# Future Fit Financial Planning: In Conversation with Vicki Hicks

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bwd-in-the-know-6569109/future-fit-financial-planning-in-conversation-with-vicki-hicks
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bwd-in-the-know-6569109/future-fit-financial-planning-in-conversation-with-vicki-hicks.md
Podcast: [BWD: In The Know](https://stenobird.com/podcast/bwd-in-the-know-6569109)
Published: 2025-12-09T21:02:11+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/bwd/episodes/future-fit-financial-planning-in-convo-with-vicki-hicks
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64c8f6eb243b4a0010cb8e10/e/69388e530e4329eef0e7260e/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/bwd-in-the-know-6569109/episodes/future-fit-financial-planning-in-conversation-with-vicki-hicks
Duration seconds: 6056

## Resource

AI will not increase your business value. It will protect it. In the second episode the Future Fit Financial Planning series, James is joined by Vicky Hicks , Co-Founder of Melo , for an honest conversation about business value, identity, leadership and the realities of today’s M&A market. Vicky shares her journey of building and selling a firm, the personal identity shift that followed, and the lessons she learned about value creation, culture and operational discipline. She offers a rare, candid look at what is really happening in the M&A landscape; from price pressure to what buyers now expect from advice firms. They explore how clearer propositions, consistent processes and strong operational foundations protect long-term value, and why technology has become essential infrastructure rather than a differentiator. In this episode, they cover: How advisers are evolving into coaches, communicators and planners Why clear propositions and consistent processes protect business value Technology as core infrastructure, not a “nice to have” What buyers are really looking for in today’s M&A market Rising price pressure and shifting valuation expectations Lessons from both nightmare sale stories and record-valuation exits Identity, resilience and planning for your own future — not just your clients’ This episode gives owner-managers, advisers and firm leaders a grounded view of where the market is heading — and a reminder that value isn’t created at exit, but in the everyday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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