In this episode of The Purpose-Focused Advisor, Rob Brown sits down with John Kailunas, author of Mission Retirement and founder of Catalyst4Growth and Regal Holdings. With 25+ years of experience and over $4B in AUM/AUA, John shares how advisors can help clients retire with purpose, not just wealth. He unpacks the 10 “missions” of meaningful retirement and reveals how purpose-based planning deepens trust, inspires legacy conversations, and helps advisors stand out by focusing on what truly matters.

Key Takeaways:

• Lead with Listening (05:04) – Great advisors start with presence, not plans—listening deeply lays the groundwork for purpose-driven advice.
• Retirement Needs a Mission (07:02) – Most clients haven’t truly defined what they want in retirement. Help them clarify, and you become more than a planner.
• Purpose Prevents Regret (08:15) - 40% of retirees feel lonely. Helping clients plan for meaning—not just money—can protect them from a purposeless retirement.
• Trust is Built Through Story, Not Spreadsheets (13:42) - Legacy conversations and life stories build deeper client relationships than charts ever will. The more personal the dialogue, the stronger the bond.
• It’s Not Your Money (20:30) - Advisors must remember they’re managing the client’s dreams. Your role is to help them align their resources with the life they truly want.

John Kailunas: “We’re so focused on running that when retirement finally comes, it’s like the merry-go-round suddenly stops—and most people don’t know what to do next.”

Rob Brown: “When advisors connect to a client’s story—not just their portfolio—they build trust that lasts far beyond the next review meeting.”

About John Kailunas: John Kailunas II is a first-generation immigrant and visionary leader in financial services since 1988. With over three decades of experience, he has built a legacy of growth through Apex, Regal Holdings, and now Catalyst4Growth—a professional development platform empowering advisors and entrepreneurs. John’s entrepreneurial drive has earned national recognition, including Investment News’ Hot 100 and Best Practice Management Program awards. A lifelong learner and mentor, he’s also a devoted husband, father, and adventurer who’s traveled to all 50 states and 34 countries.

Connect with John Kailunas:

Website: https://www.catalyst4growth.org/

Mission: Retirement: https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Retirement-Provoking-Purposeful-Fulfilling/dp/B0DWGSHKF9/

Choices and Chances: https://www.amazon.com/Choices-Chances-John-Kailunas-II/dp/1419669966

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-kailunas-ii-966b5a7/

Episode References:

• The Purpose-Focused Advisor Weekly Newsletter
• The Purpose-Focused Advisor Mastermind
• Executive Coaching with Rob Brown

Connect with Rob Brown:

Website: http://truestfan.com/

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

In this episode, Rob Brown sits down with Adam Obrecht, founder of AO Wealth Advisory—a quietly confident leader who’s built a special firm grounded in systems, purpose, and faith… all while serving a client base many advisors overlook.

From day one, Adam was told his strategy wouldn’t work. You can’t build a firm around 30- and 40-year-olds. Faith and business don’t mix. You need older, wealthier clients to grow.

He ignored all of it.

Adam launched AO Wealth with a baby on the way and no backup plan. Fifteen years later, he leads a thriving firm serving 300+ households with remarkable efficiency.

This is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership every advisor should hear.

Key Takeaways:

• Serve with Strategy (05:26) – Building a practice around 30- to 40-year-olds works when you're intentional about your time, messaging, and service model.
• Purpose Starts Early (14:40) – A mission trip—and a now-lost book on Christian business leaders—sparked the vision for a firm grounded in faith and values.
• Faith in the Volatility (19:33) – When markets shake confidence, Adam blends sound math with spiritual grounding to help clients stay steady.
• Legacy in Motion (21:23) – For Adam, growth means more than numbers. It’s about deepening team capacity, preparing for succession, and staying true to the mission.

Adam Obrecht: “The numbers tell one story, but how you live out your life tells a whole different story.”

Rob Brown: “It wasn’t just a niche—it was a calling. And you built the kind of practice most advisors are afraid to even imagine.”

About Adam Obrecht: Adam is the owner of AO Wealth Advisory, a financial planning firm in Urbandale, Iowa. Adam's career started in agricultural and commercial lending, but quickly shifted to investments. Adam started AO Wealth Advisory in 2010 after time spent as a product specialist for a regional broker-dealer and five years in a CPA firm. Adam is married with two sons.

Connect with Adam Obrecht:

Website: http://aowealthadvisory.com/

Email: aobrecht@aowealthadvisory.com

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

Episode References:

• The Purpose-Focused Advisor Weekly Newsletter
• The Purpose-Focused Advisor Mastermind
• Executive Coaching with Rob Brown

Connect with Rob Brown:

Website: http://truestfan.com/

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

What happens when a former financial journalist brings deep curiosity and compassion into the world of financial planning? In this episode, Rob Brown sits down with Ryan Derousseau, a CFP® who made the leap from writing for Money, Fortune, and Forbes to serving therapists, career changers, and the self-employed. Ryan shares how his path has been shaped by listening more, asking better questions, and putting purpose before products. His work reveals a powerful truth: trust, emotion, and vulnerability are just as vital to planning as any spreadsheet. We’re reminded of how powerful it is when advisors focus on people…not just portfolios.

Key Takeaways:

• Lessons from Journalism (20:09) – Discover how Ryan’s past as a journalist sharpened his ability to ask deeper questions and truly hear what clients are saying.
• The Strategic Pause (24:28) – Silence isn’t awkward, it’s powerful. Ryan shows how waiting just a little longer often uncovers the most honest, meaningful client insights.
• Trust the Journey (26:09) – For new advisors, Ryan offers hard-won wisdom: growth takes time, and the best results come from consistent, purpose-driven effort.
• Niche with Intention (09:46) – Ryan reveals how focusing on therapists helped him refine his message, connect more deeply, and serve self-employed professionals with greater impact.

Ryan Derousseau: "When advisors lead with curiosity and just sit in the discomfort a little longer, that’s where the real trust is built and that’s when the real work begins."

Rob Brown: "It’s not just about the numbers you uncover, it’s about the life you help your clients live because of the planning you guide them through."

About Ryan Derousseau: Ryan Derousseau, CFP®, enables employees, the self-employed, therapists, and career changers to thrive financially so they can focus on what matters most. A former financial writer for Fortune, Money, and Forbes, Ryan blends deep industry insight with a practical, goal-first approach. He helps clients align their business and finances with their values, building stronger practices, better balance, and long-term wealth.

Connect with Ryan Derousseau:

Website: http://www.thinkingcapfinancial.com/ & http://www.unitedfpg.com/

Email: ryan@unitedfpg.com & ryan.derousseau@gmail.com

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

Episode References:

• The Purpose-Focused Advisor Weekly Newdletter
• The Purposed-Focused Advisor Mastermind
• Executive Coaching with Rob Brown

Connect with Rob Brown:

Website: http://truestfan.com/

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