Are you building a financial advisory practice that truly supports your ideal life—or is your business running you? In this episode of The Rare Advisor, host Aaron Grady sits down with Steve Phillips, Chief Practice Management Officer at USA Financial, to explore the four essential pillars of creating your ideal practice: ideal clients, ideal practice size, ideal strategic partners, and ideal affiliations. Whether you're a solo advisor or part of a growing team, this conversation dives into how to align your practice with your long-term goals and values. If you're navigating growth, considering a transition, or simply want more clarity on building a scalable, fulfilling advisory business, this episode is packed with practical insights you don’t want to miss.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial:

https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

For more of The RARE Advisor: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/rare

The RARE Advisor is a business model supercharged by Recurring And Repeatable Events. With decades of experience coaching successful advisors, your host, along with other leaders in the industry, discusses what it takes to grow a successful practice. With the aim of helping financial professionals and financial advisors take their business to the next level, this podcast shares insights and success stories that will make a real impact. Regardless of the stage of your practice, The RARE Advisor will provide thoughtful guidance, suggestions for developing systems and processes that work, and ideas for creating an authentic experience for your clients.

Contact us:

Phone (888) 444-0125

https://www.usafinancial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial

#usafinancial #advisoradvancement #therareadvisor #rareadvisor

Struggling with client retention or referrals? In this episode, Mark Mersman shares proven communication strategies for financial advisors to strengthen trust, improve client retention, and increase referrals. You'll discover four things your best clients likely believe—and why most clients leave not because of poor advice, but because of surprises or unclear expectations. Learn how to “future pace” your client relationships, clearly define your value, and proactively guide clients through life’s financial changes. If you're looking to grow your financial advisory practice and build long-lasting relationships, this video is a must-watch.

The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook is a podcast/video series for high-performing financial planning professionals that are committed to improving their craft, helping their clients, and growing their business. Hosted by Mark Mersman, Chief Marketing Officer at USA Financial, this series contains a wide variety of content – from quick win ideas to long-form interviews, each episode provides actionable marketing ideas and insights that can be implemented easily into your practice. From digital marketing to traditional direct-response marketing, each episode delivers straight-forward and engaging content that any financial professional can use to improve their bottom line and grow their practice.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial:  https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

For more of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook:  https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/financial-advisor-marketing-playbook

Contact us:

Phone (888) 444-0125

https://www.usafinancial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros

In this episode of Future Zeros, Mike shares a simple but powerful five-word framework to quickly evaluate the people around you—whether it's a prospective hire, a business partner, a new customer, or even yourself. Drawing from years of experience leading teams and building partnerships, he breaks down the core traits he looks for: Gratitude, Honor, Effort, Intent, and Serve. This personal “cheat sheet” is a practical tool for leaders who want to build stronger teams, make better hiring decisions, and align themselves with the right people both professionally and personally. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this someone I want on my team?”—this video is for you.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

Future Zeros is a series for financial advisors who want to increase the value of their firm today and in the future. Your host, Mike Walters (CEO of USA Financial), digs into the nuances of mergers, acquisitions, and succession within the financial advice industry to help you add “future zeros” to your bottom line. Whether you are nearing an exit, just entering the business, or in the middle of building your practice, the Future Zeros series (found on your favorite podcast players and YouTube) will provide thoughtful insights into how to grow your practice the right way in order to maximize your future value and minimize the risk associated with doing so.

Contact us:

Phone (888) 444-0125

https://www.usafinancial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros

How well do you really know your clients? In this inaugural episode of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook Mark Mersman, Chief Marketing Officer at USA Financial, shares a really simple idea to leverage your clients’ interests and turn them into a marketing opportunity for you.

The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook is a podcast/video series for high-performing financial planning professionals that are committed to improving their craft, helping their clients, and growing their business. Hosted by Mark Mersman, Chief Marketing Officer at USA Financial, this series contains a wide variety of content – from quick win ideas to long-form interviews, each episode provides actionable marketing ideas and insights that can be implemented easily into your practice. From digital marketing to traditional direct-response marketing, each episode delivers straight-forward and engaging content that any financial professional can use to improve their bottom line and grow their practice.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

For more of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/financial-advisor-marketing-playbook

Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros

In this episode of The Rare Advisor, host Aaron Grady sits down with Dan Garrett, co-founder of Advisor Digital, to explore how financial advisors can automate and streamline their surge meeting schedules using GReminders. If you’ve ever felt bogged down by client scheduling or wished for a more efficient way to batch meetings, this conversation is packed with practical insights. Learn how GReminders integrates with your CRM, sends automated reminders, supports compliance, and frees up your calendar for what matters most. Whether you're a solo advisor or running a growing team, this episode will show you how to reclaim time, boost professionalism, and simplify your tech stack with smarter scheduling.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

For more of The RARE Advisor: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/rare

The RARE Advisor is a business model supercharged by Recurring And Repeatable Events. With decades of experience coaching successful advisors, your host, along with other leaders in the industry, discusses what it takes to grow a successful practice. With the aim of helping financial professionals and financial advisors take their business to the next level, this podcast shares insights and success stories that will make a real impact. Regardless of the stage of your practice, The RARE Advisor will provide thoughtful guidance, suggestions for developing systems and processes that work, and ideas for creating an authentic experience for your clients.

Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #therareadvisor #rareadvisor

What if luck wasn’t random—but something you could hustle into existence? In this episode of Future Zeros, Mike Walters, CEO of USA Financial, breaks down how successful financial advisors create their own luck by combining hard work, timing, and awareness. Learn how to recognize the right opportunities, filter out the noise, and position your practice for maximum growth —both today and when it’s time to transition. If you’re a driven advisor looking to scale your business with purpose and precision, this episode is for you.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial:

https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

For more of Future Zeros:

https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/futurezeros

Future Zeros is a series for financial advisors who want to increase the value of their firm today and in the future. Your host, Mike Walters (CEO of USA Financial), digs into the nuances of mergers, acquisitions, and succession within the financial advice industry to help you add “future zeros” to your bottom line. Whether you are nearing an exit, just entering the business, or in the middle of building your practice, the Future Zeros series (found on your favorite podcast players and YouTube) will provide thoughtful insights into how to grow your practice the right way in order to maximize your future value and minimize the risk associated with doing so.

Contact us:

Phone (888) 444-0125

https://www.usafinancial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros

Want to create client events that are more than just a meet-and-greet? In this episode of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook, Mark Mersman sits down with Jeff Bush, founder of WellSpring Financial, to uncover the secrets of successful client event marketing. Jeff shares real-world examples of events that have worked wonders for his firm, and reveals how you can use events to build stronger client relationships and grow your business. Don't just host an event – create an experience!

The Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook is a video series for high-performing financial planning professionals that are committed to improving their craft, helping their clients, and growing their business. Hosted by Mark Mersman, Chief Marketing Officer at USA Financial, this series contains a wide variety of content – from quick win ideas to long-form interviews, each episode provides actionable marketing ideas and insights that can be implemented easily into your practice. From digital marketing to traditional direct-response marketing, each episode delivers straight-forward and engaging content that any financial professional can use to improve their bottom line and grow their practice.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

For more of the Financial Advisor Marketing Playbook: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/financial-advisor-marketing-playbook

Contact us:

Phone (888) 444-0125

https://www.usafinancial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #financialadvisormarketingplaybook

In this episode of The Rare Advisor, host Aaron Grady dives deep into the concept of "moments of truth"—those pivotal life and financial events that offer powerful opportunities for advisors to deepen client relationships. Whether planned or unexpected, these moments allow you to go beyond money management and truly show up for your clients as a trusted partner in their life journey. Aaron shares practical tips for identifying, acknowledging, and responding to these events with empathy and intention, helping you create professional contrast, client loyalty, and a more referable practice. Tune in to learn how a thoughtful, systematic approach can transform the way you connect with your most valued clients.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

For more of The RARE Advisor: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/rare

The RARE Advisor is a business model supercharged by Recurring And Repeatable Events. With decades of experience coaching successful advisors, your host, along with other leaders in the industry, discusses what it takes to grow a successful practice. With the aim of helping financial professionals and financial advisors take their business to the next level, this podcast shares insights and success stories that will make a real impact. Regardless of the stage of your practice, The RARE Advisor will provide thoughtful guidance, suggestions for developing systems and processes that work, and ideas for creating an authentic experience for your clients.

Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #therareadvisor #rareadvisor

Tired of chasing the elusive "magic bullet" for business growth and feeling frustrated by endless programs and gurus overpromising and underdelivering? Learn why the magic bullet is a myth and discover the real path to success – strategically combining key elements in a “chain-of-secrets”. Stop wasting time and money on false promises and start building your own chain of secrets to unlock sustainable growth.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

For more of Future Zeros: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/futurezeros

Future Zeros is a series for financial advisors who want to increase the value of their firm today and in the future. Your host, Mike Walters (CEO of USA Financial), digs into the nuances of mergers, acquisitions, and succession within the financial advice industry to help you add “future zeros” to your bottom line. Whether you are nearing an exit, just entering the business, or in the middle of building your practice, the Future Zeros series (found on your favorite podcast players and YouTube) will provide thoughtful insights into how to grow your practice the right way in order to maximize your future value and minimize the risk associated with doing so.

Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #futurezeros

Turn market turbulence into opportunities to strengthen client trust and expand your reach. Discover how to proactively engage with your best clients, offering reassurance and highlighting your value-added services. Learn best practices for unified messaging across your team and how to leverage these moments to deepen client relationships and drive advocacy through services like the "sounding board" introduction.

Consider subscribing for continued insights from USA Financial: https://www.youtube.com/@USA-Financial

For more of The RARE Advisor: https://www.usafinancial.com/insights/rare

The RARE Advisor is a business model supercharged by Recurring And Repeatable Events. With decades of experience coaching successful advisors, your host, along with other leaders in the industry, discusses what it takes to grow a successful practice. With the aim of helping financial professionals and financial advisors take their business to the next level, this podcast shares insights and success stories that will make a real impact. Regardless of the stage of your practice, The RARE Advisor will provide thoughtful guidance, suggestions for developing systems and processes that work, and ideas for creating an authentic experience for your clients.

Contact us: Phone (888) 444-0125 https://www.usafinancial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/usafinancial/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/usafinancial

Powered by USA Financial #usafinancial #advisoradvancement #therareadvisor #rareadvisor