The Model FA

Louis Diamond (CEO of Diamond Consultants) joins David DeCelle to break down what really drives advisor transitions—and how top teams evaluate moves to independence, new platforms, or M&A opportunities. Louis shares the "consultative recruiting" model his firm has built over nearly 30 years, why freedom, flexibility, and cont...

In this inspiring episode, host David DeCelle sits down with ModelFA's newest team member, Joseph Pietrocini, Chief Growth Officer. Joseph shares his entrepreneurial journey, from launching a lawn care business in sixth grade to building a digital marketing agency in college, and how his faith and vision have shaped his career.

Discover how Joseph's passion for innovation and impact led him to ModelFA, where he's helping drive the...

Today we go inside of the mind of Model FA's Chief Marketing Officer, Graham Gardner, as he shares his path from OG Model FA employee to Partner at Model FA. In this episode, Graham discusses his role, the significance of strategic marketing, and how he helps clients build lasting relationships.

Key Takeaways:

• From Gaming to Marketing: Graham's unique transition from running a gaming server to becoming a marketing expert.
• Frac...

In this episode of the Model FA Podcast, host David DeCelle sits down with Michael Barasso, Director of Business Development at United Financial Planning Group and founder of Wealthline.

 Michael shares his journey from software sales to joining and transforming his family's wealth management firm, and how he leveraged technology and process improvements to drive explosive growth. Discover how United FPG doubled their lead flow, ha...

In this inspiring episode of the Model FA Podcast, host David DeCelle sits down with award-winning financial advisor, author, and female advocate Cary Carbonaro. Cary shares her remarkable journey from learning about money at her father's side to becoming a leading voice for women in wealth management. Discover how Cary built her brand, the importance of marketing in financial services, and why women are poised to control the major...

Welcome to Model FA Episode 194! David DeCelle sits down with Chris King, CEO of Eagle Brook Advisors, to dive deep into the evolving world of crypto in financial planning. Chris shares his journey from early Bitcoin research in college to building Eagle Brook, a leading digital asset platform for RIAs. Discover how Eagle Brook empowers advisors with automated tax loss harvesting, direct Bitcoin ownership, and seamless integration ...

In this episode of the Model FA Podcast, host David DeCelle welcomes Andrea Schlapia, a certified EOS Implementer and founder of Ironstone Business Coaching. Andrea shares her extensive experience in the financial industry and her journey from advisor to coach, ultimately embracing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to help advisory firms achieve clarity, accountability, and growth.

Key Topics Covered:

• Andrea's backgr...

In this episode, David sits down with Matt Mossbarger, co-founder of WealthFeed, to discuss innovative strategies for financial advisors to find and engage potential clients.

In This Episode:

0:00 - Introduction to Matt Mossbarger
1:00 - Matt's background in wealth management
2:30 - Origins of Wealth Feed
4:26 - Building the tech team
7:39 -...

David DeCelle interviews Steven Woods, CEO of Sterling Shire, about his journey and the firm's innovative approach to the financial industry. Steven shares his background, including dropping out of high school, joining Wall Street, and founding Sterling Shire. The firm aims to revolutionize the industry by offering advisors a 100% payout model, eliminating back-end revenue streams, and automating compliance processes. Woods highlig...

Stand by Model FAs! Today I am sitting down with Jason L Smith, founder of JL Smith and Prosperity Capital Advisors, to chat about his journey in the financial industry. Jason shares his early aspirations, setbacks, and eventual success in holistic wealth management. He discusses the evolution of his financial planning process, the "bucket plan," and its impact on clients.

Jason also explains the "tax trilogy" of services: tax plan...

In this episode of the Model FA Podcast, David DeCelle sits down with Andree Mohr, President at Integrated Partners, to discuss how advisors can double their business through intentional partnerships with CPAs. With over $21 billion in AUM...

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Tenney, CEO of Grandview and Company, to explore his remarkable journey from Morgan Stanley Asset Management to launching his own RIA and ultimately coaching firm owners. Steve shares lessons from four decades in the industry, including how to standardize processes, delegate wisely, and unlock sustainable growth.

Key Topics Covered:

• ...
  

This week, David is joined by Nick Davies, a coach aiming to serve 100,000 advisors in three years. They discuss the importance of masterminds for advisors, emphasizing the need for a relationship-centric approach. Nick shares his journey from banking to coaching, highlighting the significance of people and relationships. They explore the structure of masterminds, recommending a cadence of bi-weekly hour-long meetings ...

This week David DeCelle, CEO of ModelFA, interviews Sarah Ecklein, owner of Trust and Honor, about her journey from cooking to becoming a professional fiduciary. Sarah discusses her work in end-of-life care, serving as a conservator, trustee, and agent for clients, particularly in complex cases that corporate trustees may avoid. She highlights the importance of proactive estate planning, noting that only one in three A...

What's your firm really worth—and how do you unlock that value?

In this episode, David DeCelle sits down with Scott Leak, CFP® and CEPA, Senior Consultant at FP Transitions, one of the most trusted firms in the advisory M&A and valuation space. With over 17,000 valuations under their belt and 100+ M&A deals last year alone, FP Transitions has a unique vantage point on what makes firms valuable—and what hol...

In this episode, David DeCelle, CEO of ModelFA, sits down with Matthew Awai of Advisor Tech Partners to explore how financial advisors can streamline operations, automate tasks, and reclaim valuable time in their business. Matthew shares his journey from working at a broker-dealer to co-founding Advisor Tech Partners, and dives into real-world automation examples that are saving firms up to 10 hours per week—just in sc...

This week on the Model FA Podcast, David interviews Jacob Miller, co-founder of Opto Investments, about bridging the gap between private markets and the wealth community. Opto focuses on providing better technology and alignment of incentives for RIA firms, offering custom funds and automated subdocs. They work with clients ranging from $500 million to tens of billions, emphasiz...

What's up Model FAs?! This week David interviews Ed Kuresman from Mai Capital Management about his career journey. Ed started in finance during the tech bubble, interned at Madison Financial Advisors, and grew the firm from $20 million to over $1 billion in assets. During this period Ed emphasized the importance of client referrals, a positive culture, and strategic partnerships. In 2024, Madison joined Mai, adding ope...

In this episode of the Model FA Podcast, David DeCelle is joined by Dr. Joshua Wilson, a behavioral finance expert with a PhD and a background in advisory, to discuss his journey and insights within the financial services industry. He emphasizes the importance of understanding subconscious decision-making in client relationships and the need for advisors to integrate behavioral finance principles beyond just education. Dr. Wilson h...