In this episode of the Financial Behavior Thought Leaders podcast, Dr. Mary Bell Carlson welcomes Danika Waddell, CFP®, MS, RLP, a human-centered financial life planner known for her unique approach to ongoing client engagement and holistic life planning. Danika Waddell brings her heartfelt story of how she entered the world of financial planning—a journey that began with degrees in math and psychology, winding through career shifts before finding the perfect balance between analytical rigor and values-driven guidance. The conversation dives deep into what it means to go beyond traditional, technical financial advice and truly help clients align their money with their purpose and life changes over time.

Together, Mary and Danika explore why modern financial planning isn’t just about creating beautiful plans or offering technical recommendations. They discuss the crucial “human side” of advising—empowering clients to articulate their deepest values, revisit those goals regularly, and hold themselves accountable to the life they most want to live. Danika Waddell shares real-life stories from her practice, provides a behind-the-scenes look at her keynote speech, and offers simple, actionable shifts any advisor can use to make their client relationships more impactful and lasting. The episode closes with a personal note on living your own values as an advisor—illustrating why authenticity matters when inspiring others to pursue their dreams.

Five Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Human-Centered Advice:
2. Danika advocates moving “beyond the three questions” of initial client discovery to maintain meaningful engagement throughout a client’s life. She explains that technical expertise is just table stakes: true impact comes from ongoing conversations about clients’ values, goals, and life transitions.
3. From Advisor as Expert to Client as Expert of Their Own Life:
4. Financial professionals are trained to be technical experts, but Danika stresses the importance of shifting the focus—putting the client in the driver's seat as the expert on their own values and priorities. This mindset empowers clients and leads to more authentic, lasting transformation.
5. Why Financial Plans Don’t Get Implemented:
6. Technical plans often sit unused because they aren’t connected to real motivation. Advisors need to revisit clients’ original goals and values regularly, reflecting clients’ own words back to them. This accountability can be a catalyst for clients to make changes, as illustrated by Danika’s moving example of a client re-evaluating his work-life priorities.
7. Adapting in an AI-Driven World:
8. With the rise of AI and automated planning tools, delivering a “standard” financial plan is no longer a differentiator. Danika argues that what will set advisors apart is their ability to integrate deep, ongoing behavioral work—focusing on values, dreams, and emotional support, which technology simply can’t replicate.
9. Simple, Actionable Tools for Any Advisor:
10. No matter where you are in your career, adding just one new human-centered question, tool, or reframing technique can deepen your client relationships. Danika’s keynote and approach are designed to help advisors at every level immediately make their client work more meaningful and effective.

Tune in for insights, practical applications, and inspiration from one of the leading voices on blending technical mastery with the art of human connection in financial planning. Discover how you—and your clients—can create lives aligned with your deepest values, not just your bottom line.

On this episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders, host Mary Bell Carlson welcomes the dynamic Deirdre Van Nest, renowned keynote speaker, coach, and storyteller within the financial services industry. The conversation dives deep into Deirdre’s unique journey—overcoming a paralyzing fear of public speaking to become a sought-after speaker who specializes in leveraging emotional intelligence and storytelling for powerful business results.

Through candid anecdotes and practical insights, Deirdre unpacks the principles behind her keynote, “Getting to the Yes Quicker,” sharing tangible strategies and real-life success stories that illustrate how authentic connection leads to trust, likability, and client conversion.

The episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at what makes a keynote speaker truly unforgettable, the challenges and triumphs that shaped Deirdre’s approach, and actionable ways financial professionals can transform their communication, deepen client relationships, and grow their practices. Listen for insights on emotional intelligence, the power of vulnerability, and the impact of personal narrative in business.

