Financial advising with a
In order to build a thriving, prosperous financial practice, advisors must find a unique value proposition — and develop a service model that meets their clients’ needs in a cost-effective way. They must do that while also juggling SEC audits, compliance, client-facing work, marketing initiatives, and technology… but they don’t have to do it alone.
The Model FA equips entrepreneurial financial advisors with tools to transform their businesses. From our strategic coaching program, to our supported investment platform, to our insurance marketing partnership, we’ll help you accelerate every aspect of your growth. In the end, you’ll get more time to spend on what matters most: impacting your clients’ financial future.
You work to be the best version of yourself and empower others to do the same.
You honor your role as a steward of your clients’ financial health — and want to see them live a life full of passion and vitality.
You have an open mind and a commitment to continually experiment, innovate, and adopt best practices in your business.
The Model FA podcast is for fiduciary financial advisors who are looking for ideas to help them build successful practices. Our guests are experts, from technical financial planning to the cutting edge of voice marketing and brand development. Join us for practical advice and tactics that you can use to transform your business.
listen nowOur team members have decades of experience in the financial industry. They know what works and what doesn’t. Together, they’ve helped over 300 advisors find their unique value proposition, get in front of ideal prospects, and deploy effective practice growth strategies.
Patrick Brewer, CFA, CPA
Founder
A serial entrepreneur, Patrick is the CEO of SurePath Wealth and Model FA. Patrick is passionate about helping advisors tap into their strengths, overcome growth challenges, and reach their highest potential.
David DeCelle
President
A financial advisor since 2011, David provides cutting-edge training, development, and accountability to growth-oriented advisors. When he’s not helping advisors grow their businesses, you can find him catching up on podcasts, audiobooks, and working out.
Jeff Brewer, CFP®
Chief Revenue Officer
At Model FA and as a partner at SurePath Wealth, Jeff uses his 9 years of experience consulting hundreds of advisors as a Regional Director at Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) to help advisors build processes to support and fuel their growth.
Ryan Mannen
Chief Operating Officer
Ryan assists with client onboarding, client support, and finding new ways to be more productive and efficient. Whenever our team runs into an unexpected roadblock, chances are that Ryan knows exactly how to handle it.
Jason Mirabella
Chief Platform Officer
Jason is responsible for managing and monitoring investments, as well as the continuous improvement of our unique client experience and advisor platform.
Dan Allison
Managing Partner
As a managing partner, Dan brings his decade+ of experience with his Feedback Marketing System to the Model FA Accelerator. He also serves as a Chief Growth Officer for our biggest clients.
Dominique Henderson, CFP®
Advisor Coach
Dom is the Founder of DJH Capital Management, a wealth management firm based in Dallas, TX. He is passionate about helping advisors overcome roadblocks on the path to success. Dom can quickly identify what’s holding you back — and get you back on track without missing a beat.
Aaron Hattenbach, AIF, CFP®
Advisor Coach
Aaron is the Founder and Managing Member of Rapport Financial in San Francisco, CA, specializing in advising young technology professionals and high net worth clients, particularly physicians. He has been featured in Business Insider, Investopedia, and Nerd's Eye View.
Zak Leedom, CFP®
Advisor Coach
As a financial advisor at SurePath Wealth, Zak works primarily with business owners and executives to maximize all aspects of their financial lives. At Model FA, he helps advisors build their ideal practices. He also enjoys skiing, running, hiking, and really anything that gets the blood pumping.
Bob Gavlak, CFP®
Advisor Coach
Bob’s coaching is informed by his career in the independent financial planning space, and by his transition from employee advisor to owner. His role as a coach allows him to empower, inform, and inspire caring advisors to reach their goals. Bob also runs the Columbus, OH office of SurePath Wealth.
Adam Swerdlow
Sales Executive & Advisor Coach
In his roles at Model FA, Adam taps into nearly a decade of financial advisor experience to drive our business development efforts — and to help other advisors improve their sales and operations. Adam is active as a member of several local charities, chambers, and community foundations.
Marty Jensen
Advisor Coach
Marty Jensen has over 35 years of coaching and leadership experience in the financial services industry pioneering fiduciary best practices. Marty's focus is building virtual family office platforms with world-renowned subject matter experts and tools dealing with sustainable stewardship.
Eric Lee
Creative Director
Eric is the creative force behind the Model FA. His true passion is storytelling. With almost two decades of marketing and design through story under his belt, he’s no stranger to both long-standing and current marketing trends.
Natalia Autenrieth, CPA
Director of Marketing
Natalia has spent her career in the financial services space, first as an auditor with the Big 4, then as a controller, and as an executive coach for financial advisors and CPAs. At Model FA, she combines her technical knowledge with a passion for story, brain chemistry, and writing.
Graham Gardner
Marketing Manager
Graham has expertise in creating, managing, and delivering metric-driven marketing initiatives focusing on relationships to help clients foster long-term relationships through content. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Society of Marketing Professional Services of Atlanta.
Lyndsey Sweeney
Podcast Producer
Lyndsey has a passion for helping people understand their value. Her degree in communications and career with non-profit organizations has taken her all over the world. At Model FA, Lyndsey manages the thousand tasks that it takes to produce a successful podcast.
SHOULD I START MY OWN COMPANY OR TEAM UP?
HOW MUCH CAPITAL DO I NEED?
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF STARTING MY OWN FIRM?
WHAT’S THE BEST TECH STACK?
SHOULD I PICK A NICHE, OR BE A GENERALIST?
HOW DO I CONSISTENTLY ADD NEW CLIENTS TO MY PRACTICE?
HOW DO I CREATE A MARKETING STRATEGY THAT WORKS?
HOW DO I CREATE A BRAND THAT RESONATES WITH MY IDEAL CLIENT?