The Advisor's Fuel Podcast with Adam Koos

Adam Koós welcomes Carl Richards, speaker, author, and creator of the Sketch Guy column in The New York Times. Carl shares the story of how a simple whiteboard sketch changed the trajectory of his career, leading to books, speaking events, and his new release, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in Simple Sketches. Together, Adam and Carl explore the intersection of money, meaning, and communication, and why advisors must focus on presence, listening, and guiding clients through uncertainty. From "conversation grenades" to the sketch advisors use most ("Less Wrong Tomorrow"), this conversation is packed with insights for advisors who want to connect deeply with clients and build lasting impact. Episode Timestamps: 02:00 – How a desperate sketch in a client meeting changed everything 06:00 – The email that landed Carl at The New York Times 09:00 – Luck, persistence, and increasing your "luck surface area" 11:00 – Why Your Money is really a "conversation grenade" 13:00 – Carl's favorite sketches on risk and uncertainty 14:00 – Shifting from being "slightly better" with money to seeing it differently 17:00 – "Less Wrong Tomorrow" and how advisors can use it with clients 22:00 – What separates transformative advisors from the rest 24:00 – Presence, listening, and watching for the "crunchy bits" 26:00 – Why clients abandon plans (and what advisors might be missing) 30:00 – AI, self-driving money, and the evolving value of advisors Key Takeaways: 💡 Simple sketches can transform complex financial conversations. 💡 Advisors must shift focus from jargon to meaning and presence. 💡 Clients abandon plans when they don't feel truly heard. 💡 "Less Wrong Tomorrow" is a powerful sketch for guiding clients. 💡 AI may automate money—but human guidance remains irreplaceable. Key Quotes from Carl Richards: 🗣 "What if you're not bad at money—what if you're just asking the wrong questions?" 🗣 "The best advisors are deeply present and attuned to their clients." 🗣 "The most powerful sketch? Less Wrong Tomorrow." 🗣 "Self-driving money is coming—but someone still has to tell it where to go." Connect with Carl Richards: Website: behaviorgap.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/thinkingcarl/ https://x.com/behaviorgap https://www.instagram.com/behaviorgap Book: Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in Simple Sketches (available October 21) The link to pre-order Carl's book on Amazon, or folks can head to their favorite local bookstore The link to place a bulk order of Carl's book. Listeners can save an additional 5% by using the code YourMoney5 at checkout.   Follow Adam Koós and Advisor's Fuel: Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com

Adam Koós sits down with David Keller, CMT - President and Chief Strategist at Sierra Alpha Research, former Director of Research at Fidelity, and host of Market Misbehavior. David's unique background in music and psychology led him into technical analysis, where he's spent decades helping advisors and portfolio managers understand market cycles, manage risk, and avoid costly behavioral biases. From Bloomberg to Fidelity's legendary chart room, to launching his own research firm, David has built a career around making complex market ideas clear and actionable. This conversation is packed with lessons on technical analysis, investor psychology, and the daily routines that separate average advisors from exceptional ones. Episode Timestamps: 01:00 – David's unconventional path from music and psychology into finance 04:00 – Early days at Bloomberg and discovering technical analysis 06:00 – Running Fidelity's technical research department and the chart room legacy 13:00 – Why David launched Sierra Alpha Research and Market Misbehavior 18:00 – Breaking down myths about technical analysis and "predicting the future" 22:00 – How momentum, price, and relative strength guide smarter investing 27:00 – Famous quotes and lessons from Buffett, Templeton, and others 31:00 – Behavioral biases that derail both clients and advisors 38:00 – Why routines matter more than predictions in successful investing 46:00 – David's go-to indicators and risk management tools 52:00 – Practical advice for the next generation of financial advisors Key Takeaways: 💡 Technical analysis isn't about fortune telling; it's about recognizing reality in the markets. 💡 Advisors face the double challenge of managing both client and personal biases. 💡 Routines and consistent processes matter more than "perfect calls." 💡 Behavioral finance and momentum studies validate what technicians have practiced for decades. 💡 Staying objective requires tools, indicators, and humility. 💡 The best investors don't know everything; they ask the best questions. Key Quotes from David Keller: 🗣 "It's okay to be wrong. It's not okay to stay wrong." 🗣 "Price is fact - and it has information just like earnings do." 🗣 "A consistent but imperfect process beats a perfect but inconsistent one." 🗣 "The most successful investors aren't the smartest — they're the most self-aware." 🗣 "Relative strength is about putting your money with the playoff teams." Connect with David Keller and Market Misbehavior: Website: https://www.marketmisbehavior.com YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@DKellerCMT LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dckeller/ Connect with Adam Koós and Adrenaline Advisor: Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com

