"I was making 300 calls a day. The guy next to me was bragging about selling Home Depot. I was just trying to set an appointment."(13:05)
"They launched a fund based on my strategy… but didn’t make me the manager. That’s when I knew it was time to go."(20:00)
"Mutual funds are the worst thing ever created. They're tax-inefficient and full of hidden costs."(27:30)
"You could buy a mutual fund today and owe taxes on gains you never made."(28:40)
"If a bear market's coming, we don't sit and hope. We reposition."(36:05)
"IUL is the biggest scam in financial services. It’s sold as a better Roth IRA — it’s not."(38:15)
Mike Bellody’s career is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and results.
He started at 22, cold-calling 300 homeowners a day with zero financial backing. Today, he's the founder and CEO of Imperia Wealth, managing portfolios with a tactical, research-driven edge. His journey spans Prudential, Merrill, Fisher Investments, and finally, building his own firm from scratch after walking away from the industry in 2016.
In this episode, we break down how Mike hit production numbers on the brink of being fired, how he built an entire quant strategy that was later turned into a mutual fund without him, and why he’s 100% done with mutual funds forever. We also unpack how he's driving $30 to $50 million in new AUM through SmartAsset leads, seminar marketing, and his endowment-style investment approach.
If you’re an advisor thinking about building your own firm or a client curious about what real portfolio management looks like, Mike’s story is unmissable.
------------------
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.