The Efficient Advisor: Tactical Business Advice for Financial Planners

Hosted by Libby Greiwe

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Episodes

398

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Ever wish you knew an Advisor who built a 7-figure practice--while only working 3 days a week--that was willing to share her systems, processes, and business hacks with you? Meet the Efficient Advisor Podcast host Libby Greiwe. Her specialty? Breaking down the functions of a financial planning practice into actionable step-by-step processes designed to get you results and get you out of overwhelm. Expert interviews, done-for-you templates, and easy to implement solutions… all tied together by her MISSION to create ease in your business. She promises to deliver actionable step-by-step solutions you can implement right away to save time, money, and frustration. The goal--to lead you from overwhelm to efficiency. She started her own financial planning business in 2004. And, over the years she scaled into a 7-figure single-advisor firm while working only 25-hours a week so she could be super involved while raising her kiddos and loving on her hubby. She knows what it takes to build a 100% referral-only practice and to not have to GRIND out the hours to be successful. She ran her own planning business for 16 years culminating in a sale to an enterprise firm in 2019. Now, she’s simply just obsessed with helping other amazing advisors do the same thing. So if you’re an advisor who’s got the hang of planning and is now looking to grow to that first 500k of take-home pay… you are in the right place!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 8, 2026Episode 40243 min

402: My “Easy Button” Strategy for Free Travel and Credit Card Points

We spend a lot of time talking about how to simplify, systematize, automate, and streamline our businesses—but what about our lives outside of work? After sharing that I recently flew my family to South Africa and back in upgraded seats for mostly free, I got flooded with questions about how I had accumulated so many miles. The answer isn’t complicated travel hacking or a spreadsheet filled with credit cards. In this episode, I’m sharing my “easy button” approach to free travel: a simple, mostly automated system that helps me earn points, score travel perks, and save money without turning any of it into another job. In this episode you will learn: How I use SkyKey to automatically find lower fares and get money or miles back after I’ve already booked a flight. My simple strategy for using companion passes and credit card spending to cover more of my family’s flights. How I “double dip” with Uber, SkyMiles Dining, shopping portals, and everyday spending to earn points with minimal effort. How I keep my entire system simple by giving each credit card a specific job for business expenses, personal spending, and travel. This episode isn’t about perfectly optimizing every point or becoming a travel-hacking expert. It’s about finding your version of the 80/20—using simple systems and automation to get more of the benefits you want without adding more work to your life. Whether your preferred combination is Delta and Marriott or completely different airlines and hotels, the goal is the same: find what works, keep it simple, and use the margin you’ve worked so hard to create to actually enjoy your life. READ THE BLOG HERE! Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

September 4, 2026Episode 40113 min

401: The Simple System That Saved Me Oodles of Time

Some of the best efficiency wins in your practice aren’t massive system overhauls—they’re the small decisions you find yourself making over and over again. In this episode, I’m sharing one incredibly simple process I used in my own advisory practice to eliminate a recurring interruption, empower my team to make more decisions without me, and ultimately give clients faster service. I’ll walk you through exactly how we created a “first $20,000” distribution strategy for clients, documented it in our CRM, and built a decision tree that helped my team know exactly what to do when a client called needing cash. In this episode you will learn: How to create a simple “first $20,000” distribution strategy for your clients. How to use your CRM to give your team clear direction without needing to involve you. How to build a decision tree that helps your team confidently handle client distribution requests. How to identify recurring questions and small decisions you can systematically remove from your plate. You don’t have to build this process for every client overnight. Start with the clients you’re already meeting with next week, document where you’d recommend they access cash if a need comes up, and build from there. Small systems like this can eliminate interruptions, speed up your client service, and gradually train your team to take ownership of more decisions—freeing you to focus on the bigger strategies and conversations that actually require you. Register for the Quin Show & Tell HERE ! Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

September 1, 2026Episode 40054 min

400: Inside the Client Service Model of a $415M AUM Practice

What does it actually look like to build a fast-growing advisory firm without sacrificing the depth of your client relationships? In this episode, I’m sitting down with financial advisor Emily Rassam to take a behind-the-scenes look at the client experience, workflows, and team structure she’s used to build a thriving practice serving approximately 270 families. We dig into how behavioral finance shapes everything from prospect conversations to financial plans, why every meeting in her firm has a defined purpose and process, and how her team delivers a highly personalized experience without relying on traditional client segmentation. In this episode you will learn: How to use behavioral finance questions to identify ideal clients and create deeper financial planning conversations. Why a structured onboarding process can differentiate your firm before a prospect ever becomes a client. How to build a flexible client service model that combines consistent processes with personalized planning. How strong workflows and delegation allow advisors to step away from prep and follow-up without sacrificing the client experience. If you’ve ever wondered how to create a more personalized client experience while still building a practice that can scale, this conversation gives you a look under the hood of a firm doing exactly that. You’ll walk away with practical ideas for structuring your meetings, strengthening your workflows, using your team more effectively, and creating the kind of processes that give you more capacity to focus on the work you do best. Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

