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 The Airwaves: Who Really Owns Your Show?
Mar 3000:54:57Tap to summarizeExperts have been predicting the end of radio since the 1950s, when TV was introduced. Yet radio continues to dominate traditional media, especially among the audiences financial advisors are trying to reach.A 2026 Nielsen report shows that 97% of Gen X, ages 45 to 60, are consistent daily radio listeners, while baby boomers spend the most time listening each week. For advisors, that means their ideal clients are still tuned in.In this episode, Justin sits down with Peter J. D'Arruda, also known as Coach Pete, to talk about the real opportunity behind radio and the risk most advisors do not think about.Many IMOs offer radio and traditional media support. But when advisors leave, they often lose everything. Scripts, hosts, airtime, and even their spot, which can quickly be replaced by a competitor.Coach Pete took a different path. He built his own radio and TV studio to maintain control, protect his independence, and create flexibility in who he partners with.In this conversation, Justin and Coach Pete break down what radio looks like today, why it still works, and how advisors can take back control of their marketing without being tied to a single organization.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 Your Voice – Leveraging the Power of AI Without Diluting Your Brand
Mar 1600:35:15Tap to summarizeDaniel Webster said, “If all my talents and powers were to be taken from me by some inscrutable Providence, and I had my choice of keeping but one, I would unhesitatingly ask to be allowed to keep the power of speaking, for through it I would quickly recover all the rest”Our voice is one of the only truly unique parts of our brand. Logos, websites, and colors can all blend together, but our voice is ours alone. If you use AI to replace your voice, whether spoken or written, you are diluting the one part of your brand that is truly unique to you.Finding the right balance between leveraging AI without diluting your brand can be a challenge. That’s exactly what I discuss with Sam DeLeo, an expert content writer who has composed and published thousands of pieces of content in the financial industry long before AI was widely used, and who now uses AI in a way that doesn’t dilute the brand.Sam can be reached via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-deleo/ or e-mail: sam.deleo@gmail.comFollow 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 Product: Do Annuities Belong In Modern Portfolios?
Mar 101:06:12Tap to summarizeAnnuities have existed in various forms for centuries and have evolved significantly in modern retirement planning. Yet like any financial tool, they operate within an industry where incentives matter. As a result, some retirees have been placed into products that were not appropriate for their situation, while others may have avoided annuities based on misunderstanding or misinformation.In this episode of Beyond The IMO, four respected professionals with differing perspectives come together to examine a central question: Do annuities belong in modern retirement planning?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 Vision: Turning Ideas Into Execution
Feb 1600:42:27Tap to summarizeExecution without vision creates misalignment, but vision without execution creates stagnation.Most financial advisors are what Gino Wickman, in his book Traction, would call visionaries. They see what could be and have the unique ability to take risks. They build the airplane while it is already in the air.But Wickman also makes another point. Visionaries are usually not strong integrators. In simple terms, they are not always the ones who build the structure, discipline, and accountability needed to turn that vision into something scalable.This framework comes from EOS, which stands for Entrepreneurial Operating System. EOS is a system designed to help businesses create clarity, accountability, and healthy execution. It is more than just growing revenue, although revenue is often the result. EOS focuses on healthy, sustainable growth.In this episode, Justin sits down with Rachel Downey, a certified EOS coach, to discuss why visionaries need implementers. Someone who can translate vision into action and keep the team grounded while the advisor continues to innovate.They also discuss clear and vulnerable communication, what healthy accountability really looks like, and what a leadership team running fully on EOS actually feels like.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 Easy Wins: Reaching the Other 97%
Feb 200:51:37Tap to summarizeThe financial industry’s marketing system is broken, and you’re paying the price.Have you ever noticed that the financial industry’s default answer to a seasoned advisor’s growth needs is to “do more seminars”, or “add TV” or “increase your airtime”?It’s true- lead generation programs like dinner seminars and traditional media will work when done consistently and frequently. They will create quick wins that will allow you to sustain and even grow your business.But those wins are only about 3 percent of your true potential.That means you may be walking away from as much as 97 percent of the opportunity. Ninety Seven Percent!!In this episode, Justin talks through this issue with Dr. Kerry Johnson, a best-selling author and business coach who has helped countless advisors scale without massive marketing spend.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 Sale: The Difference Between Busy And Scalable
Jan 1900:41:00Tap to summarizeWhat happens after the sale matters more than most advisors realize!Most listeners understand the 80/20 rule - 20% of our efforts produce 80% of the results. For financial advisors, that 20% is sitting across from a client or prospect.But problems show up in the other 80% of advisor's efforts- writing apps, fixing NIGOs, tracking paperwork, chasing signatures, calling carriers, following up on money, etc. When there are no real processes in place, things fall through the cracks fast.And when help is hired without processes or without teaching them how to think like an advisor, those problems just get passed down. Deadlines get missed. Priorities get confused. The back office becomes the bottleneck.In this episode, Justin sits down with Katelyn Graham, founder of The Admin Effect, to talk through this exact scenario that so many advisors face.Katelyn and her team work inside advisor back offices every day and what she shares in this conversation explains why so many firms stay stuck in the grind even when production is strong.If you or your team is busy but not productive and growth feels heavy, this conversation will hit home.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 Inbox: Staying Top of Mind With High Net Worth Clients
Jan 500:50:54Tap to summarizeIn a world of competing for your clients and prospects attention, inbox battles and email drips can only take you so far, especially with high net worth and ultra high net worth relationships where trust, exclusivity, and top of mind actually matter.This conversation with Andrew and Bjorn from Essential Engine* dives into a premium, coffee table magazine with you on the cover, personalized down to a single client when it counts, built to live in the home, connect with both spouses and the next generation, and create referrals organically without feeling salesy.Here is the link to the special offer mentioned at the end of the show.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 "Why" Behind Beyond The IMO
Jan 200:14:36Tap to summarizeIn this trailer episode, Justin Woodbury shares why Beyond the IMO exists and the experiences that shaped his belief that advisors deserve real independence and genuine support. This episode sets the foundation for a podcast driven by purpose, challenging the industry norms that limit advisors and advocating for a better way forward.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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