The Leadership Journey

Even with all of the interviews, assessments and resume checks, the odds are 50/50 that you’ll land a candidate who is the right fit. And the ones who don’t work out are expensive. Not just in lost time spent on training and other resources, but even worse is your trusted team watching someone struggle, knowing the new hire should be respectfully introduced to opportunities elsewhere that are a better fit.

I know you’re using conventional tools like behavioral interviews and assessments, that allow you to fully vet the candidate and do it right. But what about considering an additional approach?

Recognizing behavioral cues and what they mean during your interviews!

My guest on The Leadership Journey is Scott Rouse, an esteemed behavior analyst and body language consultant, recognized for his expertise in advanced interrogation training and nonverbal communication. His extensive training alongside the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Military Intelligence, and the Department of Defense has equipped him with an in-depth understanding of nonverbal cues. Scott’s impact extends to various sectors, including Firm Leaders, CEOs, sales managers, wealth managers, and financial advisors, where his insights play a valuable role in decision-making processes and hiring. With a focus on decoding nonverbal signals, Scott’s contributions have significantly influenced many organizations’ abilities to gain another data point when making decisions.in

In this episode, you will learn about:

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Are you ready to Uncover specific opportunities within your Teams’ and Firm’s performance? Click here to take our 10 question Performance Gaps Quiz. It’s a simple, potent way to quickly identify and solve critical gaps, putting you on the fast track to achieve the potential of your Firm and Teams. What have you got to lose, other than 10 minutes to identify strengths and opportunities for growth?

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With Planning Season in full swing, it’s an ideal time to approach your experienced advisors and help them stir up compelling opportunities for their practices.

Often, discussions of growth focus on the big picture, like encouraging stretch goals for advisors, “how many new clients will you attract this year”, more lead generation efforts, or adding to current support staff.  It’s no wonder there is pushback or passive resistance from advisors who are too overwhelmed with their current client, staff and business load to take on another responsibility. What they’re looking for is simplicity vs complexity, profitability vs volume. Give them that, and you get their attention!

Smart Growth Approach

We asked Tiffany Markarian, an award winning marketing strategist and Founder of Advantus Marketing, to share proven ways to quickly impact the effectiveness and success of experienced advisors. Here’s what she recommends for those not already using a consultative approach: Start by evaluating your advisors’ current business model, practices, staff and capacity for growth. By working together with your advisors and identifying where they need help and offering specific support in those areas, you win their hearts and loyalty.

A More Effective Approach

Tiffany also advises focusing on maximizing the return on equity and effort (ROE) from the existing clientele by looking at the numbers. Your advisors’ client data tells them when it’s time to discuss new services/products, revisit their financial plan or adapt the number of meetings needed each year.  This focused approach not only creates sustained growth, but also maintains the quality of service that your firm is known for.

Key Takeaways from Tiffany’s Insights

In her “dig deeper” session, Tiffany discusses several critical aspects:

In a world where adding more isn’t always the answer, maximizing what you already have is a game-changer. By rethinking growth strategies and focusing on efficiency, optimization, results and your people, you will unlock new levels of success for your advisors and your Firm.

The key moments in this episode are:

To learn more about Tiffany Markarian’s strategies and insights, visit Advantus Marketing.

Ready to Scale Your Business?

Did you know that by improving just one area of your firm’s operations, you can trigger exponential growth?

That’s the power of targeted advancement. 🎯

Unlock your firm’s potential with our short 10-question BETA Profitable Scaling Strategies Quiz..  It immediately identifies the key areas slowing your firm’s progress. Based on practices used by the top 1% of teams, just one small, strategic adjustment can boost your Agency’s productivity and profitability.

Make 2024 the year you remove what’s blocking any potential, and turn it into your Firm’s strongest asset!

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Steve Good has dedicated his career to empowering the next generation of financial advisors. Currently the Director of Practice Development for 1847Financial, Steve brings years of experience and a wealth of knowledge to the table, having successfully transitioned from a top-performing life wholesaler into agency leadership. Obsessed with growing 1847Financial through strategic Teams match making, he seeks out and sets up the right talent with the right opportunity on the team.  Then, he confirms specific expectations and provides abundant resources for success.  This method ensures he plays the long game in setting up succession for his firm, and is leading his financial advisors to build strong, thriving, generational sales teams. Steve’s gifts of targeted communication, strategic thinking, and skill development has made him an invaluable resource for advisors looking to build their teams, achieve long-term success and have a true succession plan in place.

In this episode of The Leadership Journey podcast, Steve reveals his innovative approach to teaming for long-term success in financial services.

