The Advisor's Fuel Podcast with Adam Koos

Adam Koos
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The Advisor's Fuel Podcast with Adam Koos, where high performing Financial Planners and Wealth Advisors discover proven processes and actual strategies to elevate their client experience, grow their businesses faster and achieve unprecedented success. Brought to you Adrenaline Advisor Consulting at https://adrenalineadvisor.com/

  1. MAR 24

    Retirement Planning Meets March Madness: How Smart Investors Play the Odds

    In this episode, Adam uses March Madness to break down a lesson every financial advisor can appreciate: most people want to win, but very few are willing to prepare to win. Using the NCAA tournament as a framework, he shows why excitement, prediction, and long-shot thinking often lead people in the wrong direction. Whether they're filling out a bracket or building a retirement portfolio. This is a sharp, practical episode about probabilities, discipline, momentum, and why higher-probability decisions matter more than getting lucky once. For advisors and investors alike, the message is clear: sustainable outcomes are built on process, not prediction. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – March Madness, busted brackets, and why people still play anyway 01:00 – Seeding, probabilities, and why the higher-ranked teams usually win 02:00 – The data behind top seeds, championship trends, and bracket reality 03:00 – What bracket strategy teaches us about investing discipline 04:00 – Why people chase Cinderella stories and ignore the real drivers of outcomes 05:00 – Trend following vs. trend predicting in portfolio management 06:00 – Building retirement portfolios on probabilities instead of surprises 07:00 – Final takeaway: retirement isn't a game, and discipline matters Key Takeaways: 💡 Most people are drawn to exciting long shots, but outcomes are usually driven by high-probability decisions, not unlikely upsets. 💡 In both brackets and portfolios, discipline beats prediction. Adam emphasizes the importance of following strength, momentum, and repeatable processes instead of trying to guess what will happen next. 💡 A winning retirement strategy should not be built around "Cinderella stories." It should be built around probabilities, trend strength, and intentional decision-making over time. Key Quotes: 🗣 "Most people have the will to win, but few have the will to prepare to win." 🗣 "We are trend followers, not trend predictors." 🗣 "We don't build portfolios on surprises. We build them on probabilities and repeatable outcomes." 🗣 "Retirement isn't a game." Follow Adrenaline Advisor: Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AdrenalineAdvisor Email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com Connect with Adam Koós: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos Website: https://www.adrenalineadvisor.com

    8 min

  2. MAR 10

    How Financial Advisors Can Prevent Burnout and Improve Team Performance with Matt Granados

    Is your advisory team underperforming or is your system setting them up to fail? In this episode, Adam Koós sits down with Matt Granados, founder of Life Pulse, Inc., to challenge conventional thinking about motivation, productivity, and team performance. Matt has worked with organizations like Google, Twitter, and the US Air Force, helping them move from high-performance burnout to optimal, sustainable success. For financial advisors drowning in people problems, reactive workflows, and inefficient systems, this conversation offers a roadmap to reclaim your time, increase productivity by 10-15 hours per week, and build a team that bridges the gap back to you not the other way around. If you're spending more time babysitting your staff than serving clients, this episode is for you. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Matt Granados background 03:00 – Your team isn't broken, your system is                  10:00 – High performance vs. optimal performance 20:00 – Burnout is a design flaw, not a workload issue 30:00 – Sustainable growth & the 20-mile march principle Key Takeaways: 💡 Your team isn't broken—your system is. People problems are symptoms of systemic issues. Fix the root cause, not the symptom, and your team will naturally perform better. 💡 Burnout is preventable, not fixable. The average person operates at only 40% capacity. With intentional planning and structure, you can double output without burning out. 💡 Money isn't a motivator. Bonuses under 10% of annual income (post-tax) lose impact by the next paycheck. Instead, create personalized motivational packages tied to what your people actually value. Key Quotes: 🗣 "Your job is to be a firm foundation. Your team's job is to bridge the gap back to you—not the other way around." 🗣 "Are you babysitting or managing? Managing means ensuring others do their job. Babysitting means doing it for them." 🗣 "Every high performer burns out. It's not sustainable. What you need is optimal performance—same high output, but at a sustainable pace." Connect With Matt Granados: Website: https://www.lifepulseinc.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-pulse-inc/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifePulseInc   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifepulseinc/   Podcast: https://www.lifepulseinc.com/podcast  Episode Resources: https://www.lifepulseinc.com/afp   Follow Adrenaline Advisor: Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AdrenalineAdvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com   Connect with Adam Koós: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos Website: https://www.adrenalineadvisor.com #AdvisorProductivity #PracticeManagement #TeamPerformance #AdvisorBurnout #FinancialAdvisors #LeadershipForAdvisors #AdvisorGrowth

