Advisor Freedom

Conner Young
  • 5.0 (17)
  • 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, this show shares real stories from advisors who are serving clients and sharing their best practices for growing and planning for their clients! Whether you're 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

    Your Best Is Not Enough: Building Trust in Enterprise Fintech

    “All I've ever wanted to do is, one thing. And that is running the biggest business that I can, that I think does something that makes a difference.” (01:53) “The massive problem: advisors struggled to explain investments; clients struggled to feel confident.” (16:10) “We lost that deal, but what we learned was actually much more valuable.” (26:04)“Our vision is confidence for the moments that shape financial futures.” (40:14) James Rockwood, founder & CEO of CapIntel, built an enterprise fintech after an “obsession” with better client experience, without a technical background or startup pedigree. James spent years in banking, lived through a brutal “blackout period,” and then spotted a huge communication gap: advisors couldn’t clearly explain investments and clients couldn’t feel confident. He convinced early investors, joined an accelerator, endured long enterprise sales cycles, and turned that product into a rapidly growing platform used by major institutions across North America. CapIntel is a lesson in product‑market fit born from personal pain, relentless execution, and a team culture summed up by one company principle: “Your best is not enough.” If you’re building fintech, leading teams, or aiming to create durable products, this episode is full of hard lessons and long‑game thinking. ------------------ 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.

  2. Jul 27

    From Investment Banker to Fintech CEO: Solving the Cash Arbitrage

    “Max is very much an accidental company. I was not looking to start a company at all. I was very happy as a banker” (15:09)“I created a synthetic approach. Open many accounts, keep each below the FDIC limit.” (22:43)“Those online banks change rates all the time... I started moving money to always earn the highest yield.” (24:03–24:31)“We decided to sell to advisors first... clients always ask their advisor about new tools.” (37:24)“We never touch client money, we’re a software provider; advisors remain the fiduciaries.” (35:59)“We empower advisors to do their best work by removing friction and giving full visibility.” (41:45) I sat down with Gary Zimmerman, founder and CEO of Max — an “accidental” fintech built to solve a personal cash problem after 2008. Gary spent years manually managing dozens of bank accounts to keep cash safe, liquid, and earning better rates. That DIY solution became Max, now used by 3,100+ wealth firms to uncover hidden client cash, boost risk‑free returns, and automate what used to be manual and brittle. This conversation covers the path from investment banker to founder, why product-market fit often starts with your own pain, and how technology should empower advisors (not replace them). If you care about better cash management, advisor tools, or building product from real problems, listen in. ------------------ 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.

  3. Jul 20

    $0 To $200M+ AUM & SpaceX IPO!

    “I’ve built a $205M business serving mostly millennial tech employees.” (03:25–03:53) “I only work with 61 households — average client age 40, average household AUM $3.35M.” (03:25–03:53) “Nearly all my growth is inbound from Twitter, referrals, and reputation.” (03:25–04:22) “My top‑of‑funnel is a casual 30‑minute conversation to check fit.” (08:42–09:10) “We help clients navigate IPOs, tender offers, secondary sales, and liquidity planning.” (16:46–17:13) “We use scenario analysis, tax‑aware strategies, and bespoke allocation after liquidity.” (20:32–21:01) Mark Cecchini is back on for an update. A director at Quadrant who’s built a $205M AUM practice serving mostly millennial tech employees at firms like SpaceX, OpenAI, Stripe and Databricks. He grows almost entirely inbound (Twitter, referrals, reputation) by acting as a personal CFO for liquidity events, focused on deep planning, tax-aware scenarios, transparency about fees, and excellent client experience. Mark works with just 61 households (avg. age ~40, avg. AUM ~$3.35M) and walks prospects through a multi-step onboarding that proves value up front. If you advise tech employees, handle liquidity, or care about trust-first growth, this episode is a blueprint. ------------------ 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.

  4. Jul 13

    How Story‑Mapping Clears Confusion and Boosts Advisor Growth

    “I didn’t start in finance, I started as a writer.” (01:29)“Clients were paying for great content but not using it... something deeper was off.” (03:50)“The three buckets: get attention, collect leads, then nurture.” (04:17)“Most businesses try to fix symptoms (more ads, more funnels) while the foundation is shaky.” (08:00)“You can spend half a million on ads and still get nothing if the foundation isn’t set.” (45:33) Founder of Lexicon Advisor Growth, Olivia Paxson, left literature and grad school to become a writer for financial advisors, then built a growth business by helping firms turn content into consistent results. She discovered the real problem isn’t tactics but misalignment. Unclear identity, audience, and offers make marketing feel like pushing a rock uphill. In this episode Olivia explains the three buckets every advisor must fill, why clarity beats more tactics, and how simple story‑mapping can unblock growth fast. ------------------ 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.

