James Conole, CFP®, founder & CEO of Root Financial Partners and host of the Root Ready podcast, joins hosts Mike Zarelli, CFP®, EA and Deshawn Peterson, CFP® to unpack the habits and frameworks behind his leap from being fired at 28 to leading a team of nearly 60. We dig into time-blocking, OKRs, and the “hungry, humble, human” hiring filter—plus how content and empathy compound faster than cold calls.

What You’ll Learn

• How to design your week with time blocking that actually holds
• A simple OKR + “Top 3” stack to avoid reactive days
• The 3 H’s hiring lens and how to embody them
• Why platform building (YouTube, podcast, classes) beats random prospecting
• The four domains every advisor must master: technical, investments, financial psychology, self-leadership

Takeaways

• Replace multitasking with dedicated “content, team, and strategy” days.
• Use annual → quarterly → weekly “Top 3” priorities to stay out of the “combat zone.”
• Build a platform (YouTube, podcast, classes) that attracts ideal clients.
• Hire and be hungry, humble, human.
• Master four domains: technical, investments, financial psychology, self-leadership.



Chapters

00:00 Intro & why self-leadership is your ceiling

02:01 YouTube routine: “Content Wednesdays” in ~3–4 hrs/week

05:12 Time blocking: team vs. content vs. strategy days

08:45 In the business vs. on the business; client transition

12:40 OKRs & the Weekly “Top 3”

17:10 Fired at 28 → launching Root in 2017

21:18 Lifestyle practice vs. building a team

25:02 First clients: platform + SmartVestor leads

29:30 If starting in 2025: pick a platform that fits you

33:05 Hiring filter: Hungry, Humble, Human

36:18 AI’s role: augment, don’t replace advisors

40:22 Standing out: the 4 domains of mastery

45:10 Practical goal setting that actually sticks

49:00 Closing & where to find Root Ready