[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” full_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” disable_element=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1754332347679{margin-top: 80px !important;padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;background-image: url(https://theadvisorauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/elite-image.png?id=5942) !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}”][vc_column width=”5/12″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”7/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1743106042539{padding-top: 140px !important;padding-right: 10% !important;padding-bottom: 180px !important;padding-left: 20% !important;background-image: url(https://theadvisorauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/right-bg.png?id=6274) !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}”][cla_heading_section text=”WHO WE ARE” title_font_size_laptop=”30px” content_color=”#3C525B” element_align=”center” css_animation=”wow fadeInUp” css=”.vc_custom_1754331264310{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}” btn_link=”url:%23|title:Meet%20Our%20Team”]The Advisor Authority is the brainchild of Barron’s Top 100 Advisor, Erin Botsford. In her 31-year career as a financial advisor, she overcame the
struggles all advisors go through – stagnant growth, bad marketing, a poor closing ratio, and feeling like she was reinventing the wheel with each new client.

Realizing her ideal clients needed more than a money manager, her approach and mindset had to change. Over the next 2 decades, she studied the issues her ideal high net-worth clients faced, and the solutions they needed to protect their wealth and lifestyles, and built a wildly successful practice by exposing blind spots, addressing the risk side of the balance sheet, and elevating her practice above her competitors.

After selling her business in 2017, her new creative team came in and distilled all her best practices, insights, tools, and techniques into what is now the Elite Advisor Success System™. We offer the most comprehensive business-growth training for financial advisors at any level across North America.[/cla_heading_section][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1760805429766{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;background-color: #2C3539 !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1753504519706{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”7703″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1762445975160{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”zoomIn”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1762446008277{padding-right: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}”][cla_heading_section text=”WHO WE ARE” title_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size_laptop=”50px” content_color=”#FFFFFF” css_animation=”wow fadeInUp” css=”.vc_custom_1769117311420{padding-right: 55px !important;padding-left: 35px !important;}” wrapper_class=”text-l”]The Advisor Authority is the premier business-growth training company for elite financial advisors.

Founded on decades of real-world success, we’ve distilled the exact strategies used to build and sell your own wildly successful advisory firm into a proven, step-by-step system that helps advisors scale with structure, speed, and results.

We’re not generalist coaching. We deliver prescriptive training built for high-performing advisors who are ready to attract bigger clients, close more business, build a scalable team, and create a business worth millions.

Everything we teach is rooted in real-world results, not theory. If you’re ready to grow beyond production and stop guessing your way to scale, you’re in the right place.[/cla_heading_section][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” content_placement=”middle” disable_element=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1762281551741{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;background-color: #2C3539 !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}”][vc_column width=”5/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1753504519706{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”7488″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1762273125209{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”zoomIn”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”7/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1760805356699{padding-right: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}”][cla_heading_section text=”WHO WE ARE” title_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size_laptop=”30px” content_color=”#FFFFFF” css_animation=”wow fadeInUp” css=”.vc_custom_1762271510438{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;}” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ftheadvisorauthority.com%2Fthe-team%2F|title:Meet%20Our%20Team”]The Advisor Authority is the premier business-growth training company for elite financial advisors.

Founded on decades of real-world success, we’ve distilled the exact strategies used to build and sell a nine-figure advisory firm into a proven, step-by-step system that helps advisors scale with structure, speed, and results.

We’re not generalist coaching. We deliver prescriptive training built for high-performing advisors who are ready to attract bigger clients, close more business, build a scalable team, and create a business worth millions.

Everything we teach is rooted in real-world results, not theory. If you’re ready to grow beyond production and stop guessing your way to scale, you’re in the right place.[/cla_heading_section][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” el_class=”pr” css=”.vc_custom_1762294174068{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 70px !important;background-color: #D1D2D4 !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1758823184155{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][cla_heading_section text=”THE ELITE ADVISOR TEAM” element_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1762271709879{margin-bottom: 40px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”]We are dedicated to helping you build your next-level advisory
business with confidence using tools and strategies from a
successful Barron’s Top 100 Advisor.[/cla_heading_section][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1758976712992{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][feature_box_two name=”Erin Botsford, CFP®” social_icons=”%5B%5D” team_image=”6852″]Having spent 31 years in the financial services business and achieving at the highest levels (Barron’s Top 100 in all categories – Independent, Advisor, and Women Advisor), Erin sold her business in 2017 in a successful exit – a step most advisors want to achieve at the end of their careers.

She now provides advisors the ability to replicate her success by modeling exactly what she did to achieve next-level growth. A frequent keynote speaker at industry conferences and broker-dealer events, Erin shares decades of business wisdom alongside her personal story of turbulence and triumphs, giving audiences action items they can take back to their firms.

She is also the author of the advisor training book, Seven Figure Firm: How to Build a Financial Service Business that Grows Itself and the creator of the Elite Advisor Success System™ – the most comprehensive business-building training for financial advisors at any level.

She believes in the power of opportunities, and donates a large portion of the profits from her training company to support orphans helped by several organizations in Africa including, the Ebenezer Foundation, Zoe Empowers, and Overland Missions.[/feature_box_two][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1758976741040{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][feature_box_two name=”Blake Hammerton, CMSP” social_icons=”%5B%5D” designation=”Vice President of Business Growth” team_image=”6861″]Beginning his career as an inside sales rep in Chicago right after college, Blake learned the power of sales, persuasion, and leading with value. Earning his bachelors in Business Finance, he sought a change in direction and spent a short time working for another advisor, but ultimately found his home back in sales and marketing.

