Podcasting for Financial Professionals

Podcasting for financial professionals, business growth, content strategy, and consistency don’t require hours of work to create momentum. In this episode, I sit down with TEDx speaker and Happy Healthy Hustle podcast host Dr. Christiane Schroeter to unpack her Petite Practice Framework—a method built on small, strategic actions that create sustainable growth without overwhelm.  “I listen to what people ask me, and I have a binder next to me during client conversations where I write down the frequently asked questions and then make a podcast episode out of it.” - Dr. Christiane Schroeter  If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or unsure how to move your podcast or marketing forward without burning yourself out, this conversation will reframe how you think about consistency, funnels, and authority-building.    Why Small Actions Matter More Than Big Plans  Most high-achieving professionals don’t struggle with ideas—they struggle with execution that fits real life. Christiane shares how just 1–5 minutes of focused action can compound into meaningful business growth, especially for financial professionals balancing clients, compliance, and content creation.  You’ll hear how to:  Build momentum without perfection  Create content that actually connects with listeners  Turn podcast conversations into leads and long-term relationships  This episode gives you permission to start small—and stay strategic.    Podcast Growth & Funnel Strategy in Action  (00:02:16) Academic to Entrepreneur (00:07:21) Petite Practice Explained (00:09:10) Repurposing to Launch (00:13:33) Funnel Integration (00:17:04) Custom Coaching Approach (00:21:45) Turning Listeners into Leads (00:26:13) Ignoring Vanity Metrics (00:37:01) Consistency Without Burnout    Action Steps to Strengthen Client Attraction via Your Content  If you want your podcast (or content idea) to support your business instead of draining it, start here:  Shrink the Commitment: Stop waiting for perfect conditions. Commit to short, repeatable actions that fit into your real schedule.  Build One Clear Funnel: Every episode should guide listeners toward one next step—an email list, resource, or conversation.  Create from Real Questions: Let client questions and conversations dictate your episode topics. Relevance beats creativity.  Measure Impact, Not Downloads: Focus on engagement, replies, and client conversations—not rankings or vanity metrics.  Design for Sustainability: Consistency should feel doable. If it doesn’t, your system—not your discipline—is the problem.  Designing a Podcast That Supports Your Business  This conversation is a reminder that growth doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from doing the right things consistently. Whether you’re launching a podcast, refining your message, or rebuilding momentum, small strategic moves can unlock clarity, confidence, and traction faster than you think.    Follow Dr. Christiane Schroeter:  https://doctorchristiane.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianeschroeter/  https://www.youtube.com/@doctor.christiane      Ready to attract more listeners?  Download my free Attraction Messaging Blueprint—it’ll help you nail intros, outros, and trailers so every episode speaks right to what your audience is searching for (and desperate to hear).  Free Download: https://podcastabundance.com/attraction-messaging-blueprint/    This podcast is edited and managed by the team at PodcastAbundance.com and we’d love to produce your podcast too! To discuss working together, book a Discovery call with me at www.talktoVirginia.com   Watch everything on YouTube @PodcastingForFinancialPros or Listen on any podcast app here: https://pod.link/1478414077    Follow Virginia Elder on social media:  LinkedIn   Instagram   Facebook 

What if real wealth wasn’t just about numbers, but about making choices that align with your values? In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Nicholas Michels, author of Rich by Choice, to unpack how life’s toughest moments shaped his journey from turning down an $8 million bonus to building a purpose-driven financial firm. Whether you’re a financial professional or just looking for ways to create a more meaningful business, this session is packed with insights on trusting your path, redefining success, and leaving a legacy.    Navigating Pivotal Moments: Turn Life Lessons into Your Professional Superpower  Learn how childhood upheaval shaped Dr. Nick’s perspective on money, and why he's focused on the impact money can make - on family, stability, and future choices. From washing golf carts at 16 to learning the power of compounding, he discovered that financial empowerment comes from small, consistent actions, not privilege or hustle. Whether mentoring kids, writing his next book, leading a nonprofit, or guiding clients, Dr. Nicholas is focused on building a lasting legacy where wealth is defined by values, relationships, and meaningful impact.    