War Room Huddle

This War Room Huddle episode features Lance Billings,  Founder and Financial Advisor at Billings Group, who so powerfully weaves community, the love of his hometown, and his faith into building his business.

Salina, Kansas is home, it’s work, it’s family, it’s the center of everything Lance holds dear. Lance was born and raised in Salina. He raised his family there, started a business there, runs a business there, and will eventually pass the business on to family there. The Billings Group isn’t solely a wealth management firm; it’s a family-run business with deep community ties in Salina, Kansas.

Lance’s two son-in-laws, Nathan Reynolds and Josh Kilsch, are also Financial Advisors with the Billings Group. Lance’s daughter, Alyssa Mitchell, spearheads client relations alongside an A-player operations team. Prior to founding the Billings Group, Lance watched and worked alongside his father, Larry R. Billings, in his tax practice Billings Tax, who at the age of 86, still does taxes. 

Listen to this episode with Lance Billings to understand more about building your business during a transition, creating a multi-generational family business, and why you have to surround yourself with good people. 

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Growth in the future and building your business during a transition (1:15) 
• The importance of hiring good people and surrounding yourself with good people (1:50) 
• Lance's advice to young advisors getting into the business (5:10) 
• Engaging in a conversation thanks to technology (7:30) 
• Navigating a multi-generational family business (10:15) 
• Relationship building with clients to establish succession-planning (14:25) 
• Walking into independence with succession-planning in mind (18:25) 
• Why is it so hard for advisors to unplug? (22:20) 
• Partnering with Bluemonte for investment management (24:20) 
• Growing up in Salina, Kansas (26:55) 
• Faith first (28:55) 
• Facing growth boldly (30:50) 

Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services (“PCS”). Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities.

This War Room Huddle episode featuring Rick Wedell Chief Investment Officer at RFG Advisory dives into topics on building the future, navigating the succession planning process, why he prefers video content above all else, and the big answer to why choose RFG?

“If anyone ever offers you a seat on the rocket ship, you don't argue about whether or not it's an aisle or a window, you just take the seat,” Rick says.

Rick is a veteran investor and brings institutional street cred to RFG and its advisors as the Chief Investment Officer. He holds degrees from Harvard University and Stanford University, was named Henry Ford Scholar, and spent 12 years at Bain Capital before joining RFG in 2016. He was recently recognized by ThinkAdvisor as a 2021 LUMINARY in the Thought Leadership & Education category. RFG Advisory was also named to the LUMINARIES Class of 2021, receiving firm-wide recognition in the same category for RIAs.

Rick hosts client events and in-person roadshows on average 15 days a month. Needless to say, he’s wracking the Delta miles. He’s wired as a thought-leadership machine, ready to go in a moment’s notice armed with an artillery of knowledge. There are few industry CIOs to come close to Rick’s herculean efforts. Find out more and listen to this incredible episode of War Room Huddle podcast..

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Welcome Rick to War Room Huddle (0:35)
• Rick’s education and background (1:30)
• If someone offers you a ride on a rocket ship, just take the seat (7:00)
• Why choose RFG? (8:35)
• Building the future: how RFG goes about the investment process (12:05)
• The story of making it on the fridge (17:00)
• The rewarding feeling of helping clients get from point A to point B (20:00)
• Navigating the succession planning process (22:15)
• Goodbye white papers, video content is the wave of the future (28:35)
• Human emotion and why it’s important to have a financial advisor (33:30)

Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services (“PCS”). Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. 

This War Room Huddle episode with guest Mark Green, CEO, Founder, and President at GFG Wealth Advisors, will leave you fired up and ready to take on the world. Based in College Station, Texas, Mark very intentionally made the decision to become independent.

“I was scared to make the move just like anybody else was,” Mark says. “I was worried about my clients making the transition.” But ultimately it boiled down to one big reason. “RFG just fit in.”

After feeling restless with the decisions the CEOs were making, Mark chose to go independent with RFG Advisory instead because he wanted to “be my own person, be my own advisor.” He wanted to make his own decisions and have a partner rather than a boss. He wanted to be the CEO of his own practice, not the COO, with his wife Sherry right by his side.

