Elite Achievement

Hosted by Kristin Burke

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179

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Jun 2026

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Elite Achievement with Kristin Burke You’re a financial advisor. Your calendar is booked with back-to-back client meetings. You have a vision to grow your firm. You’re not sure if you have the right team in place. You’re holding on to work you know you should be delegating. You want to spend more time doing complex planning and working with your best clients, but you’re still trying to deliver for every client in your book. At the end of the day, you’re still the one driving the revenue. Or… You’re leading a team of financial advisors or a firm. You’re responsible for growth, but don’t produce the results yourself. They come through the people you recruit, develop, and retain. And many of them aren’t traditional employees, which means you’re leading as much through influence as you are through expectations and accountability. Your calendar is full, but your time doesn’t always feel well spent. You start the day with a plan, and it quickly shifts as people come to you with questions, challenges, and decisions that need your input. You’re constantly balancing competing priorities. Attracting and bringing in new talent. Launching and developing new financial advisors. Supporting career advisors as they continue to grow. Having difficult conversations when someone isn’t performing. Protecting the culture and keeping everyone aligned to the vision. At the end of the day, you’re still accountable for the results. Different roles. Same challenges. How do you create clarity around your vision and get others aligned to it? How do you focus on the right priorities when everything feels important? How do you develop people and hold a high standard of performance? How do you lead effectively while still driving results? This is the work of Elite Achievement. A leadership and execution podcast for financial advisors and firm leaders who are building and scaling a firm and being challenged to lead at a higher level as success becomes less about your individual effort and more about how you lead. Kristin Burke brings over 20 years of industry experience and works closely with financial advisors and firm leaders as they build firms, develop people, and navigate the challenges that come with growth. Elite Achievement is about setting a bold vision, executing consistently, and becoming the kind of leader capable of building a legacy.

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June 11, 202638 min

Stop Waiting To Fix Your Team with Claire Myers Vitale

Today we talk through the moment leaders realize something is off on the team and why waiting usually makes the situation worse for everyone. We lay out a practical way to separate performance issues from role design problems so you can hire, coach, or make a change with clarity.Key topics discussed in this episode:• The hidden team cost of delaying tough conversations• Separating performance problems from culture fit issues• Aligning job descriptions with market compensation• Considering fractional help when revenue cannot support senior hires• Keeping the selection process tight and comparing candidates consistentlyFollow Elite Achievement for more conversations on leadership and high-level execution. About ClaireClaire Myers Vitale is the Founder of Claire Myers Consulting, a Sonoma-based talent firm specializing in wealth management and companies that are in hyper-growth mode. Their mission is simple: Connect businesses with top-tier talent through integrity-driven, fair, and innovative recruiting strategies.Claire spent 10 years with Northwestern Mutual in a recruiting and coaching capacity. She rounded out her tenure with the firm sitting on the Executive Team of Northwestern Mutual San Francisco and serving as their Chief Recruiting Officer.She holds an MBA from Alverno College, is a Master Certified Coach, and is certified in Organization Change Management through Prosci. Claire is also recognized in the Kitces Advisor Services Map.Claire is a proud foster parent and lives in Sonoma, CA with her husband Jon, who is a firefighter, their daughter, and three loving dogs. She also owns a Co-working space downtown Sonoma with another business owner - if you are ever in Sonoma, stop by and say hello!Connect with Clairehttps://www.clairemyersconsulting.com/About Kristin BurkeKristin Burke works with financial advisors and leaders in financial services who are building and scaling firms. She helps them lead more effectively, develop their team, and execute consistently on the priorities that drive growth.Work with KristinIf you are building a firm and want a strategic partner to help you think through leadership, team development, and execution, you can learn more about working with Kristin here:WebsiteConnect on LinkedInLinkedIn

June 4, 20264 min

Elite Insights - The Hidden Costs of Delaying Difficult Leadership Decisions

Making a change on your team can feel emotionally brutal, especially when hope, doubt, and logistics collide. Listen to this short episode to explore the hidden costs of hesitation and why choosing a direction helps me lead with more clarity.Key topics discussed in this episode:• The emotional energy drain of waffling back and forth• Why performance often improves when you start questioning fit• How indecision creates irritation, rumination, and stalled focus• How workarounds, overchecking, and reluctance to delegate slow growth• Choosing between two hard options rather than waiting for certaintyFollow Elite Achievement for more conversations on leadership and high-level execution. About Kristin BurkeKristin Burke works with financial advisors and leaders in financial services who are building and scaling firms. She helps them lead more effectively, develop their team, and execute consistently on the priorities that drive growth.Work with KristinIf you are building a firm and want a strategic partner to help you think through leadership, team development, and execution, you can learn more about working with Kristin here:WebsiteConnect on LinkedInLinkedIn

