Advisor Freedom

“If you try it and fail, that’s fine. But not trying it is way worse.”

Clark Jeffries started his own RIA at 27 years old (love others doing this)

Just vision, courage, and a bet on himself.

He had a front-row seat to the entire advisory ecosystem during his time at Hidden Levers, the FinTech that ended up selling for nine figures without ever raising a dime.

Clark watched from inside as the company scaled and eventually got acquired by Orion.

He realized the RIA business model is incredibly lucrative, high-margin, and recurring. You just need to build it.

So he built an RIA from scratch.

1. Launching a firm without outside capital.

2. Pivoting into a hybrid subscription model

3. Using LinkedIn DMs and real-life connections to find clientsYou don’t need permission to build a firm of your own.

You just need a plan. And the guts to press go.

If you are building a firm for complete independence and freedom, this one is a must-listen.

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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.

“Don't waste your time on people intentionally ignoring you."

We had the absolute privilege speaking with Brad Johnson with Triad Partners.

Brad started in the insurance brokerage world in 2007, cold calling nonstop. But he quickly realized that selling product was a commodity. The real opportunity was helping advisors become better business owners.

He and his friend Sean became coaches. They taught advisors how to market, attract prospects, and convert them into lifelong clients. That mindset became the foundation of Triad.

What they found along the way was even more important, success can become a trap. Many advisors had growing firms but broken operations. They were burned out, overwhelmed, and missing life at home.

So Brad flipped the model. Triad was built to serve the top 1% of advisors who want more freedom, not just more clients.

Inside Triad’s Playbook:

• Top Talent Only: Triad only works with “A Players”: both inside the firm and in the advisor community they’ve built.

• Unconventional Partnerships: They bring in world-class operators and thinkers from outside finance, like a former CrossFit Games champion and productivity expert Michael Hyatt.

• Lifelong Learning: Every member must be coachable and willing to adapt.

• Do Business, Do Life: They only work with people they’d break bread with, even without business on the table.

Triad’s results speak for themselves:

• Nearly $2B in annual annuity distribution

• 85+ member firms across the country

• Over $1.25B in RIA assets

• Only five years in

Now they’re focused on solving more complex problems, blending tax, estate, and investment planning into one seamless client experience. They’re building more like a tech company than a traditional firm.

If you’re a financial advisor trying to scale without burnout, Brad’s journey is worth studying.

You can learn more at bradleyjohnson.com or check out the “Do Business Do Life” podcast.

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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.

Mendim Gecaj didn’t grow up around wealth. Quite the opposite.

His parents immigrated from Kosovo with very little, and his father arrived in the U.S. with a negative net worth. Mendim saw early on just how hard money was to earn and how even harder it could be to manage. Those experiences shaped his view of financial planning not as a career, but as a calling.

Today, he built a practice managing over $550M as a Senior Wealth Advisor at Mercer Advisors, helping entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives make confident financial decisions. He works with high net worth and ultra high net worth clients, but never lost touch with where he came from.

What drives him is simple: clarity, confidence, and real conversations.

He talks often about how wealth doesn’t prevent poor decisions. It actually makes them more expensive. The advisor’s job, in his view, isn’t just about numbers. It’s about showing up, being fully present, listening deeply, and making sure the client’s vision is always at the center of the process.

He uses a flight analogy to explain his role. The client chooses the destination. The advisor helps fly the plane. And the roadmap is surprisingly practical.

Mendim’s team now manages over $550 million in client assets.

Listen to how he got there:

1. He found a niche

At first, he tried to be everything to everyone. Now, he focuses on the people he understands best: small business owners, founders, and highly compensated professionals.

2. He stayed authentic

He used to think he needed to mirror other successful advisors. But real traction came when he started leaning into who he is.

3. He redefined trust

He thought trust came from technical expertise. But over time, he saw it’s built through empathy, presence, and being there when it matters most.

4. He didn’t chase referrals

He earned them by doing excellent work, guiding clients through tough moments, and helping them make clear, confident decisions.

Mendim is just getting started. He’s committed to mentoring younger advisors and helping them build the kind of career that’s driven by service, not ego.

If you care about building deep trust, scaling with integrity, and creating a firm that puts people first, Mendim’s story is worth studying.