Join the conversation as Steve discusses how to:

He covers three topics dear to the hearts and minds of firm leadership: challenges to growth, how to avoid losing millions (or billions) of dollars upon generational shift, and how to move your current team to its ideal!

Challenges of Growth

Teaming to Keep Business

Moving Teams to Your Ideal

Are you ready to create your own 2.0 Team?

Don’t wait – it’s time!

Click the button and start by taking the High Performing Teams survey and let’s get you started!

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Nash Subotic, CEO and the driving force behind WestPac Wealth Partners, has spearheaded the creation of an admired financial services firm known for its remarkable growth. With a formidable presence in over 10 states, an impressive $17 billion life insurance face amount, $2.5 billion assets under management, and a robust team of 270 professionals, Nash has diligently focused on leading an organization that thrives on its culture, training, and innovation.

In just 15 years, WestPac Wealth Partners has achieved staggering revenue growth starting from 0 and currently at $42 million, a testament to their exceptional leadership.  Nash understands that the key to success lies in simultaneously addressing the present and preparing for the future.

The secret to WestPac’s growth?  Leadership that keeps an eye on the present while continuously investing in the future.

And the future, Nash says, is all about teaming.

In an era where large companies and artificial intelligence are chipping away at single service financial advisors, Nash sought out a “blue ocean” strategy.  Asking “Where can we provide the most value?  Who needs help with their financial planning, insurance and estate planning needs?  How can we partner in the community to build relationships that would be the cornerstone of WestPac Wealth Partners?”

By asking these questions, creating a strategy to solve them and carefully curating a team that provides inspired solutions for clients has led his organization to unparalleled success.

Not one to rest on laurels, he took things further.

As WestPac Wealth Partners grew, Nash took the word “Partners” to heart.  He prioritized team culture.  He incorporated diversity before it was trendy.  Training became the backbone of the organization, with daily, monthly and in person bi-annual meetings designed to connect and inspire his team to go the extra mile and help the client before themselves, always.

During our conversation, Nash shares three tenets that continue to drive WestPac Wealth Partners’ exponential growth. First, thinking strategically—identifying industry factors and seizing opportunities to deliver value. Second, fostering an intentional culture where individuals feel welcomed and motivated to give their best, enabling work-life balance and leveraging diverse perspectives. And last, promoting constant personal and career development through a daily commitment to training, nurturing the right mindset, and fostering in-person collaboration.

Nash Subotic exemplifies the saying, “Do what you love, and the money will follow.” His passion for his team and clients is a testament to his exemplary leadership. While these transformative shifts did not occur overnight, if you are ready to build an exceptional organization like Nash’s, we have what you want. I have had the privilege of working with Nash and an array of outstanding leaders who are titans in the financial services industry.

Embark on your path to success today by clicking the button and filling out the High Performing Teams Survey. Together, we will set you on the journey towards building a truly exceptional organization.

As a leader of a financial services Firm with sales team/s, you are constantly focusing on ways to grow without significantly increasing your bottom line. With demands for increased performance as you expand, it’s easy at times to become overwhelmed by the long list of “how” questions – how to best implement new ideas, how to improve processes, how to grow new business opportunities, how to scale sales teams…while currently serving your current advisors, the Firm’s support team and client base.  The list of “how am I going to…?”, seems endless. Finding the best next step to scale while seeking answers to these “how” questions –  can create analysis paralysis and hold your firm back. 

Jerry Tavella, Partner with both Strategies for Wealth and Prosperian Wealth Management, has cracked the code…and it starts with shifting from “how” questions to “who” questions and includes a strategic path.  The exciting news is that this blueprint for scaling Team growth is proven to be replicable in your firm too!

Jerry began his career at Prosperian Wealth Management fresh out of college alongside Founder Marty Nachemson, who brought him in as his Team Protégé. Over time, he experienced  almost every role at Prosperian as their Team continued to grow from four to twenty one members.  With continual coaching from Marty, he gained expertise into the processes and systems that underpins the success of every role within the Team.  As Jerry expanded responsibilities, he discovered ways to streamline and refine their business model, sharing observations with the Team and implementing improvements into the practice.  The end result is that Strategies for Wealth is recognized as a red hot incubator of high performing independent Sales Teams  – currently at eight and growing. 

“The concerns Advisors constantly deal with are the “how” challenges.  How can I possibly implement all of these great ideas I pick up when I go to conferences?  How can I be improving my intellectual capital?  I know I need to improve my processes and efficiencies…how am I going to do that while fulfilling the promises I make to my clients, being their single point of contact?  How am I going to grow new business opportunities? How am I going to do all of this while continuing to prospect and spend time with my best clients?” 

