Cheryl Dillon is a pioneering technology entrepreneur and Co-founder of Quik!, a leader in forms automation and productivity solutions. Her journey began in the early 80s with a passion for computers and problem-solving, leading to the launch of Efficient Technology Inc. with her son Richard Walker in 1999. Cheryl helped grow Quik! by tackling paper form inefficiencies in the financial industry, reducing tasks that took hours to minutes. Although retired from daily operations since 2010, she remains strategically involved with Quik! as a board member, influencing its mission to make paperwork the easiest part of every transaction.

The secrets to customer success are often hidden in plain sight, but what if the key component is as fundamental as family dynamics? Can the principles of motherhood translate to groundbreaking business acumen? When technology meets empathy, a powerful combination emerges to rewrite the rulebook on customer relations and business growth.

Cheryl Dillon, a pioneer in the tech industry, delves into her journey, harnessing her passion for computers and problem-solving to revolutionize how forms are processed in the financial sector. Alongside her son and podcast host Richard Walker, she shares her experience and the challenges of starting a tech company from the ground up, including her strategy for earning customers' trust and loyalty through transparency and service — a tactic that has led Quik! to achieve remarkably high customer satisfaction scores. She highlights her commitment to customer satisfaction, which became the cornerstone of their flourishing business.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Cheryl Dillon, Co-founder of Quik!, about transforming customer experiences through innovation. Cheryl discusses how Quik! revolutionized paperwork processes for financial experts, the sacrifices and behind-the-scenes work of starting a business, insights into providing empathetic and effective customer service, and how telling the tough truths can build long-term customer loyalty.

Spenser Segal is the Founder and CEO of ActiFi, a company that provides premier engagement solutions for advisors in the wealth management industry. He is recognized as one of the top 25 most influential people by Investment Advisor magazine and has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before ActiFi, Spenser held management positions at American Express Financial Advisors, Dain Rauscher, Barrington Capital Management, and BigCharts. He is a Certified Financial Planner and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst.

Are advisors fully leveraging the myriad of solutions in the wealth management industry? By harnessing the power of AI, from real-time customer insights to automation, you can catapult advisor efficiency and client satisfaction to the next level. How are personalization and strategic engagement key to the success of financial institutions?

Spenser Segal, a Certified Financial Planner, delves into how he revolutionizes the wealth management industry by providing a SaaS-based engagement platform that helps financial institutions and advisors deliver top-tier, integrated advice efficiently. By honing in on the top three solutions from potentially overwhelming options, his model ensures that firms can maximize their offerings and achieve organic growth. Spenser's approach focuses on creating a collaborative environment where advisors are understood and their goals met, fostering a symbiotic relationship between them and institutions. This, in turn, enhances advisor retention and overall client satisfaction.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Spenser Segal, Founder and CEO of ActiFi, about enhancing advisor engagement in wealth management. Spenser discusses how ActiFi assists financial institutions in improving advisor engagement and organic growth, how motivation, ability, and prompts can dramatically influence the adoption of new technologies and behaviors, and the challenges wealth management firms face when encouraging growth among their advisors.

Dr. Preston Cherry is the Founder and President of Concurrent Financial Planning, a company dedicated to aligning clients' wealth with their well-being. Recognized as one of the top financial advisors in the US by Investopedia, Dr. Cherry is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and a Certified Financial Therapist™ who has made significant contributions to his field. He serves as the Head of Financial Planning Program and Director of the Charles Schwab Center for Personal Financial Planning at UW-Green Bay and is a past president of The Financial Therapy Association. Passionate about advancing the human condition through financial education, Dr. Cherry holds a PhD in personal financial planning and is the author of Wealth in the Key of Life, which explores the interconnectedness of life and money.

In today’s fast-paced world, achieving financial harmony has become essential for living a fulfilled life. However, the pursuit of financial success often overshadows our fundamental well-being, creating a tense relationship with money. So, how can we reshape our relationship with money to align it with our deepest aspirations?

