In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath welcomes Michael Kitces, Chief Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com.

In this conversation, Michael shares research-backed insights on what truly drives productivity in advisory firms and what surprisingly does not. Drawing on data from hundreds of advisory firms, he explains why revenue per advisor is one of the most consistent and meaningful ways to measure productivity across business models.

Michael discusses:

Why technology alone rarely delivers the productivity gains advisors expect
How team structure, delegation, and role clarity create real leverage
The optimal size of advisory teams and why productivity often declines as teams grow too large
How hiring the right support staff can dramatically increase capacity and revenue

He also challenges advisors to rethink pricing, sharing why fee compression is largely a myth and why many above-average advisors undervalue their work. Michael explains how pricing is a lever advisors are allowed and encouraged to use to build sustainable, scalable firms that reflect the true value they deliver.

Guest Links
Website: https://www.kitces.com
Podcast: Financial Advisor Success Podcast
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkitces

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Planner Productivity: Where Advisors Gain (and Lose) Capacity - Michael Kitces [Chief Financial Planning Nerd]

Smarter Planner Podcast