  5. Jul 6

    The Subscription Playbook: Paying for Real Financial Advice, Not Products

    “We were placed at a life insurance agency that called financial planning, but the solution was always life insurance.” (00:32)“The plan was built first, but the solution was already decided.” (02:28)“I had two boys 16 months apart, living in a two‑bedroom apartment, just grinding.” (04:25)“AOL was sending out floppy disks for $16.99. That's what inspired our subscription mindset.” (05:50)“August 14th, 1995, we had our first subscriber and were off and running.” (07:45–08:15)“If we can’t save you at least $5,000 a month in taxes and other expenses, the plan is free.” (11:08)“We put 80% in a strategic modern portfolio and use the other 20% for tactical opportunities.” (20:08–20:34)“We are making a multi‑generational push to bring on the next generation of subscribers.” (26:47) Daniel J. Friedman, founder and CEO of WMGNA, has spent 30+ years building a tax‑first wealth practice. He started in the late 1980s inside insurance‑driven shops and quickly rejected prepackaged “sell the product” planning. Instead he helped build a subscription, tax‑and‑planning model that pays for real advice, keeps clients focused on life goals, and weathers crises like 2008. We covered how his early hustle (young family, tight finances) shaped the business, why the plan should always inform the investment, and lessons from three decades of tax strategy and multi‑generational planning. If you want perspective on how the industry actually evolved, and practical ways to center planning and tax in client work, listen to Daniel's story. ------------------ 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.

  6. Jun 29

    From Wine Imports to Wealth Management

    “I started out in tech, then we were running a winery. Not a typical roadmap into advising.” (00:33)“A retiring advisor came up to me after a meeting and said, ‘I want you to take over my practice.’” (09:11)“Almost said no, then realized you don’t ignore a door like that.” (09:25–10:20)“We started trying to hire and found it was frankly really, really difficult.” (18:54)“I liked the women in leadership at TMG and their commitment to fee‑only advice.” (20:46) Ann Garcia took a nontraditional path into wealth management. From tech to importing her husband’s family winery wine, then pivoting into financial planning. She was handed a retiring advisor’s firm almost out of the blue, kept nearly all the clients, and grew the practice by focusing on alignment, fiduciary values, and clear planning. Facing hiring and growth ceilings, she joined The Mather Group to gain infrastructure and scale while spending more time advising and doing the work she loves. This episode is about career pivots, making succession work, and choosing the right tradeoffs between independence and scale. Listen to her story here. ------------------ 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.

  7. Jun 22

    Knocking on 4,000 Doors to ~$275M AUM

    “I raised $10M in my first two years doing it the hard way.” (03:28) “I basically got about $50 million in the door of new assets.” (08:14) “It just started to become this referral machine.” (09:11) “I referred people to a CPA I trusted. That CPA became our best referral partner.” (11:07) “Today we have clients in 30+ states, many I’ve never met face to face.” (12:06) “Referrals convert faster: first meeting to funding, not months of convincing.” (13:30) Griffin Kirsch started GK Wealth Management with nothing. No book, no clients just knocked on 4,000 doors to raise $10M in his first two years. He left and rebuilt twice, then turned COVID into an advantage by helping local business owners access PPP and tax credits (not selling, just helping). That work produced roughly $50M in new assets and created a referral engine that’s driven him to ~ $275M AUM and 600 clients, all without paid marketing. This episode is about persistence, showing value first, and converting trust into scalable growth. ------------------ 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.

  8. Jun 15

    Building WISE: The System That Teaches Advisors to Serve Entrepreneurs

    “At 21 I asked to do fee‑based planning. They said no. I left and became the youngest to join their RIA arm.” (06:18)“I was delivering real value, spending hours, and getting paid nothing.” (04:24)“I decided I’m only engaging clients who will engage me for the planning process.” (10:41)“I chose business owners, the hardest market, but the most rewarding impact.” (12:08)“I built a system called WISE, the Wealth Integration System for Entrepreneurs.” (15:56)“WISE isn’t about teaching technical knowledge, it’s how to actually engage a business owner step‑by‑step.” (37:41) Ali Nasser fell into financial advice by accident, pushed to charge fees for real planning at 21, and built a boutique practice focused on business owners. He turned that practitioner playbook into WISE; a step‑by‑step system and training program that teaches advisors how to win, structure, and serve entrepreneurs. After selling his firm to scale impact, Ali now runs WISE to train advisors and coach entrepreneurs with the goal of multiplying outcomes across thousands of businesses. ------------------ 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.

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5
out of 5
17 Ratings

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, this show shares real stories from advisors who are serving clients and sharing their best practices for growing and planning for their clients! Whether you're 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
    58
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Conner Young
  • Show Website
    Advisor Freedom