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Recent Episodes
What Advisors Should Do When Your Broker-Dealer Sells (Ep. 18)
When your independent broker-dealer sells, it can change everything about how you serve clients and run your business. In this episode, Daren Blonski and Carmine Corino break down what happens when your firm sells or changes direction and what you can do about it. From evaluating alignment and fiduciary responsibility to exploring independence, they share hard truths about how these transitions impact advisors and their clients. They discuss: How advisors should assess whether to stay with a sold firm, move to another, or go independent Why private equity ownership often creates misalignment between advisors, clients, and shareholders How the concept of fiduciary duty gets distorted within broker-dealers The consequences of compliance and “selling away” rules that protect firms, not clients Why true independence may be the only way to gain long-term alignment and control And more! Resources: Broken Dealer: Navigating the Path to Financial Advisor Independence by Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski Connect with Daren Blonski: LinkedIn: Daren Blonski Sonoma Wealth Advisors Connect with Carmine Corino: LinkedIn: Carmine Corino Cornerstone Planning Group
Investing in Yourself: The Advisor’s Greatest Asset (Ep. 17)
Growth as an advisor begins with growth as a person. In this episode, Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski discuss how self-development, health, and discipline directly impact your capacity to lead and grow your business. They share how tracking a personal development budget, joining masterminds, and committing to daily habits have transformed their lives and leadership. Key takeaways: How Carmine and Daren allocate 10% of their annual budgets to personal development The link between physical discipline and business growth How a personal development (PD) budget fuels leadership capacity The importance of asking, “Who do you need to become to achieve your vision?” Why breaking barriers in health and mindset makes business challenges easier to overcome And more! Resources: Broken Dealer: Navigating the Path to Financial Advisor Independence by Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith Who Not How by Dan Sullivan Connect with Daren Blonski: LinkedIn: Daren Blonski Sonoma Wealth Advisors Connect with Carmine Corino: LinkedIn: Carmine Corino Cornerstone Planning Group
The Three Identities Every Advisor Must Master (Ep. 16)
Many advisors excel at client service yet struggle with the demands of running and scaling a business. In this episode, Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski break down the three key identities that every advisor must recognize: advisor, business owner, and entrepreneur. They discuss how to align your time and energy with the role that drives you most, the hidden costs of “going independent,” and how AI and firm dynamics are reshaping the advisor landscape. Key Takeaways: The three roles every advisor plays: advisor, business owner, and entrepreneur, and why clarity between them is vital How to identify which role gives you energy and align your work accordingly The real cost of independence versus tucking into an established firm Why AI and technology shifts will redefine advisory roles and firm relationships How mid-sized “sweet spot” firms empower advisors through flexibility and support And more! Resources: Broken Dealer: Navigating the Path to Financial Advisor Independence by Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy Connect with Daren Blonski: LinkedIn: Daren Blonski Sonoma Wealth Advisors Connect with Carmine Corino: LinkedIn: Carmine Corino Cornerstone Planning Group
Mindset, Adversity, and the Fuel to Keep Going (Ep. 15)
Adversity can either break you or build you. For Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski, it became the spark that shaped their resilience, drive, and commitment to growth. In this episode, The Broken Dealer hosts share raw personal stories of hardship, bullying, and professional friction, and how those struggles became powerful motivators. They explore how mindset shapes success, why responding matters more than reacting, and how to turn criticism into fuel. Key takeaways: Carmine’s sixth-grade time capsule revealed the roots of his resilience and determination How workplace adversity and regulatory battles transformed Carmine’s perspective and discipline Why negative voices and critics can be reframed into motivation and “fire in the belly” The importance of teaching children grit in a life of abundance How trauma, when acknowledged and redirected, can fuel growth and purpose And more! Resources: Broken Dealer: Navigating the Path to Financial Advisor Independence by Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski Connect with Daren Blonski: LinkedIn: Daren Blonski Sonoma Wealth Advisors Connect with Carmine Corino: LinkedIn: Carmine Corino Cornerstone Planning Group
Breaking Free with AI and Smarter Tech for Advisors (Ep. 14)
Advisors today must decide whether technology will hold them back or propel them forward. Big firms often utilize AI to reduce costs, while independent advisors can leverage it to enhance efficiency and the client experience. How can AI empower advisors instead of replacing them? How do you build a tech stack that supports growth rather than restricts it? In this episode of The Broken Dealer, Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski delve into how AI and automation are transforming the role of advisors. They share real examples of tools that work, discuss why independence offers more autonomy, and explain how technology can elevate both practice management and client service. Key takeaways include: How AI is giving small-town advisors the capabilities of big firms Why large broker-dealers restrict innovation to protect the “lowest common denominator” Practical examples of AI streamlining tax planning and client onboarding How independence creates wider highways for adopting tech that benefits advisors and clients Why even basic tools like online scheduling can dramatically improve efficiency And more Resources: Broken Dealer: Navigating the Path to Financial Advisor Independence by Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski Connect with Daren Blonski: LinkedIn: Daren Blonski Sonoma Wealth Advisors Connect with Carmine Corino: LinkedIn: Carmine Corino Cornerstone Planning Group
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