Jul 29, 2025
List of Must Watch Podcasts for Financial Advisors
A comprehensive list of podcasts for financial advisors and RIAs who understand that continuous learning is the only sustainable competitive advantage.
The value-add of comprehensive financial planning has never been more pronounced. In this environment, the most successful advisors aren't just those with the best technical knowledge, they're the ones who can synthesize insights from multiple sources, adapt to changing client needs, and scale their practices efficiently.
Podcasts have emerged as the most scalable way for busy advisors to consume high-quality content while commuting, exercising, or managing other aspects of their lives. However, with hundreds of shows targeting financial professionals, the signal-to-noise ratio varies dramatically. This comprehensive guide analyzes 40+ essential podcasts across multiple categories, providing a framework for advisors to maximize their learning ROI.
The key insight: The most successful advisors treat podcast consumption as a strategic investment in their intellectual capital, not passive entertainment. They curate their listening based on specific business objectives and implement actionable insights within 48 hours of consumption.
1. Advisor Ally
Best For: Financial advisors, RIAs, and wealth managers who want to stay ahead of the curve.
Format: Interview-driven with deep technical dives
Typical Length: 30 minutes
Cadence: Weekly
Host: Vineet Mohan
Listen on: Spotify, YouTube, Apple, Amazon Music
Why This Tops Our List: Advisor Ally stands out as a forward-looking resource for advisors ready to embrace the future of wealth management.
What sets Advisor Ally apart is its commitment to featuring guests who are actively shaping the industry's future rather than just commenting on it. From seasoned RIAs who've successfully scaled their practices to wealthtech innovators disrupting traditional wealth management models, each episode delivers insights you can't find elsewhere. The conversations dive deep into the mechanics of growth strategies, technology implementation, and industry transformation, giving listeners the kind of granular knowledge that drives real competitive advantage.
Practice Management & Scaling
2. The Efficient Advisor
Best For: Solo practitioners drowning in operational complexity who need systematic approaches to scale without burning out.
Format: Single host with occasional expert interviews
Host: Libby Greiwe
Greiwe built a $1M revenue practice working 25 hours per week, a level of efficiency that seems mythical until you understand her systematic approach. The show focuses on the 80/20 principle applied to advisory practices: identifying the 20% of activities that drive 80% of results.
3. The Perfect RIA
Best For: Advisors ready to stop playing small and build practices that can operate without their constant presence.
Hosts: Matthew Jarvis, Micah Shilanski, Jamie Shilanski, Amber Kuhn
This isn't feel-good content, it's surgical precision applied to practice management. The hosts have built multiple seven-figure practices and aren't shy about sharing the uncomfortable truths about what separates successful firms from lifestyle businesses.
4. Kitces & Carl
Best For: Advisors who understand that the tension between analytical rigor and emotional intelligence creates the most robust solutions.
Hosts: Michael Kitces, Carl Richards
The dynamic between Kitces' data-driven approach and Richards' behavioral insights mirrors the duality every successful advisor must master. Each episode is essentially a masterclass in synthesizing quantitative analysis with qualitative understanding.
Industry Intelligence & Market Dynamics
5. Financial Advisor Success
Best For: Advisors who believe that studying success patterns is more valuable than reinventing wheels.
Host: Michael Kitces
With over 400 episodes of 90-minute deep dives, this represents the most comprehensive database of advisor success strategies available. Kitces doesn't just interview successful advisors, he dissects their decision trees, failure points, and breakthrough moments with forensic precision.
6. The Advisor Journey
Best For: Practice owners wrestling with the fundamental question: lifestyle business or scalable enterprise?
Hosts: Jason Wenk, Dasarte Yarnway
This podcast addresses the most critical decision point in every advisor's career: the choice between optimizing for personal income versus building institutional value. The hosts bring the perspective of operators who've seen both paths at scale.
7. Rethink. Financial Advice
Best For: Strategic thinkers who understand that industry evolution creates opportunities for those who can anticipate change.
Hosts: Adam Holt, Derek Notman
The financial advice industry is undergoing structural transformation. This podcast provides the macroeconomic lens necessary to position your practice for the next decade, not just the next quarter.
Career Development & Transitions
8. Behind The Advisor From XYPN
Best For: Advisors considering the entrepreneurial leap who want to understand the real economics of independence.
Host: Maddy Roche
Starting an RIA is easier than ever from a regulatory perspective, but the business challenges remain formidable. This podcast provides unvarnished insights from advisors who've made the transition successfully, and some who haven't.
9. New Planner Podcast
Best For: Career changers and new graduates who need to understand the multiple pathways to success in financial planning.
Host: Caleb Brown
The career trajectory for new planners has expanded dramatically. This podcast maps the various paths from paraplanner to partner, highlighting the skills and strategies required for each transition.
10. The Diamond Podcast
Best For: Wirehouse and regional broker-dealer advisors evaluating their options in an evolving landscape.
