The Advisor Summit Podcast: Sell, Succeed, or Step Back: Choosing the Right Exit Path after Scaling- Ep. 12 Cory Swain

Welcome to The Advisor Summit, the podcast where financial advisors gain analytical insights and tactical strategies from the industry's top minds. Each episode, we bring you exclusive conversations with founders, C-suite leaders, and industry innovators uncovering the trends, tools, and techniques shaping the future of financial advising.

Today’s guest is Cory Swain. Cory is a passionate coach and consultant dedicated to helping independent financial advisors become better business owners and exceed their goals. As a Vice President of Advisor Development at Advisors Excel he has empowered numerous advisors to embrace their CEO roles, guiding them toward achievements they once thought impossible. Cory thrives on the energy of the teams he works with, managing a direct team of 11 that supports over 140 offices gathering over 5 billion in new assets per year.

Though he’s landlocked in Kansas, Cory is proud to be the #1 surfer in the state (self-Proclaimed) and loves traveling to the coast whenever he can to catch a few waves. Faith and Family are at the core of his life; he enjoys chasing his three sons from sport to sport and navigating the adventures of being a “girl dad” with his daughter. Married to his wife, Hannah, for over 14 years, they share a commitment to building a God-centered home.

He is very involved with the local Topeka community through serving on past boards with Young Lives, consult to startup of FCA Topeka, serving with Future Now: Finance and also leads the Faith Driven Advisor group within Advisors Excel.

In this episode, Cory covers a wide range of topics that every advisor can learn from, including:

The Journey to Scaling: Cory explains his path into the financial industry, transitioning from a recruiter to a leadership role at Advisors Excel. He highlights that scaling a practice is more about establishing systems and processes than simply hiring new advisors.

Misconceptions About Scaling: Cory addresses the common misconception that hiring additional advisors automatically leads to success. He stresses the importance of systems and the right first hires for sustainable growth.

Becoming the CEO: Cory discusses when an advisor should stop being the main producer and start focusing on acting as a CEO. He shares real-life examples of advisors who navigated this shift and the challenges they encountered.

Systems and Processes: Cory talks about the need for documented systems in sales, marketing, and client retention to scale a practice. He encourages advisors to start small and use affordable solutions to build these systems.

Acquisitions and Transitions: Cory offers advice on preparing to sell an advisory practice, emphasizing the importance of valuations, understanding the market, and managing risks during transitions.

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At Track That Advisor, we believe that independent financial advisors shouldn’t have to struggle with overwhelming spreadsheets and confusing reports.

Our mission is to simplify data analysis, providing clear, actionable insights that help advisory firms grow and thrive.

With years of experience in financial analytics, our team understands the challenges advisors face. We don’t just provide numbers—we provide a roadmap to success.

Contact us at: hello@trackthatadvisor.com

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Ep #12: Sell, Succeed, or Step Back: Choosing the Right Exit Path after Scaling