Advisor Freedom

Conner Young
  • 5.0 (12)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by Conner Young, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

  1. 1D AGO

    Fire Half Your Tech: Joe Moss on Building a Smarter, Simpler Advisory Firm

    "I printed a massive advisor tech map, taped it to the wall, and decided I was going to figure it all out." (04:50) “Fire half your tech stack. You're not using it anyway. Save all the money, save all the time, spend half your day actually marketing and prospecting and the other half like working with your current clients. And you can have a lot freer life basically.” (06:25) "Content wins. Personality wins. Trust compounds over time if you consistently show up." (12:40) "Most advisors are buried in busy work and tools they don’t even use. Simplify, focus, and build something real." (09:15) "AI can help, but only after you learn how to think for yourself. Don’t outsource your brain." (15:10) I sat down with Joe Moss, founder of Advisor Tech, and the conversation was a masterclass in building a modern advisory firm. His path wasn’t traditional. He started in 2008–2009, lost money trading, bounced through real estate, and eventually fell deep into the personal finance world. That curiosity led him inside an RIA, where he saw firsthand how bloated most advisory tech stacks really are. Too many tools. Too much busy work. Not enough focus. So Joe printed a massive advisor tech map, taped it to the wall, and decided to figure it out. Today, he’s written the Advisor Tech Book and helps advisors simplify, streamline, and build firms that actually give them freedom. His message is simple. Fire half your tech, focus on what matters, market consistently, serve clients well, and don’t outsource your thinking to AI. If you’re building a modern advisory firm and want more clarity and less chaos, this episode is worth your time. ------------------ Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Conner Young⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience. Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow. We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

    35 min

  2. FEB 23

    From Football Field to Firm Owners

    “I met him the night I won that award in high school… seven years later we ended up starting Opulous.” (02:27) “We didn’t want to push products. We wanted to give advice.” (7:10) “It wasn’t one viral post. It was just showing up every day.” (14:50) “We stopped trying to sound smart and just started trying to be clear.” (15:10) “What we've learned is it is relatively predictable. What we put in, we get out at least.” (16:01) “We actually have an entire Notion system where we track and score every post that we create so we can constantly be learning.” (17:56) I sat down with ⁠Fran Walsh⁠, co-founder of Opulous and the story starts long before the firm did. It all started on a football field. Fran met his future business partner the night he won Pennsylvania Player of the Year in high school, an award his partner had won years earlier.  A phone call turned into an internship. The internship turned into a career. Eventually, into their own firm. The road wasn’t clean. Long commutes. Slow building. Grinding inside the insurance and broker-dealer world. Learning what they didn’t want to be. In 2019, they built Opulous. No commissions, no product pushing. Just planning and asset management. Growth didn’t come fast. Podcasts and daily Instagram posts went nowhere. Then they started writing every day. Twitter turned into Substack. Substack turned into consistent inbound. Now they generate 3–4 new leads per week, without paid ads.  Their business now compounds daily because they built up their own brand and serious writing. If you’re serious about building something different, this conversation will resonate. ------------------ Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Conner Young⁠⁠⁠⁠, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience. Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow. We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

    29 min

  3. FEB 16

    How Vivify Built a Modern Tax Firm by Saying No

    “I had 175 wealth management clients and couldn’t get a CPA to email me back. That’s when I knew something was broken.” (01:58) “My clients didn’t need to pay $2,000 for a tax return, but I also wasn’t sending them to H&R Block. There was no middle ground.” (03:20) “We intentionally avoid half the tax code so we can serve the right clients really, really well.” (10:40) “Most firms grow too fast and it kills them. We’re very conscious about slowing ourselves down.” (18:45) “We don’t want to be the biggest firm. We want control over our schedules and our lives.” (19:20) Logan and Claire didn’t build Vivify by following the traditional CPA playbook. No offices, no mass-market clients, no legacy systems. They started in 2023 with a simple observation: advisors couldn’t get CPAs to respond, and families with investments were stuck between overpriced firms and tax mills. So they built a remote-first, woman-led tax firm designed specifically for W-2 earners and families with investments. They intentionally cut out complexity, focused on communication, and built processes that actually scale without breaking trust. In this episode, Logan and Claire share why saying no is their growth strategy, how clear client gates protect quality, what intentional scaling really looks like, and why most tax firms fail when they grow too fast. If you care about building a modern professional services firm without burning out or diluting the experience, this one is worth your time. ------------------ Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by ⁠⁠⁠Conner Young⁠⁠⁠, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience. Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow. We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

    40 min

  4. FEB 9

    How He Built His Entire Business on LinkedIn: 34,000+ Followers

    “They’re not better than me. They’re not smarter than me. What do they have that I don’t? It really was just confidence and some courage." (02:22 – 02:32) “I literally spent all of high school and college being told I was smart… but no one could tell me what to do.” (03:05) “For every three nerdy posts about points, I’ll post something about my family or life. I just try to be a human.” (25:30) “I never quit. I stayed human. Two and a half to three years of that will get you somewhere.” (27:00) “I think there’s a million-dollar business in here. I’m not close yet, but I can see it.” (28:30) Colin Stroud had no clear plan through college, got married early, became a dad before a real income, and started in a job he didn’t love. Then he noticed something simple, confident people were building real businesses online. So he picked one obsession he genuinely enjoyed, points, miles, and travel, and started sharing what he was learning. Fifteen months later, he quit his job. Now, he was running Go Somewhere full time, helping business owners turn everyday spending into meaningful travel. In this episode, Colin breaks down how he found his niche, why being human online still wins, how business owners leave massive value on the table, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable, trust-based business without hype or gimmicks. If you’re building something without a perfect roadmap, this one will hit home. ------------------ Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by ⁠⁠Conner Young⁠⁠, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience. Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow. We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

    36 min

  5. FEB 2

    Getting Clients Off of TV Interviews

    “The biggest issue people run into in life is they just don’t take action.” (05:58) “If I’m going to take a big risk and build something, this was the time to do it.” (04:04) “The biggest cost you’re going to have as an entrepreneur is your own sanity.” (14:11 – 14:41) “I sold my house to fund the business. That was part of the game plan.” (06:26) “People think starting an RIA costs way more than it actually does.” (11:18) “Most advisors build on referrals. You have to turn your firm into a marketing engine.” (31:02) “Media is a trust game. Someone has to see you 50 to 100 times before they believe you.” (22:40) “If you’re willing to be a little insane for five to ten years, then you should be an entrepreneur.” (16:08) “Why can’t I manage billions one day? If he did it, why can’t I?" (29:08) I sat down with Luke Lloyd, founder and CEO of Lloyd Financial Group. He grew up in a blue-collar town in Ohio where most people stayed local and played it safe. Luke didn’t. At 16, he was flipping items on eBay. At 17, he was drop shipping. At 22, he walked straight out of college and into the finance world. Six years later, he took the leap most people never do and started his own firm. What separated Luke is how he built trust at scale. He showed up everywhere. TV, financial media, socials, and conversations. Consistent opinions and visibility over time. That exposure compounds into credibility. And credibility compounds into growth. We talked about what it actually costs to start an RIA, why most people never take action, how media builds trust long before a sales call, and the mental toll of entrepreneurship no one warns you about. If you’re building a firm, a brand, or betting on yourself, this episode is worth your time. ------------------ Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by ⁠Conner Young⁠, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience. Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow. We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

    36 min

  6. JAN 26

    From CFA Exams during COVID to Launching his RIA from Scratch

    “Launching a firm in January? No clients. No income. That was scary. But I knew I’d regret not trying.” “I didn’t want to take a single client with me when I left. It was a clean break, a true reset.” (03:35) “I passed all three CFA exams while dealing with back pain and lockdowns. I needed to prove I could still do hard things.” (06:58) “The traditional model didn’t make sense anymore. It felt broken, too much focus on AUM, not enough on actual planning.” (13:42) “I’m not trying to build a billion-dollar firm. I’m trying to surf in the morning, help great clients, and be home for dinner.” (24:10) “What always helps me sort out the mess in my head is literally taking a big blank piece of paper and mapping it all out.” (31:20) “AI doesn’t write my content. It organizes my thoughts. The voice? That’s me.” (33:47) “People want human connection. You can’t fake that with ChatGPT.” (34:10) Dan Costigan is so awesome and such an amazing planner who has his CFA and his CFP. I sat down with Dan, founder of Two Palms Financial, to hear how he went from psychology major to a boutique firm owner serving business owners with real financial planning. No team. No clients. Just strategy, grit, and a vision for something better. >Tired of the industry norm: too many clients, too little depth. > Focused on what matters: freedom, service, balance. >Building brand with authentic content on LinkedIn and YouTube. His approach? Serve fewer people better.No mutual funds. No corporate script. Just thoughtful planning and real relationships. If you’re an advisor, founder, or just want to hear how someone is building their dream business and life, this episode is for you. ------------------ Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by Conner Young, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience. Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow. We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

