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Introducing the Don’t Do That podcast hosted by Kelly Waltrich: Sick of self-proclaimed experts on podcasts telling you what to do? Us too. Don’t Do That, hosted by Kelly Waltrich, is the antidote to canned cliches and generic business advice perpetuated on the popular platform. Every episode features a financial services leader, entrepreneur, or innovator sharing the mistakes he or she made on the road to success (whatever that might be for you), so you can take a shortcut to your goals.
40 Episodes
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In this energizing and forward-looking episode of Don't Do That, Kelly Waltrich sits down with Reed Colley, President of Technology at Orion, for a conversation about where the advisory industry is heading and what it takes to stay ahead of the curve. The heart of the episode, though, focuses on something more fundamental: the advisor-client relationship. Reed argues that AI should not replace the human elements of advice; instead, it should eliminate the noise so advisors can focus on what c...
In this powerful and deeply human episode of Don’t Do That, Kelly Waltrich sits down with history-making Broadway star Sandra Joseph to explore the pressure of performing at the highest level—and the dangerous temptation to hide behind perfection. Sandra holds the record as the longest-running leading lady in The Phantom of the Opera, spending more than a decade in one of the most demanding roles in theater history. But at the pinnacle of her career, on the night Phantom became the longest-ru...
In this thoughtful and energizing episode of Don’t Do That, Kelly Waltrich sits down with Bonnie Treichel, Chief Solutions Officer at Endeavor Retirement and Endeavor Law, to explore why retirement planning—and entrepreneurship—should never follow rigid, one-size-fits-all rules. Bonnie shares her path as a multi-business founder serving financial advisors in the retirement plan and wealth management space, including why she chose the title “Chief Solutions Officer,” how listening to clients l...
In this inspiring and heartfelt episode of Don’t Do That, Kelly Waltrich sits down with Matt Schulte, the longtime head of financial planning at eMoney Advisor, who recently retired after 25 remarkable years. Together, they explore what it takes to build a world-class financial planning platform, the power of advisor-driven innovation, and why staying close to your clients is the ultimate competitive advantage. Kelly and Matt cover: 00:00 Don’t Stop Listening to Your Clients 00:45 Meet Matt S...
In this candid and deeply thoughtful episode of Don’t Do That, Kelly Waltrich sits down with Dani Fava, Chief Strategy Officer at Carson Group, to unpack leadership, AI, career growth, and one of the most common (and dangerous) professional traps: building your identity around being needed. Dani shares how Carson is using AI to radically increase advisor capacity, why data infrastructure is the real foundation of innovation, and what it actually takes to build a scalable, valuable firm. But t...
In this candid, hilarious, and deeply insightful episode of Don’t Do That, Kelly Waltrich turns the microphone on longtime friend and industry creative force Matt Ackermann. Known for asking the questions, Matt opens up about his unconventional career path - from financial journalism and multimedia storytelling to shaping brand, culture, and content inside one of the fastest-growing RIAs in the industry. At its core, this conversation is about ownership: owning your enthusiasm, owning your gr...
In this powerful and wildly insightful episode, Kelly Waltrich sits down with Jack Devine, former CIA spymaster, intelligence expert, and the man who helped shape some of the most pivotal moments in modern geopolitical history. Jack opens up about the guardrails of intelligence work, the chaos of today’s global landscape, how wealth managers can navigate uncertainty, and why, despite everything, he believes we are heading toward a more stable world. He also shares stories from the field, what...
What happens when you inflate your firm's numbers in a press release? Jimmy Moock, Managing Partner at StreetCred, has a simple answer: reporters will check, you'll get caught, and the damage will spread fast. In this episode, Jimmy and host Kelly Waltrich cut through the noise to reveal what actually makes news in financial services and what should stay in the drafts folder. Kelly and Jimmy cover: 00:00 – How Kelly and Jimmy met during their Orion days 01:32 – The client-PR dynam...
What happens when talented advisors spend significant money on marketing but see little to no results? For Lara Galloway, Head of Growth at Elevation Point, the culprit is a common misconception: mistaking activity for strategy. Volume won't fix a lack of vision, and good intentions paired with tactical execution but no underlying plan leave money on the table. In this episode, Lara and host Kelly Waltrich explore how RIAs can build intentional growth strategies that actually move the needle....
