Only Fee-Only

Broc Buckles and Peter Ciravolo
  • 5.0 (16)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This podcast interviews fee-only financial planners to learn about how they are helping their clients and serving their specific niches.

  1. 1D AGO

    #148 - Meet The P&C Pro Powering BC Brokerage

    Meet the person you want on your side when policies get real. We sit down with Charles Priest, our new head of Property and Casualty at BC Brokerage, to unpack how a planning‑first mindset turns confusing coverage into clear, confident decisions for households and businesses. Charles brings 16 years of experience helping clients navigate tough choices, manage risk trade‑offs, and pick carriers that stand up when a claim lands—not just when a quote looks cheap. We start with the basics that most people miss: why umbrella liability is a cornerstone of personal protection, how to right‑size auto and home limits, and the small tweaks that lower friction without raising exposure. For advisors, Charles lays out quick checks that surface red flags fast, from missing umbrellas to deductibles that don’t match cash reserves. Then we move to the commercial side where growth outpaces coverage, and cyber risk demands real defenses. Social engineering and ransomware aren’t fringe threats anymore; they’re everyday business hazards. Charles explains what good cyber insurance should fund—incident response, forensics, notification, restoration, and business interruption—and how to align limits with the data and dollars at stake. We also dig into timing and markets. The ideal window to shop is roughly 60 days before renewal so we can clarify goals, work with underwriters, and tailor terms. Mid‑term updates can still deliver value with pro‑rated changes. Most of all, we challenge the myth of “apples to apples”: policy wording, exclusions, and claims handling vary widely, and the cheapest option can become the costliest mistake when it matters. If you’re an advisor seeking a smarter P&C partner or a client who wants fewer surprises and better outcomes, this conversation offers a clear path. If you find this helpful, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review—what P&C question should we tackle next?

    21 min

  2. JAN 21

    #147 - Renting Your Brain: The Business of Advice-Only Planning with Kelly Nilsson

    Why do some advisors thrive without managing assets? We talk with Kelly Nilsson, founder of Brava Financial, about building a planning-first, advice-only practice that focuses on real-life risk—not just market returns. With a background in insurance, Kelly believes households are more often disrupted by death, disability, or long-term care than by volatility, and her plans are built to handle those moments. Kelly shares how she launched a virtual RIA, why project-based planning fuels her growth, and how clear scope, flat fees, and objective advice create better client outcomes. “Rent my brain” means no product pressure, no discounts, and clients who are ready to implement. This episode covers practical ways to identify the right clients, use paid consults as discovery, and design services people actually understand. A must-listen for advisors questioning the AUM default and looking to build a sustainable, planning-led practice. Kelly's Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellynilssoncfp/ Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

    28 min

  3. JAN 8

    #146 - How A CFP And A CPA Team Up To Protect Wealth

    Imagine walking into tax season already knowing the number. That’s what happens when a fee-only planner and a proactive CPA plan the year together—before December 31. In this episode, we’re joined by Elliot Vaughn, CFP®, and Ryan Hickel, CPA, to show how they turn scattered inputs like Social Security, IRA distributions, pensions, and equity sales into one coordinated plan. We break down their joint workflow: fall reviews that forecast income, model marginal tax rates, and evaluate moves like Roth conversions while there’s still time to act. Elliot explains why “everything a planner does ends up on a tax return,” and Ryan translates that into brackets, credits, and phaseouts clients can actually understand. You’ll hear why the years around retirement are prime for conversions and gain harvesting, and how early-career professionals can build a strong foundation with the right savings order and tax-aware decisions. We also cover the bigger picture: delivering a family-office experience without massive wealth, coordinating with specialists when needed, and pushing back on popular myths—like calling permanent life insurance a “Roth on steroids.” The theme is simple: fiduciary collaboration and clean process matter more than buzzwords. If you want fewer April surprises and more confident decisions, this episode shows what a real advisor–CPA partnership looks like. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the tax topic you want covered next. Elliot's Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliottvhw/ Ryan's Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-hickel/ Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound

    35 min

  4. 12/11/2025

    #145 - The Engineer’s Path to Fee-Only Planning with Andy Cole

    A simple spreadsheet for his dad sparked a complete career pivot. In this episode, Andy Cole breaks down his move from civil engineering to fee-only financial planning—and how he built a lean, resilient practice while working full time and raising a family. What began as a deep dive into risk-adjusted returns evolved into a planning-first firm serving engineers with a flexible, transparent fee model. Andy shares the early challenges of running a solo RIA—compliance, invoicing, endless paperwork—and the turning point when he found a corporate RIA structure that gave him real leverage. By outsourcing back-office work while keeping full autonomy, he accelerated growth and regained the joy of advising. We also get into the numbers, including payout grids and the math that helped him reach roughly $200k in revenue with low personal overhead. We talk niche and pricing strategy, too. Engineers often want DIY portfolio control, so Andy pairs flat-fee planning with optional low AUM. He also offers practical marketing advice: increase your at-bats, stay consistent on LinkedIn, and build offers for a specific audience—not everyone. If career change, fee-only planning, or intentional business design resonates with you, hit follow, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Andy's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-cole-pe/ Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

