Inside the Bag is a podcast hosted by industry veteran Brian A. Kirk Jr., featuring candid conversations with influential leaders across the
asset management distribution business. Covering everything from wholesaling best practices to emerging industry trends and practical
sales tactics, each episode delivers actionable insights for wholesalers, asset managers, and distribution professionals looking to elevate their results.
Brian co-founded L.C. KIRK & CO in 1999 with his father, B. Anthony Kirk Sr. With more than 25 years of experience in financial services
executive recruiting, he offers a distinctive perspective on identifying top talent and building high-performing distribution teams.
The Transition From Wholesaler to Financial Advisor: Challenges, Risks, Rewards & Advice for Wholesalers
Tommy Elms, a former wholesaler now working as a producing branch manager, shares essential insights for anyone considering the jump from wholesaling to becoming a financial advisor. He covers his wholesaling networking club, common mistakes wholesalers make, the importance of respecting advisors’ time, strategies for helping advisors break out of a rut, the power of soundbites and success stories, the say-to-do ratio, his “best fives” presentation approach, and more.
Geoff Nance is the founder of Applied Distribution Lab. Throughout his career, he has both carried the bag and led distribution teams at leading firms, including Ivy Investments and John Hancock Funds. In this discussion, Geoff examines the “execution drift” he sees underway in the industry, shares his outlook for the wholesaling business over the next 10–20 years, and outlines what he believes wholesalers should prioritize going forward.
22 Apr 2026
Dave Nelson - Veteran Insights Wholesaling & Asset Management Distribution
Dave Nelson began his career in the late 1990s, starting as a sales rep carrying the bag before advancing into sales management roles. In this conversation, Dave shares his unique perspective on the industry—what has fundamentally changed over the decades and what has remained constant. He offers practical advice, weighs in on the latest sales strategy data from SS&C, and discusses key topics including AI-powered internal sales reps, compensation structures, the future of the industry, and much more.
3 Mar 2026
Selling to RIAs: An NFL Player’s Approach
Ben Utt transitioned from a career with the Indianapolis Colts to excelling as an institutional sales executive. With more than 30 years of experience in the asset management field, Ben offers perspectives on taking an institutional sales approach to the RIA channel. Ben believes, “Everything retail is becoming institutional, and institutional is moving into retail.” Ben provides insights on compensation, his approach to selling to RIAs and family offices, niche managers, his sales process, and the industry's future.
3 Mar 2026
The Wholesaler Coach
Brian Margolis has spent over twenty years building and training top-producing wholesalers. In this discussion, Brian outlines his process, the mistakes wholesalers commonly make, a new paradigm for wholesaling, and the skills needed to succeed.
3 Mar 2026
Small Asset Managers – Winning Wholesaling Results
Luke Theeuwes and Keith Thompson have spent the majority of their careers specializing in a unique area of the wholesaling community. While the industry is dominated by large managers with trillions in AUM, and access across all the major broker-dealers, Luke and Keith have utilized techniques to enable smaller niche managers to enter the advisory community and achieve success. In this interview, Luke and Keith share their industry insights and strategies for wholesaling success.
27 Feb 2026
The Growth of the Industry & its Future
Mark Warren not only carried “the bag,” he also helped lead the distribution efforts of one of the industry's most successful firms. Go “Inside the Bag” with Mark Warren, as we discuss the industry's evolution and future, providing insight into compensation, channelization, and much more.
12 Feb 2026
The Sales Desk Manager
Brian Waeyaert, one of the longest-tenured sales desk managers in the industry, shares his perspective on how the internal wholesaler role has evolved over the years. He highlights the most common mistakes internals make, explains how professionals can stand out in today’s competitive landscape, and explores the future of internal wholesaling—including the rise of the hybrid model. Brian also challenges leadership teams to rethink how they value internal sales roles and why compensation should better reflect their impact.
6 Feb 2026
The OCD Wholesaler
Joe McIntyre achieved over $7 billion in sales across the Pacific Northwest territory, earning recognition as the top RVP among more than 100 wholesalers. He was named the firm’s MVP more than seven times. In this interview, Joe discusses the strategies behind his success and shares his insights on the industry.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
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