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Next Mile

Next Mile

By: Milemarker
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Next Mile is a podcast about bringing together the people and technology shaping the wealth management industry. Brought to you by Milemarker.Copyright © Milemarker Inc. Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales Personal Finance
Episodes
  • The Human Side of Scaling Great Advisory Firms

    The Human Side of Scaling Great Advisory Firms
    Jul 7 2026
    Episode 152: In this special compilation episode, Kyle Van Pelt and Jessica Perez revisit four conversations centered on one of the biggest challenges facing advisory firms today: scaling while maintaining exceptional client service. Anne McPhail shares why intentional leadership and culture create lasting organizations. Michael Vedders explains how thoughtful planning and advisor development lead to stronger firms. Tim Gavin explores the operational mindset required to build sustainable growth. And Sarah Simmer reveals how world-class client experience can be delivered consistently, even as firms expand. Together, these conversations highlight that sustainable growth isn’t driven by technology alone—it’s built on people, process, and purpose. In this episode: (00:00) – Intro (00:51) – Anne McPhail on building a culture that scales with the firm (04:33) – Michael Vedders on developing advisors for long-term growth (07:22) – Tim Gavin on creating operational excellence that supports scale (10:34) – Sarah Simmer on delivering white-glove client experiences at scale Links Anne McPhail on LinkedIn Novare Capital Management Michael Vedders on LinkedIn NorthRock Partners Tim Gavin on LinkedIn MCF Advisors Sarah Simmer on LinkedIn Heritage Wealth Advisors Connect with our hosts Milemarker.co Kyle on LinkedIn Jud on LinkedIn Jessica on LinkedIn Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Produce game-changing content with Turncast Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at Turncast.com.
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    21 mins
  • How Independent Advisors Can Thrive in A World of Mega Firms with Eric Amar

    How Independent Advisors Can Thrive in A World of Mega Firms with Eric Amar
    Jun 30 2026
    Episode 151: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Eric Amar, Founder & CEO of Accelerated Wealth Partners, about the shifting dynamics between massive corporate firms and independent boutique RIAs. He discusses the balance between scale and personalization, the rise of mega RIAs, and the trade-offs advisors face when choosing independence. From his front-row seat at Focus Financial Partners during its explosive growth to launching his own firm, Eric shares his unfiltered perspective on what's really driving industry consolidation, why EQ beats IQ in this business, and where the real opportunity lies for entrepreneurial advisors. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (01:00) - Eric's money moment (04:44) - The EQ vs. IQ debate: Why emotional intelligence matters (06:45) - Why Eric founded Accelerated Wealth Partners (12:25) - The client's dilemma: Choosing between independent RIAs vs. big brands (16:23) - Are RIAs becoming the new wirehouses? (23:09) - The "breakaway of the breakaways" trend: Why advisors are leaving (26:49) - What sets Accelerated Wealth Partners apart from other firms (33:24) - Eric's outlook on the future of the wealth management industry (38:20) - Eric's Milemarker Minute Key Takeaways Don't underestimate the power of EQ in business. Technical expertise might get you in the room, but emotional intelligence is what builds trust, influences decisions, and drives long-term success. People don't choose advisors based on credentials. They choose based on trust. Even with access to top-tier platforms and resources, clients often make decisions based on personal connection and confidence in the advisor. Technology is leveling the playing field. Smaller independents today can access capabilities that once required the resources of a major institution. The infrastructure gap is closing fast, and the firms that move quickly will compete at a level that wasn't possible before. Know what you're building before you build it. Growth requires intentional design. At every stage, leaders must decide what they're building, who they serve, and how they want to operate. Quotes "Advisors have to understand their clients' motivations and really get them to agree and to get on board with the program. You can give the best advice. But if they don't listen to you, it doesn't matter." ~ Eric Amar "RIAs never won on size. They never won by being bigger, by having more resources. They won by saying, 'I'm like you, I'm here, I'm in your community, I'm in your industry, or I know how you think.'" ~ Eric Amar "The beauty of the independent space for smaller firms right now is that the technology is going to get them there much faster. The ability to leverage these tools gives you a lot more resources today as a smaller independent than you ever had before." ~ Eric Amar Links Eric Amar on LinkedIn Accelerated Wealth Partners Focus Financial Partners Morgan Stanley Future Proof Joshua Brown Connect with our hosts Milemarker.co Kyle on LinkedIn Jud on LinkedIn Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Produce game-changing content with Turncast Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at Turncast.com.
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    42 mins
  • From Big Firms to RIA Success: Lessons in Leadership, Operations, & Growth with Kathy Longo

    From Big Firms to RIA Success: Lessons in Leadership, Operations, & Growth with Kathy Longo
    Jun 23 2026
    Episode 150: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Kathy Longo, President & Founder at Flourish Wealth Management. Kathy has a remarkable talent for distilling complex financial concepts into simple, easily digestible concepts. She built Flourish Wealth Management out of a passion for making financial management more enjoyable. Kathy talks with Kyle about how building a strong operational foundation early paves the way for sustainable growth. She shares how her early experiences at large firms shaped her approach to leadership, operations, and long-term growth. From implementing enterprise-level systems as a solo founder to navigating the tension between visionary thinking and operational execution, Kathy offers an inside look at building a firm from the ground up, leadership growth, and team development. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (02:09) - Kathy's money moment and career journey (05:34) - Key operational lessons Kathy learned from big firms (07:36) - Bringing generational planning and philanthropy into client relationships (10:55) - Managing the natural tension between the visionary and integrator seats (15:37) - Flourish's hiring matrix (18:36) - Flourish's growth strategy (20:18) - How Kathy uses technology and AI to improve client experience (22:39) - Kathy's outlook on the future of the financial services industry (26:16) - Kathy's Milemarker Minute Key Takeaways Build the foundation before you need it. Don't wait for revenue or asset milestones to establish mature processes. Implementing robust operating systems, strategic planning, and clear cultural guidelines in the early years lays the foundation for seamless scaling in the future. Decouple the visionary and integrator roles. As a founder, it's easy to get trapped trying to be both the big-idea generator and the daily executor. Founders must learn to balance big ideas with the reality of getting things done, whether that means stepping into operational roles or empowering others to do so. Protect team culture with rigorous hiring frameworks. Emotional interviewing leads to bad hires. Utilizing objective, multi-layered personality and behavioral assessments helps ensure that candidates fit the team's technical and behavioral needs. Let technology automate, let humans connect. AI cannot replace the true value of a leader or advisor. The ultimate goal of integrating advanced tech and AI should be to eliminate administrative friction, allowing professionals to focus 100% of their energy on emotional intelligence and deep human connection. Quotes "Coming from big firms, I knew that the earlier you create systems and processes and think about how to run a business, will give you that foundation to really run it like a well-established firm." ~ Kathy Longo "Let the technology take away all of the parts that don't really need as much thinking, and really get the advisors to be so attuned to the emotional conversation." ~ Kathy Longo "I would love to see us spend all our time developing our planner skills and being present for those clients. Because the piece I don't think will ever get replaced is human interaction with our clients and the value we add—to hold space for them through all of life's ups and downs and transitions." ~ Kathy Longo Links Kathy Longo on LinkedIn Flourish Wealth Management Deloitte Future Proof The Prophet Connect with our hosts Milemarker.co Kyle on LinkedIn Jud on LinkedIn Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Produce game-changing content with Turncast Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at Turncast.com.
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    29 mins
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