In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, Rob Pyne is joined by Anthony Warr and Bianca Musico from Warr Hunt — a firm renowned for its leadership in mentoring, team development and succession planning. Bianca reflects on her journey to becoming the FAAA Certified Financial Planner of the Year in 2024, while Anthony shares the foundational principles that have positioned Warr Hunt as a multiple finalist for Professional Practice of the Year.

Together, they unpack the firm’s unique "diamond team" structure, their use of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and how they’ve embraced technology to enhance client experience. Bianca also opens up about her podcast Cracking Mum Maths and her mission to empower more women in finance.

Whether you’re mentoring the next generation, building your team, or rethinking your firm's direction, this is an episode filled with practical insights and inspiration.

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser Podcast, host Rob Pyne is joined by James Damicoucas and Tom Bernard from Frontier Advisers to explore the growing accessibility of private markets for financial advisers. They discuss the rise of evergreen funds, key investment structures, and how advisers can integrate private equity, private debt, unlisted property and infrastructure into client portfolios. The conversation covers liquidity considerations, risk-return profiles, and essential due diligence steps for advisers looking to diversify beyond traditional asset classes. Tune in for expert insights on navigating private markets and making informed investment decisions.

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, Rob Pyne sits down with Eliza De Pardo, founder and director of De Pardo Consulting, to discuss the key insights from her latest white paper, 10 Fast Track Insights: Clearing the Pathway for Growth. With over two decades of experience advising financial firms in the U.S. and Australia, Eliza shares practical strategies for tackling compensation challenges, aligning leadership teams, improving hiring practices, and leveraging technology effectively. They also dive into the critical role of human capital in driving business success, the impact of workplace culture on growth, and how firms can avoid the pitfalls of poor decision-making. Whether you're leading a financial planning firm or looking to refine your business strategy, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you build a high-performing team and achieve sustainable growth.

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, host Rob Pyne sits down with Cameron Passmore, CEO and Portfolio Manager at PWL Capital and co-host of the Rational Reminder Podcast, to discuss the journey of PWL Capital, its commitment to evidence-based investing, and the firm's recent OneDigital transaction.

Cameron shares the key milestones that have shaped PWL’s success, from embracing a client-first philosophy and integrating financial planning with investment management to navigating industry shifts toward fee-based advice. He also delves into the importance of company culture, attracting top talent, and structuring a firm for long-term growth.

Key topics covered:

Whether you’re a financial planner, business owner, or simply interested in what it takes to scale an advisory firm while staying true to core values, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

🎧 Listen now and gain valuable lessons from Cameron’s 30-year journey in financial advice!

In this episode, host Rob Pyne sits down with Paul Shepherd and Teneale Laister from Alman Partners, an award-winning financial planning firm. They explore what it takes to build a successful and sustainable financial planning business by focusing on team culture, leadership frameworks, succession planning, and client service excellence.

Paul and Teneale provide an in-depth look at their staggered generational ownership structure, their commitment to building a strong team culture through the Heartstyles framework, and how their "AP Way" methodology ensures consistency and accountability across the business.

For financial planning business owners seeking to create a high-performance firm driven by strong leadership, an empowering culture, and sustainable growth, this episode delivers valuable insights!

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, host Rob Pyne sits down with Nick Downey and Sam Patterson from Direct Wealth to discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial planning industry. As leaders at the forefront of AI adoption, Nick and Sam share how Direct Wealth leverages AI to enhance efficiency, scale advice delivery, and personalise client interactions like never before.

The conversation dives deep into AI's potential to revolutionise workflows, address inefficiencies, and elevate the financial planning profession by augmenting—not replacing—advisers. From real-life applications to philosophical insights about the future of work, this episode offers a masterclass on integrating technology with human expertise to deliver better outcomes for clients and businesses alike.

In this insightful episode, Rob Pyne welcomes David Haintz, a seasoned wealth management expert and representative of Merchant Investment Management. With 35 years of experience in financial advice and business coaching, David shares his expertise on critical topics such as profitability and productivity ratios, client selection strategies, and Merchant's role in helping advisory firms grow through acquisitions.

Discover actionable insights for building high-performing financial planning firms, leveraging AI, and navigating industry trends. David also delves into the unique approach Merchant takes as an equity partner, fostering long-term growth and alignment with their partner firms.

In this episode, we explore the intricacies of Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) with Chris West and Mike Parker from Context Capital. SMAs have rapidly emerged as a preferred investment solution, offering transparency, efficiency, and fairness for both advisers and investors. Taking advantage of Chris and Mike's expert knowledge in the world of SMAs, Rob dives into the operational, regulatory, and strategic benefits of SMAs, uncovering their growing impact on the financial planning industry.

In this episode, Rob sits down with Phil Little from Slipstream Group for a masterclass on pricing strategies that drive business growth. Phil, a former financial planner and successful business owner turned coach, delves into the importance of regularly reviewing pricing methodologies, tackling outdated fee structures, and ensuring consistency across clients. Together, they explore practical steps to align pricing with business goals, handle client discount requests effectively, and empower teams with fee confidence.

In this insightful episode of The Trusted Adviser, host Rob Pyne chats with Dan Brown, Principal of Coastal Advice Group, about his extraordinary journey in transforming a small financial planning team into a thriving enterprise.

Dan shares the key lessons he’s learned from scaling his business, including how to identify opportunities in acquisitions, the importance of cultural alignment, and the practical differences between “plug-and-play” businesses and “renovator’s delights.” He also dives deep into his philosophy of leadership, emphasising the power of honesty, teamwork, and a growth-oriented mindset to achieve lasting success.

Listeners will walk away with actionable advice on building momentum, developing future-focused organisational strategies, and staying competitive in an evolving financial planning landscape. Whether you’re exploring acquisitions or looking to refine your business strategy, this episode offers inspiration and practical insights for every financial planning professional.

Tune in to hear how Dan’s focus on collaboration, clarity, and reinvestment has propelled Coastal Advice Group to the forefront of the financial planning profession.