Managing Your Practice

Catherine Williams sits down with Mark Sparvell, author of Good Brain Bad Brain and head of social learning initiatives at Microsoft. Together, they explore the neuroscience behind leadership, emotional intelligence, and the human capacity to thrive amid stress and change. Catherine and Mark discuss how understanding the brain’s survival wiring—and learning how to reframe stress—can unlock motivation, improve firm culture, and foster better decision-making as firms face time and capacity constraints.

Dennis Moseley-Williams, founder of DMW Strategic Consulting, brings a fresh lens to the financial services industry through the concept of the “experience economy.” Dennis shares how financial advisors can grow their business by shifting from delivering services to staging experiences. Learn how the experience economy can help you deepen client relationships, drive referrals, and create a brand that stands out.

Casey Jacox, sales leader and author of Win the Relationship, Not the Deal, turned his experience in sales and leadership into a career of coaching and mentoring professionals on building authentic relationships. He shares his expertise in building confidence, communication, and business development, offering strategies for advisors to strengthen client connections, differentiate their services, and develop the next generation of industry leaders.

Scott Highmark, President of Mosaic Wealth, shares how his firm’s mission, vision, and values have become the foundation for driving growth, shaping culture, and delivering a transformational client experience. From fostering a team-first environment to aligning financial strategies with clients’ personal values, Scott breaks down how Mosaic integrates purpose and accountability into every decision. Catherine Williams, Head of Practice Management at Dimensional Fund Advisors, and Scott explore leadership, coaching, and building a purpose-driven business that not only grows but creates lasting significance for clients and team members alike.

How can financial advisory firms successfully transition to the next generation of leadership? In this episode, host Catherine Williams talks with Jessi Howe of Silver Oak Advisory Group and Yusuf Abugideiri of Yeske Buie about their journeys to firm leadership. They share key lessons on succession planning, developing future leaders, and balancing ownership with firm growth. Whether you’re a founder preparing to step back or an advisor looking to step up, this discussion offers valuable insights to help you navigate the path forward. Tune in for expert advice on securing your firm’s future!

In this episode of the Managing your Practice podcast, Catherine Williams of Dimensional Fund Advisors is joined by Brady Fineske, president of TFO Wealth Partners, and Richard Stott, CEO and CIO of Connectum Capital Management. They explore the critical connection between health and wealth, sharing personal stories and strategies for helping clients align their finances with their life and health goals. Covering topics from fostering trust to using innovative tools like fulfillment indices, this conversation offers actionable insights for advisors seeking to make a lasting impact. Learn how holistic financial advice can truly transform lives.

Join Dimensional’s Practice Management team as they recap the top trends that shaped advisory firms in 2024 and share insights to help you succeed in the year ahead. From strategic planning and business scaling to managing talent and enhancing the client experience, this year-end podcast highlights key takeaways, actionable strategies, and emerging opportunities. Hear expert perspectives on what worked, what didn’t, and how to position your firm for growth and success in 2025. Don’t miss this comprehensive look back—and forward—at the evolving world of practice management.

In this episode, Gordon Bernhardt and Scott Oeth discuss how storytelling and incorporating their own personal “why” into various interactions can support deeper client relationships and drive growth in their advisory firms. Bernhardt, a wealth manager and principal with Modera Wealth Management, and Oeth, a wealth manager and principal for Cahill Financial Advisors, dive into the connection between personal passion and professional success—hear how Bernhardt’s Camino de Santiago journey plays a role in client conversations and the ways that Oeth’s wilderness survival skills shape his approach to wealth management and leadership.

Helen Stephens, president and CEO of Aspen Wealth Management, has more than three decades of experience serving investors across various client profiles. Her firm has developed several personas for those clients that they serve best, and Stephens attributes success to advisory councils that match those personas. The councils provide a dedicated venue for soliciting feedback, communicating with the most engaged clients, and even creating growth opportunities through referrals. Hear how Helen’s team runs a network of advisory councils that helps to collect, process, and incorporate direct feedback into the strategy of the firm.