In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Jeremy Keil, CFP®, CFA®, and Certified Kingdom Advisor®, founder of Keil Financial Partners, host of the Retirement Revealed Podcast, and creator of the Mr. Retirement YouTube channel.

Jeremy joins Belle to talk about advisor marketing, branding, and niching down in a way that feels authentic rather than sales-driven. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience helping clients transition into retirement, Jeremy explains why successful marketing is not just about generating leads. It starts with understanding exactly who you serve and how you communicate with them.

Jeremy breaks down the framework he uses for his own business:

• Brand: Who you are and who you serve
• Messaging: How you speak to those people
• Marketing: How you help the right people find you

Jeremy also explains how his retirement planning framework became part of his client experience and why advisors should think intentionally about how clients experience their process from the very first interaction.

The conversation also explores Jeremy's work as a Certified Kingdom Advisor and how values, faith, and transparency can influence advisor-client relationships.

Finally, Jeremy shares why he believes advisors should learn motivational interviewing, a communication framework originally developed in behavioral counseling that helps people move toward meaningful change through better conversations and questions.

His message to advisors is simple:

The best marketing often does not feel like marketing at all. It feels like clarity, consistency, and connection.

Website: https://keilfp.com

Podcast: https://keilfp.com/blogpodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrRetirement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrretirement/

👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Vincent Randazzo, CMT, portfolio manager at Tamaris Capital Management, co-portfolio manager of the Defender Risk Adaptive 500 ETF, and founder of ViewRight Advisors.

Vincent has spent more than two decades studying market behavior, technical analysis, and portfolio risk. In this conversation, he joins Belle to talk about a research paper he recently co-authored called Navigating Lost Decades: Protecting Long-Term Compounding in Secular Bear Markets and why advisors need to think beyond short-term volatility and start planning for the market environments that can quietly damage wealth over time.

Drawing on more than 155 years of market history, Vincent explains what "lost decades" really are, why they happen more often than many investors realize, and how extended periods of flat or negative returns can create both financial and behavioral challenges for clients.

Vincent also talks about why valuation alone is rarely enough to guide investment decisions, why context matters more than headlines, and how having a clear process can help advisors stay confident when clients start asking tough questions during volatile markets.

Website: https://viewright.ai

LinkedIn: Vincent Randazzo

👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes David Keller, CMT, President and Chief Strategist at Sierra Alpha Research, a boutique investment research and consulting firm. David is also a CNBC contributor and the host of the Market Misbehavior YouTube channel and podcast, where he helps investors and advisors better understand market behavior through technical analysis and storytelling.

With a unique background blending finance, psychology, and creative storytelling, David shares how he built a business around content creation and why video, podcasts, and social media are becoming essential tools for advisors looking to build trust and connect with clients.

In this conversation, David shares:

• Why advisors should embrace content creation and start before they feel "ready"
• How authentic, human content stands out in a world increasingly filled with AI-generated noise
• The importance of thinking beyond posting content and building a true "channel" or media platform
• Practical tools and strategies for growing a presence, including analytics, coaching, and consistency
• How content helps shift investors from emotional decision-making to evidence-based thinking

David also explains how his own journey - from corporate roles at firms like Fidelity and Bloomberg to launching his own firm - was driven by a desire to communicate more effectively and connect with audiences in a more meaningful way. He emphasizes that advisors who show up consistently, share insights clearly, and present themselves as real people can build stronger relationships and stand out in a crowded marketplace.

• Website: marketmisbehavior.com
• YouTube: MarketMisbehavior
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dckeller/

👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes David Marra, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Markin Asset Management, a firm focused on combining quantitative and fundamental research to help investors navigate changing market conditions and manage downside risk.

With decades of experience in investment research and portfolio construction, David breaks down what downside protection really means and why it has become increasingly important in today's faster-moving, more volatile markets. While many portfolios are built for growth, David explains how advisors can better evaluate risk, manage drawdowns, and build strategies that protect capital without giving up long-term opportunity.