Key Takeaways

1. Overcoming Fear Unlocks Growth:
2. Deirdre’s journey began with a vow to avoid public speaking after a humiliating experience in her youth. Her eventual decision to confront that fear—by hiring a speaking coach and facing vulnerability head-on—not only transformed her career, it reignited her passion and enabled her to help others do the same. Her story demonstrates that personal growth starts when we challenge our own limitations, and that authenticity is the foundation of impactful communication.
3. Emotional Intelligence and Human Connection Matter More Than Ever:
4. With rapid advances in technology such as AI, the human elements of financial advising—emotional intelligence, empathy, and connection—are increasingly critical. Deirdre and Mary explore how advisors who excel at building genuine relationships will stand out, as clients value trust and relatability over pure technical expertise.
5. The “Why I Care” Personal Story is a Game-Changer:
6. Sharing a personal "why I care" story can dramatically accelerate trust and likability. Deirdre recounts a pivotal moment when revealing her authentic reason for caring about her audience resulted in immediate credibility—even from skeptical, analytical top producers. This shift marked a turning point in her business and is a replicable strategy for financial professionals: when crafted and delivered well, personal stories lead prospects to say “yes” faster.
7. Practical Success Stories Prove the Power of Storytelling:
8. The episode features compelling examples—from new advisors converting prospects at community events to elite producers boosting their conversion rates from 85–90% to 100%. Deirdre's clients have used intentional storytelling in everything from one-on-one meetings to video introductions, consistently finding that prospects come in ready to work with them, referrals increase, and business grows. Storytelling isn’t just for speeches—it’s a practical tool that works in everyday advisory interactions.
9. Authenticity, Adaptability, and Partnership Are Essential On—and Off—Stage:
10. Beyond speaking skills, Deirdre’s personal journey—including living on a boat and embracing an adaptable lifestyle—mirrors her approach to working with event hosts and teams. She emphasizes flexibility, partnership, and a commitment to making each event extraordinary. Her story offers inspiration for both life and career: embracing change, staying adaptable, and bringing your full self to any endeavor leads to more meaningful impact and memorable experiences.

Whether you’re an advisor, event planner, or someone seeking to strengthen your influence and...

In this inspiring episode, host Mary Bell Carlson welcomes Heather Fortner, CEO of SignatureFD and a featured speaker with Financial Behavior Keynotes Group. Heather Fortner shares the transformative journey of scaling her wealth management firm from $250 million to over $10 billion in assets—all while fiercely preserving the soul and integrity of the organization. You’ll get a front-row seat to Heather’s personal and professional evolution, with candid insights on leadership, courage, and authentic growth.

The conversation opens with Heather Fortner's surprising keynote debut at Schwab Impact, detailing how she learned to practice authenticity on stage and why being true to herself became the cornerstone of her career. She recalls the winding path that brought her to Signature FD, starting as an intern and eventually ascending to CEO, drawing on both her technical expertise and counseling background to bridge the science of finance and the art of people.

Together, Mary Bell Carlson and Heather Fortner explore the real meaning behind “growth without losing soul,” discussing the importance of self-awareness, relational intelligence, and vulnerability in business leadership. The episode features Heather’s raw account of becoming CEO during one of the most challenging periods of her life, along with reflections on fear, courage, and parenting while leading a thriving organization.

Five Key Takeaways:

1. Authenticity is Crucial—On Stage and Off:
2. When Heather Fortner began her public speaking journey, she quickly realized that being authentically herself matters far more than perfect delivery. After tough feedback at her keynote debut, she learned to lean into her true voice and values—an approach she now carries into both her leadership and her talks.
3. Growth Is Both Technical and Human:
4. Heather credits her success to a rare blend of technical financial knowledge and deep empathy developed through her counseling training. True financial leadership, she shares, requires mastering both the “science of finance” and the “art of people,” understanding that every business system is fueled by human relationships.
5. Self-Awareness Fuels Sustainable Success:
6. Scaling an organization without losing its soul demands that leaders—and all team members—cultivate self-awareness and hold firm to core values. Heather believes personal growth and organizational growth are inseparable; when leaders are introspective and grounded, the teams and culture thrive.
7. Courage Means Choosing Action in the Face of Fear:
8. From tackling her first keynote to accepting the CEO role during the uncertainty of the pandemic, Heather describes pivotal moments where she faced fear head-on and chose courage. Her story highlights that it’s not the absence of fear, but the choice to move forward regardless, that defines true growth.
9. Human Connection Outlasts Technology:
10. Despite rapid advances in AI and financial technology, Heather and Mary agree that the hardest—and most rewarding—aspect of financial work is building genuine human connections. Relational skills, empathy, and forgiveness require lifelong practice and are essential in fostering trust, resilience, and personal fulfillment.

Listen to this episode for an honest look at what it takes to scale smart, lead authentically, and nurture both business and personal growth. If you’re seeking a keynote speaker—or simply inspiration from one of the industry’s most genuine voices—discover more about Heather Fortner and the Financial Behavior Keynotes Group at financialbehaviorthoughtleaders.com.