Guest: Andrew Parrillo, Financial Expert and Author

Introduction

Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Andrew Parrillo, a seasoned financial expert with over four decades of experience. Andrew is the founder of Newport Capital Advisors LLC and Victory Road Investors LLC. He authored "Beat The Wealth Management Hustle," a book aimed at helping individuals invest independently and confidently. Andrew shares his vast experience in finance, including his early career in banking, his insights on market behavior, and the principles that guide successful long-term investing.

Getting Started in Investing

Andrew discusses how he got into investing by chance, starting in a bank management training program after his military service. He was mentored by a well-respected investment research head and quickly rose to a significant position in the largest trust bank in Rhode Island. His love for competition and the challenge of investing has fueled his passion for the field ever since.

Market Highs and Lows

Dr. Lycka and Andrew discuss the significant market crashes Andrew has witnessed, including Black Monday in 1987 and the 2008 financial crisis. Andrew emphasizes that market behavior is often driven by human psychology, particularly the tendency to panic. He explains that understanding this behavior is key to maintaining a long-term investment strategy.

The Power of Compound Interest

Andrew highlights the importance of understanding compound interest and the impact of fees on investment returns. He uses the example of a 1% management fee over 20 years, which can significantly reduce an investor’s potential gains. He argues that many people pay for financial advice they don't need, and that understanding the basics of investing can save them a substantial amount of money over time.

The S&P 500 as a Benchmark

Andrew discusses the S&P 500 as the benchmark for most professional investors. He notes that while some advisors may claim to outperform the market, very few can do so consistently after fees. He advises individual investors to consider low-fee index funds as a viable alternative to managed funds.

Emotional Responses in Investing

Andrew warns against making investment decisions based on emotions, especially in response to market volatility. He advocates for a disciplined, institutional approach to investing, where decisions are made based on long-term goals rather than short-term market fluctuations.

Investing with Joy and Confidence

Andrew introduces the concept of "indivestutional" investors—individuals who adopt an institutional approach to their personal investments. By following a structured, disciplined investment strategy, he believes anyone can invest with joy and confidence, without being swayed by market panic.

Conclusion

Dr. Lycka wraps up the conversation by emphasizing the value of Andrew’s book and the wisdom it offers to everyday investors. Andrew shares how listeners can get in touch with him and where they can purchase his book, "Beat The Wealth Management Hustle."

BIO:

Andrew Parrillo is a financial expert dedicated to helping individuals invest independently and confidently. With four decades of experience as an institutional investor and the author of Beat the Wealth Management Hustle, Andrew offers deep insights into finance. He founded Newport Capital Advisers LLC (1995-2020) and Victory Road Investors LLC (2000-2020), managing a multi-manager hedge fund. A Boston University graduate, he also held various investment advisory roles before founding his firms. Andrew is the proud father of three sons and grandfather to three grandchildren.

Social Media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-parrillo-55287241/

https://www.facebook.com/victoryroadadvisors/

LIVE with The Famous Dr AL and Nicholas Volinchak

Episode Overview

In this inspiring conversation, Paul Lawrence Vann, known as The Leadership Catalyst and founder of Wealth Building Academy, reveals how true leadership begins with self-leadership.

From growing up as one of ten children in North Carolina to serving 22 years in the U.S. Air Force and advising Pentagon generals, Paul shares the leadership lessons that shaped his life — and how self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and resilience can transform yours.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Lead yourself first. You can’t guide others until you master self-awareness and discipline.
• Influence > Title. True leaders inspire trust and collaboration, not compliance.
• Adversity reveals greatness. Every challenge is an opportunity to build resilience.
• Empathy wins. Great leaders listen, care, and serve their people first.
• Develop leaders, not followers. Empower others, and your organization thrives.

🎧 Listener Q&A

Q: What exactly is self-leadership?

A: It’s your ability to influence yourself — your mindset, habits, and emotions — before you influence others.

Q: How can leaders turn adversity into strength?

A: Through the “Leadership Trinity”: resilience, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. These qualities forge true character under pressure.

Q: How can I balance leadership and personal life?

A: Lead with humanity. Foster team connection outside the office and prioritize relationships that matter.

Q: What’s the first step to becoming a better leader?

A: Start small — read, learn, take initiative. Leadership begins when you decide to grow.

📘 What You’ll Learn

• How to lead yourself before leading others
• How to develop resilience and emotional intelligence
• Why empathy outperforms authority
• The habits of leaders who inspire influence and trust
• How to align personal