The RDAG Origin Story: 

Don and Roe are a married duo who have built a successful relationship based on leadership principles. They have always been a couple who strive together for new challenges and success. Taking the leap to complete an MBA program, Roe had the confidence and experience to found RD Advisory Group. Though initially it was a solo endeavor, “D” for Don was included in case he wanted to be a part of it “someday.”

Focusing locally on leadership development and strategic planning, Roe’s work took hold, and she began to grow the business. Simultaneously, Don was working in an independent insurance agency as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He was also the Sales Manager, Second-in-Command, Director of Administration, IT Manager, HR Manager, Life Insurance Producer, Virtual CFO for another agency, the list goes on…you get the picture.  He was wearing way too many hats and not focused solely on his unique abilities. 

Work became more all-consuming.  On a rare vacation, as they sat on their favorite beach, the reoccurring question surfaced, “When do we reach our goals?” This time, Don answered differently and without hesitation. He said what they feared: “If nothing changes, probably never.” What could have been a crushing moment, became the catalyst neither saw coming. Roe’s reply of “that’s not good enough” turned into a rallying cry for change. Thus, the concept of their book, Changing Your Equation, was born.

Taking their two master’s degrees in business administration and management and more than thirty-five years of management and leadership experience, the concepts of a personal leadership book were developed. Using many of the insights many wished others had been taught along the way, they successfully completed the book and became published authors. 

Next leap forward came from the advice of a mentor. It was time to promote the book through a program design to train and launch authors. They took advantage of the learning available and pushed Changing Your Equation to a #1 new release on Amazon. 

Through a course of this program, they sat in a session and plotted a timeline for future development. In this exercise, it became clear that Don’s timeline to claim the “D” in “RD” might be shorter than first anticipated. Less than a month later, in a conversation with the owner of the insurance agency, the opportunity came up for Don to leave and pursue his true passion, being a full-time CFO. He could fully immerse into the role of a Virtual CFO – with the agency owner graciously offering to be the new venture’s first client. Don immediately accepted the offer, and the AgencyCFO™ program was officially born.

With Don’s agency financial acumen, Roe’s human insights and plain hard work, the program was a success! Serving more and more agencies across the United States allowed them the opportunity to bring on their beloved “daughter-from-God” Cayla Carrillo as the Growth Advisor. This gave RD Advisory Group’s AgencyCFO™ program the complete picture – Financial, Growth and Human.  

To this day, RD Advisory Group’s AgencyCFO™ program is continuing to grow. The team of Virtual CFOs is expanding as is the contents within the program.  Don, Roe, and the team are blessed with an incredible array of agency owners who view them as true partners in success.

Now, a new initiative is underway to help agencies who may not be large enough yet for the full AgencyCFO™ package and experience. The AgencyCFO Executive Academy™ is a cohort based, annual program designed to propel smaller agencies towards achieving their goals. 

If you asked any of them today – “Did you Change Your Equation?” be prepared for a flurry of enthusiastic responses and examples. Their efforts became a catalyst for themselves and now it’s one that independent insurance agency owners can tap into, build upon and use for their own inspiration.