Gratitude As Strategy

In this Thanksgiving episode, Ray Sclafani reflects on why gratitude is more than a seasonal sentiment for advisory leaders — it is a strategic advantage. Drawing from research, industry insights, and personal experience at ClientWise, Ray explores how appreciation strengthens culture, deepens engagement, and elevates performance across advisory firms.

He highlights why recognizing people’s contributions is essential to leadership, offers meaningful reflection questions for advisors, and underscores that gratitude should lead to action: developing talent, raising standards, investing in future leaders, and preparing for the growth ahead.

Ray closes with a message of appreciation to the ClientWise team and the advisory professionals they serve, encouraging leaders to use this season not as an endpoint but as a launchpad for impact in 2026.

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Hosted by Financial Advisor Coach, Ray Sclafani, "Building The Billion Dollar Business" is the ultimate podcast for financial advisors seeking to elevate their practice. Each episode features deep dives into actionable advice and exclusive interviews with top professionals in the financial services industry. Tune in to unlock your potential and build a successful, enduring financial advisory practice.

Ray Sclafani (00:00.706)
You know, no great team is built alone. Today's episode will be short, direct, and focused on gratitude. Believe it or not, the brain responds to being appreciated. The neurological research from UC San Diego, Harvard, and others shows us that when we express or receive gratitude, the areas of our brain linked to good judgment, emotional stability, and social connection

Well, they light up. Stress reactivity decreases and collaboration increases. In some studies, teams that shared gratitude before a tough task even performed better under pressure. In other words, appreciation is not soft, it's deeply human and it's wired into how people perform at their very best. To everyone listening, your teams and your colleagues, even your clients,

They're doing work that shapes families and futures, and that work is important and deserves recognition. This year has made one thing abundantly clear to me. Strategy helped, tools helped, even AI pushed things forward, but people did the real work. I watched so many of you show up, take on more than anyone expected, and grew in ways that move the business and yourselves forward. Thanksgiving is the

perfect time to see that clearly. To my team at ClientWise, I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. The way you support each other, your clients, and the mission that we have of building leadership means more than I often express aloud. You make this work so meaningful and fun for me, so I thank you. And for everyone listening, what a wonderful time of the year to pause and reflect, to consider all of those with whom we are so grateful.

the colleague who stepped up, the operational professionals who kept things steady, the partner maybe who pushed your thinking, and the client who trusted you. Let them know the impact they had. The brain will respond, the relationships will grow stronger, and the work will keep improving. That's what the science tells us. And yes, it also feels really good. And we look ahead to 2026. Let this moment be a bit of a reset.

Ray Sclafani (02:22.072)
Gratitude puts focus back where it belongs on the people who make our best work possible. From all of us here at ClientWise, we appreciate you, the work you do, and the impact you make on the families you serve. Happy Thanksgiving, rest and reset, and then let's get back to building something stronger.