Listen to this fearless episode with Mark Green, CEO, Founder, and President at GFG Wealth Advisors.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Mark’s origin story (3:04)
• Why Mark was seeking independence (4:51)
• Keeping relationships and family top of mind (6:54)
• Building multigenerational relationships with clients (8:37)
• Leveraging your resources (13:37)
• Creating longevity and legacy that lasts (18:00)
• Let’s go Aggies! Being a spotter for the stadium announcer (21:28)
• The power of faith (27:39)
• Discipline, gratitude, and intentionality (30:20)
• What it’s like for Mark and Sherry to work together (32:33)
• Empowering women to live financially fearless with StrongHer Money (35:16)

 Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services (“PCS”). Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. 

"Education is KEY to changing your own trajectory"

This War Room Huddle episode with guest Chris Cipolla, CFP®, CDFA®, and Wealth Advisor at RFG Advisory will leave you so pumped up you'll feel ready to crush anything. She is a co-conspirator and creator of StrongHer Money, along with RFG President and host of War Room Huddle, Shannon Spotswood, where they help women live financially fearless. Chris is a mother, she is an advisor, and she is immensely talented. Chris starts the episode by taking us back a few chapters to discover more about her story.

“At the end of the day, I just love helping people,” says Chris.

She understands the questions and struggles that women face as they epically manage life, work, family. As Shannon says in this episode, Chris is “a walking example of living life in transition.”

Listen to this fearless episode with Chris Cipolla, CFP®, CDFA®, and Wealth Advisor at RFG Advisory to discover why she stepped into the finance world, what led her to make a decision to join RFG, and how has StrongHer Money impacted Chris as an advisor. This episode shines a light on a woman forging new paths and sharing practical tips about balancing everything that gets thrown at you.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Why Chris stepped into the finance world (2:20)
• Chris’s first finance roles (3:50)
• Walking the walk with intentionally (6:06)
• What led her to make a decision to join RFG (7:06)
• Chris’s thoughts on being a woman in the finance industry (10:56)
• What does success look like to Chris? (14:04)
• Teaching women how to live financially fearless with StrongHer Money (15:55)
• How has StrongHer Money impacted Chris as an advisor? (18:34)
• Life in transition, empathy, and connecting on a different level (23:05)

 Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services (“PCS”). Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. 

"Wealth Management is not about the assets. It's about what we can empower people to do with their assets."

This week on the War Room Huddle podcast, Mark Dutram, CPWA®, CFP®, AEP®, President and Wealth Advisor of BayView Private Wealth, will be joining us. Mark has over 25 years of experience helping meet the financial, retirement and investment planning needs of families, business owners, and professionals. Mark's diverse background in finance has given him a broad view of the financial service industry

BayView is a boutique financial planning office that has the distinct ability to leverage innovative trading platforms, money managers, custom-designed investments, and research with a client-focused approach.

BayView Private Wealth is deeply focused on delivering a differentiated client experience and they have the ability to retain relationships as a result of those personal connections. From client education at the local college in Destin, Florida to serving veterans and active duty military to helping women to live financially fearless as a StrongHer Money Advisor Ambassador, Mark has a warrior spirit with a servant heart.

Make sure to listen to this awesome episode with Mark Dutram, CPWA®, CFP®, AEP®, Wealth Advisor and President of BayView Private Wealth. We are grateful for his tremendous amount of insight and energy.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• How partnering with RFG positively changed BayView (2:12)
• Looking at the risks and taking a step toward independence (4:44)
• What doesn't kill you makes you stronger (7:25)
• The power of marketing and social media (8:30)
• Serving veterans and active duty military (9:57)
• Helping women to live financially fearless (13:40)
• Empowering the next generation (15:20)
• Coming up with the best possible client experience (18:55)
• Opening doors and opportunities with FinTech (21:50)
• How Mark weaves his faith and professional life together (23:395)
• Figuring out What is my purpose? Why do I do this? (26:36)

 Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services (“PCS”). Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. 

“Success is going to be built off of the things that you put into it.”

