The old rule was simple: earn your stripes the hard way, then make the next generation earn theirs too. Alex Murphy thinks that rule is exactly what’s holding the industry back.

As Chief Operating Officer at Cedarwood Financial Partners and host of the Beyond the Trees podcast, Alex helped found Cedarwood in 2022 with a vision to bring a family-focused approach to business and life. That philosophy shows up everywhere in his work, from how he mentors advisors just starting out to how he thinks about scaling a practice without losing what makes it personal.

Join Duncan MacPherson as he sits down with Alex and digs into what it really takes to build a next-generation advisory business. They cover the full arc of an advisor’s career, from the earliest days of learning to manage volatility and become a client’s first call, to the middle years of navigating mentor-protege dynamics and deciding whether to specialize, all the way through to the final stretch of a career and the shift from generalist to owner of real enterprise value. Along the way, they explore why so many advisors chase growth for its own sake, and what it looks like to build a business that serves a fuller life instead of consuming it.

Key Highlights Include:

• Why bigger isn’t always better.
• Teaching new advisors the power of firsts.
• Building mentorship with purpose, not just skill.
• Growing down, zooming out, leveling up.
• The case for niching down over generalizing.

If you’re building a team, mentoring the next generation, or aiming to make your last five years your best five years, this episode delivers a practical roadmap.

Promotions:

• Toolkit CRM by Pareto Systems: toolkitcrm.com
• Pareto Systems: Practice Management Index (PMI)

Connect With Duncan MacPherson:

• Website: ParetoSystems.com
• Toll Free: 1.866.593.8020
• Learn More: Schedule a Call
• LinkedIn: Duncan MacPherson

Connect With Alex Murphy

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexmurphycfp
• Website: cedarwoodfp.com
• Podcast: Beyond the Trees

About Our Guest:

Alex Murphy is a financial advisor, Chief Operating Officer of Cedarwood Financial Partners, and host of the Beyond the Trees podcast. In 2022, Alex helped found Cedarwood Financial Partners with a vision to bring a family-focused approach to business and life. He is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist with more than twelve years of experience in wealth management and is passionate about leadership, relationships, and helping others build a more fulfilling business and life. Outside of work, Alex enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife, Tricia, and their three daughters.