    33 min

  3. FEB 24

    Risk Management That Advisors Can Actually Execute (Market Breadth + Defender Rules) with Vincent Randazzo

    Most advisors say they manage risk. Very few have a repeatable, data-driven process to actually do it - especially when markets get volatile, and clients want answers. In this episode of The Advisor's Fuel, Adam Koós sits down with Vincent Randazzo, founder of View Right Advisors and former head of technical research at Lowry Research (now CFRA), to unpack how advisors can use market internals, breadth, and rules-based signals to reduce drawdowns, protect compounding, and build client trust, without drowning in charts and noise.     Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Kickoff + Vincent's background (Lowry/CFRA, market cycles, technical research) 03:10 – Why advisors struggle with risk: they "understand it" but don't have a process 07:00 – Gut feel vs system: why Vince started building Defender (and what he learned in 2008) 12:15 – The core of Defender: market breadth, internals, and "x-ray vision" under the index 18:10 – Simple execution: 100% / 66% / 33% / 0% exposure (no drama, no emotion) 22:30 – Sequence of returns risk: why the average return lie gets retirees hurt 28:10 – 1998–2000: breadth signals, mirage markets, and what tops can look like "under the surface" 33:30 – "We don't predict, we prepare": how to communicate risk without sounding like a doomer 37:10 – Current market view: correction risk vs "major top" risk (what Vince is watching now) 41:30 – Lightning Round: one chart to show skeptics, weekly checklist, biggest chart crimes 48:00 – The real ROI: advisor confidence → client trust → a practice that survives storms     Key Takeaways 💡 Risk management isn't a belief system—it's a process. If your "plan" is hoping the market comes back, you don't have a plan. 💡 Indexes can lie at market tops. Market-cap weighting can mask weakness underneath—breadth helps you see the real condition of the market. 💡 Drawdown control protects compounding. Avoiding deep losses changes the math of outcomes—especially approaching or living in retirement. 💡 Simplicity wins in the real world. A clean, directive exposure framework beats "more charts, more noise, more opinions." 💡 Clients don't demand you beat the market. They want to know you're paying attention and you have a plan when the house feels like it's on fire.     Key Quotes 🗣 "People… don't have a process for actually managing [risk]. And worse than that, they're taught not to even try." 🗣 "We're looking under the surface… our x-ray is on all the time." 🗣 "The goal is a smart buy-and-hold… combined with active risk management." 🗣 "You cannot put a price tag on trust." 🗣 "The biggest benefit… is confidence."     Connect With Vincent Website: https://viewright.ai/  X: @CMTRandazzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentrandazzo/      Follow Adrenaline Advisor Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor Email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com Connect with Adam Koós LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos Website: https://www.adrenalineadvisor.com

    50 min

  4. FEB 10

    A Will Doesn't Avoid Probate: The Trust & POA Gaps Advisors Keep Missing (with guest Dan Baron)

