The Efficient Advisor: Tactical Business Advice for Financial Planners

Libby Greiwe
  • 4.8 (138)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semiweekly

Ever wish you knew an Advisor who built a 7-figure practice--while only working 3 days a week--that was willing to share her systems, processes, and business hacks with you? Meet the Efficient Advisor Podcast host Libby Greiwe. Her specialty? Breaking down the functions of a financial planning practice into actionable step-by-step processes designed to get you results and get you out of overwhelm. Expert interviews, done-for-you templates, and easy to implement solutions… all tied together by her MISSION to create ease in your business. She promises to deliver actionable step-by-step solutions you can implement right away to save time, money, and frustration. The goal--to lead you from overwhelm to efficiency. She started her own financial planning business in 2004. And, over the years she scaled into a 7-figure single-advisor firm while working only 25-hours a week so she could be super involved while raising her kiddos and loving on her hubby. She knows what it takes to build a 100% referral-only practice and to not have to GRIND out the hours to be successful. She ran her own planning business for 16 years culminating in a sale to an enterprise firm in 2019. Now, she’s simply just obsessed with helping other amazing advisors do the same thing. So if you’re an advisor who’s got the hang of planning and is now looking to grow to that first 500k of take-home pay… you are in the right place! 

  1. 2d ago

    416: The Marketing Strategy You're Overlooking (And It's SO Easy to Fix!)

    What if one of your biggest opportunities for growing your advisory business is hiding inside a process you already have? Most financial advisors think their onboarding process is working just fine. The paperwork gets signed, the assets transfer, and clients aren't complaining. But what if those first 100 days could become one of your most powerful referral-generating strategies? In this episode, I'm joined by financial advisor Craig Gingerich of Sage Rutty, who shares how a few intentional changes to his onboarding experience helped turn new clients into enthusiastic advocates for his firm. We're talking referrals from referrals from referrals, memorable client gifts, proactive communication, and simple ways to create an experience your clients can't help but talk about. In this episode you will learn: Why the first 100 days are a powerful opportunity to generate referrals.Simple onboarding improvements that make clients feel valued and cared for.How personalized gifts and proactive communication create memorable client experiences.How to turn service mistakes into opportunities to build trust and strengthen relationships.Creating a remarkable onboarding experience doesn't have to mean adding complicated systems or spending a fortune. Craig shares practical, real-world examples you can borrow and implement in your own advisory business. And if you're listening to this thinking, "Okay, I know my onboarding could be better, but where do I even start?" I've got you! My First 100 Days course walks you step-by-step through building a remarkable, repeatable onboarding experience, complete with the workflows, templates, scripts, and ideas you need to put it into action. You don't have to reinvent the wheel or figure it all out yourself. Head to theefficientadvisor.com to learn more about The First 100 Days course and start turning your onboarding process into an experience your clients can't help but rave about. Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE! Learn more about our sponsor BELAY for amazing virtual assistant services HERE!    Learn more about T2MWorks HERE! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

  2. 6d ago

    415: The Details Behind My $1.5M Advisory Practice (And My Engagement Story!)

    We talk a lot about systems, workflows, delegation, and building more efficient financial planning practices around here. But today, we're switching things up! I'm taking you behind the scenes of the advisory practice I built, the mistakes I made along the way, and how I managed to run a $1.5 million practice serving 285 households while working just three days a week. I'm answering some of your most frequently asked questions about my team, my first hires, why I sold my practice, and what I've learned about building a business that supports the life you actually want to live. And because so many of you have been asking, we're getting personal, too! I'm sharing my engagement story, how Kevin and I met, and a little encouragement for anyone navigating a difficult season of life. In this episode you will learn: How I built a $1.5 million, referral-only practice serving 285 households on a three-day workweek.What my team looked like, the hiring mistakes I made, and how I learned to delegate effectively.Why I sold my financial planning practice and what I've learned about defining success on your own terms.The story behind my recent engagement and why life's hardest chapters don't have to be the last.Whether you're looking to grow your advisory practice, reclaim your time, or simply get a little more intentional about what you're building, I hope this episode reminds you that success doesn't have to look like anyone else's version. At the end of the day, we're not building businesses just to build businesses. We're building them to support lives we actually love. And sometimes the most important work we do has nothing to do with the office. Episodes mentioned: 384: The Truth About My 3-Day Work Week Pt 1 386: The Truth About My 3-Day Work Week Pt 2 Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE! Learn more about our sponsor BELAY for amazing virtual assistant services HERE!    Learn more about T2MWorks HERE! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

