Financial planning and education (without the jargon) I Creating blueprints for high-earning sales executives and business owners

I left the financial industry because I saw a problem.

People wanted to work with a planner, but they ended up becoming a number on a spreadsheet.

I had to leave to start something new.

And now?

I'm a fee-only planner who helps salespeople & equity compensated employees under 45 give a purpose to their paycheck.

I left the large financial institutions to start my own independent company. I did it so people could pay for real planning and not just an agenda to sell a hidden product. 

As a true fiduciary, Pashman Financial, LLC was built on that promise by focusing on you and you only.

🔵 Why people hire me? 

Well, people have come to me with the following problems:

- They want peace of mind with their money
- Their old advisor barely communicates with them
- They want an answer tailored to them, not from Google
- They felt pressured to buy a product that wasn't a right fit
- They are great at making money but struggle to keep it
- They want a simple plan that's easy to understand
- They want someone to hold them accountable
- They want someone they can trust

🔵 What are my services?

I help identify your goals, craft a financial blueprint that lays out action items to hit them, and monitor your progress. 

💵 Cash Flow Management  
📈 Equity Compensation
🏡 Real Estate Planning
📊 Investment Planning
📍 Retirement Planning
🛡 Insurance Planning
📚 Education Planning
💲 Tax Management
💳 Debt Repayment
📃 Estate Planning

🔵 Who do I serve?

Age: Individuals and families between 30-50 years old
Target: Sales pros, tech employees, other millennial families
Location: Virtually anywhere in the U.S.

But I love working with people that are driven to make a change. So even if you don’t fit these criteria, feel free to reach out. Your personality is everything. 

🔵 Why I'm different?

1) My model is primarily a flat fee service. No time trap. 

2) I do not require you to hand over your investments nor require a minimum to work with. Managing your assets is optional and I'll still assist you if you do it yourself. My focus is ongoing financial planning. 

3) I focus on how to increase your cash flow, not just your assets. I work with you to ensure your systems are set and consistently educate you on how your finances work. I get paid to truly keep you accountable over time.

You can find my pricing in my "featured" section on the website. 

Stop delaying action. Shoot me a message to schedule a complimentary intro.

Max Pashman, CFP®

Renting is not a waste of money 
Renting is not a waste of money
Renting is not a waste of money
Renting is not a waste of money
Renting is not a waste of money

It isn’t always “throwing money away”.

In fact, it’s an option that offers flexibility.

It’s avoiding being locked into a mortgage you’re not financially or emotionally ready for.

People underestimate how costly the wrong home purchase can be.

Better to stretch on rent than get trapped by a mortgage you can’t afford.

Helping Founders and Executives Plan for Early Retirement and Exit

Most have no clue what a write-off does.

Here's a quick breakdown of what it is:

A write-off is merely a deduction.

So use the example:

→ You get a $20,000 expense to write off
 → If your income starts at $200,000?
 → It gets lowered to $180,000
 → So what does that mean?

Here's what it does not mean:

IT DOES NOT MEAN $20,000 LESS TAXES.

A deduction does one thing:
Reduces income taxable.

In this case, a single person in 2025:
(Using only federal taxes in this example)

→ The entire $20,000 is in the 32% bracket
 → The amount taxed? $6,400 federal
 → So with the taxes saved?
 → You netted - $13,600

So yes, you saved more in taxes.

But you still spent money in the end.

It's not a dollar-for-dollar save.

It's a reduction in income taxed.

Big difference!

Note: Post is purely educational and not financial or tax advice*

Max Pashman

pashman-financial-llc

schooloffinances

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Your employer offers you a $200,000 salary. 

But also offers a $200,000 bonus with it.

When you get the bonus, it's taxed just like your salary. 

Except it's withheld completely different from it. 

One question you should always ask:

What will you do with the bonus?

Option 1: Spend it
Option 2: Save it in cash
Option 3: Invest in your company's stock
Option 4: Invest it into your portfolio

No matter what happens, that bonus gets taxed when it vests. 

And if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm not talking about a bonus.

Welcome to planning around Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) 101

90% of parents plan to invest for their kids, but are clueless where. 
 
Here are the full details of common accounts to consider:
 
#1 529 Plan 
 
Usually the first option people think of when planning for their kids. 
 
