Do you want to know the secret behind the success of Michael Kitces, one of the most sought-after speakers and thought leaders in his industry? Through consistency, practice, and following specific communication strategies, Michael has become the legend he is today. In this episode, Michael talks to Deirdre and reveals the strategies he uses to improve as a speaker, the most powerful medium to establish yourself as a thought leader (it’s not what you think!), and why if his whole business blew up, his email list is all he would need to get started again (the same is true for you). Deirdre Van Nest and Michael Kitces discuss:  Michael’s process for improving as a speaker The importance of business storytelling in presentations How to engage your clients and find relevant stories with a strong takeaway His ‘must-do’s for creating a successful digital empire The most powerful medium to establish yourself as a thought leader And more Resources:  Michael Kitces XY Planning Network AdvicePay New Planner Recruiting fpPathfinder FA BeanCounters Financial Advisor Success podcast The popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View.  Connect With Michael Kitces: LinkedIn: Michael Kitces Facebook: Michael Kitces Twitter: Michael Kitces Connect With Crazy Good Talks®: [email protected] 1 (952)-451-0172 Crazy Good Talks® LinkedIn: Deirdre Van Nest About Our Guest: Michael Kitces is the Chief Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com, dedicated to advancing knowledge in financial planning and helping to make financial advisors better and more successful. In addition, he is the Head of Planning Strategy at Buckingham Wealth Partners, the co-founder of the XY Planning Network, AdvicePay, New Planner Recruiting, fpPathfinder, and FA BeanCounters, the former Practitioner Editor of the Journal of Financial Planning, the host of the Financial Advisor Success podcast, and the publisher of the popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View.  In 2010, Michael was recognized with one of the FPA’s “Heart of Financial Planning” awards for his dedication and work in advancing the profession.  

Imagine if one presentation could change your life forever. That’s exactly what happened to Michael Kitces, one of the most sought after speakers and thought leaders in the financial services industry. But if you’re an entrepreneur, don’t tune out. This episode is for you too because even though Michael’s an advisor, at his core, he’s an entrepreneur and someone every business owner can learn from. In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest talks to Michael about:  His journey from serving clients 1:1 to becoming a paid speaker and one of the most respected thought leaders in his industry  The success of his business today (sneak peek:his podcast has 6 MILLION downloads!) How his digital empire started with a single presentation – yours can too! The best place to get booked if you have little experience as speaker And more Resources:  * Michael Kitces * XY Planning Network * AdvicePay * New Planner Recruiting * fpPathfinder * FA BeanCounters * Financial Advisor Success podcast * The popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View Connect With Michael Kitces: LinkedIn: Michael Kitces Facebook: Michael Kitces Twitter: Michael Kitces Connect With Crazy Good Talks®: [email protected] 1 (952)-451-0172 Crazy Good Talks® LinkedIn: Deirdre Van Nest About Our Guest: Michael Kitces is the Chief Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com, dedicated to advancing knowledge in financial planning and helping to make financial advisors better and more successful. In addition, he is the Head of Planning Strategy at Buckingham Wealth Partners, the co-founder of the XY Planning Network, AdvicePay, New Planner Recruiting, fpPathfinder, and FA BeanCounters, the former Practitioner Editor of the Journal of Financial Planning, the host of the Financial Advisor Success podcast, and the publisher of the popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View.  In 2010, Michael was recognized with one of the FPA’s “Heart of Financial Planning” awards for his dedication and work in advancing the profession.

One of the biggest challenges a presenter has is grabbing the attention of your audience from the first words out of your mouth.  In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre will teach you how to inspire your audience and hook them at the beginning of every presentation both virtually and in person. In this episode you will learn: Why you should skip the “unpleasant pleasantries” in your opening Techniques to open your next presentation with a bang Deirdre’s three go-to-ways to open a presentation The difference between opening a presentation virtually and in person And more! Tune in to learn more about how you can captivate your audience from the first words out of your mouth. Resources:  Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest

