Today we talked with Socium Advisors founder and CEO Scott Underwood about the moment he decides to either become a real CEO or hire one, then commits to building the leadership skill set. He shares how a planning-first model and serious investment in people help drive growth from roughly $500M to nearly $5B AUM.

Key topics discussed in this episode:

• Building written comprehensive financial plans so products serve the plan

• Creating an organization to deliver high-quality service at scale

• Hitting the CEO inflection point and committing to leadership growth

• Delegating with clarity so teams get real professional autonomy

• Reducing micromanagement to build trust and performance

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About Scott

Scott Underwood is the Founder and CEO of Socium Advisors, where he leads with a simple belief: the employee experience drives the client experience. Under his leadership, Socium has grown from an insurance-focused practice into a nationally recognized advisory firm serving individuals, families, and businesses through comprehensive financial planning.

Scott began his career with a Northwestern Mutual internship in 1991 and was recognized as a Top 10 Intern for three consecutive years, including one year as the top intern in the company. As the industry evolved, Scott expanded his vision and built a firm centered on partnership, long-term relationships, and exceptional client service.

Today, Scott is consistently recognized as one of the top advisors in the country, earning honors such as the Barron’s Top 1200 Advisors award and the Forbes Financial Security Award. He also serves on the Forbes Finance Council. Throughout his career, Scott has remained committed to helping clients navigate complex financial decisions while building a culture where both team members and clients can thrive.

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About Kristin Burke

Kristin Burke works with financial advisors and leaders in financial services who are building and scaling firms. She helps them lead more effectively, develop their team, and execute consistently on the priorities that drive growth.

Work with Kristin

If you are building a firm and want a strategic partner to help you think through leadership, team development, and execution, you can learn more about working with Kristin here:

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