"A trait of admired leaders: They're present in times of crisis. If you think of any leader who is worth their salt, when things are really wrong, they show up. They're there. They're basically on call; they're ready to rip. That is one behavior that is a foundational one." - Alex Potts

Hear more about what it truly means to be a leader from Alex Potts on this week's episode of Success That Lasts.

Alex is the Chairman of Buckingham Strategic Partners, a partnership firm in investment management. Alex founded the business when he was 31 and over the next years grew it to a leader in the industry. He joins host Jared Siegel to discuss his organization’s leadership principles, company culture, and exit planning as a successful business leader.

Tune in here, at delapcpa.com/podcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts:

Here are a few highlights from their conversation:

  • Growing up with little wealth gives you a different appreciation for money.
  • Alex believes that the younger a person is, the more important it is for parents or grandparents to make them understand that they need to work for what they want.
  • Money buys you things, experiences, and impact. You’ll spend some, give some, and save some. Once you have enough things, the opportunity to invest in experiences and impact is infinitely rewarding, Jared says.
  • Gaining clarity about the client’s visions and values is important to the financial planning process because understanding what matters to the client shines a light on what they want and makes the process easier.
  • The more complex people’s financial situations are, the higher the demand on the financial advisor.
  • The role of a CEO is to be the voice of the company and the cultural frequency holder.
  • Anyone who possesses altruistic attributes can be a good leader if they stay true to their values and help facilitate good to happen, Alex says. Leadership can be learned.
  • Alex’s company culture promotes a passion to progress, to serve others, and to do the right thing.
  • When business owners are selling their companies, they have to make a binary choice: either sell and walk away with maximum profit, or sell and stick around to ensure the business is being run with efficacy.