Stop the madness of solving for “how” and shift to asking and solving for “who”! This approach helps you create the right structure to achieve rapid, repeatable growth in your Teams and Firm.  

Jerry recommends three steps to move toward rapid, repeatable growth.

This is not a once and done formula. It’s been proven over and over and continues to fuel the exponential growth of both Prosperian and Strategies for Wealth. 

It can work for you too! 

If you are ready to grow your Teams, let’s get you there faster.  McCauley & Co has been working with sales teams for over 20 years and can help you map out a strategy for creating or expanding Teams already in place.  

Schedule a complimentary, 45 minute 3 Point Teams Strategy session with Kelli McCauley below.

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Keith Spengel, CEO and Private Wealth Advisor of Symphony Financial’s Ensemble team within the Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group, takes professional superpowers seriously. During the past 33 years, all candidates wanting to join the team are screened first and foremost for attitude and “superpowers” – what they are skilled at and love to do.

That’s just one of the disciplines being applied to building the exceptional team that has become Symphony Financial.  Keith’s staff hails him as the strategic mind behind the sales team’s breathtaking success and growth.  With over 3.3 billion in life insurance promises and another billion in assets under management, their ensemble strategy is working.

The strategy, Keith explains, was driven by adversity.

Initially a solo advisor, Keith’s only employee his first few years in business was his wife.  When their first child was born extremely early, he found himself struggling to keep his one man operation afloat and simultaneously give his family the attention they needed.

He made a vow never to be in a position to face business adversity alone again.  He was determined to build a solid team that would support clients and each other through the troughs and peaks of life.

He wanted a team, but not just any team.  A team with superpowers.

When Keith started building, the teams model was just gaining momentum in the financial services industry.  Keith studied it, learned everything he could about leadership, hiring and the concept of working in your “zone of genius”.  He brought in outside coaching, took his time when considering partners and put his heart and soul into planning and forecasting.  All of these tools were invaluable in creating a roadmap of what could be, and person by person he strived for a superior organization.

Hiring people based on their strengths for various roles put the cornerstones in place for a strong foundation for the company.  So strong that business is growing at an exponential rate.

As the company grew, the hiring process became more refined.  One thing has stayed steady – hiring based on the core strengths plus the attitude of the individual joining the organization.

His top recommendations for building a sales team powerhouse?

Shifting to a teams model can remove the lid off of financial ceilings and time constraints, while creating unlimited opportunity for team growth and client service.  If you want to create a full service, truly generational wealth management business, the teams model is the future.

Are you ready to fast track your company’s potential?  Let’s see what we can do this year!

Schedule a High Performing Teams Strategy Call with to map out what scaling a high growth sales team looks like for you!

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Bob Bolt and Symphony Financial: Amplifying Opportunity and Profit with Teams

Bob Bolt is an experienced Partner and Private Wealth Advisor who knows uncertainty all too well. In 2009, a series of events – the unexpected death of his wife and the Great Recession – brought him to a crossroads in his career.

After taking a year off to reflect and begin healing, he was drawn to the idea of helping people based on the work that his Northwestern Mutual agent had done with him.  He felt a deep calling to help others prepare for and navigate life’s unexpected and expected events through sound financial planning.  And with that vision in mind, Bob started over from scratch as a Northwestern Mutual Advisor.

As Bob’s practice continued to grow, his next big move was to join forces with CEO of Symphony Financial Keith Spengel and his Partner Tom McBreen, as Partner of the Ensemble team within Northwestern Mutual’s Private Client Group.  In our podcast, Bob shares what it was like going from solo advisor to Partner within a team, as well as advice for firms who are contemplating introducing the Teams model.

Inspiration and Vision.  Bob was drawn to the idea of helping people based on the work that his Northwestern Mutual Agent had done with him when he had an unexpected, life changing, personal event.  After ten years as a solo advisor, he realized that joining a team of partners with complementary expertise and talents would create even more advantages for his current and future clients.

Benefits for Advisors.  Bolt points out how teams provide a way for Advisors to leverage their specialties and work in their Zone of Genius. Not only is this more rewarding and fun for the Advisor, it’s of extremely high value to their clients on several fronts.  Building a Teams based firm creates a multigenerational model, future generations are included in the plan, not just as beneficiaries.  Bob shares, “We don’t own clients individually.  We own them as a Firm.”  This provides a way to maintain continuity for the wishes and plans of their clients.

Yes, implementing a Teams model requires changes in how advisors work. Bob emphasizes that communication, collaboration, and accountability are essential for success.  Reading the book

“Traction” served as a guidebook that has helped them understand how to successfully execute the Teams model.