Dr. Preston Cherry, a seasoned financial advisor and author, shares his unique approach to overcoming the barriers people face in achieving their desired life. He introduces the concept of financial harmony, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's financial decisions with personal values and life goals. Through insightful anecdotes and candid discussion, he challenges the notion that money is merely a tool, advocating instead for seeing it as a vital partner in life. By giving money a persona and recognizing its role in achieving life goals, individuals can find permission to pursue their dreams and aspirations without seeking external validation.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Dr. Preston Cherry, Founder and President of Concurrent Financial Planning, about creating financial harmony. Dr. Cherry discusses how Concurrent Financial Planning helps clients align their wealth with their well-being, the interconnectedness of life and money in achieving happiness, the power of permitting oneself to pursue wealth and well-being, and the challenges and solutions for couples navigating financial planning together.

Wim Van Lerberghe is the Founder of Advintro, which provides outsourced fractional sales services for fintechs, helping them scale and grow their businesses. Before founding Advintro in 2019, he spent two decades in enterprise sales with prominent firms such as Penson and Pershing. Originally from Belgium, Wim's diverse career includes graduating from law school and working as a tour guide in the USA before venturing into day trading. In his current role, he emphasizes building trust and genuine relationships, focusing on curating innovative fintech solutions for large organizations.

Entering the competitive landscape of the financial technology market can be a daunting challenge for fintech companies. As they strive to establish a foothold, these firms often encounter significant obstacles, including the complexities of building a robust network, earning customer trust, and successfully introducing innovative products to potential buyers. So, how can these companies navigate these obstacles while ensuring a seamless customer experience?

Wim Van Lerberghe, an enterprise sales expert in fintech, delves into the innovative world of fractional sales, addressing these questions and outlining how his company transforms the fintech sales scene. Leveraging trust, expertise, and a unique vetting process, he explains how they connect innovative tech solutions with enterprises that benefit from them, creating win-win scenarios. Wim highlights the role of genuine relationships in business growth and how AI is reshaping the sales landscape without replacing the human element.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Wim Van Lerberghe, Founder of Advintro, about how fintech companies can effectively scale and enter new markets. Wim discusses how Advintro helps fintech companies expand successfully through tailored sales strategies, the symbiotic relationship between fintech innovators and their institutional clients, the crucial role of trust in the sales process, and what makes a sales relationship work or falter.

Brett Gilliland is the Co-founder and CEO of Visionary Wealth Advisors, an independent wealth management firm dedicated to providing world-class service to clients. He helps clients and financial advisors achieve their dreams with a unique focus on “F to the sixth power” principles. Additionally, Brett hosts the Circuit of Success podcast and serves on several boards, including the Saint Louis Sports Commission and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy. Passionate about making a difference, he and his wife Julie founded Swing Fore Hope, a charity that supports cancer research and provides financial assistance to cancer patients.

In the fast-paced business world, how can companies ensure their clients survive and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape? Is there a universal formula to guarantee customer success while fostering company growth?

Experienced financial advisor Brett Gilliland delves into the ethos that powers his wealth management and life approach. He discusses the unique "F to the sixth power" concept — focusing on faith, family, fitness, firm, fun, and finances, and how these facets foster personal and professional growth. Brett showcases his commitment to helping clients achieve a future greater than their past and how his company culture aligns with these principles to strengthen team cohesion and client associations.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Brett Gilliland, Co-founder and CEO of Visionary Wealth Advisors, about integrating personal values into client relationships. Brett shares the philosophy behind Visionary Wealth Advisors' client-focused strategies, the 6F principle and how it guides personal and professional life, his vision for growing his firm with a balanced approach to work and life, and the mission and success stories behind Swing Fore Hope.

Check out "Achieving a Future Greater Than Your Past" by Brett Gilliland: https://amzn.to/4gkg1fK

Richard Weylman is the Founder of Richard Weylman, Inc., Weylman Consulting Group, and The Weylman Center. He delivers personalized, dynamic, and memorable presentations that educate, inspire, and help audience members elevate business performance. Richard is a keynote speaker inducted into the Professional Speaker Hall of Fame and a consultant and coach inducted into the Customer Experience Hall of Fame for helping organizations and individuals achieve outcomes and measurable results. He is the author of three books, two of which are international bestsellers, including his latest, 100 Proven Ways to Acquire and Keep Clients for Life.

In a world where businesses constantly strive for customer loyalty, understanding how to connect with clients truly is more crucial than ever. What are the secrets behind making customers feel valued and ensuring they stay with you for life?

