Danika Waddell’s journey from solo founder to firm leader is a masterclass in intentional growth.

In this episode of The Advisor Journey, Danika—founder of Zena Financial Planning—shares how she built a practice centered on professional women in tech, the lessons learned from evolving her business model, and what it takes to create lasting partnerships.

From starting her firm in 2020 to merging with another RIA five years later, Danika opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, why she left the hourly model behind, and how aligning values and vision made her merger a success.

Advisors will walk away with insight into fee structures, niching with purpose, and building meaningful collaborations that amplify both impact and joy.

ABOUT ALTRUIST:

We’re on a mission to make independent financial advice better, more affordable, and accessible to everyone. As a modern custodian, Altruist helps high-growth, client-centric, and tech-forward RIAs deliver great advice to more clients at lower costs.

Want to find out how Altruist can help you grow? Talk to our team by visiting www.altruist.com/talk-to-us

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ABOUT THE ADVISOR JOURNEY:

Real-life strategies for the modern financial advisor who’s ready to scale. Join Altruist leaders and guests as they share proven tactics, unfiltered advice, and hard-won lessons you can apply to your own practice. These conversations will propel your career to the next level—don’t miss it.

Disclaimer:

Altruist Corp ("Altruist") offers technology and tools designed to help financial advisors achieve better outcomes. Advisory and certain other services are provided by Altruist LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, and brokerage related products and services are provided by Altruist Financial LLC, a member of FINRA/SI...