Beyond Willpower: Designing Effective Forcing Mechanisms for Success - Matthew Jarvis

Your Next: A Guide to Finding Fulfillment After Your Exit Hosted by Jerome Myers

What does it look like to engineer a business that serves your life—and not the other way around?

Matthew Jarvis, founder of Jarvis Financial and co-founder of The Perfect RIA, built a thriving financial advisory firm designed for freedom. In this episode, Matthew opens up about building a “lifestyle practice,” navigating the emotional landmines of succession, and making bold moves (like taking 150+ days off a year!) without sacrificing business performance.

Expect honest stories about designing a business around your values, preparing for exit from day one, and why impact, not just income, should be the endgame.

If you're looking to exit right, not just exit rich, this episode will shift your thinking.

[01:13 – 08:12] Design Your Life First

• Life by Design: Matthew shares how he built a business to support his ideal lifestyle
• Lifestyle Practice: Intentional client selection and lean operations
• Personal Metrics: Why time off mattered more than AUM growth
• Early Vision: Planning for exit even in the early years of growth

[08:12 – 18:49] Exiting on Purpose

• Succession Strategy: Hand-picking his successor with the intention
• Founder Ego: Wrestling with identity and letting go of being “the guy”
• Trust and Letting Go: Setting the team up for success post-transition
• The Real Timeline: Why a clean break was the healthiest move

[18:49 – 29:06] Impact Over Income

• Beyond the Check: How purpose played into exit planning
• The Perfect RIA: Building a second business to help others escape the grind
• Systems + Values: Operational freedom with a high-integrity culture
• Mission Alignment: The joy of helping others build lifestyle practices

[29:06 – 38:55] Life After Exit

• Rhythms Post-Exit: How Matthew structures his time now
• Avoiding the Void: Creating new challenges to stay engaged
• Family + Freedom: Prioritizing relationships and global experiences
• Reinvention: The exit isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of significance

[38:55 – 46:00] Advice for Founders

• Start With Why: Design your business with your life in mind
• Get a Coach: The power of external insight
• Exit Readiness: Don’t wait until burnout to start the process
• Leave a Legacy: Measure success by your impact, not just your income

Key Quotes:

“If willpower were enough, we wouldn't have this discussion. I need a forcing mechanism.”— Matthew Jarvis

“Successful people do things again and again. If I do those things, I’ll probably get similar results.”— Matthew Jarvis

Connect with Matthew!

Website: https://www.theperfectria.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpjarvis/

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