Apr 27, 2021
Jeremy Burger is the CEO of Merriman Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisory firm of motivated people that combine technical expertise with compassion and empathy. Merriman was in a period of rapid growth when Jeremy joined the company in November 2007 as a Wealth Advisor. Two months into his new post in the firm, the global financial crisis of 2007 occurred, and Jeremy was at risk of getting laid off. By showcasing his willingness to help the company weather the storm, not only did Jeremy retain his position, he became Director of Advisory Services in July 2014 and CEO in January 2017. Today, Jeremy’s mind for innovation and improvement persists, ensuring that Merriman attracts, retains, and empowers advisors, so they can empower their clients to Live Fully.
Jeremy joins me today to discuss how his willingness to improve different aspects of Merriman helped him avoid getting laid off during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. He describes how Merriman’s Associate Advisor program helps the company address the talent shortage in the financial services industry. He shares the lessons he learned from his favorite book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There and explains what it taught him about refining their service offering. He also underscores the value of cultivating diversity in an organization’s teams and highlights the impact of encouraging financial advisors to find and enhance skills they’re passionate about.
“Good ideas can come from anywhere. Encourage and support people to experiment and you’ll see results you wouldn’t have thought about.” - Jeremy Burger
This week on The Model FA Podcast:
- How Jeremy avoided getting laid off during the 2007-2008 financial crisis
- The value of saying ‘yes’ to opportunities even if they’re not personally enjoyable
- What the FITFO philosophy means and Jeremy’s advice for financial advisors who want to rise to the occasion
- What Merriman’s Associate Advisor program is, how it develops advisors’ skill sets, and why it’s critical to the organization’s growth
- Addressing the financial industry’s war on talent through effective training
- The Advisor DNA Assessment and the value of creating diversity in the financial services and wealth management industry
- Why business leaders need to seek feedback from their companies
- Lessons from What Got You Here Won’t Get You There
- The importance of empowering advisors to flourish with their own ideas
- The impact of allowing people to pursue a career while focusing on their passion
- The power of encouraging advisors to experiment and innovate
Resources Mentioned:
- What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “When you try new things and never fail, that means you’ve never really stepped out of your comfort zone to innovate something new.” - Jeremy Burger
- “Empower advisors to figure out what they’re passionate about and create opportunities that align their skill sets with what the company needs.” - Jeremy Burger
Connect with Jeremy Burger:
About the Model FA Podcast
The Model FA podcast is a show for fiduciary financial advisors. In each episode, our host David DeCelle sits down with industry experts, strategic thinkers, and advisors to explore what it takes to build a successful practice — and have an abundant life in the process. We believe in continuous learning, tactical advice, and strategies that work — no “gotchas” or BS. Join us to hear stories from successful financial advisors, get actionable ideas from experts, and re-discover your drive to build the practice of your dreams.
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President of Model FA, David DeCelle
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