Do Business. Do Life. — The Financial Advisor Podcast — DBDL

Right now there's a wave building in our industry, and most advisors are standing on the beach pretending it isn't there.
AI isn't coming. It's here. And the gap between the advisors who lean into it and the ones who keep waiting is about to get a lot wider.
In this episode, I sit down with Michael Hyatt — New York Times bestselling author, longtime entrepreneur, and someone who's quietly built an entire team of AI agents running inside his own business.
We get into the tension every financial advisor is thinking about: privacy, client data, compliance, technical knowledge, and where AI actually fits in a relationship-driven business.
Michael also explains where this is all headed, and why the biggest opportunity may not be replacing human work, but creating more space for the work only humans can do.
If you've been telling yourself you'll figure AI out later, or that it doesn't really apply to a business like ours, this conversation might change your mind about how much time you actually have.

3 Insights From This Week’s Episode…

#1.) The Story That's Quietly Costing Advisors Their Future
When AI comes up, a lot of smart, successful advisors check out. They decide it's too technical, too risky, or too late to start. Michael explains why that reaction has nothing to do with age or ability, and everything to do with something far more dangerous.

#2.) The Client Data Objection Everyone Hides Behind
"I deal with people's finances, so AI doesn't apply to me." It's the most common wall advisors put up, and on the surface it sounds responsible. We dig into why that thinking is more outdated than you'd expect, and what hiding behind it might be costing you.

#3.) The New Advantage in a Relationship Business
Financial advice is built on trust, presence, and human connection. We explore why AI may actually increase the value of great advisors by helping them show up more prepared, more focused, and more available for the work only humans can do.

SHOW NOTES
https://bradleyjohnson.com/173

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DISCLOSURE
DBDL podcast episode conversations are intended to provide financial advisors with ideas, strategies, concepts and tools that could be incorporated into their business and their life. No statements made in the episode are offered as, and shall not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Financial professionals are responsible for ensuring implementation of anything discussed related to business is done so in accordance with any and all regulatory, compliance responsibilities and obligations.
The Triad member statements reflect their own experience which may not be representative of all Triad Member experiences, and their appearances were not paid for.
Triad Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Please visit Triadwealthpartners.com for more information. Triad Wealth Partners, LLC and Triad Partners, LLC are affiliated companies.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A prospect can sit through an entire meeting, nod along, ask good questions, and still leave without fully understanding why they need you.
That’s the problem.
Many advisors explain their value clearly, but they don’t make it easy for prospects to see the difference between where they are today and where they could be with the right plan in place.
In Part 2 of this three-part series, I break down one of the simplest ways to make your planning process feel more tangible, more understandable, and more compelling without overwhelming prospects with more information.

3 Insights From This Week’s Episode…

#1.) Why Prospects Struggle To See Your Value
You may understand the strategy, the software, and the planning opportunities sitting underneath the surface. But your prospect often just sees complexity. I cover why this disconnect matters and how it can quietly hurt your close rate.

#2.) The Hidden Cost Of Leading With Complexity
Advisors often walk into meetings with charts, projections, jargon, and too many decision points. The problem is that more information doesn’t always create more clarity. We explore why this can make prospects hesitate instead of move forward.

#3.) The Communication Trap That Kills Trust
There’s a fine line between helping prospects see what’s missing and making them feel judged for not already having it figured out. I unpack the mistake advisors make here and why tone can make or break the conversation.

SHOW NOTES
https://bradleyjohnson.com/172

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DISCLOSURE
DBDL podcast episode conversations are intended to provide financial advisors with ideas, strategies, concepts and tools that could be incorporated into their business and their life. No statements made in the episode are offered as, and shall not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Financial professionals are responsible for ensuring implementation of anything discussed related to business is done so in accordance with any and all regulatory, compliance responsibilities and obligations.
The Triad member statements reflect their own experience which may not be representative of all Triad Member experiences, and their appearances were not paid for.
Triad Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Please visit Triadwealthpartners.com for more information. Triad Wealth Partners, LLC and Triad Partners, LLC are affiliated companies.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A conversation lives for an hour. A financial plan lives for generations.

Most advisors provide a prospect nothing but a follow-up email and a calendar link following their first meeting, then wonder why so many disappear before the second meeting happens.

In Part 1 of this three-part series, I break down one of the most overlooked tools in advising: something that even the show Shark Tank get's right, but most advisors miss.

3 Insights from This Week's Episode…

#1.) Bridge the Gap From Conversation to Real World
A financial plan is made up of hours of thinking, strategy, and recommendations the client can’t see. I cover how to bridge this gap in the very first meeting.

#2.) Why Your Prospects Think Differently Than You
You may have grown up in a digital world, but many of your prospects and clients did not. We cover what this means and what do about it.

#3.) Rough Draft vs Finished Plan
We cover how to position the work you do in a way that empowers your clients to make a decision and move forward.