This is the traditional go-to if you know your kid is going to college. 
 
The reason being is that it provides tax advantages specifically for educational needs. 
 
Pros of 529: 
 
-Earnings are tax-free when used for qualified educational expenses 
-Can front load up to 5x normal contributions 
($19,000 X 5 = $95,000 per contributor) 
-May offer a state deduction depending on the state 
 
Cons of 529: 
 
-If not used for education, earnings are taxed + hit with a 10% tax penalty 
-Limited investments options available 
-Expense ratios could be high 
 
 
#2 UTMA / UGMA 
 
Don't think the funds will be used for college? 
 
One of the most popular alternatives is a UTMA / UGMA. 
 
It can be a good way to provide a nest egg for the future. 
 
Pros of UTMA/UGMA: 
 
-A vehicle that could be used to teach your kids about personal finance 
-Can be used for any purpose and not just their education 
-Exempted from paying a gift tax up to $19,000 / year 
 
Cons of UTMA/UGMA: 
 
-Hurts financial aid as a kids asset and is subject to kiddie taxes 
-Contributions are irrevocable (cannot be taken back) 
-Funds MUST be given to kids when they are 18-21 depending on the state 
 
#3 Custodial Roth IRA 
 
Who doesn’t love a Roth? 
 
Now you can provide one for your child. 
 
This is a unique way to build tax-free money that’s partially accessible penalty-free before retirement. 
 
(Partially is the key word here) 
 
Pros of Custodial Roth IRA: 
 
-Not included in the financial aid calculation 
-Access to contributions are penalty free 
-Earnings are penalty free and/or tax free if requirements are met 
 
Cons of Custodial IRA: 
 
-Restrictions on earnings withdrawals 
-Retirement is a very low priority for an 18 year 
-Full control is given to the child by 18/21 (like a UTMA / UGMA) 
- Child must also earn income to contribute
 
#4 Brokerage (Under Parent's Name)
 
While it doesn’t have many tax benefits, it offers flexibility. 
 
You may not know what to do with your kid's future, so this provides options open to you. 
 
This also gives you control over how to invest and when to gift. 
 
Pros of Brokerage: 
 
-Flexibility around managing and investing 
-No penalties for withdrawals 
-Capital gains tax treatment 
 
Cons of Brokerage: 
 
-No deductions 
-Dividends and trades are taxable in the year received & realized 
-Could be subject to kiddie tax if funds gifted before their adulthood 
 
What works for you will depend on your situation. 

Choose the accounts that fit for your kids! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Like these visuals? You'll love my money visual newsletter.

Be sure to be subscribed to receive the new one this week:

https://lnkd.in/gJC9mTQH

Talks about #money, #wealth, #investing, #personalfinance, and #financialplanning

People spend roughly $200 a plate for a Thanksgiving dinner. If they took that $100 and invested it in the market over 30 years you would have made nah I’m just kidding have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

"Let's circle back after the holidays"

1st Follow Up: I meant after Christmas

Next Follow Up: Sorry I really meant after Valentines Day

Next Follow Up: Yeah I meant my CPA's tax holiday season

Next Follow Up: Oh whoops I'm on Holiday for the entire summer

Next Follow Up: Scary the year went by! Speaking of which, I meant after Halloween

Next Follow Up: Who are you? Oh yeah. Let's circle back after the holidays.

Major changes are coming to your finances in 2026. 

Here's everything you need to know:

Every year, the IRS adjusts contribution limits to keep pace with inflation, but 2026 is shaping up to bring some of the most notable increases in recent memory. If you're planning ahead for retirement, these updates matter.

→ Workplace Retirement Plans (401(k), 403(b), 457)

2025: $23,500
2026: $24,500

Catch-Up (50+): increasing from $7,500 to $8,000 (up to $11,250 depending on income)

→ Traditional & Roth IRA

2025: $7,000
2026: $7,500

Catch-Up (50+): increasing from $1,000 to $1,100

→ SIMPLE IRA

2025: $16,500
2026: $17,000

Catch-Up: increasing from $3,500 to $4,000 (up to $5,250 depending on income)

→ Health Savings Account (HSA)

2025:
• Individual: $4,300
• Family: $8,550

2026:
• Individual: $4,400
• Family: $8,750

Catch-Up (55+): remains $1,000

→ What this means for you

Higher contribution limits create more room to lower taxable income, increase long-term investment potential, and accelerate progress toward retirement. 

