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What does it mean to master your craft—and yourself—in service of others?
In this episode of The Purpose-Focused Advisor, I’m joined by John Terry, Black Belt Leadership founder, leadership coach, and three-time Martial Arts Hall of Famer. John's journey began with pain—bullied in a new town—and evolved into a lifelong pursuit of purpose through practice. What followed was a transformation from student to teacher to a leader committed to raising up others.
We explore what real mastery looks like—not titles or credentials, but consistency, belief, and the willingness to do the hard things, even when it’s not fun. We talk about developing the muscle memory of excellence, why self-work always precedes business growth, and how advisors can turn conversations into transformational experiences for clients.
John doesn’t just teach technique. He teaches transformation. He doesn’t push perfection—he preaches persistence. And for financial advisors who want to lead with lasting impact, his story is a masterclass in purpose-driven growth.
If you've ever wondered how belief, practice, and purpose intersect in leadership, this episode will inspire you to keep showing up—and keep leveling up.
Key Takeaways:
John Terry: "Everybody has an opportunity to become a world-class black belt master of who they are and what they do—but it requires that they discover what that is, develop it, and then ultimately deploy it to make a difference where they are."
Rob Brown: "I work with a lot of really outwardly successful financial advisors who have reached levels of assets they never thought possible—but the real successful ones are always asking, ‘What can I do next to get even better at what I’m doing?’"
About John Terry: Why just be a leader when you can be a Black Belt Leader? This is the question 3-Time Martial Arts Hall of Famer and Leadership Coach, Dr. John Terry, asks people daily. Dr. John is an international speaker, trainer, and coach. He's an L.A. Tribune Best Selling Author of ten books and the host of the Black Belt Leadership podcast.
Connect with John Terry:
Website: http://www.blackbeltleadership.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnterry3/
Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/John-Terry/author/B001KDIVH0
Podcast: Black Belt Leadership: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-belt-leadership/id1562295950
📘 Get your copy of my new book, The Truest Fan Blueprint — It’s a practical, story-driven guide to help you focus on what matters most in your business and your life, so you can achieve your biggest goals without losing sight of who you are.
Order now at TruestFanBlueprint.com and start putting the blueprint into action today.
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: http://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
It’s launch week! Rob Brown returns with a solo episode to share the heart behind his new book, The Truest Fan Blueprint—now available on Kindle for free (for a limited time).
In this episode, Rob opens up about why he wrote the book, what it means to be a Truest Fan, and how the seven-step Blueprint can help you align your purpose, vision, and daily actions to achieve your most cherished goals. He reflects on 23 years of coaching, the struggle successful advisors face when they drift from their purpose, and how a clear framework can restore joy, focus, and impact.
This isn’t a pitch. It’s a personal invitation to stop drifting and start living the life you were made for.
Key Takeaways:
Rob Brown: "None of us can create time, but we can choose how we spend our time."
Episode Resources & Next Steps
📘 Get a free Kindle copy of The Truest Fan Blueprint — available for a limited time at https://truestfan.com/truest-fan-blueprint/.
📘 Prefer hardcover? Find it on Amazon.
📥 Download the free companion kit that goes along with the book to start putting the blueprint into action: https://truestfan.com/truest-fan-blueprint/.
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: http://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
In this episode of The Purpose-Focused Advisor, I’m joined by a former advisor turned innovator who understands both sides of the table. Daniel Yoo left behind a career overseeing over $800 million in client assets to build solutions that serve—not replace—financial advisors.
His journey into AI wasn’t about chasing trends. It was about solving a problem he lived through: how to be fully present with clients while meeting the demands of compliance and documentation.
We talk about the right way to use AI in an advisory practice, why simplicity and security matter more than flashy features, and what advisors must do with the time technology gives back. Daniel doesn’t just bring a technologist’s brain… he brings an advisor’s heart.
If you’re navigating where AI fits into your practice, this episode offers more than answers. It offers direction grounded in purpose.
Key Takeaways:
Daniel Yoo: "AI should automate the things you don’t want to do and enhance the things only you can."
Rob Brown: "If you’re just inputting data and delivering a plan, you’ve become a human robo-advisor."
About Daniel Yoo: Daniel Yoo is the founder and CEO of FinMate AI, the first AI note-taking assistant built specifically for financial advisors. Drawing from his experience as a senior advisor at TD Ameritrade and Schwab, where he oversaw $800M in client assets, Daniel launched FinMate in 2023 to eliminate the burden of manual documentation. The platform now supports over 1,500 advisors, helping them save time while staying compliant and client-focused. He holds FINRA licenses and insurance credentials and earned a Master’s in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins, specializing in AI and machine learning for asset price prediction.
Connect with Daniel Yoo:
Website: https://www.finmate.ai/
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smyoo/
Ready to grow your business with clarity and purpose?
Download The 8 Shifts of a Purpose-Focused Advisor — a free guide to help you build a business that reflects what matters most.
Get your copy here: https://truestfan.com/8-shifts/
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: http://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
Email: [email protected]
What does it look like to love your neighbor through your investments?
In this episode of The Purpose-Focused Advisor, I’m joined by Robin John—CEO and co-founder of Eventide Asset Management and author of Good Investor. Robin’s story begins in a basement with more questions than answers. What followed was a radical reimagining of business and investing—not as tools for personal gain, but as sacred work meant to restore what’s broken in the world.
We talk about what it means to align capital with conviction, how advisors can lead with generosity, and why profit should never be the purpose. Robin doesn’t just challenge financial advisors—he equips them to see their work as a calling, their clients as neighbors, and their portfolios as opportunities for healing and hope.
If you’ve ever wondered how faith and finance can coexist with integrity and impact, this conversation will leave you inspired to lead differently.
Key Takeaways:
Robin John: "True generosity leads us to make sacrificial decisions in how we make our money. It’s not just about giving—it’s about how we live.”
Rob Brown: “If you can see joy show up in your work—if your investments, your advice, your leadership create joy in someone else’s life—you’re doing something sacred.”
About Robin John: Robin John is the cofounder and CEO of Eventide, a leading faith-based asset management firm dedicated to investing in businesses that create compelling value for the common good. Born in Kerala, India, and raised in Boston, Robin’s journey—from outsider to visionary leader—inspired The Good Investor, a book that explores how investing can confront injustice, love neighbors, and bring healing to the world. He and his wife, Jaunita, cofounded Darsha Academy, a school for girls in India. A father of four, Robin serves on several nonprofit boards and is passionate about faith, family, basketball, and purpose-driven leadership.
Connect with Robin John:
Book: The Good Investor: https://www.goodinvestor.com/
Website: https://www.eventideinvestments.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robincjohn/
Ready to grow your business with clarity and purpose?
Download The 8 Shifts of a Purpose-Focused Advisor — a free guide to help you build a business that reflects what matters most.
Get your copy here: https://truestfan.com/8-shifts/
Connect with Rob Brown
Website: https://truestfan.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
What if work isn’t something to escape, but a core part of your purpose?
Top 100 Barron’s Advisor and CIO of The Bahnsen Group, David Bahnsen, joins Rob Brown to challenge how financial advisors think about success, calling, and the myth of retirement. Drawing from his book Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, David shares why work is inherently meaningful—and how faith and purpose can reshape how we serve clients, lead teams, and live well.
Key Takeaways:
David Bahnsen: "Work is not something we do so we can support Kingdom causes—our work is a Kingdom cause.”
Rob Brown: "Clients don’t have to agree with your worldview, but if you have that conversation, you know you’ve done your best to help them truly think through what they want.”
About David Bahnsen: David L. Bahnsen is the Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a national private wealth management firm overseeing more than $7 billion in client assets. He is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business, and Fox News, and a regular contributor to National Review. David also hosts Capital Record, a popular weekly podcast dedicated to defending free enterprise and capital markets. He is the author of several best-selling books, including his most recent, Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, released in February 2024.
Connect with David Bahnsen:
Book: Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life – https://www.fulltimebook.com/
Substack: https://b2bahnsen.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbahnsen/
The Bahnsen Group: https://thebahnsengroup.com
Ready to grow your business with clarity and purpose?
Download The 8 Shifts of a Purpose-Focused Advisor — a free guide to help you build a business that reflects what matters most.
Get your copy here: https://truestfan.com/8-shifts/
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: https://truestfan.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
In this episode of The Purpose-Focused Advisor, I’m joined by Michael Thaler—an industry leader who built and led a $2B wealth management firm over 33 years before stepping into a new season of life. Michael didn’t walk away from success; he walked deeper into purpose. We talk about what it looks like to go from purpose to purpose, and how his journey led to the creation of My Purpose Plan, a tool that helps people live the life they were made for. This conversation is for advisors who want to connect more meaningfully with clients and stay anchored in what matters most.
Key Takeaways:
Michael Thaler: "I don't want to be the guy that leaves this earth who's known to help people get their purpose statement. I want to be the person that's known that help people get their purpose statement and actually help them to actually live it out."