What's the career mistake that can derail your confidence, drain your energy, and impact every area of your life? For Graham Thomas, Chief Revenue Officer at The Compound Media, it's falling in love with a job before asking the hard questions. In this episode, host Kelly Waltrich sits down with her friend and industry peer Graham to discuss the evolution of digital media, the power of relationship building, and the lessons learned from career missteps. They explore what makes Compound Media u...
What does it take to build a platform that attracts entrepreneurial advisors while simultaneously making strategic acquisitions that most firms wouldn't even consider? In this episode, host Kelly Waltrich sits down with Nate Lenz, CEO and Co-Founder of Concurrent, to discuss scaling with purpose, avoiding the trap of busyness, and why the best growth strategies often come from solving problems you see right in front of you. Nate shares Concurrent’s unconventional path, from launching a minori...
What’s the one operational mistake that can quietly erode margins and stall growth? For Matt Sonnen, COO of Coldstream Wealth Management and creator of The COO Society, it’s misinterpreting fiduciary duty, a trap that leads RIAs to overserve clients at the expense of profitability. In this episode, host Kelly Waltrich sits down with Matt to unpack lessons from his career as a COO and consultant to advisory firms. They dive into the realities of running a scalable, profitable RIA, from client ...
What does it really take to succeed in financial services—and in life? On this episode of Don’t Do That, Kelly Waltrich welcomes Ryan Marcus, Chief Business & Engagement Officer at Binah Capital Group, a financial services enterprise empowering RIAs and independent wealth managers. Ryan’s journey is anything but linear: from professional baseball, to launching a corporate travel business, to building firms alongside industry leaders like Brian Hamburger. His story proves that grit, persev...
What happens when marketing generates hundreds of leads but conversion rates stay stubbornly low? In this episode, Kelly Waltrich sits down with Michelle Winkles, Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Mission Wealth, to dive into the messy reality of digital marketing for RIAs. From her seat overseeing marketing for a national firm with $14 billion in AUM and 200+ team members, Michelle has learned what it really takes to make digital lead generation work. This isn't your typical "how to get...
Host Kelly Waltrich sits down with her longtime friend and industry icon Patti Brennan, CEO of Key Financial, to talk about leadership, culture, growth, and why clarity about the future of your business is non-negotiable. Patti shares her remarkable journey from ICU nurse to building a nationally recognized wealth management firm with over $2.7B in AUM, and the lessons that shaped her along the way—from serving on the pioneering eMoney Advisor board, to steering her team through the 2008 fina...
What’s the one trait that can make or break your growth journey? For Joe Steuter, Partner at Intention.ly, it’s resourcefulness — and he’s learned it from a lifetime of solving problems, starting with early mornings on a dairy farm in Nebraska. In this episode, host Kelly Waltrich sits down in-person with her friend and business partner to unpack the lessons from 20+ years in financial services, including how to communicate with intention, stand out in a sea of sameness, and hire marketers wh...
Are you chasing marketing metrics but still feeling disconnected from your audience? On this episode of Don't Do That, Kelly Waltrich welcomes Mark Forman, CMO of Optifino, a company rooted in one simple but transformative concept: truly knowing your audience through genuine human connection. Mark shares how his journey from poetry major to marketing leader taught him that the best marketers combine technical expertise with deep empathy for the humans they serve. This conversation explo...
What if the secret to success isn't what you should do, but what you absolutely shouldn't? What do brilliant jerks, head trash, and the "parent thing" have in common? They're all career killers that successful leaders have learned to avoid—the hard way. Kelly Waltrich curates the most eye-opening "Don't Do That" moments from 20+ industry titans who've made every mistake so you don't have to. This isn't your typical highlight reel—it's a rapid-fire collection of expensive lessons learned, toxi...
Are you beating yourself up over work-life balance every single week? On this episode of Don't Do That, Kelly Waltrich sits down with Sara Baker, Head of M&A at Allworth, for a candid conversation about leadership, career pivots, and redefining balance. With a background that spans corporate law, financial services, and M&A, Sara shares her unique perspective on navigating growth, both professional and personal. Kelly and Sara cover: 00:00 Introductions and Sara’s new role at Allworth...
Are you compromising your company's vision to avoid difficult conversations? On this episode of Don't Do That, Kelly Waltrich sits down with Chris Schuba, CEO and Founder of Helios, for an honest discussion about the challenges of maintaining your entrepreneurial vision while building a team. Chris shares his unique approach to "insourcing" investment management for financial advisors, the dramatic origin story behind his company name (involving a near-death experience at sea), and his bigges...
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