May 28, 202638 min

Resilience For Leaders Under Pressure with John O'Leary

Resilience is not built in a single moment. It is built through the small choices, habits, and perspectives we return to over time.John O’Leary shares lessons on adversity, leadership, and why the fundamentals we practice every day often matter more than the big moments we remember.• Why asking “why not me?” creates a different response to adversity• How the signals we pay attention to shape the way we lead and think• The role of service and small actions in building belief and purpose• Why leadership fundamentals compound over timeAbout John:John O’Leary is a bestselling author, internationally recognized speaker, and host of the Live Inspired Podcast. After surviving a devastating accident at age nine that doctors believed he would not survive, John went on to inspire millions through his message of resilience, hope, and purposeful living. He has shared his story and insights with audiences around the world, helping individuals and organizations navigate adversity, strengthen mindset, and lead with greater intention. His story has been brought to life in the feature film Soul on Fire.Connect with JohnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnoleary.inspires/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-o-leary-08b2805/Website: https://johnolearyinspires.com/About Kristin BurkeKristin Burke works with financial advisors and leaders in financial services who are building and scaling firms. She helps them lead more effectively, develop their team, and execute consistently on the priorities that drive growth.Work with KristinIf you are building a firm and want a strategic partner to help you think through leadership, team development, and execution, you can learn more about working with Kristin here:WebsiteConnect on LinkedInLinkedIn

May 21, 20265 min

Elite Insights - Why Leadership Feels Different Than Production

Have you ever thought about the emotional side of scaling a firm and why leadership feels harder when success depends on other people? Today we explore how resilient leaders handle disappointment, uncertainty, and self-doubt without losing their vision.Key topics discussed in this episode:• The hidden emotional cost of building and scaling a firm• The producer to leader shift and why it can shake confidence• Resilience as the mindset that keeps leaders showing up• Preview of next week’s special guestFollow Elite Achievement for more conversations on leadership and high-level execution. About Kristin BurkeKristin Burke works with financial advisors and leaders in financial services who are building and scaling firms. She helps them lead more effectively, develop their team, and execute consistently on the priorities that drive growth.Work with KristinIf you are building a firm and want a strategic partner to help you think through leadership, team development, and execution, you can learn more about working with Kristin here:WebsiteConnect on LinkedInLinkedIn

May 14, 202640 min

Peter Tiboris on Building a $4 Billion Firm

Peter Tiboris helps us explore the mental shift from being a strong producer to acting like a CEO who builds a scalable advisory firm. Peter shared with us how to dig into hiring ahead of the numbers, staying relentless on prospecting, and using vision and values to grow Park Avenue Capital into a multi-billion-dollar organization.Key topics discussed in this episode:• The difference between a successful advisor and a true entrepreneur• What changes when a practice becomes a firm• Hiring the right person first and solving payroll after• Prospecting as the foundation that supports risk and growth• Growing as a leader by balancing directness with empathyFollow Elite Achievement for more conversations on leadership and high-level execution.About PeterPeter Tiboris began his career with Northwestern Mutual in 2002 and has grown into one of the top advisors and firm leaders in the industry. He is the co-founder of Park Avenue Capital, one of the largest ensembles at Northwestern Mutual, built through both organic growth and strategic succession partnerships.Peter has been recognized as a Barron’s Top 1200 Advisor and Forbes Best in State Advisor, and ranks among the top advisors in Northwestern Mutual history for career insurance production. He is known for his long-term vision, relationship-driven growth strategy, and ability to build through people.In this episode, Peter shares his perspective on scaling a firm, reinvesting into growth, building leadership infrastructure, and the mindset required to pursue a bold vision.Connect with PeterWebsiteInstagramFacebookLinkedInAbout Kristin BurkeKristin Burke works with financial advisors and leaders in financial services who are building and scaling firms. She helps them lead more effectively, develop their team, and execute consistently on the priorities that drive growth.Work with KristinIf you are building a firm and want a strategic partner to help you think through leadership, team development, and execution, you can learn more about working with Kristin here:WebsiteConnect on LinkedInLinkedIn

