sullivan Mermel, CFP®, A of Sullivan Mermel, Inc., shares her experiences making just this transition: from tax practitioner to fiduciary, fee-only financial planner. To learn more about the A, please visit www.Alanners.org. To learn more about Bridget Sullivan Mermel, please visit www.SullivanMermel.com.