The Influential Advisor

Paul G. McManus and Gabe McManus
  • 5.0 (4)
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Are you a financial advisor looking to stand out as an influential leader and attract the clients you truly want to serve? You’re in the right place. The Influential Advisor Podcast, hosted by The McManus Brothers—Paul G. McManus and Gabe McManus, explores the art and strategy of authoritative positioning for elite advisors who want to rise above the noise. Each episode delivers actionable insights on how to amplify your expertise, elevate your visibility, and position yourself as the go-to authority in your market. Paul and Gabe are joined by leading advisors and industry insiders who share proven frameworks, real-world success stories, and behind-the-scenes tactics you can actually use to grow a more intentional, influential practice. If you’re ready to stop competing on credentials alone, define a clear point of view, and attract better clients on your own terms, this podcast is for you. Welcome to The Influential Advisor Podcast—where high-impact advisors learn how to lead with authority, build enduring trust, and rise above the rest. gh-impact advisors learn to rise above the rest.

  1. 8H AGO

    096: Mark Rasner on Why Only 5% of People Achieve True Financial Freedom

    Most financial advisors will tell you to save more and invest wisely. Mark Rasner will tell you that's not enough. After 32 years of watching people succeed and fail financially, he has the track record to back it up. Mark grew up poor on a dairy farm in Upper Michigan, worked his way through college without taking a single student loan, and watched his father transform from a struggling farmer into a financial advisor who changed people's lives. That backstory didn't just shape who Mark is. It became the foundation for The Group A Mindset, a framework built on one core insight: the difference between people who achieve financial freedom and those who don't is rarely about income. It's about mindset, decision-making, and the habits we either build or avoid for decades. In this conversation, Mark walks us through the Group A and Group B framework, the psychology of financial self-sabotage, and why even high-earning professionals often find themselves stuck. He shares client stories, his own personal transformation through Ironman triathlon training, and the practical tools he uses to help people make a genuine shift. About Mark Rasner  Mark Rasner, CFP®, ChFC®, CASL®, APMA™, BFA™ is a financial advisor and wealth coach with over 32 years of experience in financial planning and leadership development. He is the author of The Group A Mindset, a book designed to help individuals identify and break the beliefs and behaviors keeping them from lasting financial freedom. After building a successful practice in the Midwest, Mark merged his business with a national advisory team, where he now leads Midwest growth and advisor development. He is a two-time Ironman triathlete and father of three daughters. What We Cover Why only 5-10% of people achieve true financial freedom and what distinguishes Group A from Group BThe line of consciousness framework and how subconscious decision-making keeps people financially stuckThe drama triangle (victim, villain, hero) and why escaping it is the first step toward financial transformationHow Mark went from 260 pounds and sedentary to completing two full Ironman triathlons and what that journey taught him about Group A behaviorThe pie fallacy and why treating wealth as a finite resource is the scarcity mindset's most destructive trapA real client story: how Jim went from near-financial collapse at 45 to a 10x increase in net worth in eight yearsResources Mentioned The Group A Mindset by Mark RasnerThe Group A Mindset on AmazonThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. CoveyConnect with Mark Rasner Website: groupamindset.comLinkedIn: Mark Rasner, CFP®, ChFC®, CASL®, APMA™, BFA™Support the show

    40 min

  2. MAR 25

    095: Bernd Steinebrunner: Beyond the Numbers — Building a Financial Dashboard for a Life Without Regrets

    Most people doing the right things financially still have no idea if they're actually on track. They're saving, investing, contributing to the 401k — and still lying awake wondering if retirement will actually work out. That gap between doing well and knowing you're okay is exactly what Bernd Steinebrunner has spent nearly two decades helping families close. Episode Summary In this episode, Gabe McManus sits down with Bernd Steinebrunner, CFP® and founding partner at Parliament Wealth Management in Costa Mesa, California. Bernd walks us through the core ideas behind his new book, Beyond the Numbers, and shares the framework he uses to take successful professionals from financial anxiety to real clarity. From understanding your personal values before touching a single spreadsheet, to building a financial dashboard that functions like a crystal ball for your future — this conversation is practical, personal, and full of real client stories that will resonate with anyone who's ever wondered, "Am I actually on track?" About Bernd Steinebrunner Bernd Steinebrunner is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and founding partner at Parliament Wealth Management and Insurance Services in Costa Mesa, California. With a background in software engineering and telecommunications — including 18 years in executive roles — Bernd brings a uniquely systematic approach to financial planning. He has been helping clients with comprehensive financial planning for nearly 20 years and is the author of Beyond the Numbers: Building Your Financial Dashboard for a Life Without Regrets, an Amazon #1 bestseller in multiple categories. What We Cover Why even high earners who "do the right things" end up flying blind — and the specific mindset that keeps them stuckWhy Bernd starts every financial planning engagement by exploring personal values before looking at any numbersThe six-area financial checklist — from cash flow and protection all the way to estate planning — and why missing even one area can cost you dearlyWhat a financial dashboard actually is and how it gives you the ability to test financial decisions before you make them (including what that Porsche will really cost you long-term)How Bernd helped a client named Thomas see he could retire at 65 instead of 70 — and why that discovery changed everythingWhy having a solid plan means nothing without accountability — and how Bernd acts as a CFO for clients who are the CEOs of their own livesResources Mentioned Beyond the Numbers: Building Your Financial Dashboard for a Life Without Regrets by Bernd Steinebrunnerstopflyingblind.com — get a complimentary electronic copy of the bookConnect with Bernd Steinebrunner 🌐 parliamentwealth.com💼 LinkedIn📧 bernd@parliamentwealth.com📞 (949) 471-5827Support the show

