What Works - 2,500+ Years of Experience in Financial Planning

What happens when an independent advisor builds the lifestyle practice he wants, only to realize the business itself has become too isolated? In this episode, Tom Stark of Golden Isles Financial Advisors in Brunswick, Georgia, shares how he went from a blue-collar upbringing in Columbus, Ohio, to discovering investing as a kid, building a financial planning career, going RIA-only, and eventually moving his life and practice to Jekyll Island.Tom reflects on the early lessons that shaped his approach to business, including his time managing Blockbuster Video stores, his lifelong interest in investing, and his early exposure to advisory accounts and holistic planning. He also discusses what changed when he went RIA-only, why he eventually wanted more collaboration and support, and how he now runs a remote, planning-focused practice with a strong technology stack, a defined client service model, and a clearer path toward continuity and succession.

What does it look like to leave a high-growth corporate career and build a financial planning practice designed around clarity, discipline, and relationships? In this episode, Kevin Garrett shares how he moved from telecom and technology leadership into financial planning after realizing he wanted a more entrepreneurial path and a more personal way to make an impact.Kevin reflects on helping grow a fast-moving telecom business, starting over as a midlife career changer, and building a practice that is now fully virtual and national in reach. He also discusses why he chose to stay lean, why he only brings on clients who value financial planning, and how tools like MoneyGuidePro, Wealthbox, Jump, ScheduleOnce, and MyRepChat support a process-driven client experience. From marketing experiments and referral conversations to next-generation clients, outsourced investment management, and behavioral coaching, Kevin offers a practical look at building a focused advisory business without chasing every shiny object.

What does it take to leave the corporate world and build a financial planning firm rooted in relationships, persistence, and long-term client care? In this episode, Wes Littlejohn of Marathon Financial Strategies in Atlanta, Georgia, shares how his background in accounting, tax preparation, audit, and corporate finance eventually led him to the advisory profession.Wes reflects on earning his CPA, working in corporate roles, and realizing that he wanted the smaller, more relationship-driven environment he had seen in his father’s entrepreneurial career. He also shares how his practice evolved from investment-focused work into comprehensive financial planning, why tax planning has become an important part of his value to clients, and how working with his wife, Sally, helped bring more structure, process, and consistency to the business.

What does it look like to build an advisory business with a clear identity, a strong partnership, and a client experience rooted in planning? In this episode, Alyson Burkett of 21 Goats Financial Planning in Roswell, Georgia, shares how she entered the financial services industry after studying economics and finance at Auburn, built her early career at Waddell & Reed, and eventually navigated a major transition to LPL while balancing a growing family and a growing practice.Alyson also shares the story behind the 21 Goats name, why she and her husband Brian decided to work together, and how their complementary strengths shape the business today. She discusses the systems, technology, client process, referral strategy, and planning approach that help the firm stay organized, memorable, and relationship-driven. From spouse partnerships and office ownership to MyRepChat, Redtail workflows, financial planning fees, and intentional growth, this conversation offers a practical look at what it takes to build a modern advisory firm with personality and purpose.

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.