Unlock the secrets to business growth by understanding your ideal customer. This week, we are joined by Ben Utley , a seasoned Certified Financial Planner™ professional from Physician Family Financial Advisors. Ben shares his journey into financial planning and the advantages of niching down his business. He highlights the importance of vision, values, and culture and building a strong team while explaining his approach to leadership. Ben also talks about turning away business that doesn't align with his goals and the benefits of having a robust network for referrals. Tune in to gain valuable insights on growth and leadership.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [7:39] Ben shares his background prior to becoming a financial advisor.
• [9:58] How did Physician Family Financial Advisors get started and what do they offer?
• [17:12] How did Ben expand to 200 clients?
• [19:56] How does working specifically with families impact Ben’s clientele?
• [21:58] Was there ever any trepidation around niching down to work with families?
• [23:07] Ben provides tips on how to turn away business that isn’t right for you as an entrepreneur.
• [25:00] Ben shares some leadership tips for having a strong team.
• [28:08] What is Ben’s biggest challenge in growing his business?
• [28:55] How has podcasting helped grow the Physician Family Financial Advisors business?
• [32:37] How do the advisors within the company work together?
• [33:23] What is Ben’s goal for Physician Family Financial Advisors?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• If you are operating in alignment with your values, everything in life is easier. You know when to say yes and when to say no.
• It’s an amazing skill to network and know that if a client comes into your business who isn’t a right fit, that you can still be helpful and direct them to someone who is the right fit for what they are looking for. Having a robust network benefits you, your clients, and other businesses that specialize in different niches.
• You can’t run a business with people who do not match your culture. You have to build your culture first before you build your business strategy.

LINKS MENTIONED:

contact@physicanfamily.com

Physician Family Financial Advisors Website

Physician Family Financial Advisors Podcast

Ask Brien Radio Show

BIO

Are you a dedicated physician mom or dad, striving to balance your practice and family while securing your financial future? With the demands of work and family life, navigating the complexities of investment options, tax laws, and retirement planning can be overwhelming.

Join W. Ben Utley and Nate Reineke, seasoned Certified Financial Planner™ professionals, on a mission to empower physician parents like you with the knowledge and tools needed to achieve long-term financial security. Through our podcast, we provide expert financial advice tailored to physicians, covering essential topics such as wealth management, retirement savings, tax-efficient investing, and estate planning.

Gain valuable insights into wealth accumulation strategies, investment strategies, and asset allocation techniques to optimize your financial portfolio. Enhance your financial literacy with practical budgeting tips and learn how to set and achieve long-term financial goals. Discover effective risk management strategies to protect your assets and...

Antelope Valley is growing at a rapid pace, and AV EDGE is ready to help businesses get started with expansion into the area. This week, we have Drew Mercy from Antelope Valley Economic Development and Growth Enterprise on the show to discuss how they can help all sizes of businesses take advantage of economic development programs. Drew discusses what the use tax is, how it impacts those doing business in California as well as residents of California. He provides examples how AV EDGE can help small businesses and highlights the businesses they are currently seeking to work with. Tune in to learn more about how they can help you!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [6:00] Drew introduces himself and shares his background.
• [7:32] What is public policy?
• [8:53] What is the use tax?
• [13:53] What is Drew’s role at Antelope Valley EDGE?
• [16:12] How do tax breaks work in cases of economic development?
• [18:03] Do the economic development programs apply to small or medium size businesses?
• [20:12] What are opportunity zones and what are the benefits of utilizing them?
• [22:45] How can business owners learn more about what Antelope Valley EDGE can do for them?
• [24:09] Drew gives some examples of how a small business used AV EDGE.
• [25:47] Where can people reach Drew?
• [26:47] Drew provides an example of how AV EDGE could help a carpet company with less than 12 employees.
• [30:07] What types of businesses is AV EDGE currently looking for?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• AV EDGE can help ensure that you are following the correct tax laws within your business, because there can be a lot of gray areas.
• The economic development department markets the area for economic activity from the local government’s perspective. Anything that brings in jobs, businesses, sales tax, etc.
• Aerospace, distribution centers, industrial manufacturing, film studio space, sound stages, and energy companies are all areas where AV EDGE is looking to expand.

LINKS MENTIONED:

AV EDGE CA

AV EDGE CA Facebook

AV EDGE Instagram

Phone #: 661-441-2957

Ask Brien Radio Show

BIO

The Antelope Valley Economic Development & Growth Enterprise (AV EDGE) is an organization that devotes itself to facilitating business growth and opportunity within our 3,000 square mile region.

In February of 2020 AV EDGE was founded on the legacy of two great organizations: the former Antelope Valley Board of Trade and the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance. Despite coming together during a strange and difficult time, this new organization is energized and on the rise. Armed with a new structure, new attitude, and a fresh new way of doing business, we are excited to be able to have an opportunity to foster both old and new relationships with the hopes of achieving steady regional economic development and growth.

We strive to attract and maintain diverse business growth and retention opportunities, quality infrastructure, and a strong legislative voice, leading to the success and prosperity of AV EDGE members and the greater Antelope Valley region.

After her mother unexpectedly passed away, Audrey knew she needed to take her business into her own hands so that she could enjoy her life to the fullest. This week on the podcast, Audrey Kwan, founder of AJK Consulting, joins us to talk about how she started her own agency, with the mission to help businesses build workplaces that give back their freedom, families and joy, so more kids have healthy, happy parents to come home to. She talks about how she got her first clients and some of the biggest struggles she came up against when starting her business. Audrey shares the three foundations that are key to building an effective team. Tune in as this is information that all entrepreneurs need to know!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [8:31] Audrey shares her background and how she got started in consulting.
• [13:21] When did Audrey decide to start her own agency?
• [14:55] What did her business look like when she first started out?
• [17:29] How did Audrey land her first clients?
• [18:11] Audrey shares some case studies of working with other agencies.
• [20:12] What is the biggest struggle Audrey’s agency sees with agency owners?
• [22:03] What are the three foundations that are key and required to build an effective team?
• [33:12] How can someone work with Audrey?
• [34:27] What was Audrey’s biggest challenge with starting her business?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The first thing that has to happen for any business to work well, is leading people well. Leadership is essential for a business to be successful.
• A key skill to become a leader is learning to ask better questions, which need to be open ended to create more critical thinking.
• It is essential to have a clear leadership philosophy so that you and your team are on the same page. This includes understanding what your expectations are, how you operate best, and what your values are.

LINKS MENTIONED:

AJK Consulting

Audrey Kwan LinkedIn

Small But Mighty Agency Podcast

Ask Brien Radio Show

BIO

Before there was AJK, there was Audrey, a teenager with a hard-working mom. So hard-working, in fact, she toiled long hours in a toxic workplace to support her family. For years, Audrey knew her mom’s workplace was taking the joy from her life—she would come home depleted and without anything left to give. As it turned out, it was taking more than her joy—it was taking her health. In 2012, Audrey’s mom received a terminal cancer diagnosis and lost her life three weeks later.

After her mother’s death, Audrey became a woman on a mission: to help businesses build workplaces that give us back our freedom, families and joy, so more kids have healthy, happy parents to come home to. In 2015, Audrey founded AJK with this mission to help more businesses and families thrive—not just survive. We’re here to help you do the same.