What does it look like to grow into the financial advisory business while honoring the legacy of a successful family practice? In this episode, Daniel Lee of Karen Lee and Associates in Atlanta, Georgia, shares how he found his way into financial planning after first discovering what he did not want from a career. He reflects on his early exposure to the profession through his mother, Karen Lee, and how taking CFP coursework helped him realize that financial planning checked the boxes he was looking for in meaningful work.

Daniel discusses what it was like to join a family business, the boundaries and shared values that helped make the transition work, and how he developed from learning operations and paperwork to becoming a lead advisor. He also shares how Karen Lee and Associates presents itself as a team, how they onboard new clients through a planning-first process, and why client relationships, networking, technology, and thoughtful succession planning all play a role in building a durable advisory firm for the future.

What does it take to build a financial advisory firm that can grow beyond its founders while staying deeply focused on client relationships? In this episode, Kim DeProspero and Hank Cleare, partners at Financial Strategies Group in Sunrise, Florida, share the story behind their careers, their partnership, and the evolution of FSG into a planning-first advisory practice.

Kim reflects on her early start in the insurance business, her transition into financial planning, and the lessons she learned from rebuilding her practice from the ground up. Hank shares how his background with the Federal Reserve and bank consulting eventually led him into financial planning and IFG. Together, they discuss how they successfully merged their practices, built a strong team, created a succession path for the next generation, and developed processes that allow the firm to serve clients consistently, whether they are in Florida, Atlanta, the Keys, or Italy.

What does it really take to build a successful financial advisory business while staying grounded in your values and your clients’ best interests? In this episode, Brett Bringuel of Cast Ahead Wealth Management shares his journey from cold-calling early in his career to building an independent advisory firm centered on financial planning, relationships, and long-term client success. He reflects on lessons learned at major firms like Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo, and how those experiences shaped his approach to advice, growth, and client care.

You’ll learn why Brett believes financial planning is where real value is created, how he transitioned into independence during a period of major uncertainty, and why he’s focused on helping business owners understand and grow their financial lives. He also breaks down his CARE client service model, the role of technology in simplifying his practice, and how resilience, referrals, and continuous learning have helped him evolve as an advisor and business owner.