Kick it Open with Shelby Nicholl

What if the key to unlocking your next level of growth isn't you doing more... but finding the right person to support you?

In this episode of Kick It Open, Shelby Nicholl sits down with Jennifer Goldman, founder of My Virtual COO and champion of second-in-command leaders in the advisory space. Jen has spent over two decades helping financial advisory firms streamline operations, empower leadership teams, and scale without burn...

Could your next big business breakthrough come from well-being, not just your strategy? Shelby Nicholl connects with Stevyn Guinnip, founder of Grow Wellthy, for a conversation that challenges the traditional advisor growth playbook. Reporting in from the opposite side of the globe—Shelby in Marrakesh and Stevyn in Madeira—they explore why the health of the advisor and the client might just be the most overlooked lever for sustaina...

What happens when a succession plan falls apart? For Leighann Miko, it became the catalyst for something even bigger. In this episode of Kick It Open, Leighann shares her journey from an advisor left stranded by a failed succession to a trailblazer who not only built her own firm but went on to create Avise Financial Cooperative,  the first RIA co-op platform for other advisors to join as an independent advisor.

We talk about:

• Th...

Julia Carlson is a powerhouse in wealth management—leading a team of 20, serving over 1,600 families and business owners, and authoring the book Money Loves You: Transform Your Relationship with Money and Grow Your Wealth. In this episode, Julia shares her remarkable journey, from hitting a glass ceiling at 23 to launching her own firm, Financial Freedom Wealth Management.

We dive into the mindset shifts required to scale a business...

What happens when your strategy, marketing, and client experience align? In this episode of Kick It Open, host Shelby Nicholl sits down with business development coach Kristin Harad of Full Advisor Coaching to uncover the power of alignment in building a thriving advisory practice.

With experience in financial services, entrepreneurship, and coaching top-tier advisors, Kristin shares strategies for:

• Creating a unified brand messa...

For many advisors, independence starts with an independent broker-dealer (IBD)—but is that really the best way to go independent? Or is there a better way to achieve the freedom, flexibility, and control you actually want?

In this episode of the Kick It Open Podcast, we sit down with Jason Barber, founder of Uptick Partners and Holistic Planning. After building a four-generation business at Edward Jones, Jason pivoted the family ent...

AI isn’t just the future—it’s the now, and in this episode of Kick It Open, we’re diving headfirst into how artificial intelligence is shaking up wealth management. Host Shelby Nicholl sits down with Jeannette Kuda, President and COO of TIFIN AG and TIFIN AMP, to unpack her journey from LPL Financial to leading AI-driven transformation at TIFIN.

Jeannette shares how supervised and generative AI are fueling organic growth, personaliz...

Scaling a wealth management firm is one thing—ensuring it thrives for generations is another. Chris Kerckhoff, President and CEO of Plancorp, knows exactly what it takes. During his tenure and leadership, Plancorp has grown from a small advisory firm to a $7 billion powerhouse while successfully transitioning its ownership from its founding generation to the next while also creating durability in the ownership approach.

In this epis...

What happens when the next generation takes the reins of a financial practice? For Stephanie “Stevie” Green, President of Spencer Financial, the transition wasn’t just about continuing her father’s legacy—it was about expanding and evolving it.

In this episode of Kick It Open, Stevie shares how she and her husband acquired her father’s practice in 2020, growing it from a small, family-run office to a thriving firm with a team of 17....

Big goals require more than good intentions—they need a strategy. In this episode of Kick It Open, host Shelby Nicholl sits down with Kristin Burke, goal achievement coach and host of the Elite Achievement podcast, to break down exactly how to set yourself up for success in 2025.

Kristin shares the two key questions that shape goal setting: “What do you want more of?” and “What do you want less of?” She also dives into her 4 Cs fram...

The future of wealth management depends on the next generation—but are we setting them up for success?

In this episode of Kick It Open, host Shelby Nicholl sits down with Alanah Phillips and Lindsey Lewis, co-founders of the Advisor Launch Lab, to explore what it really takes to attract, train, and retain top next-gen talent.

They break down the flaws in traditional hiring, why diversity in teams matters, and how mentorship, emotiona...

In this episode of the Kick It Open Podcast, hosts Shelby Nicholl and Iyanna Harris engage in an insightful discussion with Becca Hajjar, Managing Principal and Chief Business Development Officer of Commonwealth Financial Network. 

With a wealth of experience and a commitment to driving diversity in wealth management, Becca sheds light on her journey, Commonwealth’s growth, and how advisors can evaluate a firm’s “fit facto...

Kick It Open is all about bold conversations that challenge the status quo in wealth management. In this special episode, host Shelby Nichol is joined by special co-host Iyana Harris for an inspiring discussion with Shannon Foreman, a powerhouse in financial planning and entrepreneurship.

With women projected to control the majority of wealth by 2030, the industry is on the cusp of a major transformation. Together, Shelby, Iyana, an...

At just 21, Lauren Oschman started her career as a financial advisor. Years later, she made an even bolder move—launching her own firm and stepping into the CEO role. But leadership isn’t just about titles. It takes vision, resilience, and the courage to own your success.

In this episode of Kick It Open, host Shelby Nicholl sits down with Lauren, now CEO of Vestia Wealth Advisors, to talk about what it really takes to step up, own y...

If you can’t find the perfect firm, should you build it yourself? That’s exactly what Chuck Failla did. With over 25 years in the industry, Chuck started as a “cold-calling cowboy” in the ’90s and went on to launch Sovereign Financial Group, an SEC-registered RIA built on transparency, independence, and client-first values.

In this episode of Kick It Open, host Shelby Nicholl sits down with Chuck to explore what it really takes to s...

The way financial advisors charge for their services is evolving—but with so many models out there, how do you choose the right one?

In this episode of Kick It Open, host Shelby Nicholl sits down with Julia Lilly, founder of Ryerson Financial, to cut through the confusion. Julia shares her journey from the broker-dealer world to launching her fee-for-service financial planning firm, built on transparency and client empowerment.

We di...

High performers don’t just rely on talent—they train their minds for success. In this episode of Kick It Open, Dr. Ellen Reed, mental toughness expert and co-author of Relentless Solution Focus, shares the science behind rewiring your brain for confidence, resilience, and high achievement.

We dive into:
🧠 Breaking free from problem-centric thinking and replacing stress with solution-driven focus.
💡 Visualization techniques...

Leadership isn’t something you do—it’s who you are.

In this episode of Kick It Open, host Shelby Nicholl sits down with Sheila Bast, a leadership coach with the Cohen Leadership Group, to explore what it truly means to embody leadership in all aspects of life—not just at work.

Sheila shares her personal journey in financial services and her passion for developing real leaders—not just performers. Together, they dive into key leadersh...

Women are already expert negotiators—they just don’t always realize it.

This episode of Kick It Open starts with a simple but powerful text: a reminder that negotiation isn’t just for boardrooms—it’s a skill women use every single day.

Host Shelby Nicholl is joined by Kathryn Valentine, CEO of Worth More Strategies, to break down the science of negotiation and why traditional advice often fails women. Kathryn shares research-backed i...