Even incremental annual increases compound significantly over time.

If you want 2026 to be a year where you maximize your financial opportunities, start planning now.

If you need help building a contribution strategy that aligns with your goals, reach out and let’s talk.

Your friend sells iPhones for $1,000.

You decide to buy an iPhone from your friend.

Your friend says to you:

"Hey you're my friend so I'll give you a 15% discount and let you buy it for $850."

You buy the iPhone for $850.

Because of the high demand for these iPhones, this iPhone has the potential to increase its value or lower it.

And people right now are willing to buy them for $1,000.

You have two choices:

Option 1) Hold on the iPhone and see it's value go up or down

Option 2) Sell it immediately and pocket that $150 profit

All of which depends on a couple of factors:

- Your financial situation
- Your desired exposure
- Your risk appetite
- Blackout periods

And if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm not talking about iPhones.

Welcome to Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP) 101.

If I were a DIY investor, these are the platforms I'd be using:

- Banking: Chase
- Investing Platform: Fidelity / Vanguard
- HYSA: Betterment / Wealthfront / Marcus
- Bill Management: Rocket Money
- CC Comparison: Points Guy
- Tracking Progress: Monarch
- Estate Planning: Trust&Will.com
- Life Insurance: Ladder Life
- Donations: Daffy.org
- Budgeting: YNAB

None of these companies paid me to write this. 

I genuinely like the areas that help DIY investors here. 

One area I did not include: retirement software. 

I personally believe that without the right expertise, this is the hardest to execute on your own.

Despite all the things you can do on your own, I think getting a second set of eyes for areas like retirement planning, equity compensation, tax planning, and exit planning needs the expertise of an advisor.

Which tools do you use?

Today: Shirt worth $100

Black Friday next week: “50% OFF! Now $100!”

 What a steal.

52% of families are unprepared for an unplanned expense. 
 
Here's how you can better prepare for it:

Create a safety net in your plan.

AKA an emergency fund. 
 
Doing so for three reasons:
 
-> Access to short-term funds 
-> Avoid tapping into long-term funds 
-> To prevent you from taking on more debt 
 
The chart you see is one that I put together. 
 
I love to incorporate multiple variables to identify the right number. 
 
These are just some examples. 
 
And just my personal take on what I've seen. 
 
You may only need 3 months, but you want 12 months for peace of mind. 
 
The point is that while the 3-6 month rule is a good benchmark, it's also flexible. 
 
Choose the amount that fits your profile. 
 
It's an insurance policy for your goals.

I've fallen off the wagon a bit on LinkedIn.

Less time on here. Less engaging.

Ironically, my impressions have never been better.

But the truth is that I need time to cool down a bit. 

Some people love to flex how often they show up on here or how much they engage. 

When you are a solo business owner, your time just needs to be recharged. 

It's just my simple way of not making my way to a burnout. 

Regardless, I can't wait to go back on full go in a couple of weeks. 

I've never been more optimistic about what LinkedIn can provide in 2026 and beyond. 

Let's keep it going folks!

Don't go into a food coma with your money. 
 
Here's what most miss about finances: 
 
It's not about the fancy stuff. 
 
Investing is awesome. 
So are the investments. 
And so are the vehicles. 
 
But individually, they mean nothing. 
 
The combination of them does. 
 
Things that should be considered: 
 
- Why you have them? 
- How do they work with one another? 
- What role they play with your goals? 
- Where does you money work?] 
- When do you need it? 
 
By having the right plan, you can put a purpose to your paycheck. 
 
You wouldn't wing a Thanksgiving dinner. 
 
Neither should you with your finances.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You have Chat GPT for find your answers.
You have Perplexity to find your answers.
You have Gemini to find you answers. 

Yet, you haven't made changes.

Or worse, left wondering what you need to change now. 

