The Advice-Only Podcast

Hosted by Sarah Sprague Gerber and the Advice-Only Network, this show takes you behind the scenes with Advice-Only financial advisors who are transforming how people think about money and financial planning. Each episode features candid interviews with Advice-Only Network advisors who share their unique approaches to building client-centered practices, navigating industry challenges, and delivering unbiased financial guidance. You'll hear authentic stories about their entrepreneurial journeys, innovative business models, and the lessons they've learned while putting their clients' interests first. Whether you're a financial advisor looking to build or evolve your practice, or someone seeking genuine insights into personal finance from professionals who aren't trying to sell you products, this podcast is for you. New episodes are recorded often so subscribe now and join the conversation that's changing financial advice, one episode at a time.

The Advice-Only Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 22 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Advice-Only Podcast, a business show with 22 episodes published.

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  Episode #21

  Episode 21 - Simplifying Investing and Financial Empowerment with Rob Berger

  Aug 15, 202643 min

  Today we welcome Rob Berger , a former securities lawyer, founding editor of Forbes Money Advisor, author of " Retire before Mom and Dad ," and host of the Financial Freedom Show . Rob has spent decades simplifying the often-complicated world of investing and retirement planning for consumers. During his career, Rob discovered the power of low-cost index investing and how fees erode wealth over time—whether from advisors' AUM charges or mutual fund expense ratios. That realization changed everything. Now, through YouTube videos, his podcast, and direct engagement with readers, he helps people overcome the intimidation that keeps them stuck with expensive advisors or paralyzed by inaction. Key Topics Covered: The Fee Revelation - How understanding that fees come out of the same pot of money you're trying to grow fundamentally changed Rob's investing approach and sparked his mission to educate others. The Lighthouse Concept - Your portfolio should be like a lighthouse that doesn't move no matter what the weather is. It stays steady through good times and bad. Media Headlines Are Reactionary - Why you shouldn't try to predict interest rates, inflation, or market direction based on financial news; learning to ignore noise and stay the course Financial Independence Happens Before Retirement - The tangible benefits of pursuing financial freedom in your 30s and 40s through job flexibility and life choices, not just at age 65 This episode offers essential perspective for anyone intimidated by their finances or overwhelmed by contradictory advice—reminding us that curiosity, patience, and simple principles compound into real wealth over time.

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  Episode #19

  Episode 19 - Advice-Only Conference Recap

  Jul 15, 202626 min

  In this special meta-episode, Sarah Sprague Gerber and Eric Simonson debrief on the inaugural Advice-Only Conference held in Minneapolis in June, 2026. The conference brought together an incredibly diverse group—from original Advice-Only pioneers to newly minted financial planners just starting their careers, to people considering whether to enter the field. What emerged was a powerful sense of community, genuine connection, and shared mission around transforming how financial planning works. Next year's conference was also announced and planning has already started to make sure this this another amazing event for Advice-Only advisors. 2027 Conference Dates: May 11-12 in Denver, Colorado Registration: www.adviceonlyconference.com

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  Episode #18

  Episode 18 - Death and Money Make People Funny™ with Rose Zealand

  Jul 1, 202645 min

  Today we welcome Rose Zealand, founder of Golden Thread Collaborative , who brings a uniquely integrated approach to one of life's most challenging transitions. With credentials as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Certified Financial Transitionist, and End of Life Doula—a combination she believes she alone currently holds—Rose serves people in their 40s and 50s (and beyond) who have received a terminal or life-threatening diagnosis and want support navigating both the practical and existential dimensions of dying too soon. Rose's path to this work is deeply personal. Her background spans pre-med biology, sustainability consulting, nonprofit work in community food systems, and an unexpected career in financial services. But the catalyzing moment came with her father's death four years ago. While present for his final six weeks, Rose experienced firsthand the gap between optimal planning windows and emotional readiness—and discovered an unexpected kind of magic in being present for death, much like being present for birth. Key Topics Covered: The Gap Between Urgency and Readiness - Why advisors' well-intentioned push to update beneficiaries, fund trusts, and complete documents often meets client resistance rooted in denial and emotional unreadiness The Role of Presence Over Platitudes - What to actually say (and not say) when clients receive a diagnosis—avoiding "I'm sorry," silver-lining statements, and premature problem-solving Death Doula as Planning Partner - How end-of-life doulas complement financial planners by providing deep discovery work, emotional regulation, and space to explore identity, meaning, and unfinished business Hidden Assets and Undisclosed Information - How neutral, non-judgmental presence creates safety for clients to reveal financial details, family dynamics, and conflicts that formal planning conversations might miss This episode offers profound insights for financial planners, financial coaches, and anyone navigating the intersection of money and mortality—one of life's most tender and transformative spaces. "The more that you can just be the calmest, quietest person in the room, that can create kind of a refuge feeling with the individual, which again, can open up more productive conversations and the potential for planning."

