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What your paraplanner actually needs from you
https://us.v-cdn.net/6038637/uploads/YHKYNVZBTDK7/4.png I've spent a lot of time on the paraplanning side of the advice process, and there's a few things that reliably slows the paraplanning process down. It’s easy to blame the paraplanner (and sometimes it is their fault!) but what I often find is that a poorly structured…
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5 efficiency gains that have moved the needle for us
https://us.v-cdn.net/6038637/uploads/IEZ8UNK5HM2I/article-banner-282-29.png I have used Xplan throughout my entire career as an adviser and, to be honest, I didn’t like it for a long time. It wasn’t until I took ownership of the software and invested the time it deserved that our business truly began to reap the benefits.…
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When tools become lethal weapons: a framework for better decisions
https://us.v-cdn.net/6038637/uploads/643LG4LR1XSZ/article-banner-283-29.png Every week there’s something new. A new AI tool. A new platform. A new way to work faster, cheaper, better. And the pressure is real. Your competitors are adopting it. Your team wants to try it. Vendors are promising efficiency gains. So the…
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We don’t have a tech problem. We have a change problem.
https://us.v-cdn.net/6038637/uploads/T0XOFC5M8B4X/144.png I was working with a large, fairly progressive advice practice recently. The kind that most would look at and think, “they’ve nailed it.” They’ve invested heavily in technology. They even have a full-time developer whose sole role is to build tools the leadership…
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The biggest succession mistakes
In our work with acquisitions over the years we have identified a few consistent reasons why purchases or mergers fail: Incompatible client base Frequently, buyers and sellers talk conceptually about synergy, but do not adequately contemplate what makes them stronger as a combined entity. For example, if one practice…
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Are we overdoing automation in advice?
https://us.v-cdn.net/6038637/uploads/legacyfs/featureimages/bS0yMTc2LUZ3bG9RaA.png If there’s a key word for 2025, it has to be “automation”. It’s everywhere. Nearly every week, a new tool promises to streamline everything from file notes to SOA templates. When things are running smoothly, automation can really speed up…
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When good people make bad decisions
Recent misconduct cases, including Shield and First Guardian, have once again brought attention to challenges within the financial advice profession. Whether it's inappropriate sales tactics, inadequate due diligence, misrepresentations to clients or more serious breaches of trust, these cases taint the reputation of so…
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Five signs a practice merger is going off the rails
Every week we speak with practice owners who thought their merger would be straightforward – and six months later, they’re dealing with staff walkouts, duplicated systems or silent boardroom battles. The numbers stacked up. But the human and operational fit didn’t, and the deal is now worth less, not more. The following…
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Planning the transition
Whether you’re considering selling or acquiring, it’s important that you plan carefully – consider your options, determine the challenges, obstacles and potential roadblocks and build your strategy. All of this should all come together in your transition plan. From the buyer’s perspective, the impact of a new…
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Uncovering a blind spot with just three questions
I like to think of myself as "considered" rather than stubborn (although my husband might tell you it’s the same thing). Give me a new idea, and I’ll mull it over before I’m ready to change my mind. Two years ago, our business coach asked me a question that made me squirm: “What does it cost the business – in time, money,…