The Efficient Advisor: Tactical Business Advice for Financial Planners

Financial advisors often begin the year energized, organized, and committed to ambitious goals. Yet, by March, many find their plans stalling—not because of a lack of motivation, but because of a lack of true accountability. In this episode, neurobiology-based performance and accountability expert Brian Ford breaks down why traditional views of discipline and accountability fail, how advisors can build systems that actually work, and what it takes to sustain long-term behavior change. Brian shares the science, psychology, and practical frameworks that help advisors stop relying on motivation alone and start building systems that drive real follow-through. 🌟What You Will Learn in This Episode:• 📊 Why accountability is really about awareness rather than perfection or shame • 🧠 How your brain, ego, and evolutionary psychology influence follow-through • ⏰ The role of time-based feedback loops and how to design daily or weekly accountability structures • 🛠️ How environment and systems—not willpower—create lasting habits and disciplined behavior • 🔄 How to shift from the strain-and-recover cycle to the grow-and-sustain cycle for long-term successWhether you want to finally make your 2026 goals stick or build more consistent follow-through inside your practice, this episode gives you the frameworks, mindset, and systems to get there. Brian also invites listeners to join his 21-day New Year accountability challenge, designed to help advisors build the foundational systems needed for lasting behavior change. Register for Brian’s Accountability Group HERE!Learn more about the Group Coaching & Mastermind HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE!Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE!Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE!Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

In this episode, you’ll learn how a single Ritz-Carlton philosophy can transform the way financial advisors build trust, deepen loyalty, and create unforgettable client experiences. You’ll hear real examples of small but meaningful moments that turn mistakes into connection, empower your team, and elevate your brand far beyond portfolios and planning tools.You’ll also discover how giving your team simple freedom, creativity, and a small monthly “surprise & delight budget” can turn everyday interactions into lasting loyalty, referrals, and genuine client love. From laptops delivered across town to coffee sent with a smile, this episode reminds us that great client experience isn’t about perfection — it’s about how you make people feel ✨.I hope you enjoy this new format and I look forward to delivering super fast tips & tricks with you! You can also watch this Efficient Friday as a video on The Efficient Advisor’s YouTube Channel!Learn more about the Group Coaching & Mastermind HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE!Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE!Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE!Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

This episode features an inspiring conversation between Libby and advisor Eva Stukenberg, who shares her journey from feeling stuck on the hamster wheel to building a thriving, intentional, 5X-growth practice. Eva opens up about the small shifts that created massive momentum, the mindset work that changed everything, and the systems that transformed her team, her client experience, and her quality of life. This episode is packed with practical insights for any advisor ready to move from reactive to proactive, from overwhelmed to organized, and from doing everything to doing only what matters most. 🌱✨What You’ll Learn in This Episode • How small, consistent improvements compound into a flywheel of long-term growth 🔄 • The power of defining and designing your business around your ideal client avatar • Practical systems to move from reactive chaos to proactive preparation • Ways to elevate your client experience through thoughtful touches and intentional processes 💬 • Why mindset shifts like “Why not me? Why not now?” can change your entire trajectory 🚀Eva and Libby dig into real examples of how clarity, systems, and intentional decision-making shape both your business and your personal life. From transforming meeting prep and follow-up, to creating emotional, memorable client events, to building the right team around you, this conversation shows what sustainable growth actually looks like for a modern advisor 🎧If you’re ready to take the long view, make meaningful changes, and design a practice that supports both your clients and the life you want to live, this episode gives you a clear roadmap forward.Learn more about the Group Coaching & Mastermind HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE!Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE!Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE!Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

In today’s episode, we’ll discuss: Year-end processing doesn’t have to feel like an annual stress cycle. In this episode, you’ll learn five simple strategies to make December smoother, more predictable, and far less overwhelming 🎄. From setting client expectations shockingly early to moving cognitive work upstream and protecting your calendar, you’ll discover how small shifts can dramatically change your year-end experience.You’ll also hear how to intentionally punt work to January, rethink production pressure, and use a quick debrief to improve every single year. If you’re craving more margin, calm, and control in December, this conversation will help you build a business that supports your life, not your stress levels ✨📅.I hope you enjoy this new format and I look forward to delivering super fast tips & tricks with you! You can also watch this Efficient Friday as a video on The Efficient Advisor’s YouTube Channel!Learn more about the Group Coaching & Mastermind HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE!Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE!Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE!Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

Welcome back to the show where we help financial advisors build efficient, profitable, and deeply human advisory firms. In this episode, Libby dives into the heart of creating a scalable and sustainable client service model. She breaks down the mindset shifts advisors need, the math behind revenue per hour, how to segment your book intentionally, and why aligning your service model with profitability is the key to delivering exceptional client experiences. This is a thoughtful, practical, and empowering conversation to help you reshape your ongoing service in a way that benefits you, your team, and your clients.What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why advisors struggle with mental blocks around pricing, fees, and client segmentation  • How to calculate your true revenue per hour and use it to make better capacity decisions • A step-by-step process for segmenting clients and defining aligned service levels • How to avoid client subsidization and ensure each household is serviced profitably • Ways to right-size service for clients who don’t meet your hourly rate, without sacrificing care or professionalism As Libby walks through each step, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and a practical roadmap to redesign your client service model so you can serve clients exceptionally well without overwhelming your team. This episode will help you work smarter, stay focused on what matters, and build a practice you love managing every single day ✨.Learn more about the Group Coaching & Mastermind HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE!Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE!Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE!Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.