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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.

“I left a corporate accounting career, five months before my first child was born… with no clients, no salary, and no backup plan. Just belief that I was meant to be a financial advisor.”

I talked to Ed Wildermuth, co-founder of Mosaic Wealth Advisors.

His start as a financial advisor is much more different than almost everyone, taking a huge leap of faith right before having his first kid.

From our convo, I immediately could tell he was meant to be a financial advisor.

He moved to Nashville, started from zero, and built a planning business from scratch.

Then he did it again in Indianapolis.

Mid-pandemic. No connections. Just conviction and spreadsheets.

Now he runs Mosaic, one of the most intentional planning firms I’ve seen. Focused on tax, benefits, and building something that lasts 30+ years.

We covered:

>How a CPA background shaped his approach to planning
>Why he left corporate life just before becoming a dad
>The pain and power of starting over in a new city
>Why Mosaic is built for advisors who want depth, not distraction
>What it looks like to merge practices without losing your soul

If you’ve ever thought about going independent, merging firms, or starting from scratch, this is one to study.

“I just felt like the long-term impact of financial planning outweighed the short-term impact I had as a nurse.”

That line stuck with me.

Because when you hear someone say it out loud, you realize how rare it is for people to change careers based on impact.

I sat down with Shane Galante, Partner at CSG Financial.

But not long ago, he was wearing scrubs.

Shane worked as a nurse through the worst of COVID. Shift after shift in Delaware ERs, helping people in the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

But deep down, he’d always been drawn to finance but had no MBA or a resume built for wealth management.

Just a Friday in scrubs… followed by a Monday in a tie.

And within three years, he helped launch a fee-only firm serving medical professionals, retirees, and business owners.

Because he’d lived it. He knew how to talk to doctors. He knew the stress, the hours, the sacrifices.

That understanding turned into trust.

Trust turned into clients.

And clients turned into a fast-growing RIA built on values that Shane actually believes in.

Career transitions aren’t a weakness. They’re your edge.

Fee-only is still a superpower when done right.

The right partners make the leap feel less risky.

And clarity of purpose wins in a sea of commissions and confusion.

If you’re in the early innings of your firm or thinking about a switch, this conversation is a masterclass.

Especially if you're trying to serve people like you.

We got into:

>Why Shane left healthcare and how he pivoted to planning

>What worked (and didn’t) at his first large firm

>The pain points of broker-dealer environments

>Building a business around medical clients and retirees

>Their tech stack, AUM goals, and growth plan for the next 5 years
>How three partners divide responsibilities while still being dads

One of my favorite episodes we’ve done.

Shane’s story is proof that your background doesn’t need to match your bio.

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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.

“I saw a Doug Boneparth post on Twitter and he was looking to hire his first associate. I had no idea what I was getting into.”

I talked to Cliff Cornell, Associate Advisor at Boneparth Wealth.

He didn’t land his job through a recruiter or a formal application.He got it from a tweet.

He saw Doug Boneparth post on Twitter that he was hiring his first associate. Cliff had just finished college, took a leap, and sent over his resume.

4 interviews/calls later and he was hired at the fastest growing RIA firm for Millennials and Gen Z.

Now Cliff works alongside one of the most recognizable advisors in the country. Helping Gen Z and Millennial clients navigate student loans, first homes, and stock options. All while building a personal brand that’s funny, relatable, and real.

His journey proves one thing: you don’t need a 20-year plan to make it in wealth management. You just need initiative and authenticity.

We covered:

>How Cliff landed his dream job from a single tweet

>Why Gen Z is redefining what “financial success” looks like

>The power of being real online (and how it attracts clients)

>What he’s learned from working alongside Doug Boneparth

>The future of planning for younger generations

If you’re early in your career and wondering where to start, Cliff’s story is proof that unconventional paths can lead to incredible opportunities.

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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.

“If you ask most women who inherited or earned their wealth, their biggest fear isn’t losing money, it’s being misunderstood.”

Susan Jones didn’t come from wealth management.
She came from tax law & estate planning.
Years of helping clients build charitable vehicles, pass on their wealth, and navigate the IRS.

But what she noticed over time was simple:
People didn’t just need technical planning.
They needed coaching.
They needed clarity.
And they needed someone who could explain things like a human.

