Kick it Open with Shelby Nicholl

The future of wealth management depends on the next generation—but are we setting them up for success?

In this episode of Kick It Open, host Shelby Nicholl sits down with Alanah Phillips and Lindsey Lewis, co-founders of the Advisor Launch Lab, to explore what it really takes to attract, train, and retain top next-gen talent.

They break down the flaws in traditional hiring, why diversity in teams matters, and how mentorship, emotional intelligence, and continual learning are game-changers for building strong advisory teams. Plus, they tackle one of the industry's biggest challenges: reducing the high fallout rate among new advisors through better support and fresh thinking.

If you’re serious about the future of financial advising, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

Schedule a discovery call with Shelby Nicholl: Zoom Scheduler

Produced by Shelby Nicholl.
Edited by Aaron Sherman.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU

Could your next big business breakthrough come from well-being, not just your strategy? Shelby Nicholl connects with Stevyn Guinnip, founder of Grow Wellthy, for a conversation that challenges the traditional advisor growth playbook. Reporting in from the opposite side of the globe—Shelby in Marrakesh and Stevyn in Madeira—they explore why the health of the advisor and the client might just be the most overlooked lever for sustainable success.

Stevyn shares her deeply personal story of growing up with a financial advisor dad where she witnessed the rewards and toll of the profession. Now, with her firm of Grow Wellthy, she helps advisors build dream practices—ones that support their physical, mental, and emotional well-being and help clients live longer, healthier retirements.

Her “Hierarchy of Wealth” framework draws parallels between financial planning and wellness planning, and it’s packed with ideas advisors can use immediately in their personal lives and in client conversations.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why long-term wellness is the missing piece of many financial plans
• How burnout is silently eroding advisor performance
• What “health taxes” are and how to reduce them
• How to talk about client health without crossing professional boundaries
• Why "diversification" is just as important in the gym (and the kitchen) as it is in your asset allocation

This isn’t a typical wellness pep talk—it’s a practice growth strategy conversation wrapped in real talk about sleep, stress, and sustainability.

Plus, our Kick It Open signature closing: “What’s one door you’re kicking open right now?”

“I’m kicking open the door to publishing my very first book—‘The Health & Wealth Playbook.’ I want it to be a wake-up call for the industry, showing how advisors can thrive personally and professionally when they prioritize their well-being.” – Stevyn Guinnip

✨ Resources:

• Learn more at growwellthy.com
• Check out Stevyn’s Health is Wealth Conversation Guide & Webinar Library for Advisors
• Follow her on LinkedIn for daily inspiration

Learn more at MurielConsulting.com

Learn more at MurielConsulting.com

Schedule a discovery call with Shelby Nicholl: Zoom Scheduler

Produced by Shelby Nicholl.
Edited by Aaron Sherman.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU

In this episode of the Kick It Open Podcast, hosts Shelby Nicholl and Iyanna Harris engage in an insightful discussion with Becca Hajjar, Managing Principal and Chief Business Development Officer of Commonwealth Financial Network.
With a wealth of experience and a commitment to driving diversity in wealth management, Becca sheds light on her journey, Commonwealth’s growth, and how advisors can evaluate a firm’s “fit factor.”

Episode Highlights:

💼 Finding Your Fit: Becca offers insights on evaluating firm culture and how advisors can assess alignment beyond business needs, looking at a firm’s “personality” to see if it truly matches their values.

⏳ Becoming “Time Merchants”: Commonwealth champions time-saving strategies that empower advisors to focus on what matters most. Becca shares how outsourcing options like PPS Select can lead to better client experiences and help advisors scale efficiently.

👩🏽‍🤝‍👨🏻 Championing Diversity: Becca’s passion for growing opportunities for women and diverse advisors shines through. Commonwealth’s initiatives, from flexible licensing paths to mentorship programs, empower new advisors to step into lead roles with confidence.
To learn more about Commonwealth: Reach out to Shelby or Iyana and check out Our Leadership Team | A Passion for Serving Our Advisors.