Rob Brown: "My simple definition of purpose is living the life that God intended for you to live."
About Michael Thaler: Michael is the Founder of My Purpose Plan and former Chief Purpose Officer of Equity Concepts, which he led for 33 years before its sale in 2024. Driven by his mission to live out God’s dream and help others do the same, Michael also founded Effective Ministries, serving children and families in Richmond, VA, and Niger, Africa. He’s passionate about using financial advising as a tool for purpose and impact. Michael speaks on purpose, focus, and positioning, and continues to lead community efforts through organizations like the Robinson Theater and RVA Hope Center. He lives in Virginia with his family.
Connect with Michael Thaler:
Website: http://mypurposeplan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-thaler
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: http://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
Episode Resources & Next Steps
🔹 Download the Free Guide: The 7 Mindset Shifts of a Purpose-Focused Advisor
Discover the simple shifts that lead to extraordinary impact. This quick-read guide will help you align your business with what matters most: purpose, people, and legacy.
🔹 Subscribe to The Purpose-Focused Advisor Newsletter
Weekly insights to help you grow a thriving, purpose-driven business. Real talk. Actionable ideas. Straight to your inbox. Subscribe here »
🔹 Explore the Purpose-Focused Advisor Mastermind
A high-level community for faith-driven advisors ready to grow their business and deepen their impact. Learn how to lead with clarity, conviction, and purpose. Learn more »
🔹 One-on-One Executive Coaching with Rob Brown
Looking for personalized guidance to help you grow your practice, lead with purpose, and build a legacy? Let’s talk. Learn more »
This episode is a departure from the norm, but one I believe is too important not to share.
Recently, I met Mike Young, founder of Noble Warriors, a men’s discipleship ministry. His mission inspires me. He’s not a financial advisor, coach, or industry expert, but his work may be more relevant to our profession than you’d expect.
Mike’s story will challenge and encourage financial advisors to reconsider the legacy they’re truly building. From leading spiritually at home to redefining success in business, this conversation is both convicting and practical.
If you’ve ever wondered how to align your career with Kingdom impact, this episode is your wake-up call.
Don’t miss a message every purpose-focused advisor needs to hear.
Key Takeaways:
Mike Young: "When a man says yes to Jesus and begins to walk with Him, everything around him changes. I mean, his marriage changes, his relationship with his children changes, his relationship with his parents, his coworkers, his peers, his neighbors—everything changes when the Lord transforms a man."
Rob Brown: "Stop putting God on the sidelines in your business—especially as men."
About Mike Young: Mike launched Noble Warriors in 2005 to help churches disciple men and raise Christ-centered leaders. Before stepping into full-time ministry, his career included teaching, coaching, school administration, and residential construction. He’s passionate about building men who lead well in their homes, churches, and communities. Mike is married to Stacy, and together they have four adult children (two married) and two grandsons.
Connect with Mike Young:
Website: http://www.noblewarriors.org/
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-young-3013662a/
Episode Resources & Next Steps
🔹 Download the Free Guide: The 7 Mindset Shifts of a Purpose-Focused Advisor
Discover the simple shifts that lead to extraordinary impact. This quick-read guide will help you align your business with what matters most: purpose, people, and legacy.
🔹 Subscribe to The Purpose-Focused Advisor Newsletter
Weekly insights to help you grow a thriving, purpose-driven business. Real talk. Actionable ideas. Straight to your inbox. Subscribe here »
🔹 Explore the Purpose-Focused Advisor Mastermind
A high-level community for faith-driven advisors ready to grow their business and deepen their impact. Learn how to lead with clarity, conviction, and purpose. Learn more »
🔹 One-on-One Executive Coaching with Rob Brown
Looking for personalized guidance to help you grow your practice, lead with purpose, and build a legacy? Let’s talk. Learn more »
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: http://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
In this powerful episode, Rob Brown welcomes Adam Koós, founder of Libertas Wealth Management, a nationally recognized advisor and a coach to advisors, who has engineered a path to massive success. Adam shares how he doubled AUM and revenue in just two years by embracing a bold, even controversial idea: “We’re a marketing firm that happens to do financial planning.” But don’t misunderstand, it’s not about hype. It’s about systems, trust, and showing up with excellence.
He unpacks the client-first onboarding, scalable growth strategies, and mindset shifts that help advisors build with joy, scale with integrity, and serve at the highest level. If you want your firm to run like a well-oiled machine that still feels deeply human, this episode will light the path.