Things like:

- Set up automated investing systems
- Build a savings plan for your next home
- Make a debt payoff plan you can stick to
- Build a real equity plan (RSUs, ISOs, ESPPs)
- Create a tax plan for bonuses and RSU vests
- Build a simple spending plan that actually works
- Optimize your account order (taxable, 401k, Roth, HSA)
- Review insurance needs without selling you insurance
- Optimize self-employed taxes and retirement plans
- Run long-term projections for major decisions
- Turn vague financial goals into real numbers
- Review your full financial picture for gaps
- Set up a smart charitable giving strategy
- Create an early retirement roadmap

In other, words you haven't taken action... yet.

We're entering an interesting era of paralysis by analysis. 

We're getting more well informed about our finances thanks to AI.

But the lack of action continues to remain with humans. 

Let's make 2026 our goal to it implement together.

It takes a human to know a human after all.

When you need help, DM me.

SpaceX is rumored to IPO at a $1.5 trillion valuation.

While great for employees, it could also be a tax nightmare. 

Take Timmy, for example.

He got 10,000 ISOs back when the company was tiny.

Strike price? 10 cents a share.

Meaning he could buy everything for just $1,000
(10,000 × $0.10)

Fast forward.

SpaceX becomes one of the most valuable private companies in the world.
The latest 409A valuation hits $200/share.

So on paper?

Timmy’s options are worth $2 million.
($200 × 10,000)

He hasn’t exercised yet.

Then, like many employees do, he accepts another job.

And suddenly, the countdown starts.

Most companies give you 90 days after leaving to exercise ISOs before they turn into NSOs.

So Timmy rushes.

He exercises everything in December 2025.

Pays the $1,000 strike price.
No regular tax due at exercise.
He now owns the shares.

Feels amazing.

Until tax season.

Timmy discovers he owes over $500,000 in AMT.

Because AMT treats the bargain he got:

($200 FMV – $0.10 strike) × 10,000 = $1.999 million as income for AMT purposes.

Here’s where SpaceX employees could run into the same problem:

Even if SpaceX IPOs in 2026?

You still can’t sell right away.

Because:

- Newly public companies have insider lockup/blackout periods
- Employees often can’t sell for 6 months or more after IPO
- Pre-IPO shares may have transfer restrictions
- Early investors usually get liquidity before employees

So imagine Timmy:

- He exercised in December to beat termination deadlines.
- He triggered a huge AMT bill on paper gains.
- The IPO happens in 2026, great!
- But he’s still locked up and cannot sell.

Meaning:

The AMT bill is due in April 2026

The shares still aren’t liquid.

He might not be able to sell until late 2026 or even 2027.

This turns from a dream to a nightmare.

This exact sequence has happened before at other rocket-ship startups.

Let’s pause:

Timmy is not a real person.
(This is a hypothetical scenario after all)

But problems like this?
Not made up either.

And it’s preventable.

Here’s what Timmy could have done:

- Run an AMT forecast before exercising
- Exercise earlier when the valuation was far lower
- Exercise gradually instead of all at once
- Plan for liquidity timing around IPO + blackout periods
- Keep cash on hand for any AMT exposure
- Or choose not to exercise at all

And one more nuance:

Even if you owe AMT, you may recover some through the AMT credit, but only if the stock eventually sells for a gain.

If the price drops before he can sell?

The AMT is gone forever.

That’s why ISO planning matters.

Equity can be life-changing.

Or financially devastating.

The difference isn’t the IPO.

It’s the strategy leading up to it.

So if you’re at SpaceX, or any pre-IPO company, run the numbers before exercising.

Don’t end up like Timmy.

Dear LinkedIn,

Show everyone's impression count. 

Sincerely, 
Literally Everyone

64% of adults fear outliving their money more than death.

But most haven't heard the 4% Rule. Here's how it works:

It was a rule created to help retirees determine the amount they can take out.

It was intended to give people a guideline on what to aim for. 

The rule is pretty straightforward. 

In the first year, take out 4% of the portfolio. 

Then adjust that dollar amount for inflation annually after. 

It was originally tested with a couple of parameters:

- For a 65 year old (25-30 year retirement)
- Allocation with 50% stocks / 50% bonds
- Tested in a worst-case scenario

Using historical data, the rule was determined to give retirees a safe number to stick with. 

Is it completely flawless?

Not entirely. 