May 7, 20266 min

Elite Insights – You’re Not Overwhelmed, Your Role Has Changed

Have you ever wondered why building a financial advisory firm can create a new kind of overwhelm as you juggle revenue, hiring, and people leadership at the same time. Today we lay out what the “messy middle” looks like and how to shift from producing results yourself to leading a team that produces results with you. Key topics discussed in this episode:• The messy middle between top producer and CEO• Making team development non-negotiable with consistent one-on-ones• Hiring as the beginning, not the end• Delegation of tasks versus delegation of client relationships Follow Elite Achievement for more conversations on leadership and high-level execution. About Kristin BurkeKristin Burke works with financial advisors and leaders in financial services who are building and scaling firms. She helps them lead more effectively, develop their team, and execute consistently on the priorities that drive growth.Work with KristinIf you are building a firm and want a strategic partner to help you think through leadership, team development, and execution, you can learn more about working with Kristin here:WebsiteConnect on LinkedInLinkedIn

April 2, 202610 min

Elite Insights - A New Direction for Elite Achievement

In today’s episode I’m sharing a direction shift I’ve been thinking about for a long time and finally feel ready to say out loud: I’m focusing my work on financial services leaders who are growing and scaling advisory firms. I explain how my coaching evolved from goal achievement to leadership and execution, why focus strengthens impact, and how you can test a niche without treating it like a final decision.In this episode you will learn:• Why I’m narrowing my focus to financial services and wealth management leaders• How my work shifted from goals to leadership, execution, and firm growth• What I notice in ambitious leaders who need space to slow down and think• Why “partner” matters and how I blend coaching with consulting• Common fears about niching down and how clarity strengthens your message• Practical prompts to identify your niche based on repeat conversations and best work• How the podcast is evolving plus a short pause to update the show behind the scenesIf you want to know when new episodes are released, make sure you're following the show. You can also join my email list here. If today's insight inspired you, I'd love for you to leave a review in the Apple Podcast app, and let me know what stood out.Work With KristinKristin partners with business owners and leaders as a thought partner, asking the questions that create clarity, challenge assumptions, and move clients from emotion back into execution.Learn more about private coaching at kristinburke.com.Connect with KristinLinkedInWebsiteGoal Setting Success Course

March 26, 20269 min

138. The Three Traps That Quietly Stall Business Growth

You can probably name the exact actions that grow your business, so why do they keep slipping to the bottom of the list? Referrals, outreach, follow-up, and protected business development time are rarely mysterious. What’s hard is doing them consistently once they start to feel repetitive, vulnerable, and weirdly high-stakes. I unpack why that happens and how to fix it before it quietly slows your momentum and revenue.We dig into three common reasons high-performing owners drift away from the fundamentals. First, success changes your expectations. After you’ve hit goals and earned recognition, it’s easy to think the basics should feel easier by now, and if they don’t, something must be wrong. Second, when results dip, we often blame the strategy instead of our execution. Switching systems feels proactive, but the real lever is usually sustained consistency. Third, as your role expands into leadership, urgent team and operations demands crowd out the work that actually creates new opportunities.I also share a practical reset: study your real data to identify where your best opportunities truly come from, clarify the few activities that reliably lead to new conversations, and commit long enough for the strategy to play out, often a full quarter. If you want stronger business growth, a healthier pipeline, and a simple plan you’ll actually follow, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a fellow founder, and leave a review so more elite achievers can find the show. In this podcast you will learn about:• The hidden cost of letting fundamentals slide as routines get repetitive• Why success can make normal effort feel like a problem• The interpersonal risk underneath referrals outreach and follow-up• How frustration leads us to question strategy instead of consistency• Why most growth plans fail from stopping too early• How CEO responsibilities and team needs crowd out business development• Using real business data to identify what actually creates opportunities• Committing to a full quarter of consistent execution Highlights:0:00Welcome And The Core Question1:23Why Fundamentals Still Feel Hard4:00Doubting Strategy Instead Of Execution5:40Leadership Demands Crowd Out Growth7:04Audit What Actually Drives Leads8:41Commit Long Enough For Momentum9:01Closing And Next StepsReady to elevate your leadership and accelerate your growth?I provide strategic coaching for high-performing financial advisors, service-based business owners, and leaders who want coaching that goes beyond accountability. I partner with you to execute on your vision and focus on what truly drives results: executive presence, leadership development, scaling, and prioritization.The outcome? You realize your full potential, influence and inspire others, and lead a high-impact business that reflects your next-level goals.To explore if coaching is the right fit, email me at meet@kristinburke.com to schedule a discovery call.Goal Setting SuccessIf you’re ready to set goals you’ll actually achieve, the Goal Setting Success course will help you do it. This self-paced experience walks you through the same framework I’ve used for years with leaders and advisors to create meaningful goals and a plan that drives real results.Inside the course, you’ll learn how to:Clarify your vision for successReflect on what worked and what didn’tBrainstorm strategies with focus and intentionCreate a clear, actionable plan for the year aheadStart the new year with clarity, confidence, and structure.Listeners of the Elite Achievement Podcast can save $50 with code PODCAST50 at checkout.Enroll today at kristinburke.com/goal-setting-success-courseConnect with KristinLinkedInInstagramWebsiteGoal Setting Success CourseBreakout Plan

