Tag: Advisor Growth
The Truth About Advisor Independence and RIA Transitions (Ep. 20)

The Truth About Advisor Independence and RIA Transitions (Ep. 20)

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What does independence actually look like for a financial advisor today? For many advisors, the answer is more complicated than simply “starting your own RIA.”

In this episode, Andrew Evans takes a look at what it really means to build an independent advisory business, and why many advisors are rethinking the traditional path. Instead of focusing so heavily on industry trends or one-size-fits-all models, Andrew breaks down the operational realities advisors face when leaving captive environments, transitioning to fee-only planning, or trying to scale sustainably without losing flexibility.

Andrew discusses: 

  • Why starting an RIA from scratch can become operationally overwhelming
  • How Rossby Financial approaches independence differently from large aggregators
  • The importance of separating compliance, operations, and advisor autonomy
  • What advisors should focus on before making a transition
  • And more!

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How to Conference Like a Champ Without Wasting the Trip With Marie Loudin & Lori Zinaich (Ep. 17)

How to Conference Like a Champ Without Wasting the Trip With Marie Loudin & Lori Zinaich (Ep. 17)

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Most people leave conferences with a stack of business cards, a drained social battery, and no real follow-up plan.

In this episode of The Outstanding Shift, Andrew Evans sits down with Marie Loudin and Lori Zinaich to discuss what actually makes conferences worth the investment, especially for advisors, marketers, and business development professionals seeking to build meaningful relationships.

From pre-conference prep and AI-powered networking strategies to the art of balancing sessions, socializing, and follow-up, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how experienced conference pros approach events differently. Lori and Marie share practical insights on networking etiquette, content creation while attending events, memorable follow-up tactics, and why the real value of a conference often happens before and after the event itself.

Andrew, Lori, and Marie discuss: 

  • How to prepare before a conference so you’re not walking in cold
  • Using AI tools to identify the right people to meet
  • Why networking is more important than attending every session
  • Conference mistakes people make without realizing it
  • How to follow up so people actually remember you
  • Balancing authenticity, branding, and social media at live events
  • Creative ways to make meaningful professional connections
  • And more!

Connect with Rossby Financial: 

Connect with Andrew Evans: 

Connect with Lori Zinaich:

Connect with Marie Loudin:

About our Guests: 

Lori Zinaich is part of the enterprise team at FMG, where she helps advisors strengthen their marketing and communication strategies through digital tools, social media, email campaigns, and client engagement solutions. Before transitioning into financial services marketing, Lori built her career in sports marketing, working across industries including NASCAR, PGA, and hockey, experiences that shaped her approach to relationship-building and live events.

Marie Loudin is a Charlotte-based fractional sales professional and consultant who works with multiple companies, including Rossby Financial and R Office. With a background in consulting at major financial institutions, Marie brings a strategic and highly relationship-driven approach to networking, sales, and conference engagement.

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Why Client Experience Breaks Down with Zach Conway & Kelsey McKenna (Part 2) (Ep. 16)

Why Client Experience Breaks Down with Zach Conway & Kelsey McKenna (Part 2) (Ep. 16)

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Great financial advice is not just about what you recommend. It’s about how clients experience every step along the way.

What if the biggest gap in financial advice is not knowledge, but how that knowledge is delivered, explained, and felt by the client?

In this episode, Andrew Evans continues his conversation with Zach Conway and Kelsey McKenna of Seeds, exploring why financial advisors struggle to connect client discovery with actual portfolio outcomes. They break down how poor onboarding experiences can shape client perceptions for years, the importance of understanding client feelings, and why scalable frameworks matter. The discussion also highlights how firms can turn internal processes into repeatable systems that enhance both client experience and business value.

Key takeaways:

  • Why many advisors fail to connect discovery insights with portfolio decisions, creating long-term client disconnect
  • How early onboarding experiences can shape client trust and perception for years after the first interaction
  • The importance of understanding client feelings and feedback to improve the overall advisory experience
  • Why scaling a firm requires turning personal insight into repeatable systems and documented processes
  • How firms can increase valuation by proving consistent, repeatable client outcomes beyond market-driven growth
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Rossby Financial: 

Connect with Andrew Evans: 

Connect with Zach Conway & Kelsey McKenna: 

About Zach Conway: 

Zach Conway is the Founder and CEO of Seeds, an investment management platform designed to improve both the advisor and client experience. With over a decade of experience as a financial advisor, Zach built his career inside an advisory firm, where he identified gaps in how investment management and client engagement were delivered. His work today centers on helping advisors streamline operations, enhance personalization, and build businesses that can grow without losing the human element.

