Leadership, Delegation, & Time: Preparing Your Financial Advisory Business for the Next Gen with Daralee Barbera

Amber Stitt
2 days ago
4 min read

Pathways with Amber Stitt: Insights from Daralee Barbera at NAIFA e3

In a recent special edition of “Pathways with Amber Stitt,” recorded live at the NAIFA e3 conference in Newport Beach, California, Amber Stitt sat down with her friend and industry luminary Daralee Barbera. Their conversation dove deep into the heart of financial services: professional growth, leadership, succession planning, diversity, and the impact of communication and community. The episode sparkled with wisdom and practical advice for professionals and newcomers alike.

The Responsibility of Financial Professionals

Right from the beginning, Daralee Barbera emphasized the tremendous responsibility carried by those in the financial world. According to her, every decision made by a financial professional can have a “positive domino effect that just goes around the world.” For business owners, this ripple can even touch multiple families, highlighting just how important it is to “get it right.” The drive to always be the best version of oneself isn’t simply personal ambition—it’s an ethical imperative. Many clients aren’t just relying on advice for one moment in time, but for guidance that can affect multi-generational legacies.

Why Events and Collaboration Matter

Both speakers discussed the electrifying energy that comes with attending industry conferences. Amber Stitt and Daralee Barbera agreed that stepping out of the day-to-day routine and into events like NAIFA’s e3 offers invaluable exposure to new ideas, personal development insights, and the opportunity to collaborate and learn from peers. Sometimes, these basics—like goal-setting or delegating tasks—resonate so strongly that attendees are snapping photos of presentation slides to bring these lessons home.

Letting Go to Grow

A recurring theme was the challenge leaders face in delegation. Daralee Barbera shared her mantra: “If you’re going to grow, you gotta let go.” Many leaders struggle to let go of control, especially of tasks they feel adept at. But real growth, she explains, comes from empowering team members to build skills—this benefits the team and the organization as a whole. By delegating even small tasks, leaders reclaim hours in their year, time that can be used for strategy, family, or personal recharge. One coaching anecdote involved encouraging a client to let go of just 30 minutes a day, resulting in tangible, positive shifts both professionally and personally.

Succession Planning and Team Building

Succession planning often gets deprioritized, with leaders saying, “We’ll just do it later.” Daralee Barbera cautioned that it’s never too early to put succession strategies in place. Planning ahead means refining systems, attracting the right talent, and increasing the market value of a business. The readiness required spans personal, team, and business aspects, and the process can reveal the true vision and mission of the organization. She also discussed the importance of building teams that reflect the diversity and needs of their client community—something she believes is central to client retention and business growth.

Gender Diversity: Women Matter

A powerful section of the episode focused on the ongoing gender gap in financial services. Despite years of advocacy and the publication of her book, “Women Matter: The Why and How of Gender Diversity in Financial Services,” Daralee Barbera noted with disappointment that representation of women in the field has stalled. Yet data shows the majority of financial decisions, and soon most wealth, are—or will be—controlled by women. This makes creating practice environments welcoming to women and other underrepresented groups not only ethical but essential for business longevity. Inclusion must be more than just a box checked—retention hinges on genuine belonging.

Legacy and the Power of “Community”

Creating a sense of community, both online and offline, was another central takeaway. The “kinesthetic experience” starts not when a client enters the door, but when they arrive and park their car. Advisors must ensure their practice feels like home for every client, recruit, and team member. With the increasing importance of websites and digital footprints, updating these interfaces helps younger generations and beneficiaries feel connected to the firm—vital for legacy and succession.

The Three C’s: Community, Connectivity, and Communication

To wrap up, Daralee Barbera introduced her three “C’s”: Community, Connectivity, and Communication. Success in the financial world hinges on building strong relationships, staying closely connected to clients' evolving needs, and communicating with care and clarity.

Communication, she explained, isn’t just about delivering answers—it’s about posing the right questions, actively listening, and thoughtfully packaging messages. As Amber Stitt added, communication is the “currency of life,” forging trust and lasting partnerships.

Final Thoughts

The dialogue between Amber Stitt and Daralee Barbera is a masterclass for anyone in financial services or looking to improve their team leadership, legacy planning, or commitment to diversity. The episode reminds us that growth takes intention and the courage to delegate, that building community is fundamental, and that ongoing communication skills are essential—at work and in life.