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In this episode, financial planning practitioner and researcher Michael Kothakota shares evidence-based approaches for supporting women through divorce financial planning. Drawing from his extensive research and practice experience at WolfBridge Wealth, Michael reveals how traditional divorce processes often fail to address individual needs. But, by advisors taking a collaborative approach better outcomes are created not only for the client, but also the advisor-client relationship. Ashley discusses with Michael his research findings on alimony, saving behaviors, and gender differences in financial decision-making post-divorce. Something that every advisor out there should be aware of. Michael provides actionable guidance for advisors working with women navigating these challenging transitions as well as best communication practices. The conversation explores how understanding the psychological dimensions (i.e. the human side) of financial behavior can help advisors create more effective planning strategies that honor both immediate concerns and long-term goals.

Key Takeaways:

1.  Research shows distinct patterns in how men and women approach finances after divorce - women tend to prioritize emergency savings while men focus on retirement planning.
2. Female clients, especially those with caretaking responsibilities, often prioritize immediate needs over future planning post-divorce.
3. Rather than labeling client choices as "good" or "bad," effective advisors present options with their consequences non-judgmentally, preserving client autonomy while ensuring informed decisions. 

Resources and Guest Information:

• WolfBridge Wealth
• Michael Kothakota on LinkedIn
• Michael’s Research on divorce 

Take Action:

1. Implement a Non-Judgmental Approach: When working with clients experiencing major life transitions, present options with their consequences rather than labeling choices as "good" or "bad," allowing clients to make decisions aligned with their values without shame.
2. Help fellow advisors grow by leaving us a review! 

Connect with host Ashley Quamme: 

• Podcast Website  
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn
• Beyond the Plan®

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In this insightful episode of Planning & Beyond, host Ashley Quamme explores the unique dynamics of women who serve as primary financial decision-makers with Tanya Nichols, founder and president of Align Financial. With 25 years of experience helping women retire confidently, Tanya shares valuable perspectives on how financial advisors can better support female clients, particularly Baby Boomer women navigating retirement. The conversation examines the psychological aspects of money management for women who've broken traditional gender barriers, effective communication approaches, and practical strategies for helping women feel good about their wealth. Whether you're advising female clients or seeking to understand gender-specific financial psychology, this episode delivers actionable insights for creating deeper, more meaningful client relationships.

Key Takeaways:

1. How historical gender barriers continue to influence women's relationship with money
2. Common fears and concerns that financially successful women face approaching retirement
3. How retirement identity shifts impact professional women

Resources and Guest Information:

• Tanya Nichols on LinkedIn
• Align Financial

Take Action:

1. Create thinking partnerships: Women clients, especially singles, benefit from having financial thinking partners. Consider facilitating or suggesting mastermind groups where women can openly discuss financial matters.
2. Help fellow advisors grow by leaving us a review! 

Connect with host Ashley Quamme: 

• Podcast Website  
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn
• Beyond the Plan®

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Summary: In this compelling episode, former financial planner turned emotional intelligence expert James Woodfall reveals how mastering EQ can transform client relationships and dramatically improve business outcomes. Drawing from his unique background as both a financial planner and master's degree holder in communication behavior analysis, James shares how his research uncovered a direct link between emotional intelligence and advisor success – including a remarkable 24% average increase in sales turnover from EQ training. Through personal stories, including his own journey from running a successful planning practice to becoming an EQ consultant after a life-changing health discovery, James provides deep insights into why emotional intelligence matters more than ever in financial planning and how advisors can develop this crucial skill set.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Four Quadrants of Emotional Intelligence in Financial Planning. Understanding and mastering the four components of EQ - self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management - creates a foundation for deeper client trust and more effective planning relationships. James breaks down how each element specifically applies to client meetings and relationship building.
2. Research-Backed ROI of Emotional Intelligence Training. A comprehensive study by Ameriprise demonstrated that advisors who underwent emotional intelligence training saw an average 24% increase in sales turnover, with some achieving up to 48% growth. This concrete data proves the business case for investing in EQ development.
3. Practical Steps for Improving Emotional Intelligence. James reveals how implementing a 15-minute post-meeting reflection practice can significantly enhance self-awareness and client interaction skills. This simple yet powerful technique helps advisors process emotional meetings, identify areas for improvement, and continuously develop their EQ capabilities.

