--- title: "Building Tomorrow's Advisors with JC Abusaid" description: "At Halbert Hargrove, the path to sustainable, long-term success has been shaped by its commitment to developing the next generation of advisors." url: https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/building-tomorrows-advisors-with-jc-abusaid updated: 2025-02-25 --- [Now playing](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast) [Podcast**Next Mile**](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast) [Episodes](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast)[Guests](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/guests) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@milemarkerinc) [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-connected-advisor/id1691759257) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Lw8kHGnS1JJBMZLPYxc9S) Episode 82 · Feb 25, 2025 · 47 min # Building Tomorrow's Advisors with JC Abusaid [**JC Abusaid***CEO & President, Halbert Hargrove*](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/guests/jc-abusaid) [Apple Podcasts ↗](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-connected-advisor/id1691759257) [Spotify ↗](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Lw8kHGnS1JJBMZLPYxc9S) ## About this episode At Halbert Hargrove, the path to sustainable, long-term success has been shaped by its commitment to developing the next generation of advisors. In this episode, Kyle Van Pelt talks with JC Abusaid, CEO and President at Halbert Hargrove, about the company’s generational growth model. JC shares how the firm transitioned from hiring experienced advisors with existing books of business to cultivating homegrown talent through a structured internship and mentorship program. JC also discusses how Halbert Hargrove overcame the stigma of selling and the importance of separating management from client service roles to ensure efficiency and sustainability in a growing firm. In this episode: - \[00:00\] - Intro - \[03:01\] - JC's money moment - \[04:40\] - Halbert Hargrove's generational growth model - \[11:44\] - Overcoming the stigma of selling - \[17:40\] - Developing the next generation of advisors - \[23:12\] - The Halbert Hargrove mentorship program - \[26:46\] - Managing time and accelerating growth effectively - \[31:47\] - Halbert Hargrove's tech stack - \[38:08\] - JC's thoughts on the future of the industry - \[42:07\] - JC’s Milemarker Minute **Key Takeaways** - Halbert Hargrove has grown through strategic decisions and a commitment to sustainability. It involved deliberately prioritizing succession planning and developing the next generation of advisors. - Sales shouldn't be a taboo word. If you believe in the value you bring to clients, selling is about helping more people. - A well-structured talent pipeline is crucial for any firm looking to sustain growth. Being intentional about sales, mentorship, and professional development leads to a stronger, more resilient team. - The firm transformed its internship program into a structured, meaningful experience. Mentorship and exposure to all aspects of the firm help interns understand career paths within the industry. **Quotes** "A manager can only do so much, but a mentor can have way more personal conversations. They can talk about stuff even from a human resource perspective. That creates a triage where the manager has to deal with what they're measuring and hold people accountable. A mentor plays a critical role in accelerating somebody's progress through the organization." ~ JC Abusaid "You have to have a philosophy about technology and innovation where you're willing to try things, knowing that you're going to flop. Some stuff is not going to work, and you're going to go through some expensive tryouts. It doesn't matter. You have to keep trying." ~ JC Abusaid "The industry is becoming more efficient and more aware of how to scale. If you don't figure out how to outsource the stuff that you traditionally have been doing internally, you're going to have big issues in expense structure." ~ JC Abusaid **Links** - [JC Abusaid on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jc-abusaid-a66a41/) - [Halbert Hargrove](https://www.halberthargrove.com/) - [Russ Hill](https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-hill-3bb6735/) - [Optimizing Longevity](https://www.amazon.com/Optimizing-Longevity-Atlas-Happier-Predictable/dp/B0D6ZD2P1K) - [Holistiplan](https://www.holistiplan.com/) **Connect with our hosts** - [Milemarker.co](https://www.milemarker.co/) - [Kyle on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylevanpelt/) - [Jud on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/judmackrill/) **Subscribe and stay in touch** - [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connected/id1691759257) - [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Lw8kHGnS1JJBMZLPYxc9S) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@milemarkerinc) ## **Produce game-changing content with Turncast** Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at [Turncast.com](https://www.turncast.com/). ## The write-up [Listen to this week’s episode.](https://open.spotify.com/episode/62HUt2t5g0dETQtNdDjXdm?si=373055bceb1f4491&utm_source=newsletter.milemarker.co&utm_medium=newseletter&utm_campaign=building-tomorrow-s-advisors&_bhlid=363be2809f053f9128ba2f18fe4b24b8c4f9fde2&nd=1&dlsi=945996e4417c4016) ## Episode 082 On this week’s episode of The Connected Advisor, I speak with [JC Abusaid](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jc-abusaid-a66a41/), CEO and President at [Halbert Hargrove](https://www.halberthargrove.com/), about the company’s generational growth model. JC shares how the firm transitioned from hiring experienced advisors with existing books of business to cultivating homegrown talent through a structured internship and mentorship program. He also discusses how [Halbert Hargrove](https://www.halberthargrove.com/) overcame the stigma of selling and the importance of separating management from client service roles to ensure efficiency and sustainability in a growing firm. #### **Key Takeaways** Halbert Hargrove has grown through strategic decisions and a commitment to sustainability. It involved deliberately prioritizing succession planning and developing the next generation of advisors. Sales shouldn’t be a taboo word. If you believe in the value you bring to clients, selling is about helping more people. A well-structured talent pipeline is crucial for any firm looking to sustain growth. Being intentional about sales, mentorship, and professional development leads to a stronger, more resilient team. The firm transformed its internship program into a structured, meaningful experience. Mentorship and exposure to all aspects of the firm help interns understand career paths within the industry. #### **Quotes** “A manager can only do so much, but a mentor can have way more personal conversations. They can talk about stuff even from a human resource perspective. That creates a triage where the manager has to deal with what they’re measuring and hold people accountable. A mentor plays a critical role in accelerating somebody’s progress through the organization.” ~ [JC Abusaid](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jc-abusaid-a66a41/) “You have to have a philosophy about technology and innovation where you’re willing to try things, knowing that you’re going to flop. Some stuff is not going to work, and you’re going to go through some expensive tryouts. It doesn’t matter. You have to keep trying.” ~ [JC Abusaid](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jc-abusaid-a66a41/) “The industry is becoming more efficient and more aware of how to scale. If you don’t figure out how to outsource the stuff that you traditionally have been doing internally, you’re going to have big issues in expense structure.” ~ [JC Abusaid](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jc-abusaid-a66a41/) #### **Links** [JC Abusaid on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jc-abusaid-a66a41/) [Halbert Hargrove](https://www.halberthargrove.com/) [Russ Hill](https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-hill-3bb6735/) [Optimizing Longevity](https://www.amazon.com/Optimizing-Longevity-Atlas-Happier-Predictable/dp/B0D6ZD2P1K) [Holistiplan](https://www.holistiplan.com/) #### **Connect with our hosts** [Milemarker.co](https://www.milemarker.co/) [Kyle on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylevanpelt/) [Jud on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/judmackrill/) #### **Subscribe and stay in touch** [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connected/id1691759257) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Lw8kHGnS1JJBMZLPYxc9S) [YouTube](https://youtu.be/ljoIhiM70jc) **While there, please don’t forget to Download, Like, and Subscribe.** If you’d like to schedule a time to talk with me about anything we cover on our podcast or [Milemarker](https://www.milemarker.co/), [click here for 15 minutes](https://meetings.hubspot.com/kyle-van-pelt). Kyle Van Pelt [**JC Abusaid***CEO & President, Halbert Hargrove*](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/guests/jc-abusaid) Next Mile Conversations with the people building the next era of wealth management, hosted by Kyle Van Pelt. New episodes every Tuesday. [Get the newsletter →](https://www.milemarker.co/resources/newsletter) [Talk to Milemarker →](https://www.milemarker.co/contact) ## Keep listening Ep. 170 · Nov 10, 2026 · 27 min ### [Building a Boutique at Scale with Leah Sciabarrasi](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/building-a-boutique-at-scale-with-leah-sciabarrasi) Leah Sciabarrasi, Crestwood Advisors Ep. 157 · Aug 11, 2026 · 27 min ### [The Power of Radical Hospitality in Financial Advice with Libby Buckley](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/the-power-of-radical-hospitality-in-financial-advice-with-libby-buckley) Libby Buckley, Parable Wealth Partners Ep. 124 · Dec 23, 2025 · 32 min ### [What It Takes to Build the Next Generation of Talent](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/what-it-takes-to-build-the-next-generation-of-talent)