About Kelsey McKenna:

Kelsey McKenna is the Chief Operating Officer at Seeds, where she focuses on helping financial advisory firms build scalable, client-centered businesses. With a background in advisor technology and early-stage startups, including her time at eMoney, she brings a deep understanding of how advisors can connect service, experience, and operations into a cohesive model. Kelsey is passionate about improving how firms deliver value to clients while creating systems that support sustainable growth.

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How Visual Planning Completely Transforms Client Conversations with H. Adam Holt, CFP®, ChFC® (Ep. 15)

How Visual Planning Completely Transforms Client Conversations with H. Adam Holt, CFP®, ChFC® (Ep. 15)

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Most people don’t struggle because they lack information; they struggle because they can’t clearly see what they already have.

What if the real issue isn’t strategy, but how it’s communicated and understood?

In this episode, Andrew Evans interviews H. Adam Holt, CEO & Founder of Asset-Map, about his journey from financial advisor to building a platform used by thousands of advisors. He shares how simplifying financial conversations through visualization helped him grow rapidly, why the industry often overwhelms clients, and how advisors can create stronger engagement by showing instead of telling.

Adam also introduces the concept of financial fire drills and explains how purpose, not money, drives long-term fulfillment.

They discuss:

  • How visual financial mapping replaced complex reports and helped clients understand their full financial picture
  • Why many advisors lose client engagement by relying on overwhelming data and analysis instead of clarity
  • The six financial fire drills every client should plan for to avoid major disruptions in their lives
  • How shifting from telling to showing improves trust, communication, and decision-making with clients
  • Why purpose and relationships matter more than financial outcomes in both business and personal life
  • And more!

Connect with Rossby Financial: 

Connect with Andrew Evans: 

Connect with H. Adam Holt: 

About our Guest: 

Adam Holt is the Founder of Asset-Map, a widely adopted financial planning platform that helps advisors simplify complex client situations through visual mapping. With nearly three decades of experience in financial services, he began his career in insurance and evolved into a holistic financial planner, eventually building one of the top practices in his broker-dealer. His work focuses on improving client engagement by making financial information easier to understand and act on. Beyond Asset-Map, Adam is also passionate about purpose-driven initiatives, including building communities like Rebel Dads, which supports entrepreneurial fathers in balancing leadership at home and work.

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Fixing the Broken Advisor Experience with Zach Conway and Kelsey McKenna (Part 1) (Ep. 13)

Fixing the Broken Advisor Experience with Zach Conway and Kelsey McKenna (Part 1) (Ep. 13)

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Advisors are working harder than ever, yet many still feel stuck delivering inconsistent client experiences.

What if the issue is not effort, but how services, operations, and investment management are structured in the first place?

In this episode, Andrew Evans speaks with Zach Conway, Founder and CEO of Seeds, and Kelsey McKenna, COO of Seeds, about why many advisory firms struggle to scale their services. They explore how fragmented processes, unclear positioning, and disconnected technology stacks create friction for both advisors and clients. Zach and Kelsey also explain how redefining the client experience and automating operational tasks can help firms grow without sacrificing quality.

Key takeaways:

  • Why many advisors avoid building new service models due to fear of disrupting current revenue streams
  • How fragmented systems and siloed thinking create inconsistent client experiences and limit scalability
  • The importance of defining a clear niche to simplify offerings and improve operational efficiency
  • Why advisors should focus on client relationships while automating trading and portfolio mechanics
  • How aligning service, experience, and operations creates a repeatable and scalable business model
  • And more!

Connect with Rossby Financial: 

Connect with Andrew Evans: 

Connect with Zach Conway & Kelsey McKenna: 

About Zach Conway: 

Zach Conway is the Founder and CEO of Seeds, an investment management platform designed to improve both the advisor and client experience. With over a decade of experience as a financial advisor, Zach built his career inside an advisory firm, where he identified gaps in how investment management and client engagement were delivered. His work today centers on helping advisors streamline operations, enhance personalization, and build businesses that can grow without losing the human element.

About Kelsey McKenna:

Kelsey McKenna is the Chief Operating Officer at Seeds, where she focuses on helping financial advisory firms build scalable, client-centered businesses. With a background in advisor technology and early-stage startups, including her time at eMoney, she brings a deep understanding of how advisors can connect service, experience, and operations into a cohesive model. Kelsey is passionate about improving how firms deliver value to clients while creating systems that support sustainable growth.

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