Resources and Guest Information:

• "The Heart of Finance: Emotional Intelligence for Financial Planners" by James Woodfall
• Raise Your E.I. Training Programs
• James Woodfall's Weekly Email Newsletter
• LinkedIn: James Woodfall's Profile

Take Action:

1. Start Your EQ Journey Today: Implement the 15-minute post-meeting reflection practice James described. Keep a dedicated notebook for capturing insights about client interactions and your emotional responses.
2. Help fellow advisors grow by leaving us a review! 

Connect with host Ashley Quamme: 

• Podcast Website  
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn
• Beyond the Plan®

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What is financial intimacy…and how is that different from financial transparency?.In this episode, Ed Coambs, CFP® and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, reveals how financial advisors can deepen both client relationships and their own marriages through financial intimacy. 

Learn about Ed's innovative GREAT framework for having meaningful money conversations, and discover why being a financial expert can sometimes create unexpected challenges in personal relationships. Ed shares vulnerable insights from his own marriage and clinical practice, explaining how attachment styles influence money decisions and why financial transparency alone isn't enough for true financial intimacy. Whether you're struggling to balance your role as a financial expert with being a spouse, or seeking ways to help clients navigate financial relationships more effectively, this episode provides practical strategies for creating deeper connections through money conversations.

Featured Guest: Ed Coambs, CFP®, LMFT, CFT-I™, Founder of Healthy Love & Money

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• The Healthy Love and Money Way
• Attachment Style Quiz

Connect with guest: 

• Ed Coambs on LinkedIn
• Healthy Love & Money
• Healthy Love & Money on Instagram

Connect with Ashley: 

• Website: www.planningandbeyond.com 
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn

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Discover how to revolutionize your client relationships using motivational interviewing, a powerful framework that enhances client engagement and facilitates meaningful change. Join host Ashley Quamme and guest Derek Hagen, Director of Education at Money Quotient, as they unpack this evidence-based approach to deeper client conversations.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to resist the "righting reflex" and create space for authentic client discovery
• The four key components of motivational interviewing (Spirit, Stages, Skills, and Speech)
• Practical techniques for implementing MI in different meeting contexts
• Strategic ways to offer advice that empowers rather than directs
• Real-world applications for discovery meetings, annual reviews, and major life transitions

Whether you're helping clients navigate retirement relocations or complex financial decisions, you'll gain actionable strategies to enhance your practice through more effective communication. Perfect for financial advisors looking to deepen client relationships and create more impactful outcomes.

Featured Guest: Derek Hagen, Director of Education and Communication at Money Quotient, financial behavior specialist, and motivational interviewing expert.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Motivational Interviewing (4th Edition) - Miller & Rollnick
• Psychwire.com - Learn MI directly from the founders
• Money Quotient's Motivational Interviewing Bootcamp with Derek Hagen
• For additional learning: Search "Motivational Interviewing" on YouTube for introductory content

Connect with Derek: 

• Derek Hagen on LinkedIn
• Money Quotient

Connect with Ashley: 

• Website: www.planningandbeyond.com 
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn

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In this episode of Planning & Beyond, host Ashley Quamme sits down with Jake Northrup, owner of Experience Your Wealth, to explore how incorporating behavioral expertise into financial planning firms can transform client relationships and enhance practice management. As both the host and the financial behavior specialist for Jake's firm, Ashley and Jake provide a unique, inside look at this innovative approach to modern financial planning.