August 28, 2026Episode 39921 min

399: The One Simple Skill Blocking Your Next Level Up

There’s one CEO skill that may be quietly capping your success—and it has nothing to do with how smart you are, how many credentials you have, or how good you are at financial planning. It’s your ability to make decisions quickly. In this episode, we’re talking about why advisors tend to overthink business decisions, how that slows your growth, and the simple framework I use to help advisors make decisions faster without being reckless. In this episode you will learn: Why your financial advisor mindset might actually be slowing you down as a CEO. How faster decision-making creates momentum, better judgment, and more confidence over time. The Two-Question Rule for knowing when to make a decision quickly and when to slow down. How to use the 80% Rule to stop waiting for perfect information and finally make the call. You don’t need to make perfect decisions—you need a framework that helps you make more good decisions, learn quickly, and keep moving. I’ll also give you a simple seven-day decision sprint to help you put this into practice and start building your decision-making muscle immediately. Register for The Efficient Advisor x Quin: Workflow Show and Tell HERE! Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

August 25, 202643 min

398: Stop Using AI Like a Note-Taker (Use It Like an Executive Assistant)

If you think AI in your advisory practice means meeting notes, follow-up emails, and asking ChatGPT to write something for you, we need to talk. Because what AI can do inside of an advisory practice has changed dramatically—and I think most of us are still thinking way too small. AI for financial advisors has moved far beyond note-taking, meeting summaries, and drafting follow-up emails. In this episode, I’m joined by Gabe to explore the next evolution: agentic AI and what it looks like when AI stops being another piece of software you have to manage and starts operating more like a digital team member working behind the scenes. We dig into how Quinn has evolved, the difference between traditional AI tools and agentic AI, and the practical ways advisors are using automation to give themselves and their teams back significant time each week. The difference between AI tools and agentic AI What advisors can automate right now How AI can help you “scale thoughtfulness” with clients Where to start before automating your processes The goal isn’t necessarily to replace your team with AI. It’s to stop spending valuable human time hunting down information, entering data, filling out forms, and handling repetitive administrative work so you and your team can focus on the work that actually requires a human. If you’ve been thinking about AI primarily as a note-taker or writing assistant, this conversation will give you a much bigger picture of what’s already possible—and what could be coming next for your advisory practice. Register for The Efficient Advisor x Quin: Workflow Show and Tell HERE! Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

August 22, 2026Episode 39711 min

397: How to Know if You are Solving the Wrong Problem in Your Business (Replay)

I am excited to introduce Efficient Friday! Each week, in 10 minutes or less, I want to share a super tactical tip, idea, process, hack, etc with you that you can implement in your business right away! In this episode, we dive into a common misstep advisors make—solving for the wrong problem. Are you actually demand-constrained or supply-constrained? 🧩 You’ll learn how to quickly diagnose where your true bottleneck lies, what to focus on based on your answer, and what to stop wasting time on. Whether you’re drowning in clients or staring at an empty calendar, this episode will help you get clarity, cut the noise, and start making the right moves 🚀💼 Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

August 18, 2026Episode 39642 min

396 - How to Create More Abundance in Your Practice with Ellen Rogin

In this episode, we're talking about something that might feel a little uncomfortable for advisors who love spreadsheets, checklists, and action plans—but it may be one of the most important conversations you'll have all year. Libby sits down with author, speaker, and former financial advisor Ellen Rogin to explore what abundance really looks like inside an advisory practice. From the way you think about money to the energy you bring into client meetings, Ellen shares how shifting from scarcity to service transformed her career and helped her build a thriving practice rooted in generosity, gratitude, and genuine connection. In this episode you’ll learn: Why abundance isn't just a mindset buzzword—and how it directly impacts referrals, growth, client trust, and business success How to identify scarcity thinking in your practice (even when you don't realize it's there) and replace it with more empowering beliefs The role your own money story plays in how you advise clients, lead your team, and make decisions as a business owner Simple daily habits that can help you create more space, clarity, generosity, and abundance in both your business and personal life If you've ever found yourself chasing the next strategy, comparing yourself to other advisors, or feeling like success is always just out of reach, this episode is your invitation to pause and look inward. Because sometimes the biggest breakthrough isn't another tactic—it's learning how to operate from a place of abundance instead of scarcity. And as Ellen shares, when you focus on helping others win, amazing things tend to happen in return. Connect with Ellen HERE ! Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