Beyond Numbers: Building a Values-Driven Financial Firm That Attracts Loyalty  (00:06:11) Golf Course Lessons in the Power of Saving Early and Consistently  (00:11:41) Wealth Transfer and Legacy Planning Specialties  (00:17:24) The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Adapt, Learn, Persevere  (00:20:54) Converting Content from Academia to Actionable Advice  (00:24:49) Spousal Money Disagreements and Seeking Help from Mentors  (00:29:25) Chances of Them Reading Your Book and Instant Authority   (00:32:55) Discovering and Leveraging Your Unique Ability  (00:34:10) The Concept of “Compounding” Impacts Every Area – Finances and Habits    Action Steps for Financial Professionals: Marketing, Legacy, and Making Your Next Bold Move  Find out how to lean into really fuels growth, trust, and fulfillment for financial professionals—not just the numbers, but people, choices, and legacy.   Your Next 7 Bold, Authority-Building Moves:   Find mentors and model what works: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Interview those who’ve succeeded in your field and get expert coaching from day one.  Prioritize character when hiring: Build your team around integrity and passion, rather than just financial expertise; you can always teach the technical parts.  Delegate and focus on your strengths: Make your calendar reflect what you do best and enjoy most—delegate everything else to unlock exponential growth.  Lead with storytelling: Share your real-life financial wins and losses. Use your story (via podcast or book) as your marketing card; transparency builds trust.  Consider writing a book: A book clarifies your core values, attracts ideal clients, and doubles as a legacy tool for future generations.  Teach money skills to younger generations: Pay it forward through teaching, mentoring, or nonprofit work—you’ll enrich your brand and community impact.  Grow through genuine client relationships: Start with outstanding service and connection—your happiest clients will naturally refer others.  Creating a financial business and brand that stands out starts with relationships, purpose, and sharing your story. Take a cue from Dr. Nicholas Michels: begin with mentorship, build a strong values-driven team, tell your unique story, and always look for ways to pay it forward. Each small, intentional action can yield massive results for your firm and the people you serve.    Follow Dr. Nicholas Michels:   www.richbychoicebook.com https://michelsfamilyfinancial.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-e-michels/      Ready to attract more listeners?  Download my free Attraction Messaging Blueprint—it’ll help you nail intros, outros, and trailers so every episode speaks right to what your audience is searching for (and desperate to hear).  Free Download: https://podcastabundance.com/attraction-messaging-blueprint/    Thi

Are ads and sponsors actually helping? Or just distracting listeners from your business?   Your goal in having a podcast is to build trust, elevate YOUR brand, and generate qualified leads for your business. So, why try to monetize with others’ offers for pennies when running mattress ads only distracts your audience from your core message, values, and purpose?  Many business owners think podcast sponsors are the key to making money, but that’s a myth. The real value comes from using your podcast to build authority, nurture trust, and guide your ideal listeners straight into your world.   Forget chasing ads—focus on crafting content that turns listeners into warm leads and loyal clients. Your expertise is the asset, not ad space. If you’re ready to transform your podcast into a lead-generating machine, this episode will help you start thinking like a CEO and make every episode work for your business.  Why Sponsorships Are Overrated for Financial Podcasts and What Actually Generates Client Leads  Setting your podcast up for sustainable monetization isn’t about the sponsor hunt—it’s about smart strategy, clear messaging, and building deeper relationships with the right listeners. Here’s what you should know:  Your Audience Is Too Valuable for Pennies Selling ad space to sponsors means sacrificing the depth of connection you’ve built. Advertisers pay by volume, not by trust, which means niche audiences like yours get undervalued. Sponsorships Distract—Not Convert Ads break up your message and send listeners in too many directions. When your call to action competes with a sponsor’s product, you lose focus. Listen in for a case study where 98% of revenue came from their signature course—not “perfect-fit” sponsors. Your Podcast Is a Relationship Engine You’re not running an entertainment show. You’re building authority, expanding reach, and nurturing leads—all without needing millions of downloads or influencer status. The Smarter Path to Monetize Your Podcast for Financial Professionals   So, What’s the Smarter Monetization Path?  