Many things can have an impact like:

- Inflation
- Economy moving forward
- Your unexpected variables to your situation

This is why the 4% rule is more of a reference than a final say. 

But it is a great guideline for a quick calculation to see your number. 

In reality, you will need a financial planner to help you out here. 

You need to evaluate variables such as:

- The timing of your retirement
- How long your retirement will be
- How your portfolio will be allocated 
- What other sources of income do you have
- What is the economy in your first year 
- What other goals will impact it
- And much, much more

When you need a quick number, you can use this freely.

But when you need the answer to work for you?

Seek a consultation from a financial planner. 

We're here to help when you're ready!


And if you want to see more helpful visuals like this, check out the newsletter with more details behind how they can help you.

Check it out here:

https://lnkd.in/gJC9mTQH

If you sell your RSUs, this one mistake can cost you thousands.

Before you sell, always check your cost basis. For example:

You receive company stock at vest
→ Share price at vest: $40

Later, you sell
→ Share price at sale: $100

What should happen:

Cost basis = $40
Sale price = $100
Taxable gain = $60

But what I’ve seen happen way too often:

Cost basis shows $0

So the IRS thinks:

Sale price = $100
Taxable gain = $100

That means:

You’re paying taxes on gains you never actually made

Higher capital gains = Higher tax bill!

The good news:

This is usually a reporting issue.

It can often be corrected before (or even after) the sale.

But only if you catch it.

Before selling any RSUs, ESPP, or stock awards:

- Check the cost basis
- Confirm it matches the vest price
- Fix errors before you hit sell

Because paying extra taxes for no reason is a mistake you don’t need to make.

Educational only. Not tax advice.

Derek N.H. Notman, CFP®

Couplr AI

The Find-an-Advisor Platform for Insurance & Wealth Management Companies.  Couplr AI is a cutting-edge Advisor Matching Solution that's Leveraging AI and data science to provide a highly personalized and digitally enhanced experience to help consumers match with the right advisor, for the right reasons, at the right time and place.

The "eHarmony" for Insurance & Wealth Management companies (and their advisors) to acquire more customers (clients) in a modern way that's more efficient and less expensive.  Only available as a white-label, enterprise solution.  Contact me to learn more!

Founder & CEO

REBL Dads

REBL Dads (Responsible, Entrepreneurship, Balanced, Leadership).  A global mastermind helping dads be the best dad and entrepreneur possible.

Founder

Rethink. Financial Advice Podcast

Fellow Fintech CEO Adam Holt and I are hosting Rethink. Financial Advice podcast. With decades of real-world experience as veterans and actively practicing advisors, we are rethinking what it takes to succeed as a financial advisor in the 21st century.

Podcast Host

Kiplinger Advisor Collective

Founding Member

Intrepid Wealth Partners, LLC

Intrepid Wealth Partners is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor that focuses on comprehensive financial and Investment planning.  Derek is a Virtual CFP® that specializes working with Self-Minted Millionaires who are CEO's, Founders, Business Owners and C-Suite Executives.  As a Virtual CFP® practitioner Derek loves to help his clients enjoy life today while still planning for tomorrow.

Certified Financial Planner (CFP)®

Tribe of Luxury

Luxury: "a material object, service, etc., conducive to sumptuous living, usually a delicacy, elegance, or refinement of living rather than a necessity."

Luxury is represented in a variety of physical aspects of our lives but it doesn't start there.  Physical luxury is a byproduct of being in a luxury state of mind.

Envisioning a life of luxury, wealth, travel, happiness, and fulfillment drives us to action.  Action to manifest the physical aspects, pleasures, and benefits of a luxury state of mind.

Enjoying our wealth is a right.  How we choose to enjoy it is personal and unique to us.  The Tribe of Luxury is a place to learn from other self-minted millionaires on how to get the most out of our Luxury.

In other words; how to Live Your Best Life Today & Tomorrow.

Creator

Entrepreneur Media

ENTREPRENEUR LEADERSHIP NETWORK CONTRIBUTOR

Conneqtor

Successful exit December 2023.

Financial advisor practice management course & training empowering financial advisors to achieve excellence in the 21st century by showing you how to:
● Acquire More Ideal Clients
● Lower Your Expenses
● Do It From Anywhere

Conneqtor is how to build an advisory practice in the 21st century.  It is THE cutting-edge, modern solution teaching advisors how to start, run, grow, and market their business in the digital world we live in.