  3. Oct 20

    414: What to Say to Attract More High-Net-Worth Clients (3 Scripts to Steal!) w/ Derrick Kinney

    In a world where AI is changing how financial advisors do business, one thing is becoming more valuable than ever: genuine human connection. But are you using the right words to attract your ideal clients, build trust, and stand out from the competition? In this episode, I'm joined by returning guest Derek Kinney, who shares the powerful communication strategies behind his wildly popular presentation at Future Proof. We're breaking down three critical moments that can make or break your ability to attract high-net-worth clients, along with practical scripts, questions, and small shifts in language that can make a massive difference in your business. In this episode you will learn: How to answer "What do you do?" in a way that immediately connects with your ideal clients.What to say when prospects tell you they already have an advisor or don't remember requesting information.The powerful questions to ask during prospect meetings that build trust and turn conversations into clients.How to stand out on LinkedIn by creating a memorable, authentic personal brand in an AI-driven world.From your elevator pitch to your prospect conversations to the way you show up online, the words you choose matter. Derek shares actionable strategies you can start using immediately to create stronger connections, differentiate your firm, and attract more of the clients you actually want to serve. Because at the end of the day, growing your business isn't just about what you know. It's about making people feel understood, valued, and confident that you're the right advisor for them. Find Derreck on LinkedIn HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE! Learn more about our sponsor BELAY for amazing virtual assistant services HERE!    Learn more about T2MWorks HERE! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

  4. Oct 16

    413: The Productivity Tool I Can’t Quit (Even With AI)

    We have more technology, automation, AI, and digital tools than ever before—but having more ways to capture information doesn’t necessarily help us decide what deserves our attention. In this episode, I’m sharing why I still rely on a physical planner in an almost entirely digital business and the planning system that has helped me build multiple seven-figure businesses while continuing to work reduced hours. The goal isn’t to cram more into your day. It’s to get intentional about what actually matters and make consistent progress on the work that moves your business forward. In this episode you will learn: Why I believe digital is where you store information, but paper is where you decide what deserves your attention.How I narrow big annual and quarterly goals into three priorities that keep me focused on what matters most.How I use weekly and daily planning to turn big projects into specific, time-blocked action steps.Why becoming a more efficient human and learning to direct your attention should happen before adding more technology, automation, or workflows.Efficiency isn’t about squeezing 47 tasks into your day or answering emails faster so you can answer even more of them. It’s about getting the right things done. Whether you use the Full Focus Planner, another planner, or a simple piece of paper, the real power is creating a system that helps you move from big goals to quarterly priorities to weekly commitments to the specific work you’re going to do today. When you decide those priorities ahead of time, you stop letting your inbox, other people’s agendas, and whatever feels urgent in the moment run your day. Check out the Full Focus Planner on Amazon HERE!  Check out the Full Focus Planner Pack on Their Website HERE!  Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE! Learn more about our sponsor BELAY for amazing virtual assistant services HERE!    Learn more about T2MWorks HERE! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

  5. Oct 13

    412: When Your Team Isn't Following Through: Here's What to Say

    Being a financial advisor is one thing. Leading a team, managing different personalities, and holding people accountable without feeling like the bad guy? That’s a whole different skill set! In this episode, I’m joined by Julie from XY Communication to tackle some of the most frustrating (and often uncomfortable) parts of leadership. We’re talking about how to have difficult conversations, communicate expectations clearly, and create a team culture where people feel supported while still getting things done. Plus, we dig into the generational differences that can create tension between advisors, team members, and successors—and how to bridge those gaps without burning everyone out. In this episode you will learn: How to hold team members accountable without damaging relationships or creating defensiveness.Why daily team huddles and clearer delegation can eliminate frustration and missed expectations.What to say when an employee repeatedly misses deadlines or fails to meet expectations.How to navigate generational differences and communication challenges during succession planning.Whether you're struggling to have a tough conversation with an employee, feeling frustrated by your team's lack of follow-through, or navigating the growing pains of a multigenerational practice, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put to work immediately. Because great leadership isn't something you're born knowing how to do. It's a skill you can build, and better communication is a great place to start! Connect with Julie HERE!  Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE! Learn more about our sponsor BELAY for amazing virtual assistant services HERE!    Learn more about T2MWorks HERE! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

