Model FA Podcast

In this episode of the Model FA Podcast, host David DeCelle welcomes Andrea Schlapia, a certified EOS Implementer and founder of Ironstone Business Coaching. Andrea shares her extensive experience in the financial industry and her journey from advisor to coach, ultimately embracing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to help advisory firms achieve clarity, accountability, and growth. Key Topics Covered:

• Andrea's background and the evolution of Ironstone Business Coaching
• What EOS is and why it matters for advisory firms of all sizes
• The six key components of EOS: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction
• How EOS helps firms manage complexity, avoid "idea overload," and create organizational health
• The importance of getting leadership teams aligned and communicating the vision throughout the company
• Practical steps for implementing EOS, including the 90-minute overview, Focus Day, and quarterly/annual sessions
• Real-world case studies of firms that have transformed using EOS
• The value of structure and discipline in creating freedom and work-life balance
• Recommended resources: "Traction" and "What the Heck is EOS?" by Gino Wickman

Connect with Andrea Schlapia:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aschlapia/

• Email: andrea@ironstonehq.com

• Ironstone Business Coaching: ironstonehq.com

About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.

Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.

In this episode, David sits down with Matt Mossbarger, co-founder of WealthFeed, to discuss innovative strategies for financial advisors to find and engage potential clients.

In This Episode:

0:00 - Introduction to Matt Mossbarger 1:00 - Matt's background in wealth management 2:30 - Origins of Wealth Feed 4:26 - Building the tech team 7:39 - Catalyst events for prospecting 11:55 - Effective outreach strategies 16:29 - Multi-channel marketing approaches 18:55 - Handwritten note strategies 23:42 - Importance of social media content 26:11 - Platform integrations

Special Offer: 20% off WealthFeed annual subscription (contact Matt directly) Connect with Matt: Email: [email protected] Website: wealthfeed.com

About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.

Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.

David DeCelle interviews Steven Woods, CEO of Sterling Shire, about his journey and the firm's innovative approach to the financial industry. Steven shares his background, including dropping out of high school, joining Wall Street, and founding Sterling Shire. The firm aims to revolutionize the industry by offering advisors a 100% payout model, eliminating back-end revenue streams, and automating compliance processes. Woods highlights the "advice on demand" model, where clients pay only for successful recommendations.

In This Episode: 0:00 - Introduction 0:04 - Guest Background 5:00 - Wall Street Beginnings 10:25 - Industry Problems & Opportunities 17:50 - Unique Client Engagement Model 26:09 - Building a World-Class Leadership Team 28:12 - Impact of "Moneyball" Book

Connect with Steven: Website: sterlingshire.com Email: Available on website #FinancialServices #Investing #WealthManagement #Entrepreneurship

About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.

Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.

Stand by Model FAs! Today I am sitting down with Jason L Smith, founder of JL Smith and Prosperity Capital Advisors, to chat about his journey in the financial industry. Jason shares his early aspirations, setbacks, and eventual success in holistic wealth management. He discusses the evolution of his financial planning process, the "bucket plan," and its impact on clients.

Jason also explains the "tax trilogy" of services: tax planning, tax management, and tax preparation. He emphasizes the importance of documenting processes, building a strong team, and differentiating through tax services. David highlights the success of merging tax practices with financial planning, citing a client who grew assets from $160 million to over $800 million.

In this episode:

1. The Holistic Wealth Management Approach

2. The Bucket Plan: Time-Segmented Financial Planning

3. Tax Trilogy: A Strategic Financial Framework

4. Team and Process: Scaling Your Financial Practice

5. Client-Centric Wealth Creation

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Connect with Jason:

• Website: https://www.jlsmithgroup.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-l-smith-cep%C2%AE-bpc-b998ab14/

About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.

Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.

In this episode of the Model FA Podcast, David DeCelle sits down with Andree Mohr, President at Integrated Partners, to discuss how advisors can double their business through intentional partnerships with CPAs. With over $21 billion in AUM, 212 advisors, and 200 CPA partners, Integrated Partners has mastered the art of aligning tax professionals and financial advisors to serve high-net-worth clients with deeper, more integrated planning.

Andree shares how personalized introductions, regular CPA meetings, and clear expectations can unlock growth and referrals. From systemizing partnerships to shifting CPAs from tax prep to tax planning, this episode is full of practical insights for any advisor looking to grow.

🎯 Topics Covered:

• The secret to doubling your advisory business with the right CPA relationships

• How Integrated Partners matches advisors with vetted CPA partners

• What advisors must do to be referral-worthy

• Transitioning CPAs from tax prep to planning conversations

• The leadership lessons from Trillion Dollar Coach that apply to firm growth

📚 Book Recommendation: Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell

Connect with Andree Mohr Email: [email protected] Website: https://integrated-partners.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andree-peterson

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Tenney, CEO of Grandview and Company, to explore his remarkable journey from Morgan Stanley Asset Management to launching his own RIA and ultimately coaching firm owners. Steve shares lessons from four decades in the industry, including how to standardize processes, delegate wisely, and unlock sustainable growth.

Key Topics Covered:

• Steve's early career path through London, Boston, and New Hampshire

• Founding an RIA with Dynasty Financial Partners

• Why Steve pivoted from client work to coaching other RIA owners

• The real bottlenecks in RIA growth: customization and inefficiency

• Delegating with intention and playing to your strengths

• Why managing energy is as important as managing time

• The mindset shift that helps advisors fall back in love with their work

Whether you're an RIA owner looking to scale or a solo advisor feeling stretched too thin, this episode offers practical strategies to streamline operations and build a business that runs with (not on) you.

