Sitting down at my dining room table, coffee in hand.

The South is gearing up for another reminder that, yes, Virginia, there are four seasons in a year.

January is cranking away, as are code reviews, production releases, and client meetings.

I’m sure your week is much the same.

Regardless, we have all come through a season of reinventing how we do what we do.

This week, I’m double-clicking on this idea and thinking through the construct that is how we work today — how we rethink it, maximize it, and get out of the ruts that often lead us away from what we want to be doing.

So grab your coffee and scroll.

1. Why Your Most Productive Office Time Might Not Involve a Desk, Office, or Computer

2. How to Leverage Technology and Culture to Drive Business Growth 🎧

3. Bookmarks

   1. Milemarker 1.5: Sleeker, Smarter, Stronger

   2. February Strategy Sessions

   3. Shane Parrish on Leveling Up

4. Milemarker On the Road ✈️

Reworking Our Work & Our Client Experience

In so many ways, it feels like March 2020 was yesterday. That month was a turning point for all of us.

The week that everything changed, I spoke alongside Jamie Hopkins at an Eagle Strategies event in Houston, Texas. We crisscrossed the city over just a few days—meeting with advisors, hosting RMD workshops, and working long hours to make a difference. After wrapping up in Houston, we flew to Dallas for even more meetings. By the time I got home late Thursday night, I was wiped out.

I didn’t know it then, but I had COVID-19. My wife realized it before I did, waking up in the middle of the night to tell me I was radiating heat. Unfortunately, my sickness ruined my daughter's birthday party she had scheduled, and I then inadvertently shared the virus with my family in the following weeks.

And just like that, everything changed.

The Shift

Zoom became our conference room.

Screens became our connection to the world.

Work and life blurred together.

For a while, it felt like we were adjusting. But looking back, something vital was missing.

The natural rhythm of work—driving to meetings, walking between appointments, catching a moment to think—disappeared. Everything became back-to-back-to-back. We started running our days like machines.

We forgot how to pause.

We forgot what it felt like to let our minds wander, to clear the mental inbox, to step away from the constant stream of notifications and agendas.

Rediscovering Space

Here’s the thing: stepping away doesn’t just feel good—it works. The best ideas, the sharpest thinking—they don’t happen in front of a computer.

Take this: psychologists discovered something called the Default Mode Network (DMN). It’s what lights up in your brain when you’re not actively focusing on a task. When you’re walking, driving, or letting your mind wander, your brain connects dots in ways it can’t when you’re heads-down.

That’s why your best ideas often hit you in the shower or on a quiet walk.

And it’s not just about creativity. It’s about clarity.

Stepping outside, breaking the routine—it helps us see the bigger picture. Whether it’s a tough business decision or how to best serve a client, giving yourself permission to not work often unlocks the solutions you need.

Why It Matters for Your Clients

Here’s where it gets interesting: your clients need this just as much as you do.

Think about it. They’re overwhelmed, too. Meetings. Deadlines. Life. Sometimes, the last thing they need is another rigid agenda or packed Zoom call.

Instead, imagine offering them something different.

The Power of Connection

There’s a principle in psychology called the Endowment Effect. People value things more when they feel personally connected to them. This doesn’t just apply to stuff—it’s true for relationships, too.

A quick, unscheduled call to check in? It matters.

A handwritten letter instead of an email? It stands out.

Stopping by to say hello in person? Game-changer.

A Fresh Take on Client Experience

Now let’s talk about another layer: loneliness.

Research shows loneliness has the same impact on health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Your clients might not tell you, but they feel it. And here’s the opportunity—sometimes, they don’t need a polished presentation or a detailed financial plan. They just need someone to listen.

Pick up the phone. No agenda, no spreadsheet. Just a conversation. Ask them how they’re doing. Hear their stories. Understand the challenges they’re facing—not just in their portfolios, but in their lives.

This might mean you shouldn’t try to juggle 500 clients personally or build your business around surge meetings that push your clients through like some sort of cattle.

Reinventing Work (And Client Relationships)

The way we work has changed forever. But if we’re not adapting how we serve clients, we’re missing the bigger picture.

It’s not just about processes and systems—although those matter. It’s about experimenting. Iterating and understanding the personalities and preferences of the people you serve.

Your best work might not come from sitting at your desk, and your clients’ best experience might not come from another scheduled Zoom call.