Richard Weylman, an international bestselling author and speaker, offers invaluable insights into these questions. He unveils top business leaders' strategies and mindset for attracting and retaining customers. Richard shares his remarkable story of overcoming early life adversities to become influential in luxury car sales and publishing, inspiring people to focus on what truly matters in customer interactions. He delves into the importance of personalizing connections, utilizing the right language, and how empathy is fundamental to winning and retaining customers.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Richard Weylman, Founder of Richard Weylman, Inc., about enhancing customer relationships and loyalty. Richard shares the secrets to building true customer loyalty, actionable tactics for achieving customer experience excellence, and language strategies that build empathy and improve sales conversations.

Check out "100 Proven Ways to Acquire and Keep Clients for Life: The Path to Permanent Business Success" by Richard Weylman: https://amzn.to/4cWyqwa

Matthew Connor, Founder and CEO of CyberLynx, began his programming career at 12 while working for his father’s company as a coder. His passion led him to develop his own company, which focuses on offering premium IT services — specializing in protecting growing businesses from ransomware. CyberLynx, previously known as Your IT Department, continues to provide cybersecurity and professional IT and support services for expanding companies. Matthew is on a mission to assist business leaders in increasing their profitability using cutting-edge technology.

Matthew served in the US Army for 17 years as a human intelligence officer and received his bachelor’s in business administration and management from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

The complexity of technology and the rising cyberattack threats can leave many businesses vulnerable if not well-managed. Managing a company when the stakes are high, especially in the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, can be challenging. What key strategies can you employ to protect and streamline your business operations?

Matthew Conner, a US Army cybersecurity veteran, shares his journey from a young programmer at 13 to a seasoned leader in IT and cybersecurity. By integrating IT management and cybersecurity, he illustrates how he grew his company from a small IT department to a key player in managing IT and cybersecurity for larger companies. Matthew emphasizes the synergy between IT and cybersecurity, suggesting that efficient IT design enhances security measures. He illustrates how he employs a team approach to customer service, ensuring personalized and comprehensive support, highlighting the importance of understanding one's limits, and building a robust team to compensate for personal weaknesses.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Matthew Conner, Founder and CEO of CyberLynx, about navigating the complex landscape of IT and cybersecurity. Matthew discusses how CyberLynx provides comprehensive IT and cybersecurity services, the importance of efficient system design for effective cybersecurity, the dangers posed by hackers, how modern security can mitigate these threats, and how to manage security for large and small businesses.

Lacey Shrum is the Founder and CEO of Smart Kx, a company dedicated to revolutionizing AUM fee billing for financial advisors through innovative technology solutions. With a background as an attorney and former Chief Compliance Officer, she has been featured in U.S. News & World Report for her insights on the growing responsibilities of financial advisors. Lacey is passionate about integrating technology to streamline operations and improve compliance, enabling advisors to focus more on client relationships. Her expertise in the financial sector makes her a sought-after leader in optimizing advisory firm processes.

In a world where regulatory compliance and fee billing can overwhelm financial advisors, and despite the widespread adoption of tools like Excel and QuickBooks, manual processes still dominate, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors. How can advisory firms remain transparent, efficient, and compliant in their billing practices while maximizing their growth potential?

Lacey Shrum, an attorney and former CCO, delves into the complexities of AUM fee billing and how her company provides innovative solutions for financial advisors. She discusses the importance of aligning contract terms with accurate billing practices and its impact on maintaining client trust and fulfilling regulatory requirements. Lacey shares insights on common challenges advisors face, such as manual billing processes and unbilled assets, and how her technology simplifies revenue processes and enhances transparency. By bridging the gap between legal agreements, disclosure documentation, and fee calculations, advisors manage their revenue more effectively and position their firms for growth and potential mergers or acquisitions.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Lacey Shrum, Founder and CEO of Smart Kx, about revolutionizing fee billing for financial advisors. Lacey discusses how Smart Kx ensures financial advisors adhere to fiduciary duties with correct fee documentation and calculation, the common billing challenges advisors face, the compliance support Smart Kx offers, and how measuring blended rates can reveal surprising truths about an advisor's actual earnings.