    39 min

  7. JAN 19

    He Left Northwestern Mutual and Runs His Own Practice Off LinkedIn

    "Everyone is just dumping everything into ChatGPT and these AI platforms and it all turns into this AI slop." (09:11) "If you try to be perfect on social media you will never post. The messy stuff is what actually works." (10:32) "I realized pretty quickly that people did not want another assets under management pitch. They wanted real planning they could understand." (12:04) "I am not trying to build some giant empire. I am trying to build a life that I actually enjoy." (14:31) "I got my first Apple client because they liked a tax visual I posted on LinkedIn." (18:47) "I could run this firm with about seventy clients and never need another advisor if I manage my time correctly." (27:24) I talked to Max Pashman, the founder of Pashman Financial. He didn’t come up through the traditional rainmaker path. No wirehouse grind. No legacy book of business handed to him. Instead, he started in the background. At Northwestern Mutual. Supporting other advisors. Learning how the whole machine worked. That back-end training gave him something most advisors miss: a clear understanding of what actually drives financial planning outcomes. When he finally stepped into a client-facing role, he already knew where most advisors go wrong. And he didn’t want to copy it. So he built something different. A lean, solo firm that’s designed for margin, autonomy, and creative expression. One where content drives client growth. Today, Max serves tech professionals, business owners, and equity-comped execs from his Los Angeles-based practice. He’s built his growth engine through LinkedIn content, an intentional client capacity model, and flat-fee planning that doesn’t rely on AUM. If you’re a solo advisor or firm builder looking to create something durable, client-centric, and fully yours, this is a playbook worth studying. ------------------ Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by Conner Young, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience. Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow. We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

    32 min

  8. JAN 12

    The Software You Need To Start Your Own Firm

    “I’m a helper by nature, but I also have a strategic brain. Advising was where those two things finally came together.” (1:10) “The biggest question I asked myself was: where would I want my own parents to be served?” (5:45) “There are two customers in this business, the client and the advisor. If your tech doesn’t feel like magic for both, you’re missing it.” (8:40) “The right technology today can save a family over a million dollars in retirement, just by running the right scenarios.” (18:10) “A lot of advisors want independence. The biggest thing holding them back is simply not knowing how to make the jump.” (25:30) I sat down with Noah Behrman, founder of Providence Capital, to talk about what it actually looks like to build a tech forward RIA from scratch and why so many advisors are leaving large firms to go independent. Noah shared how his career started inside a traditional firm and how over time he realized the system was not designed around what was best for clients. It was designed around what was easiest for the institution. That realization pushed him to start Providence Capital. We talked about how modern advisors are using technology like RightCapital, Altruist, Schwab, and portfolio management platforms to deliver better planning, better reporting, and better outcomes without needing massive back offices. Noah gave real examples of how better planning tools can save clients hundreds of thousands or even millions over a lifetime. We also talked about where the industry is heading. Smaller, tech enabled advisory firms that give advisors freedom and clients better service. Multi advisor offices that share systems and staff. And a future where advisors are no longer trapped by clunky platforms or outdated models. If you are an advisor thinking about independence, or a client wondering if there is a better way to be served, this conversation was a reminder that the future of wealth management is already being built. ------------------ Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by ⁠Conner Young⁠, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience. Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow. We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

    30 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money. Hosted by Conner Young, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch. Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.

Information

  • Creator
    Conner Young
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Conner Young
  • Show Website
    Advisor Freedom