Host: Mindy Diamond and team
The movement from traditional brokerage to independence continues accelerating. Diamond Consultants processes more transition data than anyone, making this podcast essential intelligence for advisors considering change.
Marketing & Client Acquisition
11. Advisor Marketing Made Simple
Best For: Advisors who understand that marketing is about systematic value demonstration, not random acts of content creation.
Hosts: Taylor Schulte, Kendra Wright
Most advisor marketing fails because it focuses on features rather than outcomes. This podcast provides frameworks for creating marketing systems that actually drive qualified prospects.
12. Top Advisor Marketing
Best For: Advisors ready to invest in content marketing as a long-term client acquisition strategy.
Host: Matt Halloran
Content marketing requires sustained commitment and strategic thinking. Halloran's approach treats content creation as business development infrastructure, not promotional activity.
13. Top Advisor Podcast
Best For: Practitioners who want to understand how successful advisors actually acquire clients, not how they say they do.
Host: Bill Cates
Cates focuses on referral systems and relationship marketing, the strategies that still drive the majority of advisor growth despite all the digital noise.
Behavioral Finance & Client Psychology
14. The Human Side of Money
Best For: Advisors who recognize that technical competence is table stakes, client communication is the differentiator.
Host: Brendan Frazier
Financial planning is fundamentally about helping people make better decisions with their money. This podcast provides the psychological insights necessary to guide clients through emotionally charged situations.
15. Standard Deviations
Best For: Advisors interested in the intersection of psychology and wealth management.
Host: Daniel Crosby
Crosby brings academic rigor to behavioral finance, translating research insights into practical applications for client relationships and portfolio management.
Investment Management & Market Analysis
16. Rational Reminder
Best For: Advisors who want to maintain intellectual honesty about investment management in an industry prone to marketing hyperbole.
Hosts: Benjamin Felix, Cameron Passmore
This podcast represents evidence-based investing at its finest. The hosts don't just discuss factor investing or portfolio construction, they dissect the academic research with the precision of peer reviewers.
17. The Compound and Friends
Best For: Advisors who need to stay current on market dynamics without getting lost in the noise.
Hosts: Josh Brown, Michael Batnick
The financial media ecosystem incentivizes hyperbole and prediction. This podcast provides market commentary with appropriate humility and long-term perspective.
18. Facts vs. Feelings
Best For: Advisors who create market commentary for clients and need regular insight into current conditions.
Hosts: Ryan Detrick, Sonu Varghese
Client communication during volatile markets requires balancing acknowledgment of current conditions with long-term perspective. This podcast provides the framework for that balance.
Technical Planning Specialties
19. Retirement Tax Services Podcast
Best For: Advisors who understand that tax alpha is often the largest source of value-add they can provide.
Host: Steven Jarvis
Tax planning separates generalist advisors from specialists. Jarvis provides practical strategies for implementing tax-efficient wealth management across the client lifecycle.
20. The Practical Planner
Best For: Advisors expanding their estate planning capabilities without becoming attorneys.
Hosts: Anne Rhodes, Thomas Kopelman, David Haughton
Estate planning represents significant opportunity for advisor value-add, but requires careful navigation of legal boundaries. This podcast provides the practical guidance necessary for implementation.
Industry Trends & Innovation
21. Between Now and Success
Best For: Advisors focused on personal development and goal achievement.
Host: Steve Sanduski
Success in wealth management requires continuous personal growth. Sanduski provides frameworks for goal setting and achievement that apply to both advisor development and client relationships.
22. Do Business. Do Life.
Best For: High-achieving advisors who need systems for maintaining work-life integration at scale.
Host: Brad Johnson
Building a successful practice while maintaining personal relationships requires intentional design. This podcast provides strategies for sustainable success.
Specialized Audiences & Niches
23. Fiduciary U
Best For: ERISA fiduciaries navigating the complexities of retirement plan management.
Format: Expert interviews and regulatory updates
The fiduciary landscape continues evolving, creating both opportunities and risks. This podcast provides essential updates for advisors serving retirement plan participants.
24. BIF Bites
Best For: CFP candidates who need exam preparation beyond traditional study materials.
Hosts: Gerald Mee, Adam Scherer
CFP exam preparation benefits from multiple input sources. This podcast reinforces key concepts through conversational format.
25. COO Roundtable
Best For: Operations professionals building scalable advisory firm infrastructure.
The operational complexity of modern advisory firms requires specialized expertise. This podcast addresses the unique challenges facing firm operations leaders.
Economic Analysis & Market Intelligence
26. Planet Money
Best For: Advisors who need to understand macroeconomic trends without getting lost in academic jargon.
Format: NPR-style storytelling with economic analysis
Economic literacy is essential for financial advisors, but traditional economic content can be dry and theoretical. Planet Money makes complex economic concepts accessible and engaging.
27. The Peter Schiff Show
Best For: Advisors who want exposure to contrarian economic perspectives.
Host: Peter Schiff
While not everyone agrees with Schiff's predictions, exposure to contrarian viewpoints helps advisors stress-test their assumptions and prepare for alternative scenarios.
