Don’t Do That: Don’t Mistake Activity for Achievement with Nate Lenz, Concurrent

What does it take to build a platform that attracts entrepreneurial advisors while simultaneously making strategic acquisitions that most firms wouldn't even consider?In this episode, host Kelly Waltrich sits down with Nate Lenz, CEO and Co-Founder of Concurrent, to discuss scaling with purpose, avoiding the trap of busyness, and why the best growth strategies often come from solving problems you see right in front of you.Nate shares Concurrent’s unconventional path, from launching a minority equity investment program to acquiring a $10B retirement plan consulting business to targeting platform consolidation as their next major play. He reveals how his college football days shaped his leadership philosophy, why he'd rather his team work five productive hours than 80 busy ones, and how "speaking things into fruition" has become a secret weapon for execution.Kelly and Nate cover:00:01 – The non-linear reality of entrepreneurship + Concurrent’s momentum 01:47 – What makes Concurrent different 03:30 – Advisor centricity & celebrating independence in a consolidating industry 07:19 – Why the pendulum swung: aging demographics, mainstream PE & strategic FOMO 09:12 – How discipline + growth-mode bias protect returns 11:30 – Strategic logic behind acquiring Next Retirement Solutions 14:23 – Why firms should pursue creative acquisitions beyond AUM roll-ups 15:41 – Next play: targeting RIAs supporting 10–50 advisors needing scale 16:02 – How to identify true growth-mode firms beyond financials 18:33 – What drives organic growth: niche focus, not “anyone with $2M” 20:40 – Creating content that shows who you really serve 22:13 – Nate’s “Don’t Do That”: never mistake activity for achievement (wisdom from college football coach & John Wooden) 24:06 – Building a culture rejecting the “cult of busy” and focusing on outcomes 25:35 – The quarterly exercise: what’s the one thing that moves the needle? 26:30 – Don’t let perfect block good: launching Wealth Select + iterating on feedback 28:32 – Speaking solutions into existence: how socializing ideas drives innovation 31:09 – Framework for imperfect launches: define problem, incorporate authorship, iterate 36:48 – Kelly’s reminder: write down your goal and look at it daily 37:02 – Nate’s office philosophy: “No window is safe” when you need a whiteboardAbout Our Guest: Nate Lenz, CEO & Co-Founder, ConcurrentNate Lenz is the Co-Founder and CEO of Concurrent, bringing nearly 2 decades of experience in financial services and a singular focus on empowering advisors to have a meaningful impact on those they serve.  📩 Stay Informed – Join Our Newsletter!Stay ahead of industry trends and get exclusive updates straight to your inbox: Sign Up Now https://intention.ly/💬 Let’s Talk!Have questions or ready to start your next marketing campaign? Contact us: https://intention.ly/contact-us/