    Most advisors think "estate planning" is a checkbox: will done, beneficiaries named, move on. That's exactly why clients get crushed later—by probate, incapacity, outdated documents, and assets the advisor wasn't even looking at (real estate + businesses being the big two). In this episode, Adam Koós sits down with estate planning attorney Dan Baron (founding member of Baron Law LLC) to break down the real-world blind spots inside most client plans—and how advisors can use estate planning conversations to deepen relationships, reduce risk, and build stronger COI alliances. Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Intro + why this matters for advisors  02:15 – Dan's background: from business owner to estate planning attorney  06:20 – The most common planning gaps (and why "a will" isn't the fix)  11:40 – Incapacity planning: why POA is the document everyone ignores until it's too late  17:10 – Why advisors underestimate business owners + real estate in estate planning  22:00 – Advisor questions that uncover planning issues fast (without giving legal advice)  26:45 – Trust triggers: minor kids, real estate, businesses, divorce/creditor risk  33:10 – Co-trustees/co-executors: why it turns into a deadlock  36:20 – When a trust is NOT necessary (and what to do instead)  39:30 – Trust types in plain English: revocable vs. irrevocable (and when each matters)  46:10 – Charitable planning + donor-advised funds  49:20 – How advisors should build attorney relationships (and what NOT to do)  55:40 – Rapid fire: most overlooked document, biggest advisor misconception, daily ritual   Key Takeaways 💡 A will does NOT avoid probate. If a client thinks "I have a will, so we're good," they're likely wrong.  💡 POA must be done while the client is competent. Once incapacity hits, families often find out the hard way that it's too late.  💡 Trust "no-brainers" for advisors: minor children, real estate with multiple beneficiaries, business owners, and situations with creditor/divorce risk.  💡 Advisors need to look beyond AUM. Real estate, closely held businesses, and tangible property create the biggest messes—because they're outside the portfolio view.  💡 Review cadence matters: revisit the plan every 3–5 years (not always to change documents, but to catch family/life changes).  💡 Best COI strategy: stop chasing quid-pro-quo "referrals." Start building real collaboration through scenario conversations and client-first problem solving.   Key Quotes 🗣 "A will does not avoid probate." 🗣 "Stay in your lane… there's a lot of disconnect and misconceptions." 🗣 "37% of our calls are from a child saying mom or dad is incapacitated… and it's too late." 🗣 "Banks are changing their rules every single day… a one-size-fits-all POA doesn't work."   Connect With the Guest: ●     Website: https://www.baronlawcleveland.com ●     Baron Law LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baron-law/ ●     Dan Baron LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-baron-55abb326/   Follow Adrenaline Advisor: Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com Connect with Adam Koós: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos Website: https://www.adrenalineadvisor.com

    47 min

  5. JAN 27

    The Conversation Advisors Should Be Having With Business Owners (But Often Aren't)

    This episode is a repurposed conversation from Get Your Fill: Financial Independence and Long Life, where Adam Koós joined the show as a guest to talk candidly about what actually happens when business owners approach an exit — and where advisors often underestimate the risk. In this discussion, Adam breaks down why the majority of business owners never monetize the asset that represents most of their net worth, and why "I'll deal with that later" is one of the most expensive assumptions advisors inherit from business-owner clients. Rather than focusing on tactics or deal mechanics, this conversation centers on the advisory conversation itself — what needs to be addressed years in advance, what buyers truly care about, and how poor planning quietly erodes enterprise value. For advisors who work with business owners, this episode highlights the difference between retirement planning around a business and planning for the transition of the business itself. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Why most business owners never sell their business 04:00 – The concentration risk advisors often overlook 08:30 – How businesses are actually valued (and why owners are surprised) 13:00 – Owner dependency and why buyers discount for it 18:30 – Customer concentration, retention, and perceived risk 24:00 – Why waiting "a few more years" costs real money 30:00 – Planning early vs. selling reactively 36:00 – Life after the sale: the emotional blind spot 42:00 – What advisors should be addressing long before an exit 🔑 Key Takeaways 💡 Exit planning is not a transaction — it's a multi-year advisory process 💡 Most business owners overestimate value and underestimate risk 💡 Owner dependency is one of the fastest ways to reduce enterprise value 💡 Advisors who address exit planning early create better client outcomes 💡 Planning years ahead creates optionality — waiting removes it 🧠 Notable Quotes 🗣 "Most business owners don't realize how much of their net worth is tied to their business." 🗣 "If you don't plan ahead, you don't get what your business is worth — period." 🗣 "Exit planning isn't about selling tomorrow. It's about being ready when the opportunity comes." 🗣 "The goal isn't just to sell — it's to sell on your terms." Follow Adrenaline Advisor: Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com   Connect with Adam Koós: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos  Website: https://www.adrenalineadvisor.com

