From Advisors Excel To The Mall: Why Topeka Is Worth It | Cody Foster

We sit down with Cody Foster, cofounder of Advisors Excel, to unpack how a back-office platform grew to support hundreds of advisers, why he’s betting on West Ridge Mall, and what it takes to lead through scrutiny and slow timelines. The conversation moves from annuities to anchor tenants to the quiet rituals that keep leaders grounded.• AE’s model as the back office for independent advisers• Simple explanation of annuities and retirement income• How AE earns: thin margins, scale, managed assets• Culture, events, and building a service-first team• Handling criticism and narrowing feedback that matters• Mastermind habits, men’s groups, and consistency• Restaurant and hotel bets to seed downtown Topeka• West Ridge Mall constraints, ownership, and HVAC reality• Redevelopment vision, three entries, office anchor• Retail headwinds, anchors, and a two- to three-year horizon• Why invest locally and how small actions compound• Practical ways to support Topeka’s momentum________________________________________0:00 - Opening Banter & Setup0:39 - Introducing Cody Foster2:25 - Origins: Washburn, Partnership, AE5:16 - What Advisors Excel Actually Does8:55 - Growth, Culture, And The Weight Of Scale12:42 - Handling Criticism And Staying Focused15:15 - Men’s Community, Rituals, Masterminds19:30 - Restaurants, Hotel, And Downtown Bets23:45 - West Ridge Mall: Constraints And Vision28:10 - Tenants, Timelines, And Retail Reality33:20 - Economics, Bonds, And Misconceptions37:20 - Why Invest In Topeka41:05 - Practical Ways To Help Your City44:20 - Rapid Fire: Local Life & Tastes49:25 - Podcast Craft And Final Takeaways_________________________________________Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KSWebsite -- https://topekainsider.com/Facebook ---   / topekainsider Instagram --   / topekainsider Follow Your Hosts: 📱Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jdFor Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram!