Category: Finance
When Experience Still Leads to the Wrong Advice with Andrew Kronschnabel (Ep. 5)

When Experience Still Leads to the Wrong Advice with Andrew Kronschnabel (Ep. 5)

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Even experienced professionals can end up with the wrong advice when planning is driven by products instead of perspective. In this episode, we unpack how “zombie advisors” quietly undermine good decision-making, even for highly sophisticated clients.

In this episode of Zombie Advisor, James Knapp sits down with Andrew Kronschnabel, SVP / Head of Investment & Marketing Strategy, Seaport Global. Andy shares his professional journey through multiple market cycles and offers a candid personal story about his own experience working with a “zombie advisor.”

Despite his CFA background and deep market expertise, Andy explains how fear, shaped by early career market crises, combined with a lack of holistic planning, led him into a whole life insurance policy that did not align with his age, risk capacity, or long-term goals. The conversation explores how siloed advice, poor questioning, and incentive-driven recommendations can result in misaligned outcomes.

James and Andy also discuss the critical differences between institutional and retail advising, the importance of context and accountability, and why true fiduciary advice requires advisors to challenge assumptions rather than simply sell solutions.

What to expect:

  • A real-world example of how product-first advice can fail even sophisticated investors
  • The difference between institutional portfolio management and comprehensive retail planning
  • How life experience and fear influence risk tolerance more than spreadsheets
  • Why fiduciary advice requires curiosity, context, and client-first accountability
  • And more!

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Connect with Andy Kronschnabel:

About Our Guest:

Andrew Kronschnabel

SGAM Advisors LLC, Management Committee Member and Penn Capital Management Committee Member

Andrew joined Seaport Global Holdings in April 2023 and serves on the Penn Capital Management Committee for SGAM Advisors, LLC.   His additional responsibilities include institutional sales, collaborating on market strategy research, and assisting firm leaders in efforts to better serve institutional clients. Prior to joining Seaport, Andrew was the Portfolio Manager and Head of Investment Grade Credit at MetLife Investment Management LLC. He joined MetLife in September 2017 following its acquisition of Logan Circle Partners (LCP). At MetLife, he was responsible for all core-based, corporate, and long/short credit strategies. He has over 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LCP in 2007, he was a member of the portfolio management team at Delaware Investments where he was responsible for core-based and high-grade products from 2000 to 2007. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Economics and Politics from Colorado College and is a CFA charter holder. 

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Investing With Tyler Rudek, The Planning Gaps Advisors Overlook (Ep. 4)

Investing With Tyler Rudek, The Planning Gaps Advisors Overlook (Ep. 4)

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Long-term investing is rarely about finding the perfect investment. It is about managing risk, staying disciplined, and making thoughtful decisions when markets test your patience. This conversation focuses on what actually drives durable outcomes over time.

In this episode of Zombie Advisor, James Knapp is joined by Boyum Wealth Architects’ Chief Investment Officer, Tyler Rudek, for a practical discussion on how portfolios are built and managed in the real world. They explore common retail investor mistakes such as concentration and home bias, and why these risks often grow quietly over time. James and Tyler explain how portfolios are designed around goals and risk tolerance rather than predictions or headlines. The conversation also pulls back the curtain on ongoing portfolio monitoring, rebalancing during volatility, and tax-aware decision making. Throughout the episode, the emphasis remains on planning, consistency, and maintaining perspective through market cycles.

What to expect:

  • Why concentration and home bias are common and how they increase portfolio risk
  • How goals and risk tolerance shape portfolio construction
  • What ongoing monitoring and rebalancing look like behind the scenes
  • How tax location and coordination with CPAs help manage long-term outcomes
  • And more!

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Connect with Tyler Rudek:

About Our Guest:

Tyler Rudek is the Chief Investment Officer at Boyum Wealth Architects. With over a decade of experience working alongside James Knapp, Tyler oversees portfolio construction, risk management, and investment research. His focus is on building diversified, tax-aware portfolios that align with long-term client goals rather than short-term market trends.

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The One Call Service Model, Why Clients Are Tired of Managing Their Advisors (Ep 3)

The One Call Service Model, Why Clients Are Tired of Managing Their Advisors (Ep 3)

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In this episode of Zombie Advisor, James Knapp sits down with longtime colleague and strategic partner Charlie Metzig, Managing Partner at Boyum Barenscheer, to unpack why so many professionals unintentionally become “zombie advisors” and how a one-call service model can change the client experience entirely.