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Connect with Steve:

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: https://grandviewandco.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steventenney/

About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.

Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.

This week, David is joined by Nick Davies, a coach aiming to serve 100,000 advisors in three years. They discuss the importance of masterminds for advisors, emphasizing the need for a relationship-centric approach. Nick shares his journey from banking to coaching, highlighting the significance of people and relationships. They explore the structure of masterminds, recommending a cadence of bi-weekly hour-long meetings for groups of 4-7. Nick also introduces a tool that integrates with CRM systems to help advisors build deeper client relationships through automated prompts and email templates.

In this episode:

• Nick Davies, from Seven Figure Advisor, discusses his ambitious goal of serving 100,000 advisors in three years

• The power of masterminds is explored, highlighting how peer groups can drive business growth and personal development

• A deep dive into relationship-centric business approaches, emphasizing the importance of human connections over purely transactional interactions

• An introduction to a new AI tool designed to help advisors proactively maintain and deepen client relationships

• Nick shares insights from his diverse background, from banking in London to coaching financial advisors, and the key lessons learned about motivation and business success

Connect with Nick:

• Learn more at https://7-figureadvisor.com/

About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.

Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.

This week David DeCelle, CEO of ModelFA, interviews Sarah Ecklein, owner of Trust and Honor, about her journey from cooking to becoming a professional fiduciary. Sarah discusses her work in end-of-life care, serving as a conservator, trustee, and agent for clients, particularly in complex cases that corporate trustees may avoid. She highlights the importance of proactive estate planning, noting that only one in three Americans have an estate plan. Sarah emphasizes the need for clear communication and understanding of estate documents, and shares her efforts to educate the public through her podcast, "The Legacy of Love."

In this episode:

1. Only 1 in 3 people in the United States have an estate plan

2. Acts as a neutral third party for trust administration, conservatorship, and decision-making

3. Move from a place of fear to a place of love when considering estate planning

4. Changing family structures increase estate planning challenges

5. Estate planning is not just about after-death distribution

Connect with Sarah:

• Learn more at https://www.trustandhonor.co/

About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.

Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.

What's your firm really worth—and how do you unlock that value?

In this episode, David DeCelle sits down with Scott Leak, CFP® and CEPA, Senior Consultant at FP Transitions, one of the most trusted firms in the advisory M&A and valuation space. With over 17,000 valuations under their belt and 100+ M&A deals last year alone, FP Transitions has a unique vantage point on what makes firms valuable—and what holds them back.

Scott shares his journey from a 22-year run at TD Ameritrade to helping advisors navigate valuations, succession planning, and equity strategies at FP Transitions. Whether you're thinking about selling, merging, or simply growing smarter, this episode is packed with guidance you won't hear at your typical industry event.

🔑 What You'll Learn:

• Why "valuation" is more than just a revenue multiple (and what buyers really look for)

• How to structure equity swaps, partial sales, and synthetic equity to keep upside without giving it all away

• The KPIs that actually move the needle on firm value—and which ones are vanity metrics

• Why administrative relief is driving more advisors to explore partnerships and acquisitions

• The top deal killers in M&A (and how to avoid them before they tank your deal)

📈 For Advisors Who Are:

• Curious about their firm's value today and how to increase it over time

• Exploring mergers, acquisitions, or partnerships to offload operational headaches

• Thinking about exit planning but not ready to fully step away

• Looking for real-world benchmarks and strategic next steps from a firm that's seen it all

Connect with Scott:

• Learn more at FPTransitions.com

• Connect with Scott Leak on LinkedIn

• Want to talk about valuation or growth strategy? David can introduce you.

About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.

Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.

In this episode, David DeCelle, CEO of ModelFA, sits down with Matthew Awai of Advisor Tech Partners to explore how financial advisors can streamline operations, automate tasks, and reclaim valuable time in their business. Matthew shares his journey from working at a broker-dealer to co-founding Advisor Tech Partners, and dives into real-world automation examples that are saving firms up to 10 hours per week—just in scheduling. Whether you're a solo advisor or part of an enterprise team, this conversation offers insights into tools like Zapier, Wealthbox, and AI agents that can modernize your firm's workflows.

🧠 Key Topics Covered

• Matthew's path from broker-dealer to tech entrepreneur

• Common operational challenges for solo and enterprise advisors

• Automation solutions using CRM tools and Zapier

• Real examples: follow-up emails, workflow triggers, and data syncs

• The role of AI agents and SOPs in scaling a firm

• Why documenting processes is crucial for growth

• Tools discussed: Wealthbox, Zapier, scribe.how, AI workflows

✅ Action Items

• 🔗 Check out Advisor Tech Partners' YouTube Channel for tutorials and automation tips

• 📅 Book a discovery call with Advisor Tech Partners to explore how automation can help your firm

• 📘 Read The E-Myth by Michael Gerber to better understand the value of systems and delegation

• ✍️ Try scribe.how to start documenting your SOPs automatically

Connect with Matthew:

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: https://www.advisortechpartners.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-awai/

About the Model FA Podcast

The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no "gotchas" or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.

Did you like this conversation? Then leave us a rating and a review in whatever podcast player you use. We would love your feedback, and your ratings help us reach more advisors with ideas for growing their practices, attracting great clients, and achieving a better quality of life. While you are there, feel free to share your ideas about future podcast guests or topics you'd love to see covered.

Our Team:

President of Model FA, David DeCelle

If you like this podcast, you will love our community! Join the Model FA Community on Facebook to connect with like-minded advisors and share the day-to-day challenges and wins of running a growing financial services firm.