A hundred episodes, three kids, and one unstoppable partnership.
In this special milestone of the Advisor Mentorship Podcast, Jeremy Houser is joined by his favorite guest, his wife, Christina Houser, for a conversation about growth, family, and what it really means to build a life together.
Married since 2017, Christina and Jeremy open up about the lessons they’ve learned throughout parenthood, business, and marriage, proving that blending family and career can be a source of strength.
Jeremy and Christina explore:
The mindset shifts that come with raising children and running a business together
Why planning and habit changes are key to growth and success
How “buying back your time” can help families focus on what truly matters
The importance of communication and listening in marriage and business
Their shared belief that family life and entrepreneurship can strengthen one another
Most advisors understand that taxes impact every financial decision, yet few make tax planning part of their process.
Steven Jarvis, CPA, is on a mission to change that by helping advisors build confidence, stay compliant, and add real value through intentional tax conversations.
In this episode, Jeremy Houser talks with Steven Jarvis, Founder of Retirement Tax Services, about how to make tax planning approachable and actionable. Steven shares his journey from CPA to educator, explains how collaboration between advisors and tax professionals enhances client relationships, and highlights the importance of continuous learning and accountability.
Key Takeaways:
How Retirement Tax Services partners exclusively with financial advisors to make tax planning an integrated, repeatable part of client service
The importance of recognizing that every financial decision has a tax impact and why ignoring it can harm clients
How to use the 37-Point Checklist to confidently review client tax returns and identify planning opportunities
The purpose behind The Summit, a hands-on event for advisors to learn from peers and turn ideas into action
Why growth happens when advisors lean into discomfort, stay accountable, and commit to lifelong learning
Steven Jarvis, CPA, is the CEO and Head CPA at Retirement Tax Services, a tax firm focused on working with financial advisors. With more than a decade of experience in the accounting profession and a background in teaching, Steven recognized that most traditional CPA firms focus narrowly on tax return preparation, a model that leaves many clients exposed to unnecessary tax burdens and many advisors without the tools to address them. He offers advisors access to systems, training and partnerships that keep them in the driver’s seat while integrating tax awareness into client conversations.
Change challenges every leader, but it also shapes character, culture, and legacy.
How do you lead when everything around you is shifting? How do you build a culture that lasts beyond your own leadership?
In this episode, Jeremy Houser talks with Steve Kerns, Founder of InsurMark and Executive Vice President of Business Relationships at Simplicity, about embracing change, leading with humility, and building culture through servant leadership.
Steve shares insights from his four decades as an entrepreneur and reflects on how valuing people above all else creates meaningful growth that stands the test of time.
Key Takeaways:
How change has defined Steve’s leadership journey and why adaptability is essential for personal and professional growth
The lessons from Who Moved My Cheese? and how to embrace constant change with optimism and courage
The foundations of InsurMark’s culture, rooted in values, service, and putting people before profit
The story behind InsurMark’s Family Reunion and Founder’s Club traditions and their role in building community
Stephen Kerns is the Executive Vice President of Business Relationships at Simplicity Group. He founded InsurMark in 1983 and led the company for nearly four decades, shaping it into one of the industry’s leading distribution firms for insurance and financial products. Known for his commitment to servant leadership and culture building, Steve continues to mentor financial professionals and executives across Simplicity’s growing network.
Leaders often think they understand themselves and their teams, but research shows otherwise. Self-awareness and communication are frequently overlooked, even though they’re the foundation of building effective organizations.
In this episode, Jeremy Houser welcomes Kellie Fern, Director of Business Operations and Development at The Predictive Group, to discuss how the Predictive Index and behavioral data help leaders design stronger teams, improve communication, and align people strategies with business goals.
They explore when businesses should use these tools, how talent optimization works, and why culture and communication matter more than ever.
Kellie discusses:
How the Predictive Index helps uncover self-awareness and behavioral drivers within a workplace
Why many leaders overestimate their self-awareness and the importance of recognizing blind spots
How behavioral data can be used to design complementary and diverse teams that fill performance gaps
When organizations should introduce these tools, whether during crisis points or proactive growth phases
How talent optimization aligns people with strategy to improve communication, engagement, and culture
Kellie Fern is the Director of Business Operations and Development at The Predictive Group. She joined the Predictive Group in 2016 after graduating from Arizona State University with an emphasis in Business Management. During her first 2 ½ years in the business, she was a part of the Shared Services team and was able to support and consult with clients on all their business needs.