    40 min

  3. MAR 23

    094: Take Fridays Back with Stanley C. Leong

    He built a successful practice — and it was quietly destroying your life. That's exactly where Stanley C. Leong found himself a decade ago. Making $600K in revenue, working nights and weekends, falling asleep on the floor while his daughters played around him. On paper, everything looked great. In reality, the business was running him. Today, Stanley averages 34 hours a week, takes every Friday off, and hit $2 million in revenue last year — roughly triple what he was making when he was burning out. He's now channeling what he learned into 52 Fridays, a one-on-one coaching program he co-founded with fellow advisor Darian Tong to help other financial advisors do the same. About Stanley C.  Leong Stanley Leong is a practicing financial advisor and co-founder of 52 Fridays Coaching. He began his career as an engineer before spending 24 years in financial services, building a specialized practice serving technology professionals. Stanley holds a $1 million minimum and runs a lean, efficient practice that he uses as a living proof of concept for everything he teaches. He trained with the Machado brothers — the same instructors who trained Keanu Reeves for the John Wick films. What We Cover How Stanley went from $600K and completely burned out to $2M working half the hours — and what actually made that possibleThe jiu-jitsu analogy that explains why busy advisors can't grow: when you're in survival mode, you can't think strategicallyThe 52 Fridays Framework: Focus (individual efficiency), Structure (team efficiency), and Clarity (practice efficiency) — and the ~50 strategies inside themWhy defining a niche is the single highest-leverage efficiency move most advisors aren't making — and why it makes you more attractive even to people outside your target marketHow a more efficient practice actually improves client experience — less falls through the cracks, and you have the bandwidth to go the extra mileStanley's journey to confidently turning away prospects who don't meet his $1M minimum — and the scripts that make those conversations workResources Mentioned Atomic Habits by James ClearBook Yourself Solid by Michael PortFinancial Advisor Success Podcast by Michael KitcesLimitless Advisors — coaching program by Stephanie BoganCEG Worldwide — coaching program by John BowenConnect with Stanley Leong 🌐 Website: 52fridayscoaching.com📧 Email: Stanley@52fridayscoaching.com💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/StanleycleongFree consultation available via email Claim your free audiobook copy at: www.theshortbookformula.com Support the show

    40 min

  4. MAR 6

    093: Ron Phelps On Values, Service, And Real-World Wealth Advice

    Episode Summary Ron Phelps, a wealth advisor with nearly 30 years of experience, joins the Influential Advisor Podcast to discuss his book Beyond the Sales Pitch: A Roadmap for Finding the Wealth Advisor You Deserve. Ron shares his journey from growing up in a tough Milwaukee neighborhood to military service to building a client-centered advisory practice. The conversation covers what separates a true trusted advisor from the rest of the industry, why jargon-free communication matters, and the questions every consumer should ask when evaluating a financial professional. Key Topics Covered Ron's Background & Origin Story — Growing up without means in Milwaukee, raised by a single mom on public assistance. A formative childhood experience at a grocery store shaped his drive to help others achieve financial security. After graduating high school at 17, he joined the Army during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, later earning an accounting degree and launching his advisory career in 1996. The Philosophy of Giving Back — Ron rejects the industry coaching that says advisors should only work with multimillion-dollar households. He shares the story of Jack, an 18-year-old tradesperson who saved $30,000 and became a client, illustrating that giving back means meeting people wherever they are on their financial journey. Ditching Jargon for Real Outcomes — Clients don't care about Sortino ratios or PE ratios — they care about retiring with dignity, building a legacy, and knowing they'll be okay. Ron's approach starts with understanding the person, their family, and their goals before ever discussing assets. What a Trusted Advisor Actually Does — Comprehensive planning goes far beyond picking stocks and funds. It includes estate planning, tax management, legacy planning, charitable giving, and proactive problem-solving. Ron details his team's communication cadence: quarterly calls, monthly market updates, and webinars that now draw 50–70 attendees. Creative Financial Solutions — Using the "Warren Buffett principle" of leveraging portfolio dividends and liquidity access lines so clients never have to permanently reduce their wealth to fund major life events like weddings or land purchases. Working with Business Owners — Succession planning, business valuations (offered at no additional cost), tax-efficient retirement strategies, and connecting clients with business opportunity advisors for selling or franchising. Legacy & Purpose — The story of Don, a client of nearly 30 years who went from being overleveraged on 400 apartment units to donating $22 million to a local cancer center — proof of what a long-term advisory relationship can accomplish. Questions to Ask Your Advisor — Ron recommends asking for 10 client references (not just one or two), understanding how the advisor charges, whether they invest their own money the same way, whether they have a true team with continuity planning, and whether they have a network of CPAs and estate planning attorneys. Guest Info Ron Phelps — Managing Director, The Phelps GroupBook: Beyond the Sales Pitch: A Roadmap for Finding the Wealth Advisor You DeserveWebsite: www.beyondthesalespitch.comSupport the show