David also discusses how global forces—like geopolitical conflict, supply chain disruptions, and rising interest rates—are contributing to increased market volatility, and why advisors need to adapt their investment approach accordingly. He emphasizes that effective portfolio construction is not just about avoiding losses, but about managing downside risk while still positioning clients for long-term growth.

Website: https://markinfunds.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-marra-8693b44

👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM, founder of Real Estate Whisperer Financial Planning.

Rich specializes in helping clients and advisors better understand how real estate fits into a comprehensive financial plan. With real estate representing a significant portion of household wealth in the U.S., he highlights a critical gap: many financial plans treat real estate as a static asset rather than an active planning opportunity.

In this conversation, Rich breaks down the fundamentals of 1031 exchanges and explains how they can be used to defer taxes when transitioning from one investment property to another.

Key topics-

• What a 1031 exchange is—and how it differs from other "exchange" strategies

• When a 1031 exchange may be appropriate for clients

• The tax implications of selling investment property without a strategy

• Key rules advisors should understand, including timing requirements and property guidelines

• The concept of "boot" and how partial exchanges are taxed

• How clients can transition from active real estate management to more passive investments

• The importance of identifying tax exposure before recommending a strategy

• Why selecting experienced partners (like qualified intermediaries) is critical

Rich also shares how advisors can identify opportunities within the financial planning process—whether clients bring the issue forward themselves or the advisor uncovers it through tax returns, cash flow analysis, or long-term planning projections.

He emphasizes that advisors don't need to become real estate experts but understanding the basics and collaborating with the right specialists can significantly improve client outcomes.

Guest Links
Website: https://www.realestatewhisperer.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarzaga

Recommend a Podcast Guest
👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. This content is not intended as investment, tax, or legal advice. Individual circumstances may vary.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Tyson Ray, host of The Total Succession Show and author of Total Succession.

With decades of experience building and acquiring advisory firms, Tyson shares his personal journey into succession planning—and why what he thought was a solid plan turned out to be incomplete. As consolidation accelerates across the industry and private equity plays a larger role, Tyson explains why advisors must take a more intentional and informed approach to their exit strategy.

In this conversation, Tyson discusses:

• Why succession planning is more than a buy-sell agreement

• The rise of aggregators, integrators, and private equity in the advisory space

• The hidden trade-offs behind high valuations and earn-out structures

• How succession decisions can directly impact client outcomes

• Why advisors must define what they are retiring into, not just exiting from

• The risks of waiting too long—and losing flexibility and options

• Strategies for building internal succession through team incentives and structure

• How multi-generational planning can strengthen client retention

Tyson also introduces his "SPACE" framework for succession planning:

• See your future and define what comes next

• Prepare by identifying what needs to be built or changed

• Act on a clear plan

• Commit to decisions and transitions

• Exit with intention into the next phase of life

He emphasizes that succession is not just a business decision—it's a fiduciary responsibility. With trillions of dollars in motion and a significant percentage of advisors nearing retirement, the choices made today will shape both client outcomes and the future of advisory firms.

Guest Links
Website: https://totalsuccession.com
Firm: https://formwealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tysonray

Recommend a Podcast Guest
👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Erik Brenner, President and CEO of Hilltop Wealth and Tax Solutions.

Erik shares how his firm has adopted a "personal CFO" approach inspired by the traditional family office model historically reserved for ultra-wealthy families and adapted it for middle-income clients who face increasingly complex financial decisions.

Rather than focusing solely on investment management, Erik and his team integrate in-house tax planning, accounting services, and estate coordination into a centralized advisory experience. The goal: simplify the financial lives of clients while proactively mitigating their largest long-term expense; taxes.

Erik also outlines the operational realities of launching a tax division including hiring the right talent, acquiring existing practices, and aligning incentives so the tax business becomes sustainable rather than a loss leader.

As advisory services continue to evolve, Erik challenges planners to consider where the industry will be five years from now and whether asset management alone will be enough to stand out.

Guest Links
Website: https://hilltopwealthtax.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikbrenner

Recommend a Podcast Guest
👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals or services mentioned.