Beyond Referrals

Emily Armstrong
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Beyond Referrals is a podcast for leaders of client service firms navigating a rapidly changing industry. Hosted by brand strategist and founder of Wonderlab Strategy Emily Armstrong, the show features curious, honest conversations about modernization, disruption, and what it takes to grow beyond referral-only models in an era of rapid digitization. Not fluff. Not hype. Beyond Referrals blends forward-thinking industry conversations with tangible frameworks and actionable guidance — helping firm leaders adapt, build trust, and make better strategic decisions.

  1. 1d ago

    Win at Home FIRST: The Message Every High Achiever Needs to Hear w/ Cory Carlson | Beyond Referrals Episode 16

    IN THIS CONVERSATION, YOU'LL LEARN: Whether it's actually obvious when you're winning or losing at home, Cory's answer is more nuanced than you'd expect How to recalibrate after intense work seasons before someone else decides your priorities for you Practical, actionable tips for strengthening your marriage and home life right now The Five Capitals framework and why every high achiever needs a life scorecard, not just a business one Why community and friendships are non-negotiable for winning at home How to win at home even inside a toxic or unhealthy workplace The quote that stopped Emily cold: "If you don't get intentional about your home life, your work life will take over by default." Cory Carlson is the author of two bestselling books. Win at Home First was named by Forbes as one of the seven books everyone on your team should read. Rise and Go is a practical guide to getting back up quicker after life's challenges. He hosts the Win at Home First podcast, ranked in the top 1.5% globally, and co-founded RISE, a nationwide community of 100+ male business leaders committed to excelling at work and at home. Learn more at corymcarlson.com or connect with Cory on LinkedIn. Connect more with Emily: Free Advisor Brand Assessment Emily's LinkedIn Emily's Instagram Emily's YouTube Channel Wonderlab Strategy Want to be on the show or nominate someone? Reach out to hello@wonderlabstrategy.com

    52 min

  2. Jun 24

    Trust Your Intuition & Build Something Big w/ COO of The Chosen Adam Swerdlow | Beyond Referrals Episode 15

    IN THIS CONVERSATION, YOU'LL LEARN: What it actually looks like to build something from the inside, the operational reality, the fundraising, the people, the culture behind scaling The Chosen from a four-person startup to over $100 million in annual revenue Why your intuition is one of your greatest assets in business, and what happens when you learn to lean into it Why people and culture are never a soft priority, and what the leaders who get this right do differently The case for fractional leadership and why Adam believes it's the future of how organizations are built Why niching faster than you think you need to will always serve your business An honest, unfiltered conversation about the real frustrations advisors face inside the industry Adam Swerdlow started his career selling copiers, became a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual where he built a successful book of business, co-founded a training and coaching company for financial advisors that was eventually acquired, then served as Chief Operating Officer of The Chosen, the most watched Christian TV series in history. Today he runs Alpine Consulting as a fractional COO for growth-stage organizations. To connect with Adam, find him on LinkedIn or visit Alpine Consulting. Connect more with Emily:  Free Advisor Brand Assessment https://mailchi.mp/wonderlabstrategy/findyourniche Find Your Niche in 10 Minutes: A Free Tool for Financial Advisors Emily's Instagram Emily's YouTube Channel Wonderlab Strategy Want to be on the show or nominate someone? Reach out to hello@wonderlabstrategy.com

    44 min

  3. Jun 17

    Know Your Identity & Grow Your Business w/ David DeCelle | Beyond Referrals Episode 14

    IN THIS CONVERSATION, YOU'LL LEARN: The early days behind David’s success that most people don't know about, $45K in credit card debt, living with his dad, driving Uber at all hours while building his business from nothing How getting clear on his professional identity supercharged his business and attracted the right people at the right time What it means to lead with a servant's heart, and why making it your mission to leave everyone better off than before they met you changes everything The honest debate about whether advisors actually need a digital presence to grow What David's section of The Organic Growth Revolution covers and why Emily recommends it to everyone David DeCelle is the CEO of Model FA and co-founder and CEO of WealthReach. He has consulted with firms representing over $400 billion in AUM and is co-author of The Organic Growth Revolution alongside Dan Allison. To connect with David, find him on LinkedIn. Learn more about The Model FA and WealthReach.  📖 David’s Book: The Organic Growth Revolution is a must-read for advisors → grab your copy here Connect more with Emily:  Free Advisor Brand Assessment Emily's LinkedIn Emily's Instagram Emily's YouTube Channel Wonderlab Strategy Want to be on the show or nominate someone? Reach out to hello@wonderlabstrategy.com

    48 min

  4. Jun 10

    What's Coming with Advisor Talent and How to Prepare w/ McCall Fen | Beyond Referrals Episode 13

    IN THIS CONVERSATION, YOU'LL LEARN: The talent crisis statistic that every firm leader needs to hear, and why most aren't taking it seriously enough yet Why culture is your most powerful recruiting and retention strategy, and what the offices that are winning actually do differently The power of vision planning and how getting intentional about it is what separates the people who build something meaningful from the ones who stay stuck What GrowthSuite Consulting does and why firms go in planning to hire one person and end up placing two or three Emily and McCall's full circle story, and the moment that changed Emily's life This episode is especially valuable for managing directors, managing partners, recruiters, and leadership offices responsible for developing advisor talent. McCall Fen is the founder of Growth Suite Consulting, a recruiting and talent firm specializing in financial services. She has built a reputation for bringing exceptionally strong candidates to firms across the industry, and for helping firm leaders think more intentionally about culture, retention, and the talent landscape ahead. To connect with McCall, find her on LinkedIn. Connect more with Emily:  Free Advisor Brand Assessment Emily's LinkedIn Emily's Instagram Emily's YouTube Channel Wonderlab Strategy Want to be on the show or nominate someone? Reach out to hello@wonderlabstrategy.com

