Tag: leadership
The Healthy Advisor: Living Authentically After Transitioning with Max Kulyk

The Healthy Advisor: Living Authentically After Transitioning with Max Kulyk

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Growing up in a small Pennsylvania town, Max Kulyk knew from an early age that the identity others saw didn’t fully match how he understood himself. Over the course of several decades, he built a career in financial services, raised a family, pursued theology and founded Chicory Wealth, all while continuing to explore questions of purpose, identity and authenticity.

After years of reflection and personal growth, Max made the decision to begin his gender transition at the age of 64. That experience deepened his understanding of what it means to feel truly seen, while also reinforcing his commitment to creating a workplace where employees, clients and advisors are supported.

In this episode of The Healthy Advisor, host Diana Britton speaks with Max Kulyk, CEO and founder of Chicory Wealth, about his personal journey, his path into financial advice, and how his experiences shaped the culture and values of his firm. They discuss building an advisory business rooted in meaningful conversations, creating healthier workplaces, and the impact of authenticity on leadership, well-being and client relationships.

Max discusses:

  • How growing up as a member of the LGBTQ+ community influenced his personal and professional journey
  • Why his relationship with money led him from theology into a career in financial planning
  • How Chicory Wealth was built around advisor wellbeing, family support and a people-first culture
  • What inspired his decision to transition and how the experience changed his perspective
  • Why helping people feel understood has become a guiding principle for both leadership and client relationships

Resources:

Connect With Max Kulyk:

Connect with Wealth Management:

About Our Guest:

Max Kulyk is the CEO and founder of Chicory Wealth, a fee-only financial life planning and sustainable wealth management firm. Since entering the financial services industry in 2002, Max has focused on helping people build healthier relationships with money by connecting financial decisions to their personal values, goals, and overall well-being.

Before Max began his career in financial planning, he studied political philosophy and theology, earning a bachelor’s degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is the author of Integrating Money and Meaning: Practices for a Heart-Centered Life.

Outside of work, Max enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Wendy Farley, their four children, grandchild, family dog Teddy, and visiting Orcas Island in Washington. His interests also include pickleball, good beer, and time with family and friends.

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The Healthy Advisor: From Near-Death to New Purpose with Martine Lellis

The Healthy Advisor: From Near-Death to New Purpose with Martine Lellis

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While studying at Duke University, Martine Lellis started to feel sick. It developed quickly into a hospital visit where she was diagnosed with pneumonia in both her lungs. The condition escalated into a near-deadly situation, so her doctors decided to induce a coma even before her parents were able to reach her.

 It became so serious that while in a coma, she received her last rites, the religious ceremony performed by a Catholic priest for someone who was dying.

 Thankfully, she woke up three weeks later to make a full recovery, although the road back to normal functionality was difficult.

 Diana Britton speaks with Martine Lellis, principal of M&A partner development at Mercer Advisors, on her near-death experience, its profound impact on her life, and how it has fueled her passion for making bold, compassionate choices in the financial services industry.

 

Diana and Martine discuss:

  • Martine’s near-death experience and its aftermath
  • Her recent experience meeting with the doctor who saved her life at Duke
  • Another health scare she had with long COVID
  • How overcoming significant health challenges shaped her professional and personal outlook
  • The importance of gratitude and resilience in her leadership role
  • Her current philanthropic efforts and commitment to giving back to the community

 Resources:

 Connect With Martine Lellis:

 Connect With Wealth Management & NREI:

 About Our Guest:

 Martine is Principal, M&A Partner Development, and is responsible for driving the growth and expansion of the organization through strategic mergers and acquisitions of other RIAs. Based on her more than two decades of experience in the independent wealth management space, she leads like-minded firms in their transition decisions, including assessment of fit, due diligence, financial analysis, talent mapping, and deal negotiations. Martine also currently serves as Chief Talent Officer, overseeing Talent Management and HR Operations for the company, with a focus on developing and growing the talent of the organization. She has been a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Mercer Advisors since joining the firm in 2020.

 If you have a struggle and wish to share your experiences and help others in similar situations, please reach out to Diana at diana.britton@informa.com.

 The Healthy Advisor podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Android, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found.

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