    46 min

  6. JAN 13

    Scaling Without Burnout: Systems, Staff, and Smarter Growth

    In this repurposed episode, Adam Koós joins Scottie Taylor for a wide-ranging conversation on what it actually takes to grow a financial advisory practice without working 70-hour weeks. Adam shares the real lessons from building and scaling multiple businesses — including his RIA, Elevate & Exit (focused on business transition and exit planning), and Adrenaline Advisor (education and community for financial advisors) — while staying focused on systems, delegation, and long-term sustainability. This conversation goes beyond surface-level growth tactics. Adam and Scottie dig into the mindset shifts advisors must make as they move from "doing everything" to building firms that can grow without them being the bottleneck. If you're an advisor who wants more leverage, better clients, and a business that doesn't depend on your constant presence — this episode will resonate. ⏱️ Episode Highlights Why most advisors struggle to scale — and how control is often the real bottleneck The difference between marketing that builds familiarity vs. prospecting that creates action How automation and systems create freedom (not distance) from clients What it really means to hire the right people — and when the wrong hire caps your growth The shift from "financial planning firm that does marketing" to "marketing firm that does planning" Why growth isn't about working harder — it's about removing friction Lifestyle practice vs. scalable firm: choosing intentionally, not reactively 🔑 Key Takeaways 💡 Growth doesn't come from one tactic — it comes from building an entire system that works together 💡 Delegation only works when the right people are in the right seats 💡 Advisors have a responsibility to market ethically — not a discomfort to avoid 💡 The ultimate scale comes when clients trust the firm, not just the founder 🧠 Notable Quotes 🗣 "If you know, but you don't act — then you don't know." 🗣 "We're not a financial planning firm that does marketing. We're a marketing firm that happens to do financial planning." 🗣 "The badge of honor isn't working 70 hours a week — it's building something that runs without you." Follow Adrenaline Advisor: Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com   Connect with Adam Koós: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos Website: https://www.adrenalineadvisor.com

    49 min

  7. 12/11/2025

    Global Value Cycles, Home-Country Bias & the Discipline Behind 'Good Losses': Part 2 with Meb Faber

    In Part 2 of Adam's conversation with Cambria CIO and researcher Meb Faber, they dig into the realities of global investing, why home-country bias hurts more portfolios than advisors realize, and how disciplined rules can turn "losses" into part of a long-term edge. They also discuss value cycles, trend signals, real assets, and why diversification still works—even when it feels uncomfortable.  Whether you're refining your portfolio process, rethinking risk, or helping clients understand how markets really behave, this episode offers clear, practical insight advisors can put to work immediately. ________________________________________ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Part 2 kickoff 00:45 – Why U.S. investors are overexposed by default 03:00 – Home-country bias in both advisors and clients 05:20 – When foreign markets outperform the U.S. 08:10 – Value cycles and market regimes 12:00 – Why diversification feels bad in real time 15:00 – Trend following and the role of "good losses" 18:30 – Thinking in decades vs quarters 21:15 – How narratives help investors stay disciplined 24:40 – Small caps, value, and non-U.S. markets entering new cycles 28:00 – The emotional challenge of sticking with a system 31:00 – Real assets, gold, and inflation regimes 34:00 – Portfolio construction lessons advisors overlook 37:00 – Closing thoughts from Meb (end of Part 2) ________________________________________ Key Takeaways 💡 Home-country bias is one of the biggest blind spots in portfolio construction. Most investors dramatically overweight the U.S. without realizing how often other countries lead.  💡 Diversification still works — it just rarely feels good in real time. Global markets rotate in long, humbling cycles.  💡 "Good losses" are part of a disciplined system. Trend following isn't prediction — it's survival through deep, behavioral drawdowns.  💡 Value, small caps, and foreign markets may be entering a new leadership cycle. Patience is required because these cycles play out over years, not months.  💡 Clients absorb stories better than statistics. Simple analogies often outperform charts when explaining market behavior.  ________________________________________ Key Quotes 🗣 "Home-country bias is one of the biggest problems investors don't realize they have." — Meb Faber 🗣 "Diversification works in practice, not in emotion." — Meb Faber 🗣 "A good loss is one that follows your rules." — Adam Koós 🗣 "Markets move in decades, not quarters." — Meb Faber ________________________________________ Connect with Meb Faber Website: https://mebfaber.com Cambria Investments: https://cambriainvestments.com The Meb Faber Show: https://themebfabershow.com Idea Farm Research: https://theideafarm.com X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MebFaber YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MebFaber ________________________________________ Follow Adrenaline Advisor Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor Email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: https://adrenalineadvisor.com Connect with Adam Koós: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/adamkoos Website: https://adrenalineadvisor.com