What would you do if you could no longer speak? It’s unimaginable isn’t it? That’s the reality our guest Tim Schut is facing.  In June of 2021, Tim was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech. This means he is progressively losing his ability to speak.  He now uses optimism and courage to inspire others, reminding them just how sacred life is. In this poignant episode, Deirdre Van Nest talks to Tim about:  His journey after diagnosis and how he remains optimistic How voice banking will preserve his (and your) voice for his children and future grandchildren. The importance of living in the moment.  The benefits of staying positive and finding something to look forward to every day His conscious shift to stop thinking about the long-term future and focus on today  And more Resources:  Leadmore Podcast John T. Meyer: Finding a New Superpower with Tim Schut GoFundMe: Tim Schut Connect With Tim Schut: LinkedIn: Tim Schut Twitter: Tim Schut Sioux Falls Commercial: Tim Schut 605-212-1027 [email protected] Connect With Crazy Good Talks®: [email protected] 1 (952)-451-0172 Crazy Good Talks® LinkedIn: Deirdre Van Nest About Our Guest: Tim Schut has spent his career in the financial service and real estate industries. But most importantly, he is the father of three amazing girls, and he and his wife are high school sweethearts.

FACT: Your clients are INUNDATED with messages and attention spans are short. That’s why when you express yourself, you MUST take the time needed to create messages that are relevant and interesting. Messages that stand out, can make or break your client and audience engagement.  In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre talks to Bill Cates, speaker, referral coach, and member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, about his latest book, “Radical Relevance”. They discuss ways to help financial professionals and entrepreneurs remain relevant in all their messaging so that their target audience can’t help but respond.  Deirdre and Bill discuss:  Target markets and how to find the right ones for your business Reasons to develop a signature system for you company The importance of confidence and knowing the next steps for your clients The “committed not attached” mindset, what that means, and how it applies to you And more Resources:  Bill Cates Book: Radical Relevance  Complementary eguide to grow your business Top Advisor Podcast Connect With Bill Cates: Bill Cates Relationship Marketing System LinkedIn: Bill Cates Twitter: Bill Cates Connect With Crazy Good Talks®: [email protected] 1 (952)-451-0172 Crazy Good Talks® LinkedIn: Deirdre Van Nest About Our Guest: Bill Cates is a Referral Coach, Speaker, Author, and Dad. He is widely regarded to be the “original” Referral Coach … for good reason! Over the past 25 years, Bill has taught more than 250,000 professionals and business owners how to transform their businesses, to go from incremental growth to exponential growth, by systematically multiplying their best clients.

You’ve recorded your ‘Why Story’. Now, how do you get people to see it?  In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest speaks with Kalli Fedusenko, owner of Kalli Collective LLC. Kalli shares her top tips for promoting and getting more views for your “Why Story” video – or any video for that matter. You’ll learn:  How to use the “Three P’s- Polish, Promote, Publish to get more eyes on your ‘Why Story’ video Why relying on organic views alone is a HUGE mistake How and why to use paid advertising  Little known tips and tricks to leverage your videos on social media  And more Resources:  Do It Yourself Guide Monday.com Idea Decanter Connect With Kalli Fedusenko: Kalli Collective LLC LinkedIn: Kalli Fedusenko Connect With Crazy Good Talks®: [email protected] 1 (952)-451-0172 Crazy Good Talks® LinkedIn: Deirdre Van Nest About Our Guest: Kalli Fedusenko, is the strategic head and fearless leader of Kalli Collective. She has more than 10 years of experience in the financial planning industry and was the designated Digital Marketing Coach for the FPA (before the FPA coaches corner was discontinued). She specializes in brand strategy, web content strategy, video content planning, and more. With the series 7 & 63, and the powerful combination of creativity and strategy, Kalli is the perfect guide to give your brand a voice.

It’s time to stop juggling all those balls. Having your own business or practice doesn’t have to be so stressful. You CAN create a self managing company.  In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest speaks with Barron’s top 100 advisor Erin Botsford, CPF®, founder and chief executive officer at The Advisor Authority. Hear about Erin’s extraordinary business success story, how her company supports orphans in Africa and her strategies for creating a business that runs itself.  Erin discusses:  Why your business shouldn’t be your life, it should be the benefactor of your life Why you NEVER want to be the smartest person in the room How to increase your credibility and make yourself more approachable. How she was able to take 6 months off and still have a rocking business  And more Resources:  Strategic Coach Connect With Erin Botsford: Erin Botsford LinkedIn: Erin Botsford Connect With Crazy Good Talks®: [email protected] 1 (952)-451-0172 Crazy Good Talks® LinkedIn: Deirdre Van Nest About Our Guest: Erin Botsford, CPF® is driven to help financial advisors serve more clients, make more money, and have more freedom in their business with the RIGHT training and tools. Her passion is seeing other financial advisors grow their businesses and succeed. This is why she has created an accessible and easy-to-follow course, so you can condense decades into days with the right tools and systems to give you true freedom in your business.   

