When we started the Deep Dive Podcast, we aimed to find a balance of guests, but first and foremost, we wanted our audience to hear directly from advisors. They are the people in the trenches every day serving clients, and it’s a lonely job … we hoped to make it feel less lonely.
Our guests on the podcast all share a number of traits, but the relentless pursuit of excellence is one of the key traits that makes hosting the show so enjoyable. Our recent guest held true to that standard. In our most recent episode, David Peacock shed light on some key issues from an advisor perspective that I think all of our viewers truly enjoyed (in 49 episodes, David ended up with the third most views … and they are still counting).
Some of the key learnings:
- The search for excellence is hard. Read a lot. Talk to smart people a lot. Always be thinking about how you can do things better and expect your team(s) to do the same.
- Doing more for customers and figuring out what they need before they even ask for it is key. If they ask for it, great, deliver it. However, figuring out what they want before they need it is truly the secret sauce.
- I’m not sure I’ve discussed the “golden rule” since my grandmother passed away, but it truly is an amazing concept that holds true today. If we all get up every day and treat everyone with respect, the world would be a better place.
- David is not yet 50, and he has already thought about succession, has put it into place, and is thinking about the future leaders in his firm, not because it is right for him, but right for his clients. Many talk the walk in this area, but David has walked the walk. Starting before 50 to transition is remarkable, and he stands as an example of how people should be thinking differently in this area.
- It’s hard to find your ideal client as you are trying to grow, but surprisingly it’s even harder to stay true to it as you get bigger. As a firm with north of $1B in AUM, you would think David and his team “made it,” but they continue to struggle with staying focused, and staying focused is the key to continuing the momentum any team has built.
I only touched the tip of the iceberg. Check out the podcast episode to learn more about Messick Peacock & Associates’ growth story and some excellent insights from David on how to be a proactive, effective financial advisor.