Two decades in sales and marketing, a half dozen coaching and communication certifications, and countless presentations later, Blake brings his sales wisdom and positive curiosity to business leaders and organizations, inviting them to “try on a different lens and see what’s possible” in their quest for more growth and development.

Today, Blake is focused on the next level for The Advisor Authority, and building relationships with advisors, industry leaders, and broker-dealers across North America. He believes opportunities are everywhere and encourages everyone he meets to seize them as often as possible.[/feature_box_two][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][feature_box_two name=”Mike Sbonik” social_icons=”%5B%5D” designation=”Chief Operating Officer” team_image=”6862″]Mike is originally from Wisconsin, where he received his Bachelors in Economics from Lawrence University. With his entrepreneurial nature, he ventured into several small businesses for a number of years before beginning his career in financial services in June 1997 as a Mutual Fund CSR for Thrivent Financial. There, he knew he found his calling.

He went on to become a Branch Manager for Edward Jones and eventually an Investment Officer/LPL advisor for a regional bank. Besides holding the securities and insurance licenses, Mike also earned 4 advanced certifications in the financial field: CFP®, CLU®, CEP® and CWPP™ designations. While there, he received the ‘Representative of the Year’ regional bank advisor award seven times, Top 200 Producer twice, and Top 10 Producer Twice (2005 & 2007) with LPL Financial.

Mike and his family decided to move to Texas in 2014 (to escape the snow and long winters) and there met his mentor, Erin Botsford. As Erin was designing her successful exit, they formulated a plan to capture all of Erin’s best practices to help advisors grow their businesses with her proven blueprint. Now as COO, he has helped train and impact the lives of thousands of financial advisors. When not working, Mike spends his time with family and physical fitness hobbies.[/feature_box_two][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” el_class=”pr” css=”.vc_custom_1762294184090{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 70px !important;}”][vc_column][cla_heading_section text=”NEXT-LEVEL ADVISOR SUPPORT” element_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1762272155266{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]Our dedicated operations team is second-to-none and delivers
guidance, answers, and support to advisors every day.[/cla_heading_section][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][feature_box_two layout=”pix-team–style2″ name=”Jamison Hammerton” social_icons=”%5B%5D” designation=”Project Manager” team_image=”6858″ css=”.vc_custom_1762365094659{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][/feature_box_two][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][feature_box_two layout=”pix-team–style2″ name=”Niki Clark” social_icons=”%5B%5D” designation=”Marketing Manager” team_image=”6863″][/feature_box_two][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][feature_box_two name=”Jonathan Verrano” social_icons=”%5B%5D” designation=”Media & Video Specialist” team_image=”5569″][/feature_box_two][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1762293967866{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #C4D4CB !important;}”][vc_column][cla_heading_section text=”OUR PROMISE TO YOU” title_class=”text-center”]

We believe if you have the right mindset and a solid work ethic, you can reach new levels of success and live the kind of life you have always dreamed of for you and your family.

Whether you participate in the Elite Advisor Program, read Erin’s book, join us at a speaking engagement, or come see us at an industry event, we will only give you insights and tools that work.

Everything you’ll learn has been tested, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes Erin had to make. If you show up and follow the path, you can achieve the same levels of success she did, and do it in a fraction of the time.

That is our promise to you.

[/cla_heading_section][vc_custom_heading text=”-Erin, Blake & Mike” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:40|text_align:right” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”” el_class=”quote-signature hide”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1762284417528{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #F25B3D !important;}”][vc_column][cla_heading_section text=”What We Believe” title_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size_laptop=”30px” title_margin=”40px” element_align=”center” css_animation=”wow fadeInUp”][/cla_heading_section][vc_row_inner el_class=”mid-col-6 custom_pix-card”][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_col-lg-3 vc_col-md-6″][pix_card title=”Extraordinary is Achievable”]

An extraordinary practice is possible for advisors with the right skills, tools, and support.

[/pix_card][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_col-lg-3 vc_col-md-6″][pix_card title=”Purpose Beats Passion”]

Focus on your purpose in the lives of your clients and your impact on the world.

[/pix_card][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_col-lg-3 vc_col-md-6″][pix_card title=”Never Work for Free”]

Your expertise has value and its impact should not be discounted or given away.

[/pix_card][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_col-lg-3 vc_col-md-6″][pix_card title=”We Rise to Challenges”]

Extraordinary advisors embrace new ideas, face challenges head-on, and rise.

[/pix_card][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” css=”.vc_custom_1761041434838{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column][cam_testimonial_post css=”.vc_custom_1754331248034{background-image: url(https://theadvisorauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/testimonial-bg.png?id=6065) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][cla_heading_section text=”” element_align=”center” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ftheadvisorauthority.com%2Felite-testimonials%2F|title:View%20More”][/cla_heading_section][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1742962195182{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 150px !important;}”][vc_column][cla_heading_section text=”Latest Articles” title_font_size_laptop=”30px” title_margin=”50px” element_align=”center” css_animation=”wow fadeInUp” css=”.vc_custom_1754331242733{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][/cla_heading_section][cam_blog_post post_column=”4″ word_limit=”10″ show_excerpt=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1753506601088{padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;background-color: #2C3539 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1744897076383{padding-top: 0px !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][cla_heading_section text=”Extraordinary Is Achievable” title_color=”#FFFFFF” content_color=”#FFFFFF” element_align=”center” css_animation=”wow fadeInUp” btn_link=”url:%23|title:Learn%20More” css=”.vc_custom_1760547215457{padding-top: 0px !important;}” btn_class=”form-popup”]An extraordinary practice isn’t reserved for a select few. With the right skills, tools, and support, any advisor can
build a business that stands out, scales fast, and delivers lasting success.[/cla_heading_section][/vc_column][/vc_row]