# 168: Solo - How I'd Spend My First $100,000 as a Financial Advisor with Brad Johnson

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/do-business-do-life-the-financial-advisor-podcast-dbdl-6175641/168-solo-how-i-d-spend-my-first-100-000-as-a-financial-advisor-with-brad-johnson
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/do-business-do-life-the-financial-advisor-podcast-dbdl-6175641/168-solo-how-i-d-spend-my-first-100-000-as-a-financial-advisor-with-brad-johnson.md
Podcast: [Do Business. Do Life. — The Financial Advisor Podcast — DBDL](https://stenobird.com/podcast/do-business-do-life-the-financial-advisor-podcast-dbdl-6175641)
Published: 2026-05-13T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.art19.com/episodes/7eb78b4d-4394-4d57-9ff4-aa9c8a48ef02.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0
Audio file: https://rss.art19.com/episodes/7eb78b4d-4394-4d57-9ff4-aa9c8a48ef02.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0
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Duration seconds: 599

## Resource

Most advisors build their business on momentum instead of intention, duct-taping it together as they go, and then wondering years later why growth feels so hard. What if the problem isn't effort? What if it's the foundation? In this solo episode, I'm breaking down exactly how I'd invest the first $100,000 if I was starting a financial advisory practice from scratch. Three investments, in order, that I believe separate the advisors who build something bigger than themselves from the ones who stay stuck grinding at a ceiling they didn't even know they built. These aren't industry secrets. They're not complicated. But the fastest-growing advisors I've coached (and I've worked with folks managing hundreds of millions) did all three on purpose, and they did them early. That's the difference. 3 of the biggest insights from Brad Johnson… #1.) The First Hire Every Advisor Should Make Most advisors wait too long to hire an EA because they think they can't afford it. I want to flip that entirely. Every hour you spend on admin, scheduling, and paperwork is a direct tax on your revenue ceiling. A great EA creates leverage. #2.) Marketing Isn’t Optional, It’s the Engine I break down the mindset shift that separates advisors who consistently invest in marketing from those who treat it like an expense, and why funding a proven one-to-many system early is one of the highest-leverage moves you can make. #3.) Your Office Is Sending a Message. Is It the Right One? The environment where you meet clients isn't just a backdrop. It's a direct signal about the experience they can expect. Your space affects not just your clients' confidence in you, but your confidence in yourself. SHOW NOTES https://bradleyjohnson.com/168 FOLLOW BRAD JOHNSON ON SOCIAL X Instagram LinkedIn FOLLOW DBDL ON SOCIAL…

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