Advisors Off Script

Shelby Nicholl

Advisors Off Script is the podcast where financial advisors step away from the polished talking points and get real about what it takes to build, break away, and boldly grow. These are stories from the independent front lines. Every advisor has a choice: follow the script laid out by the industry—or write your own.  Formerly known as Kick It Open, the show is hosted by Shelby Nicholl, founder of Muriel Consulting and known as the “RIA Whisperer.” She brings candid conversations, insider insights, and practical strategies that help advisors move from uncertainty to clarity and from frustration to freedom. Because this isn’t just a podcast—it’s your playbook for building boldly and living off script. Get ready for amazing guests, including advisors who have tread the journey before, leaders from the firms serving independent advisors and partners who help advisors create thriving practices.  Here at Muriel Consulting, we're helping advisors kick the door open on their personal success by living a life off script.  About the Host Shelby Nicholl is the founder and lead consultant at Muriel Consulting, where she helps financial advisors break free from limits, align their businesses with their ambitions, and build thriving practices. With 25 years in leadership roles at firms like LPL Financial and Edward Jones, she combines deep industry experience with her passion for empowering advisors to take bold steps toward independence and success. She is also the founder of Muriel Network, a digital community for women in wealth management seeking connection, inspiration, and growth.  

  1. Building With Purpose: Culture, Calling, and Family Office Planning in Middle America with Vaughn Scott

    05.12.2025

    Building With Purpose: Culture, Calling, and Family Office Planning in Middle America with Vaughn Scott

    💥 What if you could build a thriving culture—without tipping into cultish? 💥 What if family office-level planning wasn’t just for the ultra-wealthy—but for builders and business owners in your own community? In this episode of Advisors Off Script, host Shelby Nicholl sits down with Vaughan Scott, founder of Axiom, an independent RIA based in New Albany, Indiana. Vaughan’s journey spans every corner of the advice industry—from regional broker-dealers to banks, to independence—and now, he's building something different: a firm grounded in mission, structure, and deep service. Together, Shelby and Vaughan explore what it means to lead with intention and build a culture that empowers, not pressures. They reflect on purpose, legacy, and the moments that remind us why this work matters—including a personal story Shelby shares about her father-in-law’s end-of-life family meeting. In this episode: The evolution from wirehouse to independence—and what each chapter taught VaughnWhy culture matters more than growth-for-growth’s-sakeWhat it takes to bring true family office-level planning to Middle AmericaThe meaning of vocare—and how purpose shapes the firms we're buildingWhether you’re building, leading, or reimagining what your next chapter could look like, this episode is a call to lead with purpose. Learn more at MurielConsulting.com  Hosted by Shelby Nicholl. Produced and edited by Aaron Sherman. Operations and Guest Coordination by Shelly Hadel.

    37 мин.
  2. Build the Right ‘Whos,’ Scale the Right Way: Lessons from a $500 Million Advisor with Colleen Bowler

    22.11.2025

    Build the Right ‘Whos,’ Scale the Right Way: Lessons from a $500 Million Advisor with Colleen Bowler

    At one point, Colleen Bowler was doing it all — leading client relationships, growing her firm, and keeping every plate spinning. Then she found her "whos" and built the firm to over $500 million in AUM. Then she sold it. Now, she’s on a mission to help other advisors scale without sacrificing themselves in the process. In this episode of Advisors Off Script, Shelby Nicholl sits down with Colleen to trace her journey — from the early days of building a successful practice, to coaching inside The Strategic Coach, to developing tools now used by advisors across the country through her firm C & J Innovations. What emerges is a story about growth — not just in revenue, but in mindset. About choosing the right “Whos” over doing it all yourself. And about protecting your most valuable resources: your energy, your time, and your vision. In this episode: How Colleen built and exited a $500 million practiceThe mindset shift from do-er to builderWhat the best advisors are doing to scale without burnoutWhy saying “no” is a business strategyHow assessments can deepen client relationships and accelerate growthThis isn’t just advice. It’s a blueprint for building a firm — and a life — that lasts. Learn more at MurielConsulting.com  Hosted by Shelby Nicholl. Produced and edited by Aaron Sherman. Operations and Guest Coordination by Shelly Hadel.

