In this episode of the Smarter Planner podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, interviews Derek Pollard, Ph.D., founder of Constellar Creative, about the importance of personal branding for financial planners. They dive into strategies for crafting a unique, consistent brand that reflects your story and expertise, even if you're part of a larger organization. Derek emphasizes that personal branding is more than just a buzzword—it's about presenting your skills, mission, and vision in a way that resonates with your ideal clients.

Derek shares insights on how to build a brand that stands out, even when working under a firm's corporate branding. He discusses the importance of consistency across all platforms—social media, websites, and in-person interactions—to create a cohesive brand experience. Whether you're an independent advisor or working within a firm, Derek offers practical advice on how to start small, audit your current branding, and build from there. He also highlights the value of partnering with marketing experts if you are unsure how to tell your story best.

You can reach Derek on LinkedIn or at his website, Constellar Creative.

---

The Smarter Planner Podcast is a product of the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA). All information is for educational and informational purposes only. Belle Osvath and the FPA NCA do not endorse or recommend any people, products, or services featured or discussed in this podcast.

In this episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP® interviews Michael Clarke, co-founder of Protection Point Advisors and the National Referral Network, and author of A Firm Worth Building. The discussion revolves around the concept of "trust compression," which refers to building trust with clients not through long interactions over time, but by creating a series of high-quality, successive engagements that compress the time needed to establish trust.

Michael explains how trust compression allows advisors to connect with clients through shorter, more meaningful meetings. He highlights how his firm has broken the traditional intake process into multiple brief, focused interactions to understand client risk tolerance and align their financial plans accordingly. The goal is to help clients feel understood and comfortable, building trust faster than through conventional methods.

National Referral Network: https://www.nrnamerica.com/

A Firm Worth Building (Book) https://a.co/d/dinBzqA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljclarke1/

Website: https://www.protectionpointadvisors.com/

In this episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, speaks with Andrea Longton, a CFA and award-winning author who specializes in social justice investing. Andrea has raised over $1 billion for social justice investments in the U.S. and advised on an additional $1.5 billion globally. She authored a book titled The Social Justice Investor: Advance Your Values While Building Wealth.

In the discussion, Andrea explains that social justice investing involves aligning one's financial investments with personal values that promote social justice. This can encompass various causes, including racial justice, climate justice, children's welfare, LGBTQIA+ rights, and gender equity. Andrea emphasizes that social justice investing is personalized; it requires individuals to identify their values and align their investment portfolios accordingly.

The conversation also touches on the potential challenges financial advisors face when addressing social justice investing, particularly the risk of being perceived as partisan. Andrea advises that advisors should focus on the values of their clients rather than politics and that they should educate themselves on social justice investing to better serve their clients. She mentions several certifications and networks that advisors can pursue to enhance their understanding of this field.

Andrea's book, The Social Justice Investor, is available on Amazon, and she can be reached through her website, thesocialjusticeinvestor.com.

LinkedIn

---

The Smarter Planner Podcast is a product of the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA). All information is for educational and informational purposes only. Belle Osvath and the FPA NCA do not endorse or recommend any people, products, or services featured or discussed in this podcast.

In this episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, interviews Kevin Keller, CAE, the CEO of CFP Board, about their latest public awareness campaign. Keller shares insights into the campaign's goal of increasing consumer recognition of the CFP® certification with the tagline, "It's Gotta Be a CFP®."

Keller discusses the campaign's development and budget and how its effectiveness is being measured through metrics like unaided awareness. He shares that this campaign is modeled after successful industry advertising strategies, such as the iconic "Got Milk?" campaign. The commercials are designed to highlight the unique value of CFP® professionals and reinforce client confidence when working with a certified financial planner.

Keller explains how CFP® professionals contribute to funding the campaign and discusses the upcoming CFP Board Connections Conference, an event to connect practitioners, educators, and firms in the financial planning ecosystem.