August 14, 2026Episode 39525 min

395: 3 Hard Truths Keeping Advisors From a $1 Million Business

This episode is a little different. Instead of another tactical strategy or productivity hack, Libby shares three hard truths that may be the very things holding talented financial advisors back from building the business they truly want. Drawing from more than 25 years in the industry, her own experience investing in high-level coaching, and years of working with hundreds of advisors, she challenges listeners to stop searching for more information and start becoming the kind of leaders who consistently execute. If you're ready for an honest conversation about what's really standing in your way, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your biggest challenge probably isn't a lack of information, but a lack of consistent implementation—and how to finally bridge that gap. The difference between buying information and investing in accountability, proximity, and environments that create lasting transformation. Why many advisors unknowingly try to solve million-dollar business problems with transactional solutions, and what it takes to break that cycle. How shifting your identity from someone who starts to someone who finishes can completely change your business, your leadership, and your results. If you've been feeling stuck despite reading the books, attending the conferences, and buying the courses, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what actually creates lasting change. Sometimes the next breakthrough isn't found in learning something new—it's found in finally implementing what you already know. Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

August 11, 2026Episode 39437 min

394: The Fee Increase That Added $420,000 (Without Losing a Single Client)

One of the hardest conversations many financial advisors avoid isn't about investments or markets—it's about their own fees. If you've ever looked at your client list and realized your fee schedule has evolved over the years into something inconsistent, you're not alone. In this very candid conversation, Libby sits down with advisor Todd Lester to discuss how he tackled a firm-wide fee increase after more than 30 years in the business. Todd shares the mindset shifts, compliance considerations, communication strategies, and surprising results that came from finally aligning his fees with the value his firm provides. In this episode, you'll learn: Why inconsistent fee schedules create both compliance concerns and fairness issues across your client base, and how to recognize when it's time to make a change. How Todd delegated fee increase conversations to a trusted team member, why that approach worked so well, and what advisors can learn from using a third-party communicator. The biggest fears advisors have around raising fees, why those fears are often exaggerated, and how clients actually responded when presented with the changes. The remarkable outcome of Todd's fee increase project, including the recurring revenue added to his practice, the clients he retained, and the lessons he'll carry into future pricing decisions. If you've been putting off reviewing your fee schedule because the conversation feels uncomfortable, this episode will give you both the confidence and the practical ideas to move forward. You'll walk away with a fresh perspective on pricing, value, and why charging appropriately isn't just good for your business—it's also part of serving clients fairly and sustainably. Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.

August 7, 2026Episode 39318 min

393: The Business Advice I Think We've Been Getting Wrong

I changed my mind on a very common piece of business advice. It's one of the most common messages we hear as entrepreneurs: build a business that runs without you. But what if we've been chasing the wrong goal? In this episode, Libby shares a mindset shift that completely changed the way she thinks about systems, delegation, and business ownership. Drawing on a recent personal experience and an unexpected epiphany, she explores why freedom and absence are not the same thing—and why building a business that allows you to spend more time doing the work you love is a much healthier and more sustainable goal. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "build a business that runs without you" may not be the right goal for most financial advisors—and what to strive for instead. The difference between freedom and absence, and how shifting your perspective can reduce burnout and increase fulfillment. A simple "Freedom Audit" exercise to identify which responsibilities energize you and which ones are holding you back. How to use systems and delegation to protect your energy, operate in your zone of genius, and create a business that supports the life you want. If you've ever felt like your business still depends too much on you, this episode offers a refreshing perspective. Rather than trying to remove yourself from your business entirely, you'll learn how to intentionally design your role so you can spend more time doing the work that only you can do—and that you genuinely enjoy. It's a practical mindset shift that can help you build a business that serves you, instead of one that simply demands more from you. Register for the Quin x Efficient Advisor Show & Tell HERE! Check out The First 100 Days Course: The Advisor's Blueprint for a Remarkable Client Experience HERE ! Learn more about T2MWorks HERE ! Learn more about Asset-Map financial planning software HERE ! Learn more about our sponsor Beemo Automation HERE ! Check out the Efficient Advisor YouTube Channel HERE ! Connect with Libby on LinkedIn HERE! Successful businesses don’t get built alone. You need community! You need collaboration! Join us in The Efficient Advisor Community on Facebook.