The pact.  Commitment to collaboration was the foundation that created and launched Symphony Financial’s Ensemble model.  As Bob began working with Keith and Tom, they reiterated their pact to always do the right thing.  This agreement gave him confidence that no matter what challenges arose, they would work together even through difficult conversations to resolve them.

Is it time for you to take the leap or create more teams inside your agency?

If you are ready to explore a Teams model, McCauley and Company can help.  We have been working with sales teams for over 20 years and can help firms with Team startups, expansion,  or an exploratory conversation.

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TEAMING: The Financial Services Secret to Sustainable Growths

During my research on independent Sales Teams inside Life Insurance and Wealth Management Firms, I reached out to Scott Trammell, Executive Vice President and Financial Advisor at Strategic Financial Partners (SFP) to weigh in. Scott’s responsibilities at SFP include working with the independent sales teams (upon their request) and helping them navigate any challenges, opportunities or situations that come up and could benefit from an unbiased perspective.

SFP’s transition to embrace the Teams model came with its challenges, but the benefits continue to far outweigh any difficulties. Their shift to a stakeholder centered approach, allows them to address succession planning for the Team’s senior advisors and sets the foundation for a higher level of service for the generations that will follow.

Scott admits that the idea of Teaming sounds rewarding and exciting, but involves a lot of commitment, communication, specific agreements with guidelines, and continual work from all parties. Which is why the majority of Firms who start independent sales teams, abandon them when they get messy.

It’s important to note that not everyone will want to be part of a team. Some individuals may not value the benefits because of what they give up, or they might not be team players.

Here’s how Strategic Financial Partners stays at the top of their game by embracing the traditional Life Insurance and Wealth Management model of Financial Advisors who are supported by a team of sales managers who help them create a thriving solo practice. While at the same time, expanding their independent Sales Teams through facilitating formal team partnerships between top performing advisors. This flexibility allows the Firm Leadership to curate the right fit, in alignment with each advisor’s goals.

Below are three tips from Scott for leaders considering building and growing sales teams:

Building an independent Sales Teams model requires patience, flexibility, and a commitment to selfless leadership. The leader’s focus should be on working for the team and achieving sustainable, profitable growth for the firm and the teams.

Scott and the SFP Leadership Team has been working with McCauley & Co to build high-performance teams within the SFP organization over the past 16 years.

Given on where our industry is heading, it’s become very clear that Teaming is the future of the financial services industry, and when done right, it leads to exponential long-term success. Start your journey to building a successful team by taking our confidential High Performing Teams Assessment. I’ll send you strategic feedback, at no cost to you. The payoff is worth it!!

Are you ready to take your Firm to the next level?

Take our confidential, High Performing Teams Assessment HERE

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https://vimeo.com/801469532

Money, Ego, Feelings:

In 2020 McKinsey released their Agent Insights Survey, which reinforced what high producing Life Insurance Teams already know: Teaming works.

The data they collected revealed:

Russ VanderSteeg, President of Strategic Financial Partners (SFP), a full service Agency dedicated to helping individuals, families, business owners and professionals develop expertly-tailored financial strategies, is a believer. After seeing proof of concept over 20 years ago, Russ committed to the independent Teams model.

Why are Teams such an important part of the SFP culture? Mr. Vandersteeg, known as a strategic and innovative leader states “As our industry gets more complex, Teaming becomes a solution for the biggest challenges we face, like recruiting, retention, advisor productivity and succession.”

When asked how he’s been successful growing Teams where other Agency Leaders have struggled, Russ says, “Teaming is not an event. It’s not set-it-and-forget-it. It’s a huge commitment financially, plus personally from all involved parties and requires ongoing fine-tuning of the systems, processes and model.”

Teams work best when the advisors considering becoming a Team are already experiencing measurable successes, and want to take their solo practices to the next level.

And that’s the challenge. Assembling high performers to create a “Superteam” is not for the faint hearted. These are professionals with strong skills, areas of expertise and a solid record of success. It’s essentially a team made up of all star quarterbacks.

Getting high achievers to want to play together and stay together can be difficult. As Russ points out “Big problems start with big personalities. Making a Team work is part emotional intelligence, part negotiation, part mindset…and 100% commitment.”

The independent Teams model is appealing and results can be extraordinary, with 30-40% of increased productivity for Advisors that team well together. But orchestrating all of these star players is not easy and it can get messy.

The two most important factors in making the Teams model work are
dedication and having the ability to navigate friction. During our podcast, Russ speaks to the ups and downs of Teaming, the importance of Teaming now more than ever and the one thing he feels helps tremendously – outside guidance for coaching and leadership.

Are you ready to take your Firm to the next level?

Take our confidential, High Performing Teams Assessment HERE.

Listen to the entire podcast here.