Key Takeaways:
Featured Quotes:
Adam Koos: “It’s not our privilege to learn marketing—it’s our responsibility. If you’re doing great work and no one knows about it, what good are you?”
Rob Brown: “Thinking about your big AUM goal won’t get you there. Taking the action that puts you in front of the right people will.”
About Adam Koós: Adam Koós is a nationally recognized financial advisor, fiduciary, and founder of Libertas Wealth Management, ELEVATE, and ADRENALINE Advisor Consulting. With over two decades of experience, Adam specializes in retirement planning, investment strategy, and business exit planning. He’s passionate about helping other financial advisors grow successful practices through proven systems and strategies. Known for his authentic, no-B.S. approach, Adam brings energy, insight, and real-world experience to every conversation.
Connect with Adam Koós:
Libertas Wealth Management: https://www.libertaswealth.com/
Adrenaline Advisor Coaching: https://adrenalineadvisor.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos
Episode References:
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: http://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
In this episode of The Purpose-Focused Advisor, Rob Brown sits down with John Kailunas, author of Mission Retirement and founder of Catalyst4Growth and Regal Holdings. With 25+ years of experience and over $4B in AUM/AUA, John shares how advisors can help clients retire with purpose, not just wealth. He unpacks the 10 “missions” of meaningful retirement and reveals how purpose-based planning deepens trust, inspires legacy conversations, and helps advisors stand out by focusing on what truly matters.
Key Takeaways:
John Kailunas: “We’re so focused on running that when retirement finally comes, it’s like the merry-go-round suddenly stops—and most people don’t know what to do next.”
Rob Brown: “When advisors connect to a client’s story—not just their portfolio—they build trust that lasts far beyond the next review meeting.”
About John Kailunas: John Kailunas II is a first-generation immigrant and visionary leader in financial services since 1988. With over three decades of experience, he has built a legacy of growth through Apex, Regal Holdings, and now Catalyst4Growth—a professional development platform empowering advisors and entrepreneurs. John’s entrepreneurial drive has earned national recognition, including Investment News’ Hot 100 and Best Practice Management Program awards. A lifelong learner and mentor, he’s also a devoted husband, father, and adventurer who’s traveled to all 50 states and 34 countries.
Connect with John Kailunas:
Website: https://www.catalyst4growth.org/
Mission: Retirement: https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Retirement-Provoking-Purposeful-Fulfilling/dp/B0DWGSHKF9/
Choices and Chances: https://www.amazon.com/Choices-Chances-John-Kailunas-II/dp/1419669966
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-kailunas-ii-966b5a7/
Episode References:
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: http://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
In this episode, Rob Brown sits down with Adam Obrecht, founder of AO Wealth Advisory—a quietly confident leader who’s built a special firm grounded in systems, purpose, and faith… all while serving a client base many advisors overlook.
From day one, Adam was told his strategy wouldn’t work. You can’t build a firm around 30- and 40-year-olds. Faith and business don’t mix. You need older, wealthier clients to grow.
He ignored all of it.
Adam launched AO Wealth with a baby on the way and no backup plan. Fifteen years later, he leads a thriving firm serving 300+ households with remarkable efficiency.
This is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership every advisor should hear.
Key Takeaways:
Adam Obrecht: “The numbers tell one story, but how you live out your life tells a whole different story.”
Rob Brown: “It wasn’t just a niche—it was a calling. And you built the kind of practice most advisors are afraid to even imagine.”
About Adam Obrecht: Adam is the owner of AO Wealth Advisory, a financial planning firm in Urbandale, Iowa. Adam's career started in agricultural and commercial lending, but quickly shifted to investments. Adam started AO Wealth Advisory in 2010 after time spent as a product specialist for a regional broker-dealer and five years in a CPA firm. Adam is married with two sons.
Connect with Adam Obrecht:
Website: http://aowealthadvisory.com/
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamobrecht/
Episode References:
Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: http://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
From the publisher's feed
The Purpose Focused Advisor is a podcast for financial advisors, planners, and RIAs who want more than just business growth—they want their work to matter. Hosted by Rob Brown,…
Each episode features candid insights, practical strategies, and real stories from top advisors and thought leaders. Whether you're refining your client experience, scaling your practice, or re-centering your life around what truly matters, this podcast will help you lead with clarity and conviction.
This isn't just another industry podcast. It’s a movement—toward more intentional leadership, deeper client relationships, and success that aligns with your values.
Subscribe today and start building the business—and life—you were meant for.

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