March 19, 20265 min

Elite Insights - How Founder CEOs Turn Big Ideas Into Clear Priorities

Today we explore the difference between founder CEOs and corporate CEOs, and why a founder’s energy can either inspire a team or overwhelm it. We focus on the leadership discipline of turning creativity into clear priorities so the organization can execute without constant whiplash.In this episode you will learn:• Difference between founder CEO and corporate CEO structures• Founder energy shaping culture and day-to-day direction• Why scattered ideas create confusion as teams scale• Saying yes to opportunities and the hidden cost to focus• Examples of initiative overload after conferences• Sequencing initiatives so creativity supports executionIf this episode was useful, follow Elite Achievement to continue building clarity and execution into how you work.Work With KristinKristin partners with business owners and leaders as a thought partner, asking the questions that create clarity, challenge assumptions, and move clients from emotion back into execution.Learn more about private coaching at kristinburke.com.Connect with KristinLinkedInWebsiteGoal Setting Success Course

March 12, 202635 min

137. Think Like A CEO: From Founder To CEO with Joseph Frost

Ever feel the pull to “think like a CEO” while your founder instincts crave speed, risk, and fresh ideas? We sit down with Joseph Frost - idea guy, fractional futurist, and builder of multiple seven-figure businesses in parallel - to unpack why the traits that start companies rarely match the traits that scale them, and how to bridge that gap without losing your spark.We start with values and purpose - freedom, nonconformity, and a long journey toward create and inspire - then draw a clean line between three leadership phases: the founder who proves the model, the scaler who builds systems and teams, and the CEO who sets simple vision and delivers steady results. Joseph explains why so few people inhabit all three roles well, and how to time your evolution or your handoff. Along the way, we break down the rise of fractional leadership and why startups can now embed true C-suite execution from day one. Fractional CMOs, CFOs, and COOs aren’t consultants; they’re accountable leaders who compress learning curves and make senior talent accessible.From there, we get practical about talent and growth. Joseph shares how he develops two very different groups: veteran CMOs who must learn business development and prospecting; and distributed coordinators across countries who thrive with clear structures, peer feedback, and periodic in-person sessions. We explore the sales mindset every founder needs, the E-Myth path from technician to builder, and how to avoid half-finished projects by channeling creativity into the core flywheel, like using AI agents to amplify strategy instead of spinning up another standalone venture.Joseph closes with the habits that protect focus and resilience: daily journaling, short meditations, and a mantra forged after a life-changing health scare. The takeaway is simple and powerful. Let your creative energy start the fire, then use discipline, delegation, and development to keep it burning brighter.If this conversation helped clarify your next leadership move, follow the podcast, share it with a founder friend, and leave a quick review to tell us where you are on the founder-to-CEO journey.In this podcast you will learn about:• Values of freedom and nonconformity driving entrepreneurship• Purpose distilled to create and inspire• Founder, scaler, CEO as distinct leadership phases• Why many founders shouldn’t become CEOs• Fractional executives as early leadership leverage• Peer groups plus fractionals for balanced growth• Developing veteran CMOs in sales and prospecting• Building remote teams with structure and periodic in-person time• Focusing creative energy on the core with AI as an enabler• Journaling and meditation as daily reset practicesHighlights:0:00Think Like A CEO Series Setup1:02Meet Joe Frost And His Purpose3:55Freedom, Nonconformity, And Entrepreneurship6:48The Seven-Business Vision8:44Founder Versus CEO Mindsets11:13When Do Titles Truly Fit13:58Skills To Grow Into CEO17:04Fractional Leadership Changes The Game20:00Developing Talent In Fractional Teams22:21Remote Development That Actually Works24:07Prospecting And Sales For Builders27:05The Gift And Cost Of Endless Ideas29:14Focus Systems And AI As Enabler31:00Journaling, Cancer, And Meditation34:10Closing Reflections And TakeawaysIf you were truly leading at the level your vision requires, what decision would you make this week?I provide strategic coaching for high-performing financial advisors, service-based business owners, and leaders who want coaching that goes beyond accountability. I partner with you to execute on your vision and focus on what truly drives results: executive presence, leadership development, scaling, and prioritization.The outcome: you realize your full potential, influence and inspire others, and lead a high-impact business that reflects your next-level goals.To explore if coaching is the right fit, email me at meet@kristinburke.com to schedule a discovery call.Connect with KristinLinkedInInstagramWebsiteGoal Setting Success CourseBreakout PlanConnect with JosephWebsiteLinkedIn