Articles about Commonwealth:
Commonwealth Announces Highest Recruiting Results in Its 43-Year History, with New Assets Nearly Doubling from 2021 - AdvisorHub
Women-Owned Independent RIA Moves Its Business to Commonwealth | Business Wire
We also invite you to learn more about Muriel Network and Catalyst.

Schedule a discovery call with Shelby Nicholl: Zoom Scheduler

Produced by Shelby Nicholl.
Edited by Aaron Sherman.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU

Are you making critical mistakes that are weakening your executive presence and limiting your impact?

In this episode of Kick It Open, host Shelby Nicholl and Jackie Knolhoff, Executive Director of Communications at Wells Fargo, break down a Forbes article by Terina Allen titled “Executive Presence: 8 Warnings Signs That You Don’t Have It.”

Shelby and Jackie bring decades of leadership experience to this conversation, sharing real-world insights on what executive presence truly means—and how to avoid the subtle mistakes that can undermine your influence.

They explore:
✅ The 8 warning signs that signal weak executive presence
✅ How small missteps can short-change your success and leadership impact
✅ The communication strategies that help leaders command a room
✅ Why brand and image matter in shaping executive presence
✅ The role of media and visibility in positioning yourself as a leader

You'll be entertained by:

• Shelby Nicholl: She's a 25-year corporate vet who rose to SVP at LPL Finanical and Director at Edward Jones. She hosts the Kick It Open podcast. She founded Muriel Network in 2023 and launched the Muriel Network community app in Feb. 2024. If you're not part of the community yet, DM her on LinkedIn.
• Jackie Knolhoff serves as Executive Director of Communications at Wells Fargo. She has decades of experience working with media and helping advisors build their brands and images. Fun fact: She and Shelby worked together at Edward Jones where Jackie was a member of media relations team. During Jackie’s tenure, the firm emerged as a truly national player within the wealth management industry.

Muriel Siebert (first woman member of the NYSE ) said, "When a door is hard to open and nothing else works, sometimes you just have to rear back and kick it open.” After decades of sluggish progress, it’s time for us to kick the door open on women’s success.

Schedule a discovery call with Shelby Nicholl: Zoom Scheduler

Produced by Shelby Nicholl.
Edited by Aaron Sherman.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU

Women are already expert negotiators—they just don’t always realize it.

This episode of Kick It Open starts with a simple but powerful text: a reminder that negotiation isn’t just for boardrooms—it’s a skill women use every single day.

Host Shelby Nicholl is joined by Kathryn Valentine, CEO of Worth More Strategies, to break down the science of negotiation and why traditional advice often fails women. Kathryn shares research-backed insights, personal stories, and a holistic negotiation strategy designed to increase impact without increasing burnout.

This conversation covers:
✅ Why women already have the skills to be rockstar negotiators
✅ How to advocate for yourself as effectively as you advocate for others
✅ The power of body language, silence, and understanding what the other party values
✅ A game-changing reframe of stress and “non-promotable” tasks—so you can ask for (and get) the resources you need

If negotiation has ever felt stressful or intimidating, this episode will change the way you see it—and show you why you’re already more skilled than you think.

Resources mentioned in the episode:
To access Kathryn’s courses and the “75 Things to Negotiate” visit her website at: https://worthmorestrategies.com/
Claudia Goldin’s book Career and Family is incredible! A bit of a history lesson but full of great info we should all know.

Linda Babcock, Brena Peyser, Lise Veterlund and Laurie Weingart’s collective book “The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead End Work”

To connect with Shelby Nicholl, reach out to her via LinkedIn or at [email protected].
About this podcast:
If you're a woman in wealth management (or any male-dominated industry), this podcast is for you.
Muriel Siebert (first woman member of the NYSE ) said, "When a door is hard to open and nothing else works, sometimes you just have to rear back and kick it open.” After decades of sluggish progress, it’s time for us to kick the door open on women’s success.

Schedule a discovery call with Shelby Nicholl: Zoom Scheduler

Produced by Shelby Nicholl.
Edited by Aaron Sherman.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU