Curated Book Reviews
The Shelves
A curated collection of books I’ve read that have shaped how I think about leadership, decision-making, and building advisory firms, each one reviewed and scored based on its practical value for leaders, operators, and advisors in RIAs.
The Heart of Business
Hubert Joly
This is one of the best books I’ve read on what leadership looks like when you’re trying to build a real business, not just hit numbers for the quarter. Joly makes a compelling case that purpose, people, and performance are not competing priorities when done right. Especially relevant for advisory firm leaders trying to scale culture, lead through change, and build something that performs without losing its soul.
Best For
CEOs
Culture Builders
Scaling Advisors
Read More (Coming Soon!)
The First 90 Days
Annie Duke
This is the best practical guide I know for leaders stepping into a new role and needing to get up to speed quickly without creating unnecessary mistakes. It is especially useful for advisors, COOs, and executives taking on bigger leadership roles where early decisions shape credibility and momentum. Helped me think more clearly about how to listen first, assess the situation, and avoid confusing action with progress.
Best For
New Executives
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Leaders in Transition
COOs
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
Hubert Joly
This is one of the most practical books out there for firms that have good people and real opportunity but need more structure, accountability, and operating rhythm. I’ve used EOS for the better part of a decade and think it is uniquely well suited for advisory firms, where complexity tends to creep in quietly as the business grows. The real value is in the simplicity of the system — if followed closely, it creates clarity around priorities, meetings, scorecards, and team alignment in a way that actually sticks.
Best For
Firm Founders
COOs
Leadership Teams
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The Four Disciplines of Execution
Gino Wickman
This is a really strong book for leadership teams that struggle less with setting goals and more with actually following through on them. The biggest value is how clearly it separates the day-to-day whirlwind from the few priorities that matter most. For advisory firms, it is especially helpful if you are trying to drive strategic initiatives across a team without letting execution die in weekly noise. It also changed how I think about scorecards, leading change, accountability, and what it actually takes to move an advisory firm toward results.
Best For
CEOs
Leadership Teams
Operators
Read More (Coming Soon!)