  6. Oct 9

    411: The Part Most Advisors Skip Before They Automate a Workflow

    Automation doesn’t fix a bad process—it just helps you do a bad process faster. Yet too often, financial advisors jump straight to the technology: building CRM workflows, connecting Zapier, creating AI assistants, and automating email sequences before they’ve clearly defined what the process is actually supposed to accomplish. In this episode, I’m breaking down why automation should come at the end of process building, not the beginning, and the six steps you need to take before handing anything over to technology. In this episode you will learn: The difference between a collection of tasks and a deliberately designed, repeatable process.The six steps to follow before automating: do it, document it, test it, tweak it, prove it, and then automate it.How to identify unnecessary steps, friction points, unclear ownership, and broken handoffs before technology locks them in.How to determine which parts of your process need human judgment and which are actually worth automating.The goal isn’t to automate everything—it’s to build a process that consistently produces the outcome you want and then use technology to make the right parts more efficient. Before you build another workflow or AI assistant, prove the process works with real people in real life. Think it through, document it, test it, tweak it, prove it, and only then automate it. Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE! Learn more about our sponsor BELAY for amazing virtual assistant services HERE!    Learn more about T2MWorks HERE! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

  7. Oct 6

    410: Prospect Pushing Back on Your Fee? What to Do & Say

    When a prospect pushes back on your financial planning fee, it can be tempting to lower the price just to get them to say yes. But a fee objection doesn’t automatically mean you have a pricing problem. You might have a value communication problem, an offer problem, or you may simply need to get better at articulating the outcomes your planning creates. In this episode, I’m breaking down why I don’t believe in discounting your fees just because someone asks, how to make your value more tangible, and the language you can use to confidently navigate fee conversations with prospects. In this episode you will learn: Why discounting the same service for clients who negotiate can create an unsustainable pricing strategy.How to identify and communicate both the quantitative and qualitative value of your financial planning.What to say when a prospect tells you your fee is too expensive or directly asks for a discount.How to determine whether you have a value communication, offer, or actual pricing problem.You don’t need every prospect to say yes, and one person telling you that you’re too expensive doesn’t necessarily mean your fee is wrong. Before you discount, diagnose what’s really happening. When you can clearly articulate the outcomes your planning creates and confidently explain your value, you can stop defending your fee and let the right clients decide whether that value is worth the investment. Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE! Learn more about our sponsor BELAY for amazing virtual assistant services HERE!    Learn more about T2MWorks HERE! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

  8. Oct 2

    409: Why You Keep Blowing Off Your Time Blocks (And How to Finally Follow Through)

    You blocked the time. You had every intention of doing the work. But somehow, when that time block arrives, email, team questions, client needs, and a dozen other things suddenly take over. If this sounds familiar, the problem might not be discipline at all. In this episode, I’m digging into the research behind why we procrastinate and sharing practical ways to turn your time blocks into time you actually use. In this episode you will learn: Why vague time blocks create friction and how getting specific makes it easier to start.How emotions like overwhelm, uncertainty, boredom, and fear can drive procrastination.Why starting small, creating transition time, and adding immediate rewards can improve follow-through.How to create an “executable time block” with an outcome, starting action, trigger, resistance plan, and finish line.Time blocking tells you where your time should go, but that alone doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually do the work. The goal is to build systems that make starting easier, even on the days when motivation and discipline aren’t showing up. Don’t just schedule the time—schedule the task and schedule the start. Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE! Learn more about our sponsor BELAY for amazing virtual assistant services HERE!    Learn more about T2MWorks HERE! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

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Ever wish you knew an Advisor who built a 7-figure practice--while only working 3 days a week--that was willing to share her systems, processes, and business hacks with you? Meet the Efficient Advisor Podcast host Libby Greiwe. Her specialty? Breaking down the functions of a financial planning practice into actionable step-by-step processes designed to get you results and get you out of overwhelm. Expert interviews, done-for-you templates, and easy to implement solutions… all tied together by her MISSION to create ease in your business. She promises to deliver actionable step-by-step solutions you can implement right away to save time, money, and frustration. The goal--to lead you from overwhelm to efficiency. She started her own financial planning business in 2004. And, over the years she scaled into a 7-figure single-advisor firm while working only 25-hours a week so she could be super involved while raising her kiddos and loving on her hubby. She knows what it takes to build a 100% referral-only practice and to not have to GRIND out the hours to be successful. She ran her own planning business for 16 years culminating in a sale to an enterprise firm in 2019. Now, she’s simply just obsessed with helping other amazing advisors do the same thing. So if you’re an advisor who’s got the hang of planning and is now looking to grow to that first 500k of take-home pay… you are in the right place! 

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