Jake and Ashley examine how this integration has transformed client meetings, enhanced team dynamics, and created new opportunities for practice growth. They discuss the importance of giving advisors mental freedom to focus on technical aspects while having dedicated support for the psychological elements of client relationships. The episode also addresses common concerns about scaling behavioral integration and provides actionable steps for advisors interested in expanding beyond traditional planning approaches.

Key Takeaways

• The future of financial planning is moving beyond technical expertise
• Behavioral integration can start small with simple tools and questions
• Advisors don't need to be behavioral experts to create meaningful change
• Client engagement and retention improve with behavioral integration
• Having a dedicated behavioral specialist allows advisors to be more present
• Integration should be presented as an enhancement, not a fix
• The role of behavioral specialist can extend beyond client meetings to team training
• Start implementing behavioral elements before feeling fully ready

Connect with Jake:: 

• Jake Northrup on LinkedIn
• Experience Your Wealth

Connect with Ashley: 

• Website: www.planningandbeyond.com 
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn

Links mentioned in episode

• Kinder’s 3 Questions

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In this episode we’re joined by Emily Rassam, wife, mother of two, Partner and Senior Financial Planner at Archer Investment Management to talk about the importance of estate planning and the emotional intricacies involved in discussing mortality with loved ones. Emily emphasizes the need to go beyond the basic estate planning documents and how advisors can help encourage clients to create a system of organization and accessibility of important information. Check out this conversation where we dive into: 

• Discussing mortality and the importance of estate planning

• Moving beyond mere documents to a comprehensive estate plan

• Strategies for engaging younger families in estate planning

• Handling complex dynamics in blended families

• Encouraging conversations between clients and their parents about estate planning

Learn how to transform challenging client discussions into meaningful legacy planning opportunities!

Connect with Emily:: 

• Emily Rassam on LinkedIn
• Archer Investment Management
• Emily’s website

Connect with Ashley: 

• Website: www.planningandbeyond.com 
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we're joined by Larry Sprung, husband, father, award-winning advisor, author, and mental health advocate to explore how financial advisors can transform client relationships by focusing on joy rather than just numbers. Larry shares practical insights on:

• How to incorporate joy-focused conversations into client meetings
• Balancing saving and spending for couples with different financial perspectives
• Building trust through authentic conversations about what brings clients joy
• Practical implementation of joy-focused financial planning

As a mental health advocate, Larry also discusses his journey about how his personal experiences shaped his approach to financial planning. His firm's signature question - "What did you do today that brought you joy?®" - has evolved into a powerful tool for deepening client relationships and creating more meaningful financial discussions.

Connect with Larry: 

• Larry Sprung on LInkedIn
• Mitlin Financial
• Mitlin Money Mindset on YouTube
• Download the Joy Journal 

Connect with Ashley: 

• Website: www.planningandbeyond.com 
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn

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In this episode, Neil Bage, co-founder of Shaping Wealth, shares his journey from aspiring PE teacher to leader in behavioral finance, blending neuroscience with financial services to transform client relationships. We discuss the overlooked well-being of financial advisors and the importance of self-care in preventing burnout. Neil shares how empathy and curiosity can deepen client connections, and we explore the value of therapy and prioritizing contentment. This episode is full of insights on resilience, growth, and well-being for a balanced life in finance and beyond.

Tune in to this episode of “Planning & Beyond!”

Connect with us below!

• Neil Bage on LinkedIn
• Shaping Wealth
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn

Visit Planning & Beyond

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In this episode, Mikel Van Cleve joins us to talk about the unique challenges blended families face in managing money. Mikel shares practical advice from his personal life and career, covering topics like handling complex family relationships, respecting traditions, and planning for kids of different ages.

We dive into the emotional side of finances for blended families, including how to navigate sensitive areas like inheritance and college costs. Mikel’s insights show how open conversations and thoughtful planning can help advisors better support these families and build lasting trust.

Tune in to this episode of “Planning & Beyond!”

Connect with us below!

• Mikel Van Cleve on LinkedIn
• Ashley Quamme on LinkedIn
• Visit Planning & Beyond