Triad Sales Lab
Still the only one closing deals in your firm? We’ll help you build a sales system that doesn’t rely on you. Apply here: https://bradleyjohnson.com/160-triad-sales-lab/

SHOW NOTES
https://bradleyjohnson.com/171

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DISCLOSURE
DBDL podcast episode conversations are intended to provide financial advisors with ideas, strategies, concepts and tools that could be incorporated into their business and their life. No statements made in the episode are offered as, and shall not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Financial professionals are responsible for ensuring implementation of anything discussed related to business is done so in accordance with any and all regulatory, compliance responsibilities and obligations.
The Triad member statements reflect their own experience which may not be representative of all Triad Member experiences, and their appearances were not paid for.
Triad Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Please visit Triadwealthpartners.com for more information. Triad Wealth Partners, LLC and Triad Partners, LLC are affiliated companies.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I sat down with Stu McLaren to unpack something I think a lot of financial advisors are missing right now…
Your value isn’t just in the financial plan. It’s in the relationships, community, and sense of belonging you create around your clients.
Stu built one of the earliest online membership businesses, sold it successfully, and has spent years helping entrepreneurs build thriving communities that people never want to leave. In this conversation, we talk about what advisors can learn from that world—and why retention has less to do with performance reviews and more to do with human connection.
We also go deeper into the emotional side of money, why so many successful people keep moving the goalposts, and how advisors can stop overwhelming clients with information and start creating real momentum instead.
And beyond business, Stu shares one of the most powerful mindset shifts around money and impact I’ve heard in a long time. From building schools in Kenya to creating unforgettable experiences for others, this conversation is a reminder that business can become a vehicle for something much bigger than yourself.

3 of the biggest insights from Stu McLaren…

#1.) Community Is the Moat That Protects Your Business
Stu explains why relationships and belonging are becoming more valuable than information—especially in a world where AI is making knowledge easier to access. Advisors who intentionally create connection between clients build deeper loyalty, stronger retention, and a business competitors can’t easily replicate.

#2.) Clients Don’t Need More Information, They Need Simplicity
A lot of advisors accidentally overwhelm clients by trying to explain everything at once. Stu shares how creating a simple “success path” helps clients focus on the next right step instead of getting buried in spreadsheets, projections, and complexity.

#3.) Money Becomes More Meaningful When It Fuels Impact
Stu opens up about the mindset shift that changed his relationship with money forever. Instead of feeling guilty about success, he realized that making more money gave him the ability to create more impact—for charities, communities, friends, and families around the world.

Free Gift:
Get access to Stu's book, Predictable Profits.

SHOW NOTES
https://bradleyjohnson.com/170

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DISCLOSURE
DBDL podcast episode conversations are intended to provide financial advisors with ideas, strategies, concepts and tools that could be incorporated into their business and their life. No statements made in the episode are offered as, and shall not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Financial professionals are responsible for ensuring implementation of anything discussed related to business is done so in accordance with any and all regulatory, compliance responsibilities and obligations.
The Triad member statements reflect their own experience which may not be representative of all Triad Member experiences, and their appearances were not paid for.
Triad Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Please visit Triadwealthpartners.com for more information. Triad Wealth Partners, LLC and Triad Partners, LLC are affiliated companies.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if I told you there’s a simple concept that could unlock exponential growth in your business, without adding more hours to your workweek?
I’ve used this framework hundreds of times in coaching conversations, and it’s created more breakthroughs than anything else I’ve ever shared with advisors.
It all comes down to the value of an hour of your time.
In this solo episode, I walk you through an eye-opening exercise to help you calculate what your time is really worth, and more importantly, what’s stealing it. You’ll discover how to delegate low-value tasks, free up your calendar for high-impact work, and scale your firm without sacrificing your personal freedom.

3 of the biggest insights from Brad Johnson…

#1.) The Hidden Number That Controls Your Growth
I break down a simple formula that calculates what an hour of your time is worth as a business owner, and why this number matters far more than most advisors realize.

#2.) Get Non-Revenue Driving Work Off Your Plate
Paperwork, service work, HR issues, and admin responsibilities are all important aspects of running a business, but they often pull founders away from the activities that deliver the best ROI. The more time you spend in low-leverage work, the harder it becomes to scale.

#3.) The “Sue” Exercise That Changes How You Think About Delegation
I share a powerful coaching framework that helps advisors realize they’ve already hired the most expensive employee in the business: themselves.

SHOW NOTES
https://bradleyjohnson.com/169

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DISCLOSURE
DBDL podcast episode conversations are intended to provide financial advisors with ideas, strategies, concepts and tools that could be incorporated into their business and their life. No statements made in the episode are offered as, and shall not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Financial professionals are responsible for ensuring implementation of anything discussed related to business is done so in accordance with any and all regulatory, compliance responsibilities and obligations.
The Triad member statements reflect their own experience which may not be representative of all Triad Member experiences, and their appearances were not paid for.
Triad Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Please visit Triadwealthpartners.com for more information. Triad Wealth Partners, LLC and Triad Partners, LLC are affiliated companies.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.