Are you struggling to hold your audience’s attention and own the room every time you speak? If so, you might be making the most common delivery mistakes without realizing it.  Let’s turn that around! In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest unpacks 13 mistakes that derail speakers of all experience levels from giving a Crazy Good Talk®! Not only that, but she shares how to make improvements right away — these are the major tips Deirdre has learned from helping thousands of professionals bring in business faster and impact more lives through public speaking. Deirdre discusses: How to give your audience advice without ever sounding preachy The basics of how to move with purpose while on stage-don’t be a ‘pacer’ or ‘swayer’. What it looks like to aim for connection over perfection as a speaker Why it’s a mistake to address your audience as a group (and what to do instead) And more Resources:  * Crazy Good Talks®: 14. How to Master the Power of the Pause in Your Presentations * Crazy Good Talks®: 17. Got “Virtual Fatigue”? A 4-Part Formula for Keeping Your Audience AND Yourself Energized During Virtual Presentations: Part 1 * Crazy Good Talks®: 18. Got “Virtual Fatigue”? A 4-Part Formula for Keeping Your Audience AND Yourself Energized During Virtual Presentations: Part 2 * Crazy Good Talks®: 21. From Free to Fee: Proven Tips for Becoming a Paid Speaker Connect With Crazy Good Talks®: [email protected] 1 (952)-451-0172 Crazy Good Talks® LinkedIn: Deirdre Van Nest  

You’d love to get paid for your professional speaking. But you’re not sure how to go from free-based to fee-based. Sound familiar? In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest tells all! Having gone from speaking for free to now earning a living from delivering her Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre has proven tips to help you initiate and increase your fees over time.  Deirdre discusses:  How structure and practice will propel you to become a Crazy Good presenter and speaker Why she urges aspiring fee-based speakers to get on stage as much as possible  How having a speaking coach will help you make a massive impact on the lives of others Why networking is the key to continually getting booked to speak And more Resources:  Crazy Good Talks®: 2. Why I Left The Stage for 24 years With Deirdre Van Nest Crazy Good Talks®: 8. Speak To Be Remembered With Craig Valentine, MBA “World Class Speaking: The Ultimate Guide to Presenting, Marketing and Profiting Like a Champion” by Craig Valentine and Mitch Meyerson  Crazy Good Talks®: 13. So What Does It Actually Take To Be a Crazy Good Speaker? Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint Connect With Crazy Good Talks®: [email protected] 1 (952)-451-0172 Crazy Good Talks® LinkedIn: Deirdre Van Nest

There are two emotions you can use to motivate and inspire your audience every time you speak. In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest talks with Sam Palazzolo, the managing director at Tip of the Spear Ventures and author of “The Influential Leader”. Sam shares his advice on harnessing the power of two emotions to build yourself as an authority figure to influence and persuade your audience through your messaging. Sam discusses: How to establish value creation through the power of questions Two types of emotions to motivate and inspire your audience The Kiss of Death emotion you must avoid and why And more! Resources:  Business Transformation Self-Assessment Workbook Crazy Good Talks®: 17. Got “Virtual Fatigue”? A 4-Part Formula for Keeping Your Audience AND Yourself Energized During Virtual Presentations: Part 1 Crazy Good Talks®: 18. Got “Virtual Fatigue”? A 4-Part Formula for Keeping Your Audience AND Yourself Energized During Virtual Presentations: Part 2 Connect With Sam Palazzolo: LinkedIn: Sam Palazzolo Tip of the Spear Ventures Connect With Crazy Good Talks®: [email protected] 1 (952)-451-0172 Crazy Good Talks® LinkedIn: Deirdre Van Nest About Our Guest: Sam Palazzolo brings a wealth of expertise to his client base, composed of Fortune 100, Mid-Cap, and Startup companies. A hands-on C-suite leader, he brings a unique blend of expertise to the daily challenges of leadership/business under pressure. In this New Economy, leaders and their organizations desire a different perspective faster with results, and he establishes the launch-pad for exponential growth! Sam is Managing Director at Tip of the Spear Ventures, a Private Equity/Venture Capital and Business Advisory Services firm he established in 2012. In addition to his work at Tip, he founded The Javelin Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing Executive Education through Leadership Development and Executive Coaching programs. He also acts as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) where he annually instructs an Executive Education course based on his fifth book (“Leading at the Tip of the Spear: The Leader” published 2018).