    45 min

  5. 12/04/2025

    092: From Fragile to Anti-Fragile: How to Become a Better Investor in Retirement

    Joseph Falbo has spent 30 years helping people navigate retirement, from the 1999 tech boom through COVID and beyond. In this episode, we explore his concept of the "functional retirement advisor" and why modern retirement demands a completely different approach than what worked for previous generations. About Joseph Falbo Joseph is the founder of Falbo Wealth and Amazon #1 bestselling author of Retirement Success: Hiring Your Functional Retirement Advisor. After starting his career at a penny stock firm (think Wolf of Wall Street), he committed to doing things the right way, completing Merrill Lynch's two-year training program before spending 14 years in the corporate world. He launched his own practice in 2009. Key Topics Covered The conversation opens with Joseph's investor framework: fragile, resilient, and anti-fragile investors. Most people think they're good investors until an extended bear market hits during retirement—when they're pulling money out rather than adding to it. Joseph explains why he created the term "functional retirement advisor," drawing parallels to functional medicine doctors who take a comprehensive approach rather than writing quick prescriptions. A functional advisor starts with a plan, not a product, and uses exercises like George Kinder's three questions to help clients define what retirement success actually means to them. The episode covers critical shifts in modern retirement: lifespans extending from 15-year to 30-year retirements, the disappearance of pensions, inflation eating away at purchasing power, and why 401(k)s shifted all the risk onto individuals without providing financial education. Joseph shares client stories including a couple who started working with him at 62 with all their money in the bank, and how the planning process helped them retire successfully. He also discusses the dangers of being laser-focused on products (like tax-deferred REITs) without first understanding the full financial picture. Connect with Joseph Falbo Website: falbowealth.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-falbo-cfp/ Claim your free audiobook: https://falbowealth.com/retirementsuccessbook/ Support the show

    41 min

  6. 10/01/2025

    091: Find Stories So Powerful Your Clients Can't Help But Share Them | Financial Advisor Book Writing Webinar

    In this transformative webinar, Paul and Gabe McManus reveal why your most powerful marketing assets—your client transformation stories—are trapped in your head, and exactly how to turn them into a book that builds your practice. What You'll Discover: The "You have my faith" story that made Gabe triple his life insurance immediatelyWhy Steven's Target bag story about throw pillows made Paul hire him as his financial advisorHow Bernd went from "I'm just a numbers guy" to writing a book about Antarctica and retirement planningMorgan's journey from "I'm not a storyteller" to booking the largest podcast in her industryThe 2-minute phone technique that captures million-dollar stories after every client meetingKey Takeaways: Why saying "I have lots of stories" means you have zero usable storiesThe "Greatest Hits" framework for developing repeatable, powerful storiesHow to go from blank page to published author in 6-12 weeks (without writing)Paul and Gabe McManus have helped 500 financial advisors generate $100 million in fees and commissions through strategic storytelling and book authorship. Paul's own book landed him on Michael Kitces' Financial Advisor Success podcast, doubling his business in one year. Perfect for: Financial advisors who know they should write a book but don't know where to start, aren't "writers," or think their stories aren't interesting enough. Contact: Gabe McManus gabe@moreclientsmorefun.com to learn more about our author programs. Claim your free audiobook copy at: www.theshortbookformula.com Support the show

    34 min

  7. 09/15/2025

    090: "Engineering Your Finances: The Tech Professional's Roadmap to Financial Success" with Stanley Leong