Here’s the challenge:

• Take a walk instead of dialing in.

• Write a letter instead of sending an email.

• Step away from the desk, from the screen, from the routine.

It’s good for you. It’s good for your clients. And it’s how we build relationships that last.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present.

Final Thoughts

The most creative work doesn’t happen in the grind. It happens in the gaps. When we give ourselves—and our clients—space to think, connect, and breathe, we rediscover what really matters.

So, go for a walk.

Call a client without an agenda.

Touch some grass.

You might just find that your most productive moments—and your most meaningful relationships—happen far away from your desk.

________________________

On the Pod: How to Leverage Technology and Culture to Drive Business Growth

Episode 076: In this episode of The Connected Advisor, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Jeremy Nelson, President at Element Wealth. Jeremy shares his journey from discovering investing as a 10-year-old in Canada to building Mississippi’s fastest-growing RIA.

Jeremy discusses merging with Ross and Yerger, prioritizing culture and client relationships, and leveraging technology for growth. He also explores AI’s potential to enhance advisory efficiency while maintaining human-centered service. From integrating new team members to fostering client trust, Jeremy highlights the importance of leadership, transparency, and personal connections in driving success. 

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:57) - Jeremy's Money Moment

(02:38) - Early career and internship experience

(04:27) - Client retention and referrals

(06:27) - Merging with Ross and Yerger

(10:09) - Maintaining company culture

(16:25) - The role of technology in business growth

(21:38) - Future trends: AI in the RIA industry

(28:37) - Milemarker Minute

⚡️Bookmarks

Milemarker 1.5: Sleeker, Smarter, Stronger

Big news, advisors.

We just rolled out Milemarker 1.5—our sharpest, fastest, and smartest release yet. 

Here’s what’s new and why it matters:

What’s New 🔥

1. Dynamic Models Listing:

Find what you need faster with filters, hover effects, and buttery-smooth pagination.

2. Metrics That Matter:

Whether it’s pie charts, line charts, or data tables, you’ve got total control with dynamic X/Y axis adjustments.

3. Smarter Workflows:

Streamlined file uploads, trade requests, and an intuitive new navigation bar to keep you moving.

4. Sharper Design:

Fresh fonts, icons, and color palettes elevate every click (because details matter).

5. Optimized Speed:

Faster backend, fewer bugs, and snappier performance across the board.

The Extras You’ll Love ✨

• Empty State Messages: No more blank pages—just helpful prompts to guide your next steps.

• Auto-Scrolling Metrics: Let the data flow, so you don’t have to.

• Error Handling That Actually Works: Because no one has time for cryptic error codes.

Why It Matters 💎

You asked for it:

• Smoother workflows.

• Faster navigation.

• More intuitive design.

We delivered. Now you can spend less time clicking and more time connecting with clients.

Explore What’s New 🚀

Milemarker 1.5 is ready when you are.

February Growth, Technology & Data Strategy Sessions

I’m excited to get on the road and help some of our clients in the next few days. Although my January schedule is full, one strategic consulting sessions is still available in February.

If you want to clarify your technology roadmap, get your leadership team on the same page/same vision, clarify your data strategy, or advisor and client experience, now’s a good time to schedule.

These sessions help you align your goals, streamline your operations, and make meaningful progress in 2025. I’d be happy to discuss how I can help your firm create a more focused and effective strategy.

Don’t wait. Let’s get our calendars aligned now to secure your session.

Send me an email if you’re interested: [email protected] 

Shane Parrish on Leveling Up

Milemarker on the Road
Catch my team on the road at the following events or cities:

1. January 21 - Charlotte, NC

2. January 27-28 - New York, NY

3. January 29 - Omaha, NE

4. February 3-6 - Orlando, FL

5. February 16-19 - Orlando, FL

6. March 1 - Anchorage, AK

If you’re in any of those cities and want to arrange a meeting time, reply to this email, and we’ll get something on the calendar.

Jud Mackrill

1  Default Mode Network (DMN): Marcus E. Raichle et al., A Default Mode of Brain Function, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2001.

2  Endowment Effect: Richard Thaler, Toward a Positive Theory of Consumer Choice, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 1980.

3  Loneliness Research: Julianne Holt-Lunstad et al., Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality, Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2015.