For CFP® professionals interested in how their credentials are being marketed or for those curious about the campaign's impact, this episode provides insights into the board's strategy to raise public awareness and elevate the CFP® brand.

Links:

Kevin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinkeller2/

CFP Board Commercial: https://youtu.be/TUD1i5d9AUE?si=JUJHV_teWEWrSmqh

---

The Smarter Planner Podcast is a product of the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA). All information is for educational and informational purposes only. Belle Osvath and the FPA NCA do not endorse or recommend any people, products, or services featured or discussed in this podcast.

In this episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, speaks with Andy Baxley, MS, CFP®, CIMA®, a Certified Financial Transitionist, about the evolving role of financial advisors. Andy, an independent financial planner at the Planning Center, discusses how changes in people's lives, work, and retirement necessitate a shift in financial planning approaches. He emphasizes the importance of understanding clients' values and designing financial plans that reflect these values rather than adhering to outdated societal norms.

Andy explains that the traditional 9-to-5 job model until retirement at 65 is becoming obsolete. With increased life expectancies and more fulfilling work opportunities, people seek phased retirements, sabbaticals, and encore careers. He highlights the role of financial planners in guiding clients through these transitions, not just with technical expertise but also by helping clients reframe their work-life balance and long-term goals.

Links:

Statement of Financial Purpose Course: https://sofp.offthebalancesheet.com/

Financial Transitionist Institute: https://www.financialtransitionist.com/

Andy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-baxley/

For more information on the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter, visit FPANCA.org.

---

The Smarter Planner Podcast is a product of the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA). All information is for educational and informational purposes only. Belle Osvath and the FPA NCA do not endorse or recommend any people, products, or services featured or discussed in this podcast.

In this episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, interviews Rachel Witkowski, an award-winning financial tech and AI reporter, about the integration of AI in financial planning. They discuss current AI applications, upcoming innovations, and the security concerns surrounding these technologies. They also touch upon the Advise AI conference, which is dedicated to exploring AI tools for financial advisors.

• Advise AI Conference: https://conference.financialplanning.com/event/advise-ai/summary
• Beautiful AI: https://www.beautiful.ai/
• LinkedIn: Rachel Witkowski

---

The Smarter Planner Podcast is a product of the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA). All information is for educational and informational purposes only. Belle Osvath and the FPA NCA do not endorse or recommend any people, products, or services featured or discussed in this podcast.

In this episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP® interviews Christine Dolan, the founder of C. Dolan and Associates Financial Organizing. Christine explains the role of a daily money manager and how they provide essential day-to-day financial management services that complement the work of financial advisors. Christine details how her firm helps clients manage their bills, organize financial paperwork, prepare for tax time, and reduce financial stress.

The discussion also covers the signs that a client may need a daily money manager and how financial advisors can approach this topic with their clients. This episode is for financial planners looking to understand the benefits of daily money management for their clients and how to find trustworthy professionals in this field.

https://www.cdolanfinancial.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-dolan-mba-6260892/

---

The Smarter Planner Podcast is a product of the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA). All information is for educational and informational purposes only. Belle Osvath and the FPA NCA do not endorse or recommend any people, products, or services featured or discussed in this podcast.

In this episode host Belle Osvath interviews Matt Halloran, Co-founder, and Chief Relationship Officer at ProudMouth, on the power of influence in financial planning marketing. Matt discusses how the marketing landscape has fundamentally changed, emphasizing that traditional selling methods are being replaced by content-driven influence that allows potential clients to engage and connect with advisors on their terms.

Matt outlines how financial planners can effectively utilize podcasts as a marketing tool, stressing the importance of having a focused niche rather than attempting to appeal to a broad audience. He shares insights into the necessity of content preparation and planning, suggesting that advisors need to know their message and audience intimately to create impactful content.

From content ideation to compliance, Matt's advice is grounded in real-world experience. He also shares effective strategies for promoting and sharing content to grow an audience organically.

www.linkedin.com/in/matthalloranpm
https://proudmouth.com