    50 min

  5. Jun 3

    Why You’re Not Winning on LinkedIn w/ LinkedIn Ghostwriter Evan Kuterbach | Beyond Referrals Episode 12

    IN THIS CONVERSATION, YOU'LL LEARN: Why LinkedIn rewards specificity,  and what that actually means for your profile, your content, and your audience Why good copy is simple, and how clarity is the non-negotiable that separates advisors who convert from those who don't Why LinkedIn is a networking tool, not a broadcasting tool, and what real engagement actually looks like Why personal stories are the content that converts best and builds the most trust over time What's coming next on LinkedIn, short-form video and LinkedIn Live, and why advisors need to pay attention now The honest question every advisor needs to answer before they invest another minute in LinkedIn Evan Kuterbach is a LinkedIn strategist and entrepreneur who helps business owners turn their LinkedIn presence into real pipeline and revenue. He's generated over $80K for a single client in four months and has accumulated over 200 million views across his content. To connect with Evan, find him on LinkedIn and his website. Connect more with Emily: Free Advisor Brand Assessment Email List: Weekly Branding Tips Emily's LinkedIn Emily's Instagram Emily's YouTube Channel Wonderlab Strategy Want to be on the show or nominate someone? Reach out to hello@wonderlabstrategy.com

    52 min

  6. May 27

    Unfiltered Entrepreneurship Pt. 1: What I'm Learning Building Wonderlab | Beyond Referrals Episode 11

    IN THIS EPISODE: The niching journey, what it actually looked like to go from a general marketing agency all the way down to a specific, narrow niche, and why it wasn't always comfortable Leaving a stable career she genuinely loved to bet on herself,  at one of the most tender times in her life Becoming a second-time mother and an entrepreneur simultaneously, and how that has shaped her in ways she's still processing What's coming next for Wonderlab and Beyond Referrals Real, honest advice for advisors navigating growing their practices right now A moment of genuine gratitude for the guests who said yes to this show early No guest this week,  just Emily, a mic, and an unscripted Q&A format that turned into part lessons, part honest storytelling, part therapy. This is the first installment of what will be an ongoing Unfiltered Entrepreneurship series. Connect more with Emily:  Free Advisor Brand Assessment Emily's LinkedIn Emily's Instagram Emily's YouTube Channel Wonderlab Strategy - Sign up for our Email List Want to be on the show or nominate someone? Reach out to hello@wonderlabstrategy.com

    33 min

  7. May 20

    Behind the Scenes of $4.5B LiveWell Capital w/ Ben Beshear | Beyond Referrals Episode 10

    IN THIS CONVERSATION, YOU'LL LEARN: How Ben built one of the most recognized ensemble brands within Northwestern Mutual, from an intern in 1999 to $4.5B AUM across 15 cities The Five Capitals framework that makes LiveWell magnetic to both clients and advisors,  and why most advisors are only focused on one of them What "Karma Capitalism" is and why it's the simplest, most powerful content strategy most advisors aren't using How brand equity becomes a growth engine that attracts clients and top talent simultaneously What Ben's acquisition and growth machine actually looks like behind the scenes Who wins and who gets left behind in the future of this profession, and what separates them Ben Beshear is the founder of LiveWell Capital, a $4.5 billion AUM ensemble firm operating across 15 cities and one of the strongest brands built within Northwestern Mutual. He started at NM as an intern in 1999 and has spent the last two decades building something that goes far beyond a book of business. To connect with Ben, find him on LinkedIn. Connect more with Emily: Free Advisor Brand Assessment Emily's LinkedIn Emily's Instagram Emily's YouTube Channel Wonderlab Strategy Want to be on the show or nominate someone? Reach out to hello@wonderlabstrategy.com

    46 min

  8. May 13

    Turn Presence Into a Business Superpower w/ Kurt Kersey | Beyond Referrals Episode 9

    In this conversation you’ll learn: Why presence is a practice, and what it actually takes to build it How your personal brand is your reputation, and why everyone already has one whether they're intentional about it or not How to blend the art of personal connection with the strategy of actually building a business Why LinkedIn is the most powerful reputation-building tool available, and how to use it that way How presence shows up at home, not just in business Kurt Kersey is a speaker, coach, and connector known for his ability to make everyone in the room feel like the most important person in it. He has built real authority, credibility, and deep relationships everywhere he goes, through intentionality, presence, and a genuine commitment to putting other people first. To connect with Kurt, reach out to him on LinkedIn. Connect more with Emily: Free Advisor Brand Assessment Emily's LinkedIn Emily's Instagram Emily's YouTube Channel Wonderlab Strategy Want to be on the show or nominate someone? Reach out to hello@wonderlabstrategy.com

    49 min
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About

Beyond Referrals is a podcast for leaders of client service firms navigating a rapidly changing industry. Hosted by brand strategist and founder of Wonderlab Strategy Emily Armstrong, the show features curious, honest conversations about modernization, disruption, and what it takes to grow beyond referral-only models in an era of rapid digitization. Not fluff. Not hype. Beyond Referrals blends forward-thinking industry conversations with tangible frameworks and actionable guidance — helping firm leaders adapt, build trust, and make better strategic decisions.

Information

  • Creator
    Emily Armstrong
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Emily Armstrong
  • Show Website
    Beyond Referrals