Life then brought her to Dallas, TX where she worked within a hospitality technology company in a sales enablement and learning development role. She was able to globally train and develop all the incoming and current sales reps within the business. During her time there, she was able to utilize PI and fell back in love with the value the tool can bring to organizations.
She found that her passion with PI was something she wanted to pursue on a more permanent basis and she is excited to continue to share the value human analytic tools can bring to all organizations.
Change can feel uncomfortable, but it often opens the door to growth.
How do you adapt your business, embrace new tools, and still stay true to building strong client relationships? How do you bring awareness to crucial issues like long-term care while running a thriving practice?
In this episode of the Advisor Mentorship Podcast, Jeremy Houser sits down with Scott Leonardi, Founder and President of Complete Solutions, to talk about embracing change, building a recognizable brand, and helping clients prepare for the financial challenges of retirement. Scott shares how he’s grown his business, the role of long-term care planning, and his unique way of framing retirement as “The Great Adventure.”
Key points:
The story behind Scott’s “ducks in a row” branding and how it builds awareness
Why embracing change, from logos to technology, has fueled a 40% business growth
How hiring staff and building a “not-to-do” list shifted his focus to revenue-generating activities
Why asset-based long-term care solutions are essential for protecting both wealth and families
How Scott reframes retirement as “The Great Adventure” and equips clients with guidebooks to prepare
Scott Leonardi is the President and Owner of Complete Solutions and a Certified Financial Fiduciary who has dedicated his career to educating individuals about retirement. For over 25 years, he has helped pre-retirees get their ducks in a row by focusing on key areas such as making the money they’ve worked their whole lives to obtain work for them in retirement, maximizing Social Security benefits through tailored claiming strategies, and finding medical or prescription coverage that fits their unique needs and budget.
Innovation in indexing is reshaping the way advisors deliver value to clients.
What happens when you blend insurance insight with market index design? How can efficiency and transparency create stronger outcomes for clients and advisors alike?
In this episode, Jeremy Houser speaks with Alan Grissom, CEO of 12 South Capital and founding partner of Brooklyn Investment Group, about his journey from building annuity products to designing disruptive indices like the 500 IQ. He shares how his approach to index design is helping advisors align expectations, manage volatility, and unlock meaningful value in fixed index annuities.
Alan discusses:
His career path from AIG to leading the S&P index business for insurance and founding Brooklyn Investment Group
The design of the 500 IQ index and how it delivers transparency, efficiency, and stronger outcomes for clients
Why many volatility-controlled indices underperform and the importance of intraday pricing
How interest rate environments impact fixed index annuities and advisor expectations
The future of disruptive index design and upcoming innovations from 12 South Capital
Alan Grissom is the CEO of 12 South Capital, an independent firm focused on creating index-based investment strategies for financial products, and a founding stage partner with the direct indexing firm, The Brooklyn Investment Group.
Prior to founding 12 South Capital in 2022, Alan spent the previous 12 years with S&P Dow Jones Indices, culminating as the Head of Business North America and the Global Head of Insurance with a remit covering over $15 Trillion of assets.
Before joining S&P Dow Jones Indices, Alan held several positions within AIG, including head of annuity products, and was instrumental in establishing the Independent Distribution Channel for life and annuity sales in the US.
Alan has a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama, where he is a member of the Board of Visitors for the Culverhouse College of Business.
Sometimes it takes stepping away to see your life and business with fresh eyes.
In this episode, Jeremy Houser shares reflections from a cruise through Europe, his first time abroad without the kids, where business and pleasure blended through unforgettable experiences.
From cultural observations to fireside chats with industry icons, Jeremy explores how leadership, family, and elevated standards shape successful advisors and thriving firms.
Jeremy discusses:
The value of reconnecting with his spouse during a nine-day, kid-free European cruise that blended business and pleasure
How meeting and traveling with successful advisors highlighted shared standards, culture, and leadership styles
Key insights from conversations with Jeremy Siegel and Robert Shiller on the economy, Bitcoin, and business mindset
Why culture isn’t just about talk, it’s built through actions, expectations, and how you lead your team and clients
The personal and professional benefits of stepping away to gain perspective, observe global differences, and reset your standards
What began as a clunky Excel-based solution has transformed into a tool used by thousands of advisors to help clients make informed financial decisions with clarity and precision.
In this episode, Jeremy Houser sits down with Steve Goldstein, CFP®, ChFC®, Founder of Thomas Gold Solutions, to explore how Retirement Analyzer has evolved over 15 years into a highly detailed yet accessible financial planning software.
They discuss how user feedback, thoughtful development, and a focus on simplicity help advisors deliver more confident and customized client experiences.