Here are three ways you can actually make money with your podcast:  Referrals: Listeners confidently recommend you because they know your expertise and values from your episodes.  Intentional Email List Growth: Offer helpful downloads (think calculators, checklists, mini-trainings) as lead magnets so you can nurture contacts—no algorithms required.  Selling Financial Services: Your episodes build trust and shorten your sales cycle. By the time listeners get in touch, they’re already primed to work with you.  Sponsorship Isn’t the Golden Ticket—Here’s What Truly Makes Podcasts Profitable  You don’t need to sound salesy to create traction. A simple, clear call to action—like “Grab my free guide” or “Book a call if you want help applying this”—goes a long way when your value is front and center.  Ready to Upgrade Your Podcast Strategy? Stop thinking like a content creator chasing ad dollars. Start treating your show as the business asset it is. Your authority, visibility, and client pipeline will thank you.  Shows & Financial Professionals mentioned in this episode:  Money Skills for Therapists: https://moneynutsandbolts.com/podcast/  Smart College Buyer:  https://www.youtube.com/@smartcollegebuyer  Ready to attract more listeners?  Download my free Attraction Messaging Blueprint—it’ll help you nail intros, outros, and trailers so every episode speaks right to what your audience is searching for (and desperate to hear).  Free Download: https://podcastabundance.com/attraction-messaging-blueprint/  This podcast is edited and managed by the team at PodcastAbundance.com and we’d love to produce your podcast too! To discuss working together, book a Discovery call with me at www.talktoVirginia.com   Watch everything on YouTube @PodcastingForFinancialPros or Listen on any podcast app here: https://pod.link/1478414077  Follow Virginia Elder on social media:  LinkedIn  Instagram   Facebook 

Want to future-proof your business and brand?  Mike Swenson, a crisis management expert unpacks practical ways financial professionals can prepare for the unexpected in this week’s episode. We covered how to build trust, why clear communication is key in a crisis, and how niching down your podcast can attract the right clients. If you're ready to elevate your authority and protect your business, you’ll want to hear this.  Behind the Scenes: Branding, Podcast Production, and Crisis Messaging for Financial Advisors  Ever wondered how you can proactively protect your business reputation AND strengthen client trust? We went deep into practical crisis planning, standing out in a saturated market, and how podcasting can nurture communities and authority.  Takeaways for Financial Professionals & Podcasters:  Build simple, repeatable crisis response frameworks—don’t let your plan gather dust.  Keep your messaging genuine and ready: “The real mistake is responding too slowly, or saying nothing.”  Use industry headlines as an opportunity for transparent conversations with your audience.  Don’t underestimate the power of a niche podcast and authentic, behind-the-scenes content.  Lean on your team’s strengths—especially your next-gen employees—to stay agile as marketing channels evolve.  Growing Your Financial Practice: Podcasting Strategies and Crisis Communication Best Practices  (00:03:33) A Simplicity Strategy to Handle Impending Crisis  (00:09:10) Protecting Trust and Accountability in Business  (00:13:02) Reputation Impact in Competitive Markets  (00:14:30) Opportunistic Marketing Through Competitor Crises  (00:22:40) Podcasting for Niche Audience Growth  (00:28:35) Leveraging LinkedIn for Marketing  (00:34:40) Growing Community Through In-Person Events  (00:37:06) Creating a Concept the Public is Excited to Get Behind  (00:46:34) Why You’ll Attract Unexpected Listeners Outside Your Niche  Crisis Trak for Financial Firms: Essential Planning Advice from PR Veteran Mike Swenson  Crisis, especially in finance, isn’t always caused by you. A partner’s scandal or a client’s negative publicity by association can affect your reputation. Mike Swenson provided some real-world examples, underscoring that the damage often comes not from the event, but from mishandling the response.  "If something happens to a financial advising company or someone in our space, that also happens to us because now customers are reading or hearing about that, seeing it on social media platforms. And so naturally, as a customer, I'm going to go, well, I know that's company A over here and I'm with company B, but it plants a slight seed of doubt. Could that happen to my advisor?" - Mike Swenson  If your communication is slow or tone-deaf, you'll lose trust, which hits your bottom line more than the crisis itself. That's why proactive outreach, especially when competitors stumble, can be a powerful brand-building moment. No one is immune, but everyone can choose how they respond.  