Episodes

AI has made it easier than ever to create content. It has also made it easier than ever for financial advisors to sound exactly like everyone else. In this episode of RIA Collective, Charlie Van Derven sits down with Hillary Gale of Moneta Copy to discuss how financial advisors can create more authentic marketing, develop a distinct voice, and stand out in an increasingly AI-generated world. Hillary brings a unique perspective to advisor marketing. After teaching writing at the university lev...

What if the goal of independence wasn’t to build the biggest RIA possible? What if it was to build the business that gave you the life you actually wanted? In this episode of RIA Collective, Charlie Van Derven reconnects with Rachael Burns of True Worth Financial Planning to discuss how her approach to independence has evolved since her first appearance on the podcast. After working at Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and Ameriprise, Rachael eventually launched her own RIA. Personal circumst...

Why do some financial advisors consistently generate introductions from clients while others struggle to get referrals at all? In this episode of RIA Collective, Charlie Van Derven sits down with Bill Utnage of Damascus Road Referral Systems to discuss how advisors can build stronger client relationships and create a more intentional system for generating introductions. Bill has spent decades owning and operating professional service businesses and now coaches business owners, including financ...

What changes about financial planning when your client doesn't have children? More than many advisors realize.Somebody went first. That's usually how it starts. In this episode of RIA Collective, Charlie Van Derven sits down with Maddy Roche, Chief Growth Officer at Childfree Trust, to explore the unique financial, estate, and long-term care planning needs of people without children. After spending roughly 11 years helping build XY Planning Network, Maddy has worked closely with thousands of ...

What is your advisory practice actually worth, and what can you do today to increase that value? In this episode of RIA Collective, Charlie Van Derven sits down with Andrew Mirolli, Co-Founder of buyAUM.com, to discuss how financial advisors can build more valuable, transferable businesses and prepare for an eventual exit. With roughly 106,000 advisors representing 41% of industry assets expected to retire over the next decade, succession planning is becoming a major issue across wealth manag...

What happens when the traditional wirehouse model no longer gives you the freedom to invest and serve clients the way you believe is best? In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Haren Bhakta, CFA, to discuss his journey from selling insurance to building a book at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, launching his own RIA, and eventually creating his own investment index and ETF. Haren entered financial services during the 2008 financial crisis, when opportuniti...

Most financial advisors know they need to create content. The challenge is knowing what AI should do, what it shouldn't do, and how to create authentic content that actually builds trust. In this episode of RIA Collective, Charlie Van Derven sits down with Nate Hoskin, CFP®, Co-Founder of SageContent.ai, to discuss how advisors can leverage video, AI, and personal branding to grow their businesses without sacrificing authenticity. Nate shares lessons from building his own RIA through content be...

What separates a successful advisory firm from one that struggles to scale? According to Chris Price, it comes down to process. In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Chris Price of Wealth Solutions Partners to discuss his journey from the insurance world into a more independent, hybrid advisory model and the lessons he's learned about building a scalable business. Chris shares how earning professional designations changed the way he viewed financial advice,...

What makes a financial advisor different? According to Andrew Winig, most advisors struggle to answer that question clearly. In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Andrew Winig, founder of Your Elevator Pitch Coach, to discuss one of the biggest challenges advisors face: explaining what they do in a way that people actually remember. Andrew has worked with hundreds of financial advisors and discovered something surprising: Most advisors are different. They j...

Most RIAs don’t think they need a CFO… until they realize they do. In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Damian Lo Basso, Founder of My RIA CFO, to discuss the financial blind spots that hold advisory firms back during transition, growth, and scaling. Damian brings a rare level of experience to the RIA space. After working in investment banking and M&A, he helped build Dynasty Financial Partners’ OCFO program, launched one of the industry’s first outsou...

What does advisor independence actually mean? In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Andree Mohr, President of Integrated Partners, to explore why the move to independence is about much more than business structure. Andree shares her unique journey from starting as a PR intern at 17 years old to becoming president of one of the largest independent firms in the country. Along the way, she explains why the best advisors are not just building businesses, they’r...

What happens when a CRM is built for advisors with AI at its core, instead of having AI bolted on later? In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Thomas Clawson, Co-Founder of Slant, to explore how AI-native CRM technology is changing the way financial advisors manage relationships, automate workflows, and grow their businesses. Thomas shares how Slant evolved from a marketing automation tool into a full CRM after advisors kept asking for more powerful ways to ...

