Welcome to The Advisor Project
Our Mission
If you think “business as usual” will carry you into the future of financial services, think again. While the industry accelerates, too many advisors and leaders cling to yesterday’s playbook, mistaking best-practices optimization for true evolution. The Advisor Project was created to challenge success traps and stagnation. We are your partner in navigating an industry moving faster than ever, providing the unfiltered candor and practical strategies needed to evolve before you are forced to.
Beyond the Podcast: Our Impact
Our podcast, when released later in 2026, will serve as the industry’s R&D lab for uncomfortable truths. Our primary mission is the active transformation of you and your business. We don’t just leave you with questions, we provide the partnership and tools to move forward.
Elite Coaching: Tailored for financial and wealth advisors, team leaders, executives, and high-potential candidates who want to build personal operating systems to drive consistent success. This is “The Business of You.” Plan to take on the challenge of personal change with courage.
Business Consulting: Strategic partnering for financial and wealth advisors, branch managers, regional managers and executives working to lead their businesses through unpredented change while driving growth. This is “The Business of the Business.”
Speaking & Thought Leadership: Regional meetings and keynotes attacking the sacred cows that limit innovation and long-term success. Articles on Substack and Blogs on The Advisor Project website.
The Architects of Change
David Zimmerman With over four decades shaping the wealth management industry - from financial advisor at EF Hutton to executive roles leading advisor development at Shearson Lehman Brothers, national sales at Wells Fargo Private Bank, CEO First Citizens Bank’s broker-dealer, and head of wealth management at Atlantic Union Bank - David brings unparalleled real-world insight across client-facing, sales, training and development, technology, and leadership domains. He is the author of The Juncture Code: A Leader’s Playbook for Navigating Change and Growth.
Liz Schehl From financial advisor to seasoned wealth management executive, Liz has more than 20 years of experience in financial services - and a track record of designing and leading firm-wide initiatives across training and development, practice management, business optimization, and executive coaching. She works with firms, advisors, and leadership teams who are ready to think differently about growth, change, and succession, challenging the assumptions that limit performance and future-proofing their businesses. She is the author of The Courage to Be Curious: Transforming Leadership from Within.
Services
ELITE COACHING - “The Business of You”
We’ve built, led, and operated in the roles we now coach. That first hand experience shapes how we approach the work - with a clear understanding of the real challenges, decisions, and expectations that come with leading and growing businesses.
Financial Advisors & Team | Wealth Advisors & Teams | Team Leaders | Branch and Complex Leaders | Investment Program Leaders & Regional Managers | Executives | High Potential Candidates for Leadership Roles
BUSINESS CONSULTING - “The Business of the Business”
Whether you call it Practice Management or Business Management, our experience is a distinct advantage. More importantly, we have systems for building “Trust” with your clients and into your business - something always talked about, but rarely implemented with design and intention. We don’t rely on the same old best practices or recycled ideas, which means this work is never off the shelf. We challenge you with new thinking to eleveate your results and expand what’s possible. And yes - you may feel uncomfortable at times. That’s part of the process. Adaptability is required to prepare for what’s next, and that’s how real change happens.
Financial Advisors & Teams | Wealth Advisors & Teams | Team Leaders | Branch & Complex Leaders | Investment Program Leaders & Regional Managers | Executives
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - Thought Leadership
Conferences | Regional Meetings | Branch & Complex Meetings | Offsite Planning Meetings
Topics Include: “The Business of You” | “The Business of the Business” | Systems for Developing Trust | Recruiting and Retention Methods That Get Results | Leadership Operating Systems | Adaptability in Key to Your Future | Success With Succession Planning | Team Formation and Team Dissolution
Contact Us
Interested in learning more or working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!