If you are looking for a better way to acquire new clients (lead generation), learn digital marketing, and learn a modern approach to practice management to help you thrive in the a digital world, then this is exactly what you have been looking for.

Eagle Strategies LLC

Financial Adviser offering investment advisory services through Eagle Strategies LLC, A Registered Investment Adviser. I am not licensed in all jurisdictions. My California Insurance license number is 0K35010.I am an Agent licensed to sell insurance through New York Life Insurance Company and may be licensed with various other independent unaffiliated insurance companies. Additionally, I am a Financial Services Professional of and offers securities products & services through NYLIFE Securities LLC, (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency. 999 Fourier Drive, STE 300, Madison, WI 53717.  608-827-2104. Neither Intrepid Wealth Partners, LLC nor New York Life Insurance Company, or its agents, provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, or accounting professionals before making any decisions. Intrepid Wealth Partners, LLC is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Company or its affiliates.

(MDRT), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals, is recognized globally as the standard of
excellence for life insurance sales performance in the insurance and financial services industry.

Eagle Strategies LLC and NYLIFE Securities LLC are New York Life Companies.

CFP® & Financial Adviser

New York Life Insurance Company

Agent

Founder & CEO @ Couplr.ai = Solving the Client Acquisition & Orphan Client problems for Wealth Management, Insurance BDs, Wire Houses, Large RIAs, Orgs and Financial Advisors | REBL Dad | Co-Host Rethink FA Podcast

Dad. World Traveler. Fintech Rebel. Fixing our Relationship with Money using AI (and Flip-flops).

Hey there! I'm Derek, a self-proclaimed REBL Dad on a mission to repair our relationship with money.

Catch me on Substack for behind the scenes insights, data, and ideas: https://dereknotman.substack.com/subscribe

Born in Dublin a global nomad (Irish, South African, German-American, Minnesotan!), I crave adventure, once even being dubbed "The World's Most Interesting Man" (jury's still out on that one).

‍I'm a husband, father, car enthusiast, aspiring surfer, and yes, I even jumped out of a plane for fun! (Not financially related, but hey, it shows I'm not afraid of a challenge!) 🪂

Award-winning financial advisor, fintech founder, and NAIFA Leading New Advisor. Basically, I know my stuff (and I'm not afraid to shake it up).

What I Do:

● Founder & CEO of Couplr AI: Doing for Insurance & Wealth Management what eHarmony did for relationships by using data science to tackle the client acquisition & orphan client problems facing our industry.

️● Co-host of Rethink Financial Advice Podcast: We question everything about financial advice, because sometimes the best way to fix things is to laugh at them first.

Why Connect with Me?

I'm a connector and love meeting new people! Whether you're a fellow rebel, a curious mind, or just want to chat about the future of finance (or flip-flops), hit me up!

P.S. Want to learn more about my AI brainchild? Check out Couplr AI: www.couplr.ai

Couplr is the future of LeadGen, this is what you've been looking for.

The "eHarmony" for financial advisors, helping financial services companies (and their advisors) get more customers (clients) in a modern way that's more efficient and less expensive.  Only available as a white-label, enterprise solution.  Contact me to learn more!

Email Derek Notman at derek@couplr.ai to inquire about Couplr for your enterprise or organization.

My dad showed up for my childhood… but not for my fatherhood.

When I look at this picture of us washing my mom’s old car - two of us climbing all over it, doing everything the “wrong” way - I see more than just a messy Saturday.

Back then, my dad wasn’t living with us, but I still saw him every week.

He was present enough to feel real.

Consistent enough to count on.

A part of my life, even if only in pieces.

But something changed when I became a father myself.

And suddenly, the man who showed up for my childhood… stopped showing up for my adulthood.

Here’s the part that hit me hardest:

I didn’t need him to be perfect - I just needed him to show up.

Kids don’t measure love by grand gestures.

They measure it by presence.

And that’s exactly what I’m building my fatherhood on.

I can’t rewrite my childhood.

But I can rewrite the pattern.

My son will know two things with absolute certainty:
His dad is here.
His dad is staying.

Sometimes the best way to honor the father you had… is to become the father you needed.
#dadlife #fatherhood #growth

Founder & CEO at Couplr AI | Science-based matching for firms with 100+ advisors | REBL Dad | Speaker | Co-Host Rethink FA Podcast

“Behind every great man is a great woman.”

We were reminded of that truth this week with the passing of Joan Branson - a woman whose quiet strength and steady presence supported one of the most impactful entrepreneurial journeys of our time.

I only met Joan briefly through our work with REBL Dads, but even in that short moment, her warmth and grounded energy were unmistakable.

This candid moment of Richard laughing with my wife during our time on Necker now hits differently this week…

It reminds me not only of the joy, partnership, and support that surrounded him - much of it shaped by Joan behind the scenes - but also of the support I’m fortunate to receive at home.

The kind of support that makes it possible to build anything meaningful.

Her passing is a powerful reminder that none of us achieve anything alone.

Behind every legacy is someone who believes, encourages, and quietly holds things together.

My thoughts are with Richard and his family.

Most people think sales is about closing scripts. Mandela’s life makes it obvious: it’s about meeting people in their world.

I recently was standing by a statue of Nelson Mandela — a man who spent 27 years in prison and still walked out choosing connection over resentment.

Here’s something incredible: while locked up on Robben Island, Mandela didn’t just wait to be freed. He learned Afrikaans — the language of many of his guards. He greeted them in their own tongue.

Why? Because he knew: when you speak someone’s language, you speak to their heart.

Sales works the same way. Most reps talk at people.
Mandela talked with them.

He didn’t view the guards as just obstacles. He saw them as part of the story. And by acknowledging their humanity, he built influence.

TAKEAWAY:
Your deal isn’t just a transaction. It’s an invitation into a mutual language.

Learn their words. Reflect their reality. Build the kind of relationship that gets you a seat at the table—before you ever pitch.

Your relationship is your real pipeline.

Skills close deals. But connection builds legacies.

#sales #growth #marketing #connection

Tomorrow we’ll all be talking about gratitude — so here’s mine: getting blocked by a surfboard when I tried to take a picture of my teenage son.

Yesterday at the beach, right after surfing, we asked our teenage son for a quick photo.

In classic teenage fashion, he raised his surfboard like a full-body privacy screen so we couldn’t see a single pixel of his face.

Apparently we’re the paparazzi now.  (Zero autographs were signed.)

But as we head into Thanksgiving, I’m reminding myself that these silly, stubborn, so-them moments are exactly what I’m grateful for, especially as a father.

These tiny snapshots of parenting — the ones that don’t look like a holiday card — are the ones we’ll laugh about for years.

The ones that remind us our kids are growing, changing, experimenting with who they are… and letting us tag along for the ride.

Here’s to the surfboard shields, the eye rolls, and the imperfect moments that somehow become the perfect memories.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the parents out there — enjoy every weird, wonderful second. 🦃🌊📸

Financial advice isn’t a product.
It’s a relationship.
And just like dating, the first impression determines everything.

When we studied adviser–client behavior through the lens of online dating psychology, we uncovered patterns that completely transform how advisers should connect, build trust, and create long-term relationships.

I cover it all — including the 3 types of trust and where most companies and advisors unintentionally lose clients — in this week’s article.

Read it here 👇

Most insurance and wealth management companies, and their advisors, still think their biggest problem is “getting more leads.” But what if the real is

Open article: Why Financial Advice Is Starting to Look a Lot Like Online Dating by Derek N.H. Notman, CFP® • 2 min read

Why Financial Advice Is Starting to Look a Lot Like Online Dating

This arm-wrestling match matters.

Mostly because I won. 💪

But what matters more is what we do every two weeks.

Team Papa Time.

Breakfast together.
No phones.
Big laughs.
Real talks.

We talk about life, dreams, and whatever’s on his mind that week.

Presence isn’t just being around.

It’s showing up on purpose and having fun while you’re there.

Strong at work.

Present at home.

They won’t remember everything we said.

They’ll remember how it felt to be with us.

What are you doing to be present today?

#fatherhood #dadlife #presence

I’ve met with several large wealth management firms recently… and many are still routing new leads manually.

