Better Planner

Projections can help clients see the future, but they can also trick advisors into building a prettier model instead of a better plan.In this episode, Taylor Stewart and Colin Page talk about where projections actually fit in financial planning. They cover the difference between projections and calculations, why detailed models can create false confidence, and how to keep the focus on the only question that really matters: what should the client do today?In this episode:Why projections are helpful for visualization, but dangerous as the centerpieceThe difference between a projection and a calculationHow detailed models can waste time without changing the recommendationWhy retirement projections still need humilityHow guardrails can make projections more actionableWhy advisors should model what affects today’s decision, then stop

Marketing gets a lot simpler when you stop trying to build a machine and start saying useful things clearly.In this episode, Taylor and Colin talk through how they’ve both found clients without being “marketing people.” Colin shares how his blog became the foundation for his website, newsletter, lead magnet, and prospect follow-up. Taylor walks through what’s worked on his own site, including local SEO, transparent pricing, a simple intro video, and letting prospects self-select before they ever schedule a call.They also talk about why advisor websites don’t need to be fancy, why podcasts can work even with a small audience, and why the best marketing often starts with being clear about who you serve, how you work, and who probably isn’t a fit.In this episode:• Why Colin’s blog became the center of his marketing system• What makes a simple advisor website work• How local SEO helps prospects find you• Why transparent pricing can pre-qualify better-fit prospects• How newsletters and lead magnets can stay simple• Why a small podcast audience can still build trust

The first call has 1 job: figure out whether both sides should keep talking.In this episode, Taylor Stewart and Colin Page walk through their prospecting processes from first website click to signed client. Colin shares how he uses a short form, a 15-minute intro call, document collection, and a one-page plan to qualify serious prospects before proposing a fee. Taylor shares his Ataroke flow, including how he uses a quick plan, hourly conversations, and ongoing planning options depending on what the person actually needs.In this episode:Why your prospect process starts with knowing what you do for clientsHow Colin uses a 15-minute call to sort qualified prospects, referrals, and edge casesWhy asking for documents can be a good filterHow to give value without turning every prospect call into unpaid planningWhy flat fee doesn’t mean same fee for every clientHow Taylor uses a quick plan as a cleaner path into ongoing planningWhy your website CTA should make the first step feel mutual

Advisors can drown in tech, meetings, deliverables, and service calendars before answering the real question: what do clients actually want from me?In this first episode of Better Planner, Taylor Stewart and Colin Page talk about defining the job clients are actually hiring you to do. Taylor shares how asking clients one uncomfortable question helped him cut back a $30,000 tech stack, simplify his planning process, and build around a clearer promise: help clients understand their financial life and know what to do next.In this episode:Why “I just want to help people” isn’t specific enoughHow to ask clients what they actually want from youWhy tech decisions get easier once your planning job is clearThe restaurant analogy for advisory service modelsWhy clients pay for results, not effortHow fewer meetings and deliverables can create a better client experience