logo
episode-header-image
Sep 30
1h 30m

Ep 457: Making Financial Planning Less S...

MICHAEL KITCES
About this episode

While many financial advisors begin with dollars and data, today's guest believes the path to long-term client relationships starts with one powerful question: What brings you joy? By focusing on leading with purpose and values, he has grown a $200M firm and attracted clients who align with his philosophy.

Larry Sprung is the founder of Mitlin Financial, an advisory firm based in Hauppauge, New York, and affiliated with Carson Group, that serves 200 client households. In this episode, he shares how he begins prospect meetings with open-ended “joy” questions to set a nonjudgmental tone and show prospects that his firm is focused on their well-being, not just their finances. Listen in to learn how Larry has built trust before prospects ever book a call, how his values-first mindset has led to a loyal client base, and how he’s now intentionally scaling after years of running a lifestyle practice. 

For show notes and more visit: https://www.kitces.com/457

Up next
Oct 7
Ep 458: Overcoming Perfectionism Burnout While Still Serving Clients Well With A Standard Of “Calm Excellence” with Lisa Brown
Given the high stakes involved (and the desire to provide high-quality service) when working with clients, it can be tempting for financial advisors to lean into perfectionist tendencies. However, doing so can sometimes lead to overwork and potentially burnout, particularly as a ... Show More
1h 30m
Sep 23
Ep 456: Expanding From $75M Solo To $260M Multi-Advisor Team By Creating A Company Blueprint Of How Clients Will Be Served with Hilary Hendershott
Scaling a solo advisory firm into a thriving team-based business takes more than strong systems—it takes a shared sense of purpose and values that guide every decision. This episode explores how one advisor used a living “Blueprint” to align her team, empower her staff, and creat ... Show More
1h 29m
Sep 16
Ep 455: Adding Hard-Dollar Value For HNW Executives By Guiding Them In Negotiating For More (Equity) Compensation with Emily Shacklett
Executive pay packages are complicated—which often leads to these individuals leaving money on the table. From equity negotiations to non-compete clauses, the right financial advisor can help clients fight for what they’re worth. In this episode, we dig into how advisors can crea ... Show More
1h 29m
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
E117: What Will Family Offices Invest into in 2025? w/Hansen Ringer
Hansen Ringer, Managing Director at Sepio Capital sits down with David Weisburd to discuss the asset class that delivers equity-like returns without the market risk, what distressed credit reveals about market cycles and investor behavior, and what happens when stocks and bonds m ... Show More
42m 10s
Jan 2024
Improve your Private Equity portfolio exit strategy with Jason Hendren
Introducing Jason Hendren Jason Hendren is a CEO coach, speaker, and exit planning advisor who guides entrepreneurs in reaching large-scale objectives and planning for an eventual exit. Jason knows firsthand what it's like to grow a profitable business and navigate the selli ... Show More
15m 50s
Mar 2024
Anthony Pompliano: Investing, Operating and Distributing - [Making Markets, EP.20]
My guest this week is the Anthony Pompliano, better known as Pomp. Pomp is an investor, entrepreneur and one of the biggest media personalities in the world of crypto. In today's conversation, we talk about Pomp’s early career, his evolution as a capital allocator, and how he vie ... Show More
1 h
Feb 2025
166: Reinventing Equity Investing: James Anderson's Journey, From Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust to Managing Partner & CIO of Lingotto's Innovation Strategy
In today’s episode we have the chance to talk to one of the most successful investors of his generation, James Anderson, Former Partner at Baillie Gifford. I'm joined by Mark Wallace, MD of Rothschild & Co, who brings his expertise on US tech equities to this discussion. From 198 ... Show More
1h 14m
Jan 2025
#403: Phillip Alexeev, CGO at CrossFi, on Banking the Unbanked, Bridging TradFi & Crypto, and The Evolution of Payment Tech
Phillip Alexeev, Chief Growth Officer at CrossFi is a distinguished growth marketing strategist who has architected success stories across Web2 and Web3. As a veteran growth advisor, he has helped companies achieve billions in revenue, multiple IPOs, and strategic acquisitions th ... Show More
27m 18s
Sep 25
#477: Macbrennan Peet, Founder of Project 0, on Borrowing Against Your Entire DeFi Portfolio, Onchain Credit Markets, and Entertainment Finance
MacBrennan Peet is the Founder of Project 0, the first multi-venue, DeFi-native prime broker on Solana. Mac has built and scaled companies across finance, trading, and healthtech, with multiple successful exits and acquisitions, previously founding and exiting Temporal, selling C ... Show More
31m 48s
May 2024
CNBC Pro Talks: How to profit from Warren Buffett's methods in investing and life 5/3/24
How can investors use the timeless investing strategies and sage teachings of the iconic Warren Buffett to make their own investing decisions? What does the portfolio of Berkshire-owned companies and stocks say about your own portfolio? CNBC Pro goes on a deep dive of all things ... Show More
20m 30s
Jun 2025
Revisiting: A Successful Transition to Investing with Steve Young
This episode originally aired on Feb 20, 2024. Steve Young is most well known for his NFL accolades, but since his retirement from the 49ers he’s built another type of empire as Partner, Chairman and Co-founder of private equity firm, HGGC. In this episode, SoFi's Head of Investm ... Show More
37m 57s
May 2025
Warren Buffett’s Real Estate vs. Stocks Strategy & Thoughts on Bitcoin
In this enlightening clip, join Rashad Bilal, Troy Millings, and Ian Dunlap as they break down Warren Buffett’s investment preferences and debate the classic question: stocks or real estate? The trio dives into public records showing Buffett famously owns just one home and prefer ... Show More
7m 19s
Dec 2024
The Art of Investing
Investing has evolved over the last decade into something of an art: the canvas is complex and finding the right companies, knowing how much to invest, when to plunge in and pull back and maintaining a fine balance of risk and opportunities requires nothing less than an artist’s ... Show More
23m 24s