In this special episode, we flip the mic - Adam Koós joins The Purpose Focused Advisor podcast with Rob Brown to unpack the strategies, mindset shifts, and systems that led to massive growth at Libertas Wealth. Adam shares how he doubled his firm's AUM and revenue in just two years, not by chasing gimmicks, but by committing to systems, vision-driven leadership, and client-first experiences. He dives deep into why he calls Libertas a "marketing firm that happens to do financial planning," and how that shift unlocked new levels of trust, growth, and fulfillment. You'll hear insights on automation, onboarding, daily action over distant goals, and the power of delegation. Adam also opens up about the importance of saving clients from bad advice, choosing integrity over shortcuts, and building a firm that's both scalable and deeply human. If you're a financial professional looking to grow with intention, this is your blueprint. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – The marketing mindset shift that changed everything 01:00 – Why Adam doubled his business and what drove it 03:00 – The COVID pivot: client retention through systems 05:00 – Building a scalable practice: no silver bullets, just structure 07:00 – Finding the right "fuel" to scale as a solo advisor 09:00 – Adam's upbringing and the drive behind his success 11:00 – "We're a marketing firm that does planning" — what that really means 14:00 – Ethics, trust, and doing what's right in financial services 16:00 – Why marketing is a responsibility, not a luxury 18:00 – The real engine behind growth: onboarding and segmentation 20:00 – Scaling with systems, minimums, and fee structures 22:00 – Delegation, automation, and protecting your time 24:00 – Stop chasing the horizon: focus on the daily activities 27:00 – Protecting clients from bad advice and bad actors 31:00 – The power of mentorship and shamelessly asking for help 33:00 – Finding your own fuel and building a firm around happiness and intention   Key Takeaways: Growth requires structure. Success doesn't come from one big idea — it's the result of repeatable systems, intentional strategy, and consistent execution. Marketing is service. If you're doing great work and not reaching the people who need you, you're falling short. Marketing is how you earn the right to help more people. Your onboarding process matters. A strong onboarding experience is foundational to building trust and increasing conversion — don't overlook it. Delegate to scale. You can't grow alone. Automation and systems protect your time so you can focus on what matters most. Vision > Vanity Metrics. Focus less on arbitrary goals and more on the daily activities that drive long-term success.   Key Quotes: "We're not a financial planning firm that does marketing — we're a marketing firm that happens to do financial planning." – Adam Koós (00:11:00) "If you're a great advisor but no one knows about you, what good are you?" – Adam Koós (00:16:00) "Delegation and systems are what give you your time and freedom back — not hustle." – Adam Koós (00:22:00) "I don't believe it's our privilege to learn marketing — it's our responsibility." – Adam Koós (00:16:30) "You have to build the firm that makes you happy. Otherwise, what's the point?" – Adam Koós (00:33:00) Connect with Adam Koós or Learn More About ADRENALINE Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com Connect with Rob Brown & The Purpose-Focused Advisor Podcast: The Purpose-Focused Advisor on Apple Website: truestfancoaching.com Mastermind Info: truestfan.com/pfamastermind YouTube Channel: @truestfancoaching LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/truestfan

