• Why the real advisor shortage is bigger than the headlines suggest, and what that means for firm leaders right now
• Why the advisor of the future leads with the meaning of money, not the management of it
• What the next five to seven years actually look like for the profession, and what to be doing about it today

Michael Kitces, Head of Planning Strategy at Focus Partners Wealth, Co-Founder of XY Planning Network, and one of the industry's most recognized voices, joins Sean Walters on this episode of The Exceptional Advisor for a "This Or That" conversation on:

Investments or wealth? Firms do both, but individual advisors are increasingly specializing in one or the other as investment management centralizes. Solo or team? Both paths are thriving, and it has never been more profitable or easier to run as a solo advisor, despite what mega firms want you to believe. Utopian or dystopian? Why Kitces is bullish on advice, even as AI raises the bar for everyone.

It's a wide-ranging conversation with one of the sharpest minds in the business and a must-listen for advisors.

Michael Kitces, Head of Planning Strategy at Focus Partners Wealth, Co-Founder of XY Planning Network, and one of the industry's most recognized voices, joins Sean Walters on this episode of The Exceptional Advisor for a "This Or That" conversation on:

• Investments or wealth? Firms do both, but individual advisors are increasingly specializing in one or the other as investment management centralizes.

• Solo or team? Both paths are thriving, and it has never been more profitable or easier to run as a solo advisor, despite what mega firms want you to believe.

• Utopian or dystopian? Why Kitces is bullish on advice, even as AI raises the bar for everyone.

It's a wide-ranging conversation with one of the sharpest minds in the business and a must-listen for advisors.

Michael Kitces, Head of Planning Strategy at Focus Partners Wealth, Co-Founder of XY Planning Network, and one of the industry's most recognized voices, joins Sean Walters on this episode of The Exceptional Advisor for a "This Or That" conversation on: Investments or wealth? Firms do both, but individual advisors are increasingly specializing in one or the other as investment management centralizes. Solo or team? Both paths are thriving, and it has never been more profitable or easier to run as a solo advisor, despite what mega firms want you to believe. Utopian or dystopian? Why Kitces is bullish on advice, even as AI raises the bar for everyone. It's a wide-ranging conversation with one of the sharpest minds in the business and a must-listen for advisors.

Herman Brodie, behavioral scientist and Founding Director of Prospecta Limited, has spent years studying how people build trust and why they lose it. In this episode of The Exceptional Advisor, he joins host Sean Walters and shares insights for financial advisors navigating today's polarized, noise-filled world, including:

• Why salient headlines and changes draw client attention and how to redirect it
• How "behavior residue" and political polarization are showing up in client relationships
• How vulnerability outperforms self-promotion when building new relationships
• The importance of competence and benevolence in building trust

This is the conversation every advisor needs to hear to understand what trust really means and how to build more of it.

What truly makes an advisor exceptional? In this episode of The Exceptional Advisor, Libet Anderson, Community Care Leader at Cetera, joins host Sean Walters to discuss what excellence really looks like amidst rising AI adoption and fiduciary expectations. She walks us through her career in the industry, the evolving standards of excellence, and what separates the best from the rest, along with how leaders can raise the bar across entire teams.

What's ahead for advisors in 2026, and how should they prepare? Host Sean Walters welcomes Liz Thomas, Head of Investment Strategy at SoFi, for a market update focused on the 2026 macro outlook. From balancing concentration risk and client FOMO to keeping clients calm, Liz covers plenty of ground, giving advisors a strong framework for smarter allocation decisions and stronger client conversations.

A Discussion with François Gadenne, Jan Gundersen, CFA®, and Lori Lucas, CFA®, moderated by Robert Powell, CFP®, RMA®

In this exclusive interview, John Bowen, President of CEG Worldwide and CEG Insight, shares powerful research insights and practical strategies to help financial advisors create high-performing teams and accelerate their success.

The Dream Team Effect: www.cegwin.com/iwi-team #certifiedfinancialplanner #financialadvisor #continuingeducation