Wealth Management for High-Net-Worth Clients
28. Barron's Advisor: The Way Forward
Best For: Advisors serving ultra-high-net-worth families who need insights into complex wealth management strategies.
This podcast addresses the unique challenges of managing significant wealth, from family governance to alternative investments to tax optimization strategies.
29. Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning
Best For: Advisors working with clients who have complex estate planning needs.
Advanced estate planning requires understanding of tax law, family dynamics, and sophisticated planning techniques. This podcast provides expert insights for complex situations.
Investment Research & Analysis
30. Morningstar: The Long View
Best For: Advisors who want research-based insights into investment management and financial planning.
Morningstar's research capabilities provide valuable insights for advisors focused on evidence-based investment management and financial planning strategies.
31. The Real Adviser Podcast
Best For: Advisors interested in international perspectives on wealth management, particularly UK and European markets.
Global perspective on wealth management provides valuable insights for advisors serving international clients or interested in global market dynamics.
Leadership & Management
32. The Look and Sound of Leadership
Best For: Advisors in leadership roles who need to develop management and communication skills.
Host: Tom Henschel
Growing an advisory practice requires leadership skills that aren't taught in CFP programs. This podcast provides practical guidance for advisor-leaders.
33. Diversity in Action
Best For: Firms committed to building diverse teams and serving diverse client bases.
Diversity in wealth management isn't just about compliance, it's about accessing broader talent pools and serving diverse client needs effectively.
Technology & Innovation
34. Only Fee-Only
Best For: Fee-only advisors interested in industry trends and best practices specific to their business model.
The fee-only model continues evolving, creating both opportunities and challenges. This podcast addresses issues specific to fee-only practitioners.
35. The Advisor Lab
Best For: Advisors seeking practical insights from experienced practitioners.
Industry experience provides valuable perspectives that can't be learned from textbooks. This podcast features seasoned advisors sharing hard-won insights.
Specialized Planning Areas
36. Military To Financial Planner Podcast
Best For: Military veterans transitioning to financial planning careers.
The military-to-civilian transition presents unique challenges and opportunities. This podcast provides specific guidance for veterans entering financial services.
37. Planning & Beyond
Best For: Advisors interested in the intersection of therapy and financial planning.
Financial planning increasingly requires understanding of psychological and emotional factors. This podcast explores those intersections with expert insight.
Business Development & Growth
38. Transition To RIA
Best For: Advisors considering the move to independence who need practical guidance on the transition process.
Host: Brad Wales
The RIA transition involves numerous decisions and challenges. Wales provides systematic guidance for navigating the process successfully.
39. Financial Advisor Marketing
Best For: Advisors who need bite-sized marketing insights that can be implemented quickly.
Marketing doesn't require massive campaigns, often small improvements in messaging or process can drive significant results.
40. Steal My Strategy
Best For: Advisors interested in marketing strategies from other industries that can be adapted to wealth management.
The best marketing innovations often come from outside the industry. This podcast explores strategies that can be adapted for advisory practices.
Exam Preparation & Education
41. Becoming An Elite Financial Advisor
Best For: Advisors focused on continuous improvement and professional development.
Elite performance requires systematic improvement over time. This podcast provides frameworks for advisor development and growth.
The Strategic Approach to Podcast Consumption
Goal Alignment: Select podcasts based on specific business objectives, not random interest
Active Listening: Take notes and identify actionable insights during consumption
Implementation Timeline: Commit to implementing insights within 48 hours
Measurement: Track which podcasts drive actual behavior change in your practice
Recommended Listening Schedule
Daily Commute: Industry news and market analysis (Planet Money, Facts vs. Feelings)
Weekly Deep Dive: Practice management and growth strategies (Financial Advisor Success, The Perfect RIA)
Monthly Strategic Review: Industry trends and future planning (Rethink. Financial Advice, The Advisor Journey)
The Compound Effect of Continuous Learning
The most successful advisors treat podcast consumption as professional development infrastructure. They understand that small, consistent improvements compound over time into significant competitive advantages.
The investment in time spent consuming high-quality content pays dividends through improved client relationships, more efficient operations, and better business decisions. In an industry where marginal improvements can drive substantial increases in AUM and revenue, systematic learning becomes a force multiplier.
The financial advisory industry rewards those who can synthesize information, adapt to change, and implement improvements systematically. Podcasts provide the most scalable way to access high-quality insights from industry leaders and successful practitioners.
The key insight isn't just what you listen to, it's how you implement what you learn. The most successful advisors don't just consume content; they create systems for turning insights into action.
Start with Advisor Ally to understand how technology can amplify your capabilities, then build a learning system around the podcasts that align with your specific business objectives. The investment in continuous learning isn't just about staying current, it's about building sustainable competitive advantages that compound over time.
Remember: In an industry where the difference between good and great can be measured in basis points of AUM growth, the systematic pursuit of marginal improvements isn't optional, it's essential.