    31 min

  5. 12/04/2025

    #144 - Roadie. Atlantic Crossing. RIA Founder: The Shane Mason Story

    Want a founder story that includes spreadsheets, a stint as a roadie, an Atlantic crossing, and a will-signing party that packed the room? Meet Shane Mason of Brooklyn FI — a CPA/CFP who went from Big Four tax to touring life, then teamed up with AJ to build a 20-person advisory firm rooted in transparency, productized service, and genuine hospitality. We dig into the early days: running a tax practice out of a bar booth, pricing low to get at-bats, and taking weekend prospect meetings to sharpen the offer. Shane explains why he and AJ decided from day one to build an enterprise rather than a lifestyle practice, documenting workflows so every client gets the same quality of service no matter who’s in the seat. That mindset shaped their hiring, retention, and their eventual shift from serving creatives to working with tech employees navigating ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, and liquidity events. The conversation gets practical fast. Shane shares why most equity compensation issues are really tax issues, why offering refunds can be a reputation-saving move, and how turning estate planning into a social, notarized event helps clients finally take action. We also explore the difference between small giants and scalable firms, the value of serialized advice, and what happens when founders step back from client work to rethink the business. Plus, a look at Gemifi, the fintech platform Brooklyn FI built to help advisors visualize vesting schedules and future balance sheets. If you’re building or scaling an RIA, this episode is full of hard-won insights on niches, processes, client experience, and leading through growth. Shane's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanemasoncpacfp/

    39 min

  6. 11/13/2025

    #143 - Building A Virtual Firm While Raising Four Kids On The Road - Hamilton Brandenberg

    How do you go from knocking on doors in the snow to running a referral-driven, tax-focused retirement firm? Hamilton Brandenburg shares his path from Chick-fil-A’s “my pleasure” culture, to prospecting at Edward Jones, to launching a fee-only practice built around tax-smart retirement planning. A near-lapsing whole life case pushed him toward a model where taxes, decumulation, and clear service rhythms give clients real value they can feel. Hamilton talks about the habits that mattered early, how they evolved into surge meetings and a proactive review schedule, and why retirees need more than pie charts. They need coordination on withdrawals, Roth conversions, Social Security timing, and account sequencing that keeps lifetime taxes low. We also get into the chapter where he built a virtual practice from a 46-foot fifth wheel while raising four kids, and how remote work forced cleaner systems and sharper communication. He shares practical advice for advisors going independent and simple ways retirees can evaluate whether an advisor is really planning through taxes. Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamilton-brandenburg-9a361b12b/ Is it in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

    22 min

  7. 11/06/2025

    #142 - From Cold Calls to Community: Krystal Fortner on Building a Client-First Firm

    Krystal Fortner built a thriving, advice-only firm by choosing clarity, community, and client-first values over sales pressure. In this episode, we trace her path from cold-calling at a wirehouse to launching her RIA with same-day state approval, and how learning product sales made her a stronger fiduciary. Krystal shares how witnessing a "don't ask questions" sales culture shaped her ethical approach and how one generous Saturday conversation sparked a lasting referral flywheel. We also dig into launching with XY Planning Network, how their compliance, registration, and peer support helped her hit the ground running, and the early days of signing her first clients. Krystal talks about finding quality leads, paying it forward, and designing a sustainable life that includes marathon training, CrossFit, and boundaries that protect her energy. For new planners, she offers a surprising tip: spend time in a wirehouse. You’ll learn the complex products clients bring to the table and how to untangle them with empathy. Then build the model that fits your values. If this episode helps you see a better way to serve clients, follow the show, share it, and leave a quick review so more planners can find it. Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystalfortner/

    23 min

  8. 10/16/2025

    #141 - The Secret to Scaling Your Firm Without Losing Your Sanity with Michelle Wong

    What if you could scale your advisory firm without rushing to hire and manage a full team? In this episode, we talk with Michelle Wong, founder and CEO of Nifty Advisor Support, about how solo and small RIAs can build lasting capacity through remote support, strong processes, and a culture-first approach. Michelle shares how Nifty grew from a pre-COVID launch to supporting more than 60 firms today, and how the rise of remote work changed the way advisors handle client service, marketing, and operations. She explains Nifty’s two main ways of working with firms: ongoing support that feels like a dedicated team member, and short project sprints designed to solve specific problems. We also cover the “Nifty Fit” framework, which focuses on matching both technology and communication style so advisors avoid costly hiring mistakes. Michelle opens up about the real bottlenecks that hold firms back—piled-up service work, inconsistent follow-up, and operational debt—and how her team helps fix them. She also introduces the Nifty Lab, a community where advisors and ops pros share templates and ideas before committing to ongoing support. If you’re a fee-only or fee-based RIA thinking about outsourcing, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for what to delegate first, how to measure success, and how to reclaim your time. Social and Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hellomiwo/ https://www.niftyadvisorsupport.com/

    25 min
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Trailer

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About

This podcast interviews fee-only financial planners to learn about how they are helping their clients and serving their specific niches.

Information

  • Creator
    Broc Buckles and Peter Ciravolo
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    149
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Only Fee-Only
  • Show Website
    Only Fee-Only

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