Charlie shares his journey from growing up above a family cheese factory in Wisconsin to becoming a CPA and business advisor working alongside financial planners, attorneys, and business owners. Together, James and Charlie walk through real client stories that highlight where traditional advisory models break down, especially when busy, successful clients are handed long to-do lists instead of real help.

The conversation digs into proactive coordination, timely data, and why bringing the full advisory team into the same room leads to better decisions. From tax planning and business growth to succession, estate considerations, and rapid regulatory change, this episode makes the case for collaboration over silos.

If you are an advisor looking to deliver better service or a business owner tired of managing disconnected professionals, this episode offers a clear look at what client-first planning can actually look like in practice.

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Connect with Charles Metzig:

About Our Guest:

Charlie Metzig is the Managing Partner at Boyum Barenscheer, a Minnesota-based accounting and advisory firm serving business owners and executives. With a background in accounting, information systems, and business operations, Charlie specializes in helping clients navigate complex tax planning, business growth, and strategic decision-making through a highly collaborative, proactive approach.

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Undead Advice: Why Financial Service Needs a Wake Up Call (Ep. 2)

Undead Advice: Why Financial Service Needs a Wake Up Call (Ep. 2)

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Most people assume financial advisors are always proactive, organized, and well coordinated, but the reality is far more human. 

In this episode, James Knapp and Gregg Sainsbury dig into why so many professionals fall into “zombie mode” without ever noticing it. They explore the habits, incentives, and gaps that quietly undermine planning while sharing the lessons Gregg learned early in his career from a mentor who believed service mattered more than products. The stories are real, relatable, and eye-opening for anyone who works with an advisor or is trying to be a better one.

What to expect:

  • Real examples of planning oversights and why they happen
  • How the industry’s incentives created generations of “zombie advisors”
  • Why estate planning and beneficiary checks get ignored year after year
  • A candid look at what true client-first service requires
  • And so much more!

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Connect with Gregg Sainsbury:

About Our Guest:

Gregg Sainsbury, CFP®, joined Boyum Wealth Architects as Chief Operating Officer in May 2025. He oversees operational excellence across all departments, prioritizing exceptional client service and experience. With 29 years in wealth management, Gregg has held diverse roles, including investment manager, financial advisor, financial planner, trainer, director of central planning, and public speaker. He holds a BA in Economics from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of St. Thomas. Gregg earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) designation in 2001.

In his free time, he enjoys family moments, learning, reading, and golf.

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Welcome to the Apocalypse: Meet Your Zombie Advisor Host (Ep. 1)

Welcome to the Apocalypse: Meet Your Zombie Advisor Host (Ep. 1)

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In this inaugural episode of Zombie Advisor, James Knapp sits down with veteran broadcaster Patrice Sikora for a candid conversation about why so many professionals in financial services lose their curiosity, their humanity, and their commitment to real service. James shares the personal experiences that shaped his client-first philosophy, from an early encounter with transactional advice to his decision to leave the broker-dealer world and build a fiduciary firm focused on people, not products.

Using a memorable restaurant analogy, James explains how effective financial planning should work behind the scenes, with specialists supporting the process and an advisor serving as the front-of-the-house guide who listens, translates needs, and delivers a personalized experience. Throughout the conversation, James defines what he calls “Zombie Advisors”, professionals operating inside outdated systems that reward routines and sales over engagement and care.

The discussion draws a clear distinction between selling products and delivering real planning value. James explains why fiduciary responsibility matters for both advisors and clients, and how it changes the tone, trust, and long-term outcomes of the relationship. Rather than chasing assets or commissions, the focus shifts to understanding goals, emotions, and real-life decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Why “Zombie Advisors” exist and how outdated systems create disengaged service
  • The restaurant analogy for modern financial planning roles
  • The difference between selling products and delivering real planning value
  • Why fiduciary responsibility matters for both advisors and clients

This episode is for advisors who feel stuck in legacy models and for clients who want more thoughtful, human guidance. It is a reminder that client-first service starts with curiosity, accountability, and the willingness to do things differently.

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