The Real Talent Challenge: Why Hiring NextGen Advisors Is More Nuanced Than We Think with Natalie Taylor

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to hire the right people or frustrated by how hard it is to bring more women and diverse talent into your firm, this episode gives you the roadmap you’ve been missing.Natalie Taylor, founder and CEO of The Goodland Group and a 20-year industry veteran, joins Zach and Kelsey in the latest episode of The Advice Business Podcast to break down what is actually holding advisory firms back from building a healthier, more diverse talent pipeline.Spoiler alert: it may not be a lack of candidates. It is oft en the structures, habits, and cultural blind spots that unintentionally push great people away.In this conversation, Natalie reveals:Why the industry has a pipeline problem (and why lack of leadership representation problem could be to blame)How to write job descriptions that genuinely attract diverse candidates and avoid unintentional tokenismSimple cultural shifts that immediately make your firm a safer, more supportive place for young and underrepresented advisorsThe foundational elements firms must offer to retain talent, such as transparent compensation, clear career paths, and learning-first developmentWhy moving away from sales-first roles can help position new entrants for success, especially womenHow diversity directly enhances client experience and relationship qualityA tactical, step-by-step hiring process you can implement tomorrow, from job boards to screening to candidate evaluationIf you are building a firm for the future, this episode gives you the practical tools and the mindset shift to hire better, support people better, and grow a team that reflects the clients you serve.Episode Chapters:06:16: The “pipeline problem” & lack of women leadership in the wealth management industry07:44: Inclusive hiring: avoid tokenization10:00: Embedding diversity into firm culture14:08: Career paths & compensation transparency16:00: Reducing sales pressure for new advisors17:46: Women in leadership visibility19:50: Diverse advisors serving diverse clients21:35: Women’s strengths in planning & relationships30:30: Hiring steps: niche job boards & Loom screening32:06: Interview process: case studies & feedback skills34:28: Finding diverse talent without lowering standardsRelevant Resources:[Article] What Does “Good” Investment Management Look Like?https://useseeds.com/investment-management-standards/[Article] How to Start Asking Advisors Deeper Questionshttps://useseeds.com/asking-deeper-questions/[Podcast] The Foundation of Advisor Value = Humanity + Expertisehttps://useseeds.com/podcast/where-humanity-expertise-meet-the-true-foundation-of-advisor-value/[Podcast] Advisors: Are You Confident in Your 1% Fee?https://useseeds.com/podcast/are-you-confident-in-your-1-percent-fee/Connect with us:Zach Conway on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-conwayKelsey McKenna on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kelseymckenna3Website: www.useseeds.comOur Blog: https://useseeds.com/blog/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seeds-investorDisclosures: https://useseeds.com/terms/Ready to scale the human side of advice with Seeds? Schedule your personalizeddemo today at www.useseeds.com/demoAsk Zach and Kelsey a question!