Here’s the typical workflow:
Prospect fills out a form → business manager calls to “qualify” them → confirms they have $X in investable assets → manually picks an advisor.

It’s familiar.
It works.
But it’s also loaded with hidden cost.

The real issue? Manual routing slows down human connection instead of enabling it.

Every extra touchpoint introduces:
👎Delay
👎Drop-off
👎Higher acquisition cost
👎Fewer advisor conversations
👎Increased operational overhead

And none of those things improve trust or deepen relationships - the very things firms are trying to protect by keeping the process manual.

Here’s the misconception holding many firms back:

They think adopting technology means replacing people.
It doesn’t.

The goal isn’t to remove humans.
The goal is to remove the parts of the process that keep humans from connecting sooner.

Forward-thinking firms are using technology to enhance the relationship, not automate it away.

That looks like:
👍Instant lead routing to the best-fit advisor
👍Automated qualification without cold, impersonal hoops
👍Faster first contact, which is still the strongest predictor of conversion
👍Lower CAC through operational efficiency

Technology isn’t the threat.
Inefficiency is.

The firms that win the next decade won’t be the ones with the biggest teams.
They’ll be the ones who give their teams more leverage.

Manual routing is tradition.

Automated routing is leverage.
And leverage compounds.

Most firms just haven’t acted on it yet — which is exactly why the opportunity is so big.

Do you think firms resist automation because of complexity… or because they fear it replaces human connection?

#leadgeneration #technology #wealthmanagement

Every December, I feel two opposite emotions at the same time:

I love the holidays and time with family.

And they give me anxiety as a founder.

While most people wind down, I’m still in motion — long days, tight goals, loose timelines, and a world that suddenly switches into “let’s revisit in January.”

And that gap between my pace and everyone else’s?

That’s where the anxiety lives.

It makes me feel like I’m losing momentum…
or worse, falling behind.

But over the years, I’ve learned something that’s made this month feel less heavy:
December is one of the best months to work on the business instead of in it.  Not because things are calm - but because the chaos quiets down just enough to see clearly.

Here are the 3 things I focus on that make the holidays easier to navigate:
1️⃣ Reduce the number of goals, increase the quality of the work.
 Instead of trying to “catch up,” I pick one or two projects that actually move the needle.
2️⃣ Pre-decide what you’re NOT doing this month.
 Founders don’t get time off, but we also don’t need to carry everything.
 Saying “not this month” is a power move.
3️⃣ Use the slowdown as a strategic advantage.
 
Competitors pause.
Customers pause.
But inspiration, ideas, and getting clarity doesn’t.

December is where I build the systems that make January easier.

So if you’re feeling the holiday joy and the pressure - you’re not alone.

You’re not going backwards.

You’re just in the part of the race where everyone else takes a break.
And if you treat December like the reset button instead of a setback…

January gets a whole lot lighter.

What’s one thing you’re focusing on this month?

#entrepreneurship #founders #startups

Your advisors don’t need more leads.

They need the ones who are actually a fit.

Most firms I talk to don’t have a traffic problem.

They have a matching problem.

The old “find-an-advisor” flow was built for a pre-iPhone world — bios, ZIP-code filters, and a giant directory where prospects cross their fingers and hope they pick someone decent.

But that’s not how people choose financial guidance anymore.

Consumers want alignment.

Advisors want clients who fit their ideal client profile.

Enterprises want higher conversion and increased retention.

None of that happens unless the right client meets the right advisor at the start of the journey.

That’s why compatibility-based matching is becoming a real edge in wealth and insurance.

When firms use behavioral data — values, communication style, life stage, decision patterns — the funnel stops feeling like cold lead-routing… and starts feeling like a warm intro from someone who actually knows you.

And the outcomes stack fast:
🔸 Lead → meeting conversion jumps
🔸 Advisors stay more engaged
🔸 Orphan clients re-engage
🔸 The digital experience finally crawls out of 2014

If you’re running a 100+ advisor org and rethinking the client→advisor journey, this is the shift to watch.

Because the distance between “more leads” and “the right leads” is where the real growth hides.

If you’re working on this inside your firm, happy to swap notes.

#leads #growth #matching

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Derek N.H. Notman, CFP®

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