Growing Organically: The Art of Strategic Client Relationships

March 25, 2025

Episode 086: On this week’s episode of The Connected Advisor, I speak with Andy Peters, Partner at Goldstein Advisors. Andy’s CPA license is a rarity in financial planning, giving him a unique business and tax focus in his role as Financial Planner and Partner at Goldstein. He leads the team, managing operations and setting the firm’s vision and strategy.

We discuss the unique path and impressive organic growth of Goldstein Advisors. Andy emphasizes the significance of building genuine client relationships, community involvement, and a relentless focus on client-centric service. He also shares the firm’s strategic approach to growth, its commitment to maintaining its culture, and its outlook on the evolving landscape of the financial advisory industry, including the role of AI and the increasing demand for tax expertise.

Key Takeaways

Despite advancements in technology and AI, financial advising remains a relationship-based business. Trust and personal connections are irreplaceable, and the most successful advisors prioritize client relationships over automation.

Goldstein Advisors has grown to a billion-dollar RIA entirely through organic referrals, community involvement, and client satisfaction rather than advertising or aggressive marketing. Their success underscores the power of delivering exceptional service that naturally attracts new clients.

As financial planning becomes more complex, advisors need to move beyond basic investment management. Expertise in areas like tax planning, estate planning, and business succession will be crucial for staying competitive and delivering real value to clients.

Intentional growth and firm culture matter more than size. Goldstein Advisors prioritizes maintaining a strong company culture over rapid expansion. They are selective about partnerships and acquisitions, ensuring that any expansion aligns with their values and client-first approach.

Quotes

“The connectedness plus the focus on our clients has been our growth engine, and we’ve never felt the need to go outside of that because we have all the growth we can handle as it is.” ~ Andy Peters

“At the end of the day, this is a relationship business. We take care of clients, and clients trust us to take care of them. Technology is important. AI will probably become increasingly important in some ways, but I don’t think any of that replaces the need for the personal connection we have with our clients.” ~ Andy Peters

“We can’t be everything to everyone. If we do that, we’re simply going to fail in everything that we try to do. So, we try to stick to those core competencies where we have the deep skill set and where it’s not going to be automated away by AI or other types of tech tools.” ~ Andy Peters

Links

Andy Peters on LinkedIn

Annex Wealth Management

Carbone Cancer Center