    43 мин.
  3. Brand First: The 3 C’s That Make Breakaway Advisors Look Credible on Day One with Kevin Nichols

    24.10.2025

    Brand First: The 3 C’s That Make Breakaway Advisors Look Credible on Day One with Kevin Nichols

    A smooth breakaway is rarely decided by your custodian or tech stack. It’s decided by whether your brand looks credible the moment clients start Googling you. In this episode, Shelby Nicholl sits down with Kevin Nichols (partner at Oechsli), who’s helped launch 150+ advisory firms in the last two years, to break down what makes a launch feel “real” versus rushed. Kevin shares the 3 C’s of a strong marketing transition: Clarity (what you do, and why the move matters)Confidence (you believe in the new firm, so clients can too)Credibility (your site, logo, and visuals don’t look “half-baked”)You’ll also learn: Why “DIY branding” can cost you trust (and sometimes a rebrand)How to avoid naming traps (BrokerCheck, USPTO, legal review, and “Summit/Peak” problems)The nightmare scenario: a cease-and-desist after launchWhat your website needs during transition (hint: no pop-ups or lead magnets)The #1 launch asset advisors underuse: a professional transition videoWhy you should run Google ads for your name and your new firm name (so clients don’t see “permanently closed”)How to “hit clients from multiple touch points” on day one (socials, Google profile, ads, optional PR)If you’re planning a breakaway, this is the marketing playbook for controlling the narrative and looking established from day one. Learn more: MurielConsulting.com Learn more at MurielConsulting.com  Hosted by Shelby Nicholl. Produced and edited by Aaron Sherman. Operations and Guest Coordination by Shelly Hadel.

    48 мин.
  4. Burnout, Breakaway, and the “Minimum Viable” Move: How Lauren Williams Rebuilt to $200M AUM in 18 Months

    20.10.2025

    Burnout, Breakaway, and the “Minimum Viable” Move: How Lauren Williams Rebuilt to $200M AUM in 18 Months

    Sometimes you don’t get to casually consider change. You hit a wall and realize, this isn’t working anymore. Lauren Williams (Co-Founder + Co-CEO of Prosper Plan Wealth) spent a decade at a large RIA, built a $300M book, and then watched culture shifts, constant turnover, and resource constraints push her into burnout. Instead of making an emotional leap, she built a min / mid / max transition forecast and set a surprisingly low “income replacement” floor (the minimum AUM she needed to rebuild). Now, about 18 months later, she and her team are nearing $200M AUM, with a model designed for consistency, client experience, and real freedom. In this episode, we cover: What burnout looked like inside a “business within a business”The forecast model Lauren used (min / mid / max) to plan a safer breakawayWhy “the ability to leave” can make you want to stay (contracts + autonomy)Why she chose New Edge instead of launching her own RIA (resources vs overhead)The behind-the-scenes reality of “earth-scorching” tactics, and why it backfiredThe real vision: being the best planning firm in Sacramento, without corporate dramaIf you’re considering independence and want a practical way to model risk before you move, this conversation is a blueprint. Learn more at MurielConsulting.com Learn more at MurielConsulting.com  Hosted by Shelby Nicholl. Produced and edited by Aaron Sherman. Operations and Guest Coordination by Shelly Hadel.

    44 мин.

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Advisors Off Script is the podcast where financial advisors step away from the polished talking points and get real about what it takes to build, break away, and boldly grow. These are stories from the independent front lines. Every advisor has a choice: follow the script laid out by the industry—or write your own.  Formerly known as Kick It Open, the show is hosted by Shelby Nicholl, founder of Muriel Consulting and known as the “RIA Whisperer.” She brings candid conversations, insider insights, and practical strategies that help advisors move from uncertainty to clarity and from frustration to freedom. Because this isn’t just a podcast—it’s your playbook for building boldly and living off script. Get ready for amazing guests, including advisors who have tread the journey before, leaders from the firms serving independent advisors and partners who help advisors create thriving practices.  Here at Muriel Consulting, we're helping advisors kick the door open on their personal success by living a life off script.  About the Host Shelby Nicholl is the founder and lead consultant at Muriel Consulting, where she helps financial advisors break free from limits, align their businesses with their ambitions, and build thriving practices. With 25 years in leadership roles at firms like LPL Financial and Edward Jones, she combines deep industry experience with her passion for empowering advisors to take bold steps toward independence and success. She is also the founder of Muriel Network, a digital community for women in wealth management seeking connection, inspiration, and growth.