If you want to scale your advisory practice, grow with intention, and spend more time in your zone of genius, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Adam Koós shares the same 5-part planning framework he teaches inside the Adrenaline Program. You'll learn how high-performing financial advisors reverse-engineer their ideal life, align their calendar with their values, and focus only on the work that moves the needle. This isn't fluff. It's the operating system behind firms that scale without chaos. Whether you're tired of feeling reactive or ready to build a business that supports your goals (not just your clients'), you'll walk away with a blueprint to help you grow with clarity, structure, and confidence. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: 00:45 – Why most advisors don't make time to plan 02:03 – The 5-part framework: values, vision, mission, goals, and targets 04:30 – Time and values audit 06:30 – $50/hour vs. $800/hour work 08:00 – What's your unique ability — and are you doing enough of it? 09:05 – "Perfect Day" planning exercise 11:30 – Visualizing your future without limits 13:45 – Why SMART goals fall short 15:00 – Backing into income and lifestyle goals 16:30 – Turning your vision into weekly actions 17:50 – What high performers do differently 19:00 – Laminate your goals (yes, really) 20:00 – Final thoughts 🔑 Key Takeaways: Winging it isn't a strategy, even if you're already successful A simple 5-part framework can help you align your business with your life Your calendar reveals your true priorities High-performers plan backwards from vision and income goals Delegating low-value tasks is essential for sustainable growth You don't need a new idea, you need a better system 👤 Connect with Adam LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos/ Learn more about ADRENALINE Advisor Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com Depending on when you're listening to this, our Adrenaline Advisor program is either getting ready to launch or has just opened to the public. It's designed specifically for advisors who want more clients, better systems, and streamlined processes that support real growth. We host ongoing Q+A calls where you can ask questions and see if Adrenaline is the right fit—and we also offer free webinars with CFP®-approved CE credits that give you a preview of the strategies we teach inside the program. Register for the webinar Register for the Q+A call    

In this episode of The Advisors Fuel Podcast, Adam Koós flips the mic and joins George G on The Aligned Money Show for a candid conversation about managing money, market uncertainty, and the hard lessons that shaped his investing philosophy. He shares the story of how two major crashes nearly drove him out of the industry, and how discovering technical analysis and trend following not only saved his practice but reshaped the way he serves clients. Adam pulls back the curtain on his hybrid investment approach, combining strategic models with tactical trend-following, and explains how he helps clients stick to their plans by building portfolios that actually align with their emotional risk tolerance, not just their target return. From election-year volatility to model construction, advisor-client communication, and the real reason most clients abandon their plan, this one's packed with insight for any advisor looking to sharpen their edge. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro + Adam's Surprise Karaoke Background 05:30 – What's Top of Mind: Market Seasonality & the 2024 Election 07:30 – Should Clients Wait to Invest? (Advisor Framing Tips) 10:00 – Why Tactical Trend-Following Entered Adam's Practice 13:00 – Tactical vs. Strategic Models: Construction and Purpose 16:00 – Analogies to Help Clients Understand Complex Strategy 18:00 – Why Clients Abandon Financial Plans 20:00 – The U.S. Debt Problem and Economic Outlook 22:00 – Advisor PSA: Most Clients Don't Have a Plan Until 52 23:00 – Where to Start: Fiduciary Referrals and Building Trust Key Takeaways: 🔹 Tactical Isn't Timing: Trend following doesn't predict the market—it adapts to it.🔹 Realistic Portfolios = Sticking to the Plan: If clients abandon their portfolio, they were probably in the wrong one to begin with.🔹 Election-Year Paralysis Is Real: Advisors must lead with calm, not predictions.🔹 Strategic + Tactical = Flexibility + Discipline: Most clients benefit from a blended approach.🔹 Use Analogies: Tornado sirens, playoffs, road trips—good metaphors lead to better client buy-in.🔹 Technical Analysis Is a Differentiator: It's not mainstream—but it's powerful when used correctly.🔹 Build Planning Conversations Sooner: Don't let prospects wait until their 50s to start.🔹 Risk Framing Beats Return Chasing: Align portfolios with emotional capacity, not projections. Key Quotes from Adam Koós: 🗣 "Every seven tornado sirens, one touches down. That's why tactical models matter."🗣 "Clients don't abandon financial plans—they abandon portfolios that weren't built for them."🗣 "I don't have a crystal ball, and I'm honest about it. That's what builds trust."🗣 "You can't just diversify and hope. We need to engineer portfolios people won't walk away from."🗣 "Trend following changed my practice because it gave me conviction in down markets."   Connect with George and The Aligned Money Show: Show Page: Aligned Money ShowLinkedIn: George G Website: https://moneyalignmentacademy.com/   The ADRENALINE Advisor brand was born from helping a longtime friend reignite his practice. It's since grown into a powerful community for driven advisors looking to sharpen their systems, elevate their client experience, and build businesses with serious momentum. Subscribe to get free training alerts, new podcast episodes, exclusive content, and more delivered straight to your inbox: 👉 https://mailchi.mp/adrenalineadvisor/signupform   Stay Connected with ADRENALINE Advisor: Facebook: https://facebook.com/adrenalineadvisorconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@adrenaline.advisor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrenalineadvisor email: info@adrenalineadvisor.com Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos/