So she left the big firm.
Teamed up with two other women.
And launched Sorelle Wealth Partners, a firm built to serve high-net-worth families with deep planning, values-based conversations, and zero condescension.

They work with couples, widows, business owners, and multi-gen families.
But what makes them different is how they start every conversation:
Not with a balance sheet.
But with a question about values, goals, and legacy.

Here’s what we covered in this episode:

>How Susan transitioned from law to wealth advising
>The tools they use to connect values and investment choices (like Orion’s B520)
>Why most firms overcomplicate charitable planning — and how to simplify it
>The difference between private foundations and donor-advised funds (and why most clients should use both)
>How to structure giving plans that actually get used
>What women want from their advisors — and how most firms still miss it
>How Zoom has unlocked access to quality planning for clients across the country
>Why growing slowly, intentionally, and with “enough” in mind is their guiding principle

If you’re building a modern firm, or helping clients navigate transitions, this one is packed.

Here’s Susan Jones of Sorelle Wealth Partners.
Lawyer. Advisor. Founder.
And someone who’s rewriting the script on what good advice should feel like.

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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.

Today's Guest: Jonathan Mitchell

Senior Wealth Advisor, Mercer Advisors

What we covered

• Jonathan’s journey from construction work at 12 years old… to being top 10 in revenue at Mercer

• The power of direct candor in financial advising

• How his referral engine works (and why he tracks every ask)

• Why “being polite” is not kindness in this profession

• How he landed a $14M single referral from one existing client

• Why advisors must meet clients where they are (in-office, in-home, Zoom, whatever works)

• How Mercer wins business from Schwab + Fidelity referrals (and what types of cases they send)

• Advanced planning example: saving a business seller ~$1M in taxes using overlay + long/short strategies

• The next 5–10 years for Jonathan and why he is choosing to stay inside the ecosystem he loves

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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.

“Because as a woman, I know you have had to work way harder than a man to get where you are in this business, in finance. And it helped me sell our firm.”

If you're a woman in financial advising, you have to listen to this story.

I talked to Megan Miller and Elise Foster.
Mother & daughter / Business partners.
And two of the most client-focused advisors I’ve met.

But this wasn’t the plan.
Elise never wanted Megan to join the firm.
Finance is tough. Especially for women.
And she didn’t want her daughter to go through it. But Megan showed up anyway.
Started at the bottom. And had several roles before buying into the firm.

Together, they’ve built a firm that puts people first.

The early days when “financial planning” wasn’t even a phrase.
The chaos of growth.
The headaches of compliance.
And the tough calls that come with running a firm.

So they made a bold decision: They sold.

Not because they were tired. But because they wanted to focus on their clients and not compliance or admin.

The result?
50% less paperwork.
And 10x more energy for what matters.

We covered:

>What it’s really like to run a family firm>Why integrity, not AUM, is how you scale>How aligned acquisitions create real freedom>The next chapter for women in wealth>And how to build a business that gives your life back

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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.

"I was the only advisor now at a firm with $300M in assets..." 😳

What do you do when your boss gets suspended by the SEC and you just started financial advising?

I talked to Adam Harding, founder of Harding Wealth, who got his start in the financial advising industry from a Craigslist ad.

It was 2008. Phoenix housing market was collapsing. And Adam was making twelve bucks an hour shredding documents.

Two years in, the SEC walks through the door.

They find violations tied to the firm’s owner—things Adam had nothing to do with but the owner got barred from the industry.

And just like that, Adam at 27 years old, $3,000 in the bank, was the only registered advisor left at a $300M firm.

He got thrown into the deep end immediately.

Fast forward to 2016. Adam launches Harding Wealth. No suits. No salesy nonsense. Just real conversations with real people.

Now he runs a thriving RIA built on transparency, coaching, and walking clients through the actual process, not just the polished outcome.

We covered:

> How a $0 internship led to running a $300M book

> Why authentic conversations attract real clients

> The content strategy that took off by accident

> His secret to scaling without losing himself

> What the industry gets wrong about “being professional”

If you’re building a firm or trying to grow your brand, Adam’s story is proof that you don’t need a suit, a script, or a perfect background.

You just need guts, clarity, and a way to connect.

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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.