    Episode Summary: A tech professional in her 50s had everything planned—enough saved to retire at 55. Just one problem: 80% of her net worth was company stock. Stanley Leong warned her to diversify. She agreed but couldn't bring herself to sell, feeling it would betray the company that made her successful. Then 2008 hit. The stock crashed. Her retirement at 55 vanished—she worked another decade to rebuild. Stanley, a former engineer who survived the 2002 tech crash, now helps tech professionals avoid this exact mistake. After 20 years managing tech wealth, he reveals why brilliant engineers fail at one critical decision: when to sell company stock. About Stanley Leong:  Former IBM and Agilent Technologies engineer turned wealth advisor with 20+ years specializing in tech professionals. After experiencing the 2002 tech bubble firsthand, Stanley transitioned to financial services to help others navigate the unique challenges of tech compensation. Author of "Engineering Your Finances" and expert in RSU diversification, mega backdoor Roth strategies, and tech industry retirement planning.  Critical Insights: "Don't fear capital gains. Capital gains means you made money. You want to pay more capital gains than anyone—that means you made more money." "I work with you to avoid that one big mistake." "What mistake?" "I don't know, but it's out there." "The moment I could walk away, work became enjoyable." —Client who achieved financial independence Grab your copy on Amazon. Support the show

    36 min

  8. 09/12/2025

    089: Why 70% of Advisors Lose Their Best Clients After Business Sales—And How to Keep Yours with Jeff Armstrong

    Episode Summary: Your best client just sold their business for $8 million and calls to say they're moving everything to Goldman Sachs. This devastating scenario happens to 70% of advisors, but Jeff Armstrong has the antidote. As a former business owner who ran a company for 23 years, Jeff reveals the blind spot costing advisors their most valuable relationships. While most advisors focus on managing wealth outside the business, Jeff shows how becoming the expert on your client's largest asset creates unbreakable loyalty. He shares why 97% of business exits disappoint owners and the actions that transform you from replaceable vendor to irreplaceable quarterback. About the Guest: Jeff Armstrong built and ran a laser printer repair company for 23 years before joining Cultivate Advisors. He helps financial advisors avoid losing clients to "big league" competitors by becoming business optimization experts. The Brutal Reality: Devastating Statistics: 50-70% of business owners fire their advisor after liquidity events when investment banks suggest they need "serious players." Hidden Epidemic: Only 30% of businesses attempting to sell complete transactions. Of those that sell, 90% disappoint owners. This means 97% of exits fail expectations. Shared Blind Spot: 99% of business owners cannot answer: What's my business worth? What multiples apply? What drives value? Most advisors share this blindness. The Cultivate Solution: Target Market: Businesses generating $1-15 million annually, matched with former business owner advisors who've successfully exited. Partnership Model: Cultivate functions as team extension, creating "alley-oops" for investment planning and tax strategies as business performance improves. Process: Free business valuation, gap analysis, prioritized roadmap. Owners implement independently or engage ongoing support. Creating "Stickiness": Becoming Irreplaceable: Help optimize their most valuable asset, and Goldman Sachs becomes irrelevant. You're their strategic partner, not just money manager. Personal Trainer Effect: Business owners need accountability and implementation. You become associated with success at the source. CEPA Training Revolution: Implementation Gap: Traditional training provides knowledge without application skills. Cultivate's immersion events bridge this gap. Viral Success: November event sold out after going viral within Edward Jones's 1,400 CEPA network. Implementation Strategy: Start Small: Pilot with one client. Cultivate includes you in calls and provides quarterly reporting. Full Integration: Real-time business metrics create natural wealth management conversations. Connect with Jeff: LinkedIn: Jeff Armstrong  Email: jeffa@cultivateadvisors.com  Website: cultivateadvisors.com Bottom line: While other advisors wait for liquidity events, smart advisors help create them and build unbreakable relationships.  Claim your free audiobook copy at: www.theshortbookformula.com Support the show

    32 min
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About

Are you a financial advisor looking to stand out as an influential leader and attract the clients you truly want to serve? You’re in the right place. The Influential Advisor Podcast, hosted by The McManus Brothers—Paul G. McManus and Gabe McManus, explores the art and strategy of authoritative positioning for elite advisors who want to rise above the noise. Each episode delivers actionable insights on how to amplify your expertise, elevate your visibility, and position yourself as the go-to authority in your market. Paul and Gabe are joined by leading advisors and industry insiders who share proven frameworks, real-world success stories, and behind-the-scenes tactics you can actually use to grow a more intentional, influential practice. If you’re ready to stop competing on credentials alone, define a clear point of view, and attract better clients on your own terms, this podcast is for you. Welcome to The Influential Advisor Podcast—where high-impact advisors learn how to lead with authority, build enduring trust, and rise above the rest. gh-impact advisors learn to rise above the rest.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul G. McManus and Gabe McManus
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Influential Advisor
  • Show Website
    The Influential Advisor

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