Podcast
Beyond The IMO™
Hosted by Justin Woodbury · EN
Beyond The IMO™ is a podcast built around the belief that independent financial advisors should have access to everything they need to thrive while remaining independent.
In an industry where access to tools, training, marketing, and insight from industry thought leaders is often limited to the IMO an advisor is part of, this podcast exists to provide that same value regardless of IMO or RIA affiliation.
Through conversations, perspectives, and real-world experience, Beyond The IMO™ brings an advisor first, transparent approach to how advisors grow, operate, and think
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Beyond Transactions
1w ago00:48:29Tap to summarizeRelationships and transactions aren't the same thing, especially in the financial industry.In this episode, Justin Woodbury sits down with Dale McGregor to discuss what it looks like to build a business around genuine relationships instead of simply closing the next sale. They explore why consistently investing in people, whether they're clients, prospects, or employees, creates stronger businesses, stronger cultures, and longer-lasting relationships.Dale calls it "passionate compassion," a philosophy that's evident in the way he leads his team, serves his clients, and develops the next generation of advisors. It's a conversation about relationships, leadership, and why giving often produces the greatest returns.Follow Beyond The IMO on:FacebookLinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramGuests and companies featured on Beyond The IMO are selected based on relevance and value to independent advisors. Neither Justin nor Beyond The IMO receive compensation, referral fees, or incentives tied to who appears on the show.
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Beyond Caps & Pars
3w ago00:50:37Tap to summarizeWhat if insurance carriers were completely transparent about the sustainability of their caps and participation rates, and wholesalers were equally transparent about the products they recommend?Justin Woodbury sits down with Drew Schmalz and Jon Blomquist of The Annuity Edge to discuss subsidized cap rates, why some products look better than they really are, and the uncomfortable conversations advisors can end up having with clients as a result.Follow Beyond The IMO on:FacebookLinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramGuests and companies featured on Beyond The IMO are selected based on relevance and value to independent advisors. Neither Justin nor Beyond The IMO receive compensation, referral fees, or incentives tied to who appears on the show.
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The Best Assistant You'll Never Hire
Jul 600:39:24Tap to summarizeWe all get the same 1,440 minutes every day, yet so many advisors spend theirs on administrative work instead of sitting in front of clients.In this episode, Justin Woodbury sits down with Breena Fein and Gabe Caldwell, the co-founders of HeyQuinn, to discuss how AI can automate emails, meetings, CRM updates, and countless other repetitive tasks, helping advisors buy back hours every week.Follow Beyond The IMO on:FacebookLinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramGuests and companies featured on Beyond The IMO are selected based on relevance and value to independent advisors. Neither Justin nor Beyond The IMO receive compensation, referral fees, or incentives tied to who appears on the show.
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Beyond Overcoming Fear: Why Embracing It Changes Everything
Jun 2200:36:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Beyond The IMO, Justin Woodbury sits down with Carl Richards to discuss a topic that impacts every advisor, entrepreneur, and professional at some point in their career: fear.Carl's perspective on fear inspired Justin to make one of the biggest decisions of his professional life, leaving a leadership role at a marketing organization to build a business focused on supporting advisors and their clients. That experience led to a deeper realization that fear often shows up whenever we are faced with meaningful decisions, whether it's fear of failure, fear of success, fear of the unknown, or simply fear of taking the next step.Rather than focusing on how to defeat fear, Carl shares a different approach: embracing it. Together, Justin and Carl explore why fear is often a sign that something important is on the other side of the decision and how learning to work with fear can lead to growth, clarity, and action.They also discuss Carl's new book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches, as well as The Society of Advice, an organization-agnostic community where financial advisors gather to learn, share ideas, and become better professionals.If you've been putting off a decision because of fear, this conversation may be exactly what you need to hear.Follow Beyond The IMO on:FacebookLinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramGuests and companies featured on Beyond The IMO are selected based on relevance and value to independent advisors. Neither Justin nor Beyond The IMO receive compensation, referral fees, or incentives tied to who appears on the show.
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Marketing Minute: The Raw Truth About Seminars
Jun 1500:09:15Tap to summarizeIn this micro episode, Justin breaks down the pros and cons of dinner seminars, and shares what makes any marketing tool work.Follow Beyond The IMO on:FacebookLinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramGuests and companies featured on Beyond The IMO are selected based on relevance and value to independent advisors. Neither Justin nor Beyond The IMO receive compensation, referral fees, or incentives tied to who appears on the show.
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The Grass Is Greener Where You Water It: Why Frequency Beats Perfection Every Time
Jun 800:44:35Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Beyond The IMO, Justin sits down with fellow advisor, friend, and marketing expert Colin Overweg to discuss one of the most important lessons in marketing: the grass is greener where you water it.Colin built his business by consistently creating valuable content on TikTok, not LinkedIn, YouTube, or Instagram. Through that process, he developed a steady stream of referral business and learned firsthand what it takes to stand out in a crowded marketplace.The conversation explores the power of consistency, frequency, and focusing on the platforms and strategies you choose rather than constantly chasing the next opportunity. Justin also shares two of the biggest lessons Colin has taught him over the years: the grass is greener where you water it, and perfect is the enemy of good.If you've ever wondered why some advisors are generating leads through social media while others aren't, this episode will challenge the way you think about marketing and growth.Follow Beyond The IMO on:FacebookLinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramGuests and companies featured on Beyond The IMO are selected based on relevance and value to independent advisors. Neither Justin nor Beyond The IMO receive compensation, referral fees, or incentives tied to who appears on the show.