This week we are psyched to have two WFA Partners and Wealth Advisors on the War Room Huddle podcast: Chase Crump, CFP®, and Dany L. Martin, MBA. You might recall Dany L. Martin, MBA from War Room Huddle Episode 2 and Chase Crump, CFP® on Episode 3.

WFA has 96 cumulative years of trusted advisor experience and 134+ cumulative years of administrative experience. We shake things up in this episode and flip a few chapters back to discuss the history of WFA, thoughtful and intentional succession planning, and intentionality around valuation. “Success is going to be built off of the things that you put into it,” says Dany.

Too many people don’t have a vision for the future. They have no plan, no direction, and no way to reach their goals. “As a younger advisor, you don't have to wait for the retiree to show up and try to sell their business,” Dany says. “Go in there and just bring it up.”

We learn how WFA strategized succession planning in a multifaceted way. They thought about how the clients are going to be cared for and what the transition would be like. They considered the extension of mission vision values, branding, and communication as a team.

It’s all about “taking a step back and realizing it's not about just you, it's about clients,” says Chase, which circles back to the WFA motto of Plan. Invest. Inspire. WFA seeks to plant the financial seed, water it with equal parts caring and knowledge, and then watch it grow.

There is so much awesome information in this episode, we know you’re going to get fired up! Make sure to listen to this empowering War Room Huddle episode with Chase Crump, CFP® and Dany L. Martin, MBA, Partners and Wealth Advisors at WFA. They say you need to be what you wish to see in the world, so if you want to lead a more inspiring life, join RFG.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• The history of WFA (4:24)
• WFA Founder Tommy’s intentional approach to succession planning (8:25)
• Transitioning, restructuring, and finding their groove as a new WFA (12:55)
• How RFG helped navigate the path (18:00)
• The power of a good team (21:22)
• Intentionality around valuation: how much is your time worth? (24:24)
• Chase’s tip to start the succession planning process (31:55)
• Fellowship, conversations, and WFA’s mission-focused approach to business (32:40)
• Crushing it and going remote during Covid (36:21)
• Unattaching yourself from ego (39:00)
• Dany’s advice for younger advisors thinking about upleveling their career (41:17)
• Tips for advisors wanting to execute a succession plan (46:46)
• Reach out and don’t be afraid to collaborate (50:20)

 Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services (“PCS”). Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. 

“Life is bigger than just what we do."

Thanks for joining us in the War Room Huddle studio to welcome Chase Crump, CFP®, Partner and Wealth Advisor at WFA. Chase is a heart forward advisor who brings a tremendous amount of authenticity to the profession. Chase is a champion of caring; he cares about how people feel and carries a tremendous amount of empathy for others. He has a way of uplifting his spirit to set his mind in the right place every single day.

As we shared in the last War Room Huddle episode with Dany L. Martin, WFA has 96 cumulative years of trusted advisor experience and 134+ cumulative years of administrative experience. Like their logo the Tree of Life, WFA has branched out and grown so much in the past year. They hired a new advisor, Jody Bluitt, they opened their third office location in Louisiana, and they never forget to focus on the big picture: clients, family, team, and community.

Listen to this episode to hear Chase’s thoughts on the benefits of meditation and finding stillness, why it's so important to make deeper connections and relationships with people, and how to channel a competitive spirit. There is so much awesome information in this episode, we know you’re going to get fired up!

“Life is bigger than just what we do,” says Chase. As he mentions in this episode, the world's bigger than work so we have to make connections with people and clients that go beyond managing money.

War Room Huddle is the number one show for independent financial advisors who want to crush everything and take their A game to the next level and is brought to you by RFG Advisory with your host President Shannon Spotswood. Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you’re listening to this podcast. Learn more about RFG Advisory by visiting our website. Join us.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Welcome Chase to War Room Huddle (02:00)
• Why be a financial advisor? (3:27)
• Setting intentionally and mindset (5:18)
• The benefits of meditation and finding stillness (8:09)
• Making deeper connections and relationships with people (16:51)
• Chase’s modern approach to office attire (18:35)
• Channeling competitive spirit (21:55)
• Everything you want is on the other side of fear (24:36)
• Chase’s advice for people starting out and how to become a successful advisor (28:42)
• Collaboration and working with RFG Advisory (34:46)

 Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services (“PCS”). Member FINRA/SIPC.Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. 