    39 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    "Trend Following, Market Volatility, and Portfolio Strategy: Meb Faber's Guide for Financial Advisors"

    In this episode, Adam sits down with Cambria CIO and renowned researcher Meb Faber for a candid, high-impact conversation on what advisors consistently misunderstand about markets. They dig into trend following, global diversification, performance chasing, drawdowns, investor behavior, and the uncomfortable truths that shape real-world outcomes for clients. Whether you're building portfolios, coaching clients through volatility, or refining your own advisory process, this episode will sharpen how you think about risk, return, and discipline in an industry full of noise. Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & welcome 01:00 – Meb's path to quant investing 03:30 – Lessons from bubbles & early losses 06:00 – Challenging widely accepted beliefs 09:00 – Trend following & the 10-month rule 12:00 – Power laws and outlier returns 15:30 – Generational investing biases 18:00 – Buffett, Bogle & misunderstood market quotes 21:00 – The "worst days" myth 24:00 – Performance chasing in advisors 27:00 – Cambria's rules-based approach 30:00 – Concentration, diversification & recency bias 34:00 – Global value investing & patience 38:00 – Dividend misunderstandings 42:00 – Bonds, regimes & yield spreads 46:00 – Gold's role in portfolios 50:00 – Trend following vs prediction 53:00 – Biggest mistakes advisors make 57:00 – Buy & hold limitations 01:00:00 – Behavior traps & panic selling 01:10:00 – Closing thoughts (end of Part 1) Key Takeaways 💡 Trend following is about discipline, not prediction. Price reflects reality, and ignoring drawdowns is what leads clients to panic. 💡 Time horizon misunderstandings are one of advisors' biggest blind spots. Strategies can take decades — not quarters — to demonstrate edge. 💡 Performance chasing destroys more wealth than bad strategies. Most investors buy after periods of strength and sell after weakness. 💡 Dividends, bonds, and gold are misunderstood. Advisors must reframe expectations and explain trade-offs. 💡 Clients only want two things in a downturn: Am I going to be okay? Do you have a plan? If you can answer yes to both, retention skyrockets. Key Quotes 🗣 "Every trade makes you richer or wiser — but never both." — Meb Faber 🗣 "People anchor to the all-time high. It's one thing to know a portfolio could fall 40%… it's another thing to live through it." — Meb Faber 🗣 "If you sell without a re-entry plan, it becomes permanent." — Meb Faber 🗣 "Clients want to know two things: Am I going to be okay? And do you have a plan?" — Adam Koós Connect With Meb Faber: Website: https://www.cambriainvestments.com/ https://mebfaber.com/ https://www.themebfabershow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mebanefaber/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/MebFaber YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKvWzzrVUA_DSCoKXL6GU2w?sub_confirmation=1   Follow Adrenaline Advisor Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com Connect with Adam Koós: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos Website: https://www.adrenalineadvisor.com

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The Advisor's Fuel Podcast with Adam Koos, where high performing Financial Planners and Wealth Advisors discover proven processes and actual strategies to elevate their client experience, grow their businesses faster and achieve unprecedented success. Brought to you Adrenaline Advisor Consulting at https://adrenalineadvisor.com/

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