In this episode of the Advisors Fuel Podcast, host Adam Koós interviews Arielle Minicozzi, founder of Sphynx Automation. Arielle shares insights on how financial advisors can work smarter by automating business processes using low or no-code technology tools. Drawing from her extensive background as a financial planner, Arielle emphasizes the importance of proper documentation, understanding workflow, and leveraging automation to minimize errors and free up time for more meaningful client interactions. They discuss common misconceptions about automation, the benefits of AI, and practical examples of automations that can significantly enhance efficiency within advisory firms. Arielle also announces upcoming initiatives, including an Automation Academy geared towards advisors starting their firms. This episode is packed with valuable tips for any advisor looking to integrate technology to enhance their practice.   Ways to connect with Arielle: Facebook: www.Facebook.com/sphynxautomation Twitter Handle: @sphynxautomator Instagram page: www.instagram.com/sphynxautomation LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sphynxautomation Company Website: www.sphynxautomation.com   Be sure to check out this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k7zpjurLR1E      The ADRENALINE advisor brand was born out of helping a longtime friend reignite his practice and has since evolved into a space for driven advisors who want to sharpen their systems, rethink their client experience, and build a business with momentum. Subscribe to get updates, free training alerts, new podcast episodes, and exclusive accounts - delivered straight to your inbox.     Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/adrenalineadvisor/signupform Stay connected with the ADRENALINE brand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adrenaline-advisor-consulting Instagram: www.instagram.com/adrenaline.advisor Website: www.adrenalineadvisor.com Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3Q3xEV9 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hpkEVU      00:00 Introduction to Advisors Fuel Podcast 00:23 Meet the Founder of Sphynx Automation 01:25 The Importance of Delegation and Automation 04:07 Arielle's Journey to Automation 07:45 Getting Started with Automation for Advisors 10:28 Advanced Automation Techniques 17:24 Common Mistakes and Time Investment in Automation 23:30 Future of Automation and AI in Financial Services 28:24 Misconceptions About Automation 31:31 What's Next for Sphynx Automation 34:34 Conclusion and Contact Information

In this episode of The Advisor's Fuel podcast, host Adam Koós sits down with John Kosar, Chief Market Strategist and Founder of Asbury Research, along with Jack Kosar, VP of Investment Strategy. With over 40 years of experience in technical analysis, John shares insights into how Asbury Research helps financial professionals make smarter investment decisions. Jack discusses their firm's quantitative approach to portfolio management and how advisors can incorporate risk management strategies to protect clients from catastrophic market downturns—especially in today's volatile environment. The conversation also explores the core principles of technical analysis, the foundation of Asbury Research, and their proprietary Asbury 6 Barometer Tool, which assesses the market's internal health. Adam, John, and Jack dive into the critical tools and strategies financial advisors need to navigate uncertainty and build more resilient portfolios. If you're looking to refine your investment strategy and enhance risk management for your clients, this is an episode you won't want to miss! https://www.asburyresearch.com/    Check out the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VVKKgDr7XCg    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3Q3xEV9  Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hpkEVU    Need additional resources on how to grow your career in Financial Planning and Wealth Management? Check out https://adrenalineadvisor.com/ 

In this episode, we sit down with Traci DeForge, a podcasting expert with three decades of experience in broadcast media and Fortune 500 consulting. As the founder of Produce Your Podcast, Traci shares her insights on launching and sustaining a successful podcast. We dive into the key steps for getting started, overcoming imposter syndrome, choosing the right gear, and avoiding common mistakes and stereotypes. Whether you're a new podcaster or looking to grow, Traci offers expert advice on managing your own editing, planning a sustainable content calendar, and building listener retention. Plus, we discuss the importance of understanding your metrics to track success and keep your podcast thriving. Tune in for actionable strategies to take your podcast to the next level!   https://produceyourpodcast.com/  Be sure to check out the video on YouTube and subcribe: https://youtu.be/LtdWxuCElss    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3Q3xEV9  Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hpkEVU    Need additional resources on how to grow your career in Financial Planning and Wealth Management? Check out https://adrenalineadvisor.com/ 

The Advisor's Fuel Podcast with Adam Koos, where high performing Financial Planners and Wealth Advisors discover proven processes and actual strategies to elevate their client experience, grow their businesses faster and achieve unprecedented success.   Brought to you Adrenaline Advisor Consulting at https://adrenalineadvisor.com/