“Feed your mind, feed your soul, just always be open to learning new things.”

Today we’d like to welcome Dany L. Martin, MBA, Partner and Wealth Advisor at WFA, to this episode of War Room Huddle. Dany is social media savvy, community driven, and has a keep moving forward attitude that makes him an innovator in our industry. “Feed your mind, feed your soul, just always be open to learning new things,” Dany says.

Most recently, Dany was named to InvestmentNews' 40 Under 40 Class of 2021, which is an enormous accomplishment coming from a pool of over 600 candidates. Dany is doing great things for WFA, his team, and his clients. He’s mission driven and focuses on daily habits and really aligning himself with partners who have that shared belief. It’s how the entire WFA team gels together so successfully.

WFA has 96 cumulative years of trusted advisor experience and 134+ cumulative years of administrative experience, and they’ve completely crushed it the past year. WFA hired a new advisor, opened a second Shreveport office, and never forgot to focus on clients, family, team, and community.

Don’t miss Dany's wisdom throughout the episode if you’re searching for tips on focusing on what matters, why technology is so important, and his updated way of measuring success. War Room Huddle is the number one show for independent financial advisors who want to crush everything and take their A game to the next level brought to you by RFG Advisory with your host President Shannon Spotswood.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Welcome Dany to War Room Huddle (03:03)
• Coming up with the WFA tagline: Plan, Invest, Inspire (06:07)
• Finding the big picture: focusing on what matters (08:06)
• Measuring success in thank you cards (12:20)
• Embracing tech and why technology is so important (15:57)
• “You just have to do it”: Dany’s approach to social media (20:59)
• Making an office more like a home (26:31)
• It’s all love (28:34)
• A new approach to client gifts (31:00)
• The story of Well+Fed Louisiana (34:22)
• How Dany found his family (37:53)
• Church and the 12 house habits (40:24)

Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services (“PCS”). Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities.

“Fear only will slow you down. Fear will only make you hesitate.”

Welcome to War Room Huddle, the podcast for independent financial advisors who want to crush everything and take their A-game to the next level. This episode is brought to you by RFG Advisory with your host Shannon Spotswood and Bobby White, Founder and CEO of RFG Advisory as guest. Bobby White is our fearless leader, devoted to helping advisors pursue their dreams and maximize the value of their independent practice.

“Finance had always been intriguing to me,” Bobby says. With 22+ years of industry experience as a financial advisor, Bobby lends his life lessons and hard won wisdom in this episode. But like all heroes, the story doesn’t begin there.

In this episode, Bobby guides us through the varying stages of his life, laying down brick by brick the foundation of what would be RFG. We discover a bit about Bobby’s childhood, Bobby’s career background, and the story of how Bobby founded RFG. We were built from the ground up, torn down, and built again.

There are a lot of gems in this episode. Thanks for joining us for our kickoff episode of War Room Huddle, where we empower independent financial advisors to be the CEO of their practice, not the COO.

Join the conversation to hear about:

• Big welcome to Bobby (02:57)
• Rookie of the Year: The history of Bobby’s career background (03:47) 
• Identifying what you do and don’t want to do in a career (07:32)
• Growth Crusade: the story of how Bobby founded RFG (09:22)
• Starting an RIA during a financial crisis and thriving (010:55)
• Tripling the size of the firm over an 18-month period. What’s next? (17:02)
• How Bobby and Shannon connected (18:22)
• Building RFG 2.0 (20:52)
• Be the CEO of your practice, not the CEO (25:46)
• The importance of surrounding yourself with smart people (27:29)
• Disrupting yourself and disrupting the status quo (32:50)
• Scaling up and building the RFG 2.0 capacity (37:00)
• Bobby tells us a bit about his childhood and growing up (41:57)
• Moving out of the family home and building confidence (49:00)
• What Bobby calls “the best sales presentation I have given in my entire life” (51:40)
• Get 1% better every day (56:36)

Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services (“PCS”). Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities.