Today's Guest: Jonathan Mitchell

Senior Wealth Advisor, Mercer Advisors

What we covered

• Jonathan’s journey from construction work at 12 years old… to being top 10 in revenue at Mercer

• The power of direct candor in financial advising

• How his referral engine works (and why he tracks every ask)

• Why “being polite” is not kindness in this profession

• How he landed a $14M single referral from one existing client

• Why advisors must meet clients where they are (in-office, in-home, Zoom, whatever works)

• How Mercer wins business from Schwab + Fidelity referrals (and what types of cases they send)

• Advanced planning example: saving a business seller ~$1M in taxes using overlay + long/short strategies

• The next 5–10 years for Jonathan and why he is choosing to stay inside the ecosystem he loves

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Advisor Freedom is the podcast for financial advisors who want to learn what it really takes to build a thriving advisory career & what wealthy clients are actually doing with their money.

Hosted by Conner Young, who launched his own independent RIA firm in 2021, the show shares real stories from advisors who’ve broken away, built their books from scratch, and refined their client service models through experience.

Each episode dives into how advisors got started, how they attracted their first clients, the systems they use today, and the best practices that help them grow.

We also open the doors to the other side of the table: interviewing high-net-worth investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs about the investments they love, the strategies they use, and the legacy they’re trying to build.

Whether you're just launching your RIA, growing your practice, or exploring new ways to create generational impact, Advisor Freedom is your behind-the-scenes guide to building a business and a life of lasting value.