Follow Mike Swenson:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeswenson1/  Company: https://crisistrak.com/  Podcast: https://www.kcmarketinglegends.com/  This podcast is edited and managed by the team at PodcastAbundance.com and we’d love to produce your podcast too! To discuss working together, book a Discovery call with me. www.talktovirginia.com   You’ll find equipment & software recommendations and downloadable templates at www.PodcastAbundance.com. The Conference Toolkit will help you use your existing content to stay top of mind, add value, and build long-term relationships post-event. Download it for FREE at https://podcastabundance.com/conference-toolkit/  Watch everything on YouTube @PodcastingForFinancialPros  Follow Virginia Elder on social media:  LinkedIn  Instagram   Facebook  To become a guest or find other episodes of Podcasting for Financial Professionals (formerly known as Reaching Abundance), visit www.podcastingforfinancialprofessionals.com       

What if your podcast wasn’t meant to bring clients into your advisory firm at all?  This episode explores a different, highly intentional approach—using podcasting as a standalone business asset that builds credibility, supports compliance, and creates diversified income outside your firm.  Meet Shari Rash, host of Everyone’s Talkin’ Money, and listen to us unpack a very different podcast strategy. Her podcast is not designed to attract advisory clients. Instead, it operates as an Outside Business Activity (OBA)—a separate brand that generates income through sponsorships, book sales, and speaking engagements.  Shari launched her show during the early days of the pandemic after purchasing a client list and needing a scalable way to stay connected. What started as private client communication evolved into a public platform—one that allowed her to establish credibility as a money expert without crossing compliance lines tied to her advisory firm.  “I’m not trying to give financial advice. I’m trying to cut through the junk and help people understand why they’re stuck.” — Shari Rash  This episode is especially valuable if you’ve ever wondered whether podcasting has to be about lead generation—or if there’s another, equally strategic path available.  Diversifying Income as a Financial Advisor: Creating an OBA, Navigating Compliance, & Attracting Sponsors  (00:05:50) Taking Your Financial Advisory Practice Online  (00:09:38) Your Show’s Natural Evolution from Attractor to Nurturer  (00:11:28) Reevaluating Your Podcast’s Purpose  (00:15:29) Engineering Trust-Building Content  (00:20:41) Finding Forward-Thinking Mentors in Financial Services  (00:25:56) Structuring Content to Guide, Not Advise  (00:30:44) Solo versus Guest Interview Frequency  (00:32:22) The Early Struggles of Recording Solo Episodes  (00:37:10) Maintaining Efficiency with Podcasting through Repurposing Content  A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Podcasting as an Outside Business Activity  A Podcast Can Be a Business Asset—Not Just MarketingShari’s podcast began as a way to communicate with clients but evolved into a separate income stream. If you’re creative and strategic, your show can serve purposes beyond lead generation. Clear Separation Reduces Compliance FrictionBy keeping her podcast and advisory firm completely separate—no cross-selling, no financial product promotion—Shari protects trust and avoids regulatory headaches. Structuring a Podcast as an OBAShari’s approach includes: A separate LLC for the podcast  No advisory services promoted on the show  Content focused on behavior, mindset, and real-life money conversations  Monetization Without Client ConfusionInstead of advisory leads, Shari monetizes through aligned lifestyle sponsors, book sales, and speaking—opening doors many advisors never consider. The Reality of High-Output PodcastingShari produces three episodes per week, largely solo. It’s not for everyone—but her transparency around efficiency, batching, and audience feedback is eye-opening. A Smart Way To Use Podcasting in a Regulated Industry  Podcasting doesn’t have to fit into one box. If you’re intentional about structure, messaging, and compliance, your show can become a creative outlet, a credibility engine, and a legitimate revenue stream—without ever acting as a client funnel.  If you’ve felt boxed in by the “your podcast must generate leads” narrative, this episode will expand what you believe is possible.  Follow Shari Rash:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shari-rash/  Company: https://www.gwawealth.com/  Podcast: https://www.everyonestalkinmoneypodcast.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everyonestalkinmoney/  This podcast is edited and managed by the team at PodcastAbundance.com and we’d love to produce your podcast too! To discuss working together, book a Podcast Clarity Call™ call with me. www.talktovirginia.com   Ready to Restart or Rethink Your Show?  If you want to craft engaging intros, outros