On today’s show I sat down with John Wortman, co-founder and CEO of Valeo Financial Advisors, a firm founded in 2003 that has grown to over 100 certified financial planners managing over $12 billion.
Wortman traces his early interest in markets from Evansville, explains disillusionment with cold-calling brokerage sales, and describes learning comprehensive financial planning at Oxford before leaving, paying a non-compete, and being sued at age 27 as Valeo launched into the dot-com bust and the 2008 crisis. He emphasizes transparent fees, limiting client loads, and building talent through an apprenticeship model.
Our conversation also covers innovation and AI-enabled product building, Valeo’s “GIVE” program, involvement with Brackets for Good and Gleaners Food Bank, and why Indiana’s family ties and community keep him rooted.
If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.
You are going to learn about:
Markets in the 2000s vs. Now
Valeo’s Founding and Growth Over the Last 20+ Years
Brackets for Good and “GIVE” Program
Thank you to our partners:
Hope Plumbing
Indy Grills
Check out these great clips from the show:
01:30 Guest Introduction: John Wortman, Valeo Financial Advisors
02:18 Evansville Origins
04:44 First Stock Obsession
05:37 Markets Then and Now
06:39 Cold Calling Reality
10:11 Advisor Value Test
13:30 Oxford Lessons
14:31 Radical Fee Transparency
15:35 Apprentice Model Culture
16:43 Noncompete Lawsuit
18:22 Imposter Syndrome Advice
20:32 Networking Deflections
21:39 Early Valeo Hustle
28:00 Leadership Listening
30:33 Brackets For Good Story
33:01 “GIVE” Program Generosity
34:33 Gleaners Food Network
37:41 Choosing Gleaners Impact
39:16 Authentic Giving Networks
42:21 Volunteering Over Taxes
44:01 Valeo Traction Intern Wall
47:29 AI Dreaming Innovation
50:10 Career Vines Founder Drive
53:42 Next Decade Vision
59:20 Evansville Weekend Pitch
01:01:12 Why Indiana Home
01:02:09 Rapid Fire Reflections
01:06:40 Indiana Real Estate Talent
