Hosted by Dean Holmes & Craig Kouimanis
Episodes
109
Latest episode
May 2026
Language
EN-AU
Craig Kouimanis - Head of Paragem Dean Holmes - TWN Partners The role of licensees, coaching, mentoring, and business advice is changing. Participate in a fortnightly discussion about the financial planning industry's challenges and opportunities. This is a great opportunity to hear from industry leaders who are providing services to Financial Planning firms.
Gone are the days of relying on patchy notes and delayed feedback.Craig & Dean explore how recording meetings + AI insights can:Elevate coachingImprove consistency across teamsEnhance the client experience…and why this matters more in a remote world.
Are your younger clients cancelling you like a Netflix subscription? Episode 108 of UncommonCents tackles the future of financial advice — self-serve, hybrid, and full service — and why trying to be everything to everyone in the one business is a recipe for disaster. Dean breaks down the Qantas vs Jetstar model and why building a hybrid offering for the next generation could be your biggest growth opportunity.
Dean Holmes is joined by Matthew Esler from Padua to explore a new vision for financial advice—one built around planning, engagement, and compliance rather than products. From AI‑powered discovery and open banking to low‑cost client portals and ASIC‑ready advice generation, this episode offers a glimpse into the future of advice.
Craig Kouimanis and Dean Holmes explore how small “just this once” exceptions quietly make businesses harder to run, less profitable, and far less enjoyable. They break down how exceptions damage pricing discipline, service standards, and processes, and share simple tests and team-based strategies to spot exceptions early and stop them becoming the norm.
Most advice businesses aren’t short on data—they’re short on insight. Craig and Dean explain why CRMs fail when they’re treated as filing cabinets, not decision tools. They share how basic data hygiene, exception reporting, and smart dashboards reveal client risk, growth opportunities, operational gaps, and clear next actions.Your CRM’s true value isn’t what it holds—it’s what it tells you to do next.
Dean unpacks why advisers should stop charging for documents and instead sell a clear 12‑month advice relationship. He outlines how to communicate the journey early, build trust fast, and present fees with confidence. HighlightsCharge for outcomes, not SOAs.Explain the full 12‑month service upfront: discovery, strategy, advice docs, implementation, mid‑year check‑in, review.Prospects should leave meeting one knowing: they trust you, you can solve their problem, and what the service costs.Present fee methodology first, then the number; keep pricing simple retainer + monthly or a single 12‑month fee.
Craig and Dean dive into one of today’s biggest workplace debates — recorded from home, of course. Their message is simple: the problem isn’t remote, hybrid, or office… it’s drifting into a model without intention.Key takeaways:Remote works for deep work: less noise, no commute, and no need for micromanagement. But we’ve lost apprenticeship: those over‑the‑shoulder moments don’t happen online unless leaders create them deliberately.Hybrid often breaks coming into the office just to sit on Teams is the worst of both worlds. Hybrid only works with clear days and clear purpose.Office returns need honesty: don’t call it culture if it’s really about leases or control. Presence alone doesn’tcreate collaboration.The solution: pick a model, give it a rhythm, and hold the line. Clients are happy with virtual for quick reviews but expect in‑person time to feel relational.For leaders: set expectations early. Great talent wants flexibility — great culture needs intentional connection.
Dean Holmes talks with Steven Handley from Fin365 abouthow clean, centralised data and Microsoft’s tools help financial planners automate, streamline, and secure their businesses. They explore practical AI uses—like file‑note creation and compliance checks—plus the risks of third‑partymodels. Steven shares how Power BI reveals data quality, efficiency, and profitability.Bottom line: Tech won’t replace advisors—it strengthens trusted client relationships.
Craig and Dean celebrate 101 episodes of UncommonCents by unpacking smarter ways to plan for a successful 2026. They explore why New Year’s resolutions often fail, why January should be about realignment—not drastic change—and how hidden behaviors like discounting or working with the wrong clients can hold your business back.One powerful idea. One action. Start the yearwith clarity
Hosts Dean Holmes and Craig Kouimanis celebrate amajor milestone—100 episodes over three years!In this special episode, they reflect on their journey from hesitant beginners to confident speakers, sharinglessons learned along the way:The power of persistence (even when views were low) Building an audience of 5,000+ viewsLeveraging AI to catalog and repurpose content for business and client educationThis episode features a hype reel of memorable moments and heartfelt gratitude to the team that made it possible. Dean and Craig are excited to keep the conversation going and welcome your suggestions for future topics!
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