The New Currency Is Human, Episode #125

Burt White is the Managing Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Carson Group. He helps steer the company’s strategic focus as a member of Carson’s executive board and is a prominent voice and advocate for the independent advisor.

Drawing on decades of industry experience, Burt elevates the firm’s opportunities for growth across corporate and investment strategies. He works with Carson’s investment team to build and deliver an investment ecosystem that drives growth for the firm’s 120 partners, who collectively manage $20 billion in assets.

Burt’s excitement to redefine how our industry talks about wealth shines through his work. He believes adaptability is a superpower and is highly motivated to innovate, pioneer, and deliver forward-thinking industry thought leadership.

Burt is passionate about making a meaningful impact in the lives of clients and advisors. Given that passion and his unique talent for client storytelling, he is well-equipped to help our advisors best serve clients and generate new business.

Carson Group Founder and CEO Ron Carson calls Burt a visionary in the industry who understands where the profession is and where it needs to go. Listen in for some great takeaways about Burt’s vision for the future of Carson Group and the profession as a whole.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

  • Learn more about Burt White and what led him to Carson Group [3:31]
  • Why Burt came out of retirement to join the Carson movement [5:23]
  • Why Burt is passionate about the RIA model [8:41]
  • How Burt uses an exercise to demonstrate the power of community [11:33]
  • How technology will help advisors improve service and planning [16:25]
  • Why Burt believes “The new currency is human” [22:25]
  • What Burt wishes the average retail investor knew [26:21]
  • Burt’s advice for advisors just entering the industry [29:42]
  • What Carson Group’s “Find Your Freedom” means for Burt [35:07]
  • What Burt did today that put him in the right mindset for success [37:27]

How Burt uses an exercise to demonstrate the power of community

Burt’s “Let’s make it rain” exercise is powerful.

When Burt was in high school, he was part of a group that would get together called “Young Life.” They did an exercise where you’d divide into three groups. One group rubbed their hands together, the second group snapped, and the third group would pound their thighs. It sounds odd, but when this was done in unison, it sounds like rain. The individual sounds didn’t mean anything. But when done together in harmony, it’s magical.

Burt says, “There is magic in the community. There is magic in diversity. All of these things are what really brings fullness to life.” Community can be family, where you live, where you worship, or where you get inspired. You have the chance to inspire each other and there’s nothing more important than that. People need to come together, put differences aside, and listen to each other. They need to share their hopes and dreams.

How technology will help advisors improve service and planning

The best part of technology is that it helps make us great. It helps financial advisors reach people in an impactful way. Technology is changing the way we serve each other. Great service isn’t good enough anymore. It has to be personalized and convenient. People want it to reflect their values and create a holistic experience.

20 years ago, financial advisors only helped people achieve financial outcomes. Now, through financial outcomes, financial advisors are helping you live a better life. The profession has been elevated.

Technology is allowing financial advisors to do better planning to drive things like wellness, healthy lifestyles, social and values impact, legacy and family planning, and career advice. The magic is about what the tech enables humans to do. Technology allows financial advisors to scale in a way that allows them to touch more lives.

Why Burt believes “The new currency is human”

Airlines track the number of flights, miles flown, gas used in flights, etc. But Burt points out that that’s the wrong metric. How many honeymoons have airlines taken people to? How many families did they reunite? How many grandparents got to see their grandkids? Those are the metrics that matter.

Every industry is starting to measure the metrics around people. Successful businesses are created by their communities. Many companies are focused on growth and profit—but that should be a byproduct. Burt emphasizes that your business should be people-centric.

What dreams were your clients able to accomplish? When Carson Group meets, they talk about the number of households they get to serve. They are redefining the financial industry.

Burt’s advice for advisors just entering the industry

There has never been a more impactful and exciting time to be a financial advisor. The world is complex and scary. The tax code is complicated. We work hard in our businesses and careers. Life can often feel like the more you have, the more you have to lose. But when you have a financial advisor, they can help you change that mindset.

The more you have, the more you have to love. The more you have to enjoy. The more people you can bless. Understand the impact that you can have on people’s lives and help them see that. Your job isn’t to choose what stock is best, but to help your clients figure out how to live their best life.

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Burt White

Bio

A prominent voice and advocate for the independent advisor, Burt White is Managing Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Carson Group. He helps steer the company’s strategic focus as a member of Carson’s executive board.

Drawing on decades of industry experience, Burt augments and elevates the firm’s opportunities for growth across corporate and investment strategies. He works with Carson’s investment team to build and deliver an investment ecosystem that drives growth for the firm’s 120 partners, who collectively manage $20 billion in assets.

Burt’s excitement to redefine how our industry talks about wealth shines through in his work. He believes adaptability is a superpower and is highly motivated to innovate, pioneer and deliver forward-thinking industry thought-leadership.

Burt is passionate about making a meaningful impact in the lives of clients and advisors. Given that passion and his unique talent for client storytelling, he is well equipped to help our advisors best serve clients and generate new business.

Carson Group Founder and CEO Ron Carson calls Burt a visionary in the industry who understands where the profession is and where it needs to go.

Before joining the Carson team, Burt served for 14 years as Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at LPL Financial. There, he fostered the development and evolution of LPL’s capabilities to effectively support advisor efficiency and growth. Burt also worked for a decade at Wachovia Securities and spent time as an investment analyst at Mercer Investment Consulting.

Burt received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the College of William & Mary, and holds the FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, 65, and 87.

Connect With Mitlin Financial

Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset Show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest’s content linked on this site.

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