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Online Leads Aren’t the Problem, You Are
May 2500:44:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Beyond The IMO, Justin Woodbury sits down with Jim Fisher to talk about a highly debated marketing topic in the financial industry: online leads and virtual selling.According to the Financial Planning Association, 65.5% of clients said virtual financial planning meetings can be just as productive as in person meetings. Yet many advisors who have never closed even one lead virtually have concluded that online leads suck.Justin and Jim break down why that happens. Justin shares that while some online lead programs create a bad experience by sending the same lead to multiple advisors, especially when the person never intentionally requested calls from several different advisors, many times the leads only “suck” because advisors are trying to sell them the same way they would a seminar, workshop, or radio lead where trust and credibility have already been established.Jim shares how JuceBox approaches virtual selling differently by providing exclusive online leads to advisors along with hands on required training from fellow advisors who are consistently closing massive amounts of business using the same methods they teach. The conversation highlights why training, process, and expectations matter if advisors want to thrive in the virtual space.Follow Beyond The IMO on:FacebookLinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramGuests and companies featured on Beyond The IMO are selected based on relevance and value to independent advisors. Neither Justin nor Beyond The IMO receive compensation, referral fees, or incentives tied to who appears on the show.
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Why Estate Planning Wins The Great Wealth Transfer Problem
May 1100:57:34Tap to summarizeThe research is clear: $124 trillion is in motion thanks to the great wealth transfer. Half of that is owned by HNW households, and most existing estate plans are now out of date thanks to three major rule changes in six years.Demand for qualified estate planning is outrunning supply. Spectrem Group and EY's Global Wealth Research Report have found that estate planning consistently ranks in the top 3 services high net worth investors say they want from their primary advisor, yet a majority report their advisor has never delivered a substantive estate planning conversation.The advisors who build estate planning into the center of their practice over the next decade won't just retain clients through the great wealth transfer. They'll capture the assets the passive advisors lose. It is, by every credible measure, an unprecedented opportunity.This episode is part two of a three-part series highlighting vendors that provide what Justin defines as turnkey services, where from the time an advisor signs up to delivery, everything is provided to set them up for success.In this conversation, Justin sits down with Carter Wilcoxson, founder of Epic Services, and Epic's CMO, Rosalie Perkins. Epic has an excellent estate planning program that fills the gap between demand and delivery, and for advisors, that means opportunity to serve more clients.
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Beyond The IMO: When the System Is Built Around the Client
Apr 2701:00:33Tap to summarizeThe word “turnkey” is one of the most overused and misunderstood terms in the financial services industry. It’s often marketed as a way for advisors to generate results with little to no effort, but in reality, every marketing program requires someone to show up, do the work, and consistently engage in the process of generating, nurturing, and closing leads.In this episode, Justin Woodbury challenges that misconception and introduces a different perspective. While no system eliminates the need for advisor involvement, there are companies that manage the entire process from the moment an advisor commits through the delivery of the service, allowing advisors to focus on what they do best.This episode is the first in a three part series featuring conversations with CEOs of companies that operate this way. Justin sits down with Chris Kowalik, founder of ProFeds, a company that connects federal employees with qualified financial advisors. With a background as an Arabic linguist and signals intelligence analyst in the Marine Corps, Chris brings a high level of structure, discipline, and intentionality to her business.The conversation highlights what makes ProFeds unique, including Chris’s commitment to protecting her team, carefully selecting the advisors she works with, and prioritizing the needs of federal employees.Justin also shares insights from auditing many of the major IMOs, pointing out that while most offer similar services, there are a select few that operate differently. These organizations may not be heavily marketed or follow the traditional IMO model, but instead allow advisors to choose their own vendors and marketing strategies while investing back into the advisor, in some cases covering the entire marketing budget.This episode sets the stage for a deeper look at alternative models that are helping advisors grow in a more flexible and strategic way.Follow Beyond The IMO on:FacebookLinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramGuests and companies featured on Beyond The IMO are selected based on relevance and value to independent advisors. Neither Justin nor Beyond The IMO receive compensation, referral fees, or incentives tied to who appears on the show.
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Beyond The IMO: Conversations With Sheryl J. Moore
Apr 1300:51:49Tap to summarizeSheryl J. Moore is known as the foremost expert on annuities and life insurance, and she graciously allows Justin to ask anything about annuities and the insurance industry overall. The conversation includes controversial topics, which she embraces and answers with kindness, balance, and unparalleled knowledge of the industry.If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Sheryl’s company, Wink Intel, and her platform, Wink’s Annuity Specs. It’s an incredible tool that should be in every advisor’s tool belt. There’s no other software out there like Annuity Specs. It’s in a class all its own.Follow Beyond The IMO on:FacebookLinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramGuests and companies featured on Beyond The IMO are selected based on relevance and value to independent advisors. Neither Justin nor Beyond The IMO receive compensation, referral fees, or incentives tied to who appears on the show.
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