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  Episode #17

  Episode 17 - Stock Ownership and Wealth Independence with Dale Hershman

  Jun 15, 202641 min

  Today we welcome Dale Hershman, founder of Florida-based Advice-Only firm Sick Advisory Services . Dale's path to advice-only planning is anything but conventional. While selling medical products by day, Dale built his own healthcare stock portfolio by night, eventually channeling that expertise into a blog (sickeconomics.com) and a series of books under his pen name. To his surprise, readers began purchasing his work and then calling him directly for advice. That unexpected demand led him to earn his Series 65 license—not to gather assets or sell commission products, but to serve the independent-minded entrepreneurs who naturally gravitated toward his philosophy. Key Topics Covered: An Organic Evolution - How Dale moved from pharmaceutical sales to night-time author to licensed advisor, driven by a desire to own rather than just earn, and why he never wanted to build a traditional AUM practice The Independent-Thinker Niche - Why Dale attracts self-made business owners—the pool service operator with 200 employees, the entrepreneur with 10 dry cleaners—who want a "money buddy" rather than someone managing their money Three Flexible Service Models - His hourly option ($300/hour), starter package (four hours plus text follow-up for $918), and yearly subscription (~$2,900) designed to meet clients wherever they are Stock as Ownership - Dale's "deprogramming" approach to investing, reframing stocks not as widgets to be traded but as ownership stakes in companies with management already working on your behalf The Asset-Neutral Advantage - Why being a neutral player with no commissions or kickbacks resonates so strongly, allowing Dale to recommend real estate, annuities, or stocks without bias Dale emphasizes that sound investing principles apply regardless of net worth—he serves clients ranging from $250,000 to over $25 million with similar advice—and pushes back against the myth that wealthy people need exotic, expensive investments. His core message centers on financial literacy, automated saving, and understanding that once you've accumulated assets, those assets work for you. This episode offers a fresh perspective for advisors considering individual stock recommendations and consumers looking to overcome the activation energy of getting started with investing. "If you want to earn, you gotta learn. Hit the books. Knowledge is power."

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  Episode #16

  Episode 16 - Strategic Hiring for Growing Advice-Only Practices with McKenzie Kleinhenz

  May 30, 202636 min

  Today we welcome McKenzie Kleinhenz, a hiring specialist at Simply Paraplanner who brings a unique perspective to the talent challenges facing Advice-Only firms. McKenzie's own career journey as a financial planner gives her deep insight into both sides of the hiring equation. Key Topics Covered: The Remote Revolution - How COVID accelerated demand for flexible, remote positions and why this model particularly benefits advice-only firms that value efficiency and intentional growth First Hire Strategy - Why Advice-Only firms tend to be more thoughtful about capacity and planning-focused roles, and how to identify whether your bottleneck is planning work versus administrative tasks Hiring Intentionally vs. Reactively - The critical difference between hiring when you're overwhelmed ("I need them to start tomorrow") versus planning ahead and finding the right cultural and skill fit Job Description Excellence - Specific tactics for creating compelling job postings that reflect your personality and firm culture while clearly articulating both current responsibilities and long-term growth opportunities The Personality Factor - Strategies for assessing cultural fit in remote hiring, including involving trusted mentors in interviews and asking candidates to describe their professional personality in three words Part-Time to Full-Time Growth - How flexible arrangements can start small (5-10 hours/week) and scale with both firm growth and individual capacity, creating win-win scenarios This episode provides essential insights for any Advice-Only advisor contemplating their first hire or looking to scale their practice thoughtfully. "There's not one right way to build a financial planning firm or career. The most successful firms are the ones that build something that aligns with how they want to work with the clients they want to serve."

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