MDRT Podcast

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177

Latest episode

Sep 2026

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About the show

In this EXCEL Award-winning series, hear thoughts and suggestions from top MDRT members on issues that financial and insurance professionals encounter in their careers. Contact us at podcast@mdrt.org. MDRT diversity statement: https://www.mdrt.org/diversity-statement The Million Dollar Round Table® (MDRT) does not guarantee the accuracy of tax and legal information and is not liable for errors or omissions. You are urged to check with tax and legal professionals in your state, province or country. The MDRT also suggests you consult local insurance and security regulations and compliance departments, pertaining to the use of any new sales material with clients. Examples are for educational purposes only. Copyright Million Dollar Round Table.

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60 recent

September 1, 202615 min

Tips and challenges while searching for the right personal assistant

How do you define the ideal job description for your admin staff and then find the best person for that role? In this episode, MDRT members share their experience working with personal assistants — and the benefits and lessons that have resulted. You’ll hear from: Lim Yee Von Emma Wang Episode breakdown: 0:27 – Changing the role from part-time to full-time 2:03 – Benefiting by empowering assistants to utilize their video skills 4:33 – Establishing expectations and accountability for admin staff 6:40 – Defining roles for assistants with different personalities and strengths 11:18 – Delivering support and guidance if an assistant makes a mistake

July 31, 202611 min

Should you be doing more or doing less?

While some advisors pursue work-life balance, others may feel that concept is no longer relevant and need a different way to decide if they are doing too much. In this episode, MDRT member Brendan Clune Walsh and stress physiologist Rebecca Heiss discuss the power of rethinking not just your boundaries between the priorities in your life but when to say yes, not right now, or no. Episode breakdown: 0:24 – Understanding JOMO: The joy of missing out 1:00 – Does work-life balance exist? 2:20 – Breaking away from a routine of nonstop work 4:09 – Recognizing that work is part of life, not a separate entity 7:06 – Establishing boundaries to update the notion of balance 9:25 – Finding comfort in “Not right now” instead of “no”

July 1, 202610 min

How I advise clients on cryptocurrency

It may be challenging for advisors to help clients navigate the much-debated world of cryptocurrency. In this episode, MDRT members share how much they have encountered this investment strategy and how they discuss it with clients, especially if crypto has been successful for them. You’ll hear from: Chi Teng Han, ChFC/S, CIAM Nadia Wijatno, ChFC, CLU Episode breakdown: 0:25 – Identifying the unpredictability of anything unregulated 1:12 – Why I don’t convince someone not to do something that’s worked for them 2:17 – The importance of learning from the pain of financial loss 4:27 – The danger of competing with crypto 6:26 – Helping clients separate public success stories from unknown failures 8:05 – Deciding which crypto barons to work with

June 1, 202614 min

How to expand your team to support an acquisition

Whether you are looking to buy or have already acquired a practice, it’s essential to have the right people in place to help you not just grow but thrive. In this episode, MDRT member D. Kyle Atkins, CFP, CLU, and president of Succession Resource Group David Grau Jr. share how to navigate the challenging task of finding the ideal employees to support the future of your business. Episode breakdown: 0:31 – Seeing hiring as an investment that requires hard work 2:19 – When you can acquire not just revenue but talent 3:23 – If an important person is leaving from the business you’re acquiring 4:56 – Fostering a well-paid and positive office culture 9:58 – What to look for to identify and hire that rare, great candidate 12:17 – Recognizing that everyone struggles with hiring and that you can’t interview for culture

May 1, 202611 min

Making the full-service, family office model accessible to clients

How do you define the services that your practice offers in a way that generates client understanding and engagement? In this episode, MDRT members share how they communicate the components of their business that represent a family office model, and what that means to and for clients. You’ll hear from: Tim Bosworth, CFP Brandon Heckert, AAMS, CFP Episode breakdown: 0:28 – How to describe exactly what your firm is doing 2:05 – Defining exactly what a family office does 5:04 – Bringing accessibility to clients’ experiences and understanding of your services 8:58 – Providing detailed financial advice no matter what the asset level

April 1, 202611 min

A surprising discovery that’s come from regulation

What communication changes come from adjustments you make to remain compliant? How does that show up for both you and your clients? In this episode, MDRT members share how they identify regulatory requirements and ensure client peace of mind regarding fees. You’ll hear from: Simon D. Lister, Dip PFS Jamie McIntyre, CFP Episode breakdown: 0:32 – How clients have begun sharing more about their fears 2:35 – Learning how to disclose fees – and the clients who are very comfortable paying them 4:31 – Figuring out when to deliver information during a meeting to make clients comfortable 6:26 – Assuring clients that costs will never catch them by surprise 10:17 – Utilizing regulator language in client communication

March 2, 20266 min

How to learn from members who have different specialties

You might think that you can only benefit from connecting with advisors who focus on a similar client base or approach to service. In this episode, members of the MDRT Executive Committee explain why there can be plenty to gain from considering best practices from others, even if there are significant differences in your practice. You’ll hear from: MDRT Past President Carol Kheng, ChFC MDRT President John F. Nichols, CLU, MSM Episode breakdown: 0:29 – Finding an overlap between your niche and someone else’s 1:23 – Making sure your Cloud space can house all necessary client information 3:53 – Why it’s useful to understand how other advisors handle client situations Listen to the monthly series, MDRT Presents: @mdrtpresents

February 2, 202615 min

How to cope when you feel overwhelmed

There are countless reasons advisors might struggle to balance all of the tasks in their professional and personal lives. In this episode, MDRT member Brendan Clune Walsh and stress physiologist Rebecca Heiss discuss how to process this type of anxiety and how to turn difficult emotions into calm and productivity. Episode breakdown: 0:30 – Recognizing warning signs of being overwhelmed and learning to appreciate stress 2:01 – Taking ownership of your role in how you feel and being proactive about solutions 4:52 – Utilizing a run or a nap to help release tension 6:39 – The benefits of removing all labels around stress 12:08 – How you can thrive by redirecting energy and anger Listen to the monthly series, MDRT Presents: @mdrtpresents

January 1, 202620 min

Helping clients plan for a new kind of retirement

As clients now may be more inclined to change jobs, where they live, and more, the approach advisors take in looking toward clients’ futures has changed as well. In this episode, MDRT members explain how they have applied these adjustments to the way they help clients prepare for the needs and goals of their retirement. You’ll hear from: Chi Teng Han, ChFC/S, CIAM Nadia Wijatno, ChFC, CLU Episode breakdown: 0:31 – Helping clients adjust their plans when they move for the short- or long-term 3:06 – Changing retirement planning for a more “career-mobile” demographic 7:55 – How social media impacts people’s expectations about retirement 12:50 – What is most difficult about handling this different approach to planning 14:07 – Identifying why a property sale isn’t a reliable source of retirement funding Listen to the monthly series, MDRT Presents: @mdrtpresents

December 1, 202521 min

When emotions have most strongly impacted my work – and how I handle that

All advisors recognize the emotional component of their roles and how that can factor into their support, guidance, and relationships with clients. In this episode recorded in February 2023, MDRT members share memorable experiences when emotions factored into their work and how they handled this both for the clients and for themselves. You’ll hear from: Joseph Tan, ChFC, CLU Abigail Venida Yabot Episode breakdown: 0:32 – How the pandemic changed the conversation around death and disability 2:33 – Communicating the importance of additional coverage 6:42 – Helping a client who is dealing with infidelity 12:26 – How to handle emotional moments with clients Listen to the monthly series, MDRT Presents: @mdrtpresents