Steve discusses:
How Retirement Analyzer developed from a vague spreadsheet tool into a detailed, client-focused software solution
The importance of simplifying financial concepts for clients while giving advisors full control over plan depth
How new features like client portals and docu trackers foster stronger advisor-client collaboration
The role of community feedback in shaping ongoing updates, features, and training opportunities
Why focusing on planning outcomes, not products, creates longer-lasting client relationships
Steve, a graduate of Drexel University in Philadelphia, resides in Western Pennsylvania. He began his career in the financial industry 1983, where he worked on Wall Street for 22 years trading stock and index options in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Steve was a Partner at Liberty Capital Group through the late 1990s and a Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of a large FMO from 2008 to 2010.
In 2010, Steve teamed with partner Brooke Thomas to purchase Cravens & Associates and form Thomas Gold Solutions. His experience as an advisor is an asset when creating software solutions that help advisors and clients understand the value of the financial planning process. Steve and Brooke work continuously to keep the Retirement Analyzer software cutting edge with updates and new functionality. Steve holds his CFP® and ChFC® designations.
From launching a retail annuity business to becoming the leading annuity distributor, Athene’s journey is a masterclass in growth and adaptability.
This week, Jeremy Houser sits down with Rod Mims, EVP and Head of Retail at Athene USA, to explore the strategies and pivotal decisions that fueled their rapid ascent.
This episode pulls back the curtain on technology breakthroughs, the power of people and culture, and the “silver tsunami” driving unprecedented annuity demand. They also dive into what it truly takes to sustain growth while delivering meaningful value to clients and partners.
Rod discusses:
The founding story of Athene’s retail business and lessons from scaling up from $10 billion to $36 billion in annual premium
The role of technology, especially moving from paper applications to 90% electronic processing and piloting paperless carrier-to-carrier transfers
The importance of building strong strategic partnerships and maintaining operational efficiency to support exponential growth
The impact of demographic shifts, interest rates, and volatility on the future of the fixed index annuity industry
How Athene fosters a high-retention, engaged culture through communication, leadership training, and employee feedback
Rod Mims serves as the Executive Vice President and Head of Retail Sales at Athene USA. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing Athene’s retail annuity business and driving continued growth through the development of strong partnerships.
Mr. Mims joined Athene in 2011 and served as Senior Vice President and National Sales Manager until he assumed his current role, bringing extensive institutional experience and strategic initiative to continue the successful execution of the organization’s growth plans.
Prior to joining Athene, he was the National Sales Manager for Genworth Financial, with responsibility spanning its bank, wirehouse, and independent broker-dealer channels.
Mr. Mims received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, accompanied by a degree in Marketing and Supply Chain Management. He graduated from the GE Management Development Institute- Crotonville and completed Executive Education from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
About Athene:
Athene is a leading retirement services company that specializes in helping its customers retire with confidence and is a solutions provider to institutions. As a company, Athene is driven to do more and is never satisfied with the status quo. Athene strives to create innovative financial solutions and has a strong team to serve our policyholders and our communities.
Growth in financial advising demands a balance between serving current clients effectively and exploring transformative strategies for business development.
This week, Jeremy Houser engages Duncan MacPherson, founder and CEO of Pareto Systems, to uncover principles for scaling a financial advisory practice while enhancing client relationships. From mastering practice management to leveraging technology like AI, Duncan provides actionable insights to redefine value and elevate advisory practices.
Duncan discusses:
Strategies to strengthen client advocacy by focusing on existing relationships
The evolution from organic growth to scalable, team-oriented practices
The significance of creating structured processes to enhance business efficiency
The importance of balancing emotional intelligence with technological advancements
Steps for crafting a robust exit strategy that maximizes business value and legacy
Driven by a deep passion for unlocking potential, Duncan MacPherson steers Pareto Systems in his role as CEO. Together with financial professionals and visionary firms, he is committed to designing businesses that achieve both profitability and purpose.
Duncan, alongside his team, leverages the unique ‘The Blue Square Method’ – a methodology inspired by best practices – to guide professionals toward discovering their ‘Blue Square.’ This represents the ideal state where their business activities are in perfect harmony with their passion and purpose.
As a speaker in high demand, he travels extensively throughout North America and around the world, conveying dynamic and fact-rich presentations that have made him a popular spokesperson for the Financial Services industry.
His expertise in demystifying business development and marketing in the financial world has universal appeal, from the high-level advisor to the successful wholesaler, to corporate financial institutions. His primary goal is to help Professionals achieve liberation and order in their businesses through step-by-step methodology and execution.