What if you don’t actually own your book of business? In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Tyson Ray of FORM Wealth Advisors to break down one of the most misunderstood topics in financial services: succession. Tyson shares the eye-opening realization that many advisors, especially in W2 or hybrid models, may not truly own the goodwill of their clients. That has massive implications when it comes time to sell, transition, or exit your business. He also int...

What does it really take to grow as a financial advisor? In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Dennis Huergo of Wealth Enhancement Group to explore the mindset, career decisions, and experiences that shape successful advisors over time. Dennis shares his journey from military service into financial services, starting in insurance and sales, and eventually transitioning toward true financial planning and independence. Along the way, he reflects on the lesson...

AI is everywhere in financial services, but most advisors are only scratching the surface. In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Sam Sova, Co-Founder of Subatomic AI, to explore how artificial intelligence is moving beyond basic tools and becoming a true collaborative partner inside advisory firms. Sam shares how RIAs can use AI to unify data across CRMs, custodians, portfolio platforms, email, and communication tools. The result is fewer manual tasks, more...

What does the next generation of advisory firms actually look like? In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Jon Henderson, Founder of Echo 45 Advisors, to explore how independent firms are evolving beyond traditional investment management into fully integrated advisory businesses. After spending 20 years at Merrill Lynch, Jon made the leap to independence and built a firm designed for where client expectations are heading - not where they’ve been. That includ...

Most advisors don’t hit a growth ceiling because they lack effort - they hit it because their capacity is broken. In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Dr. Jon Randall, founder of Extraordinary Financial Advisors (XFA), to unpack what truly holds financial advisors back from sustainable growth - and how to break through it. With more than 20 years of experience coaching hundreds of top advisory firms (including many in the Barron’s Top 100), Jon brings a rare...

What does it really take to build an advisory firm that aligns with your values - and lasts for decades? In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Peter Krull, Founder of Earth Equity Advisors, to explore the long game of independence, entrepreneurship, and purpose-driven investing. Peter shares his journey from Merrill Lynch to launching an independent RIA focused on ESG and sustainable investing - long before it became mainstream. Along the way, he breaks down...

In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Darren Hinshaw, Managing Director at NBC Securities, to discuss the often-overlooked impact financial advisors have on the stability and wellbeing of society. Darren shares why he believes financial services rank among the most important professions - alongside doctors and spiritual advisors. From helping clients navigate volatile markets to guiding them through life’s biggest transitions, advisors provide the steady hand...

Most advisors focus on the next client, the next meeting, the next quarter. But what if the key to long-term success is starting with the end in mind? In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Sam Renken, Financial Advisor at Consolidated Planning, whose unique background - from horse training to financial advising - shaped his philosophy for building a career with purpose, focus, and authenticity. Sam shares how to design your business around the life you actua...

Independent advisors often think cybersecurity is something “the big firms” need to worry about. But the truth? RIAs are often at greater risk. In this episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Carmine “Carm” Cicalese, founder of CYBER CIC (“CHICK”) and partner at Digital Privacy & Protection, to unpack what every independent advisor needs to know about protecting sensitive client data, staying compliant, and maintaining client trust. Carm breaks down cybersecurity into...

Former NFL & NBA performance-nutrition lead Shawn Zell (Fruition Financial, St. Louis) shares how he pivoted from the Rams and Bucks to fiercely independent financial planning—plus what “true client alignment” really looks like. We cover rapid licensing (SIE, 7, 66, 24), rebuilding a modern RIA tech stack, navigating broker-dealer consolidation, fee transparency, and why the best client relationships are relationship-first, not sales-first. Perfect for advisors considering the leap to independen...

Welcome to a high-energy, no-BS conversation with Jen Staben, Financial Advisor at Prime Capital and unapologetic force of nature in financial services. In this episode of the RIA Collective, Jen sits down with host Charlie Van Derven to share how she built a client-first practice her way - and why that meant leaving behind big-name firms, scripts that didn’t sound like her, and a system that prioritized products over people. 💥 Topics Covered: Why Jen left a major national firm to launch her ...

In this engaging episode of RIA Collective, host Charlie Van Derven sits down with Greg Curry, founder of Pillar Financial in Louisville, Kentucky. With nearly three decades of experience spanning accounting, insurance, and independent advisory, Greg shares his unique journey from CPA and institutional product management to building a successful fee-only RIA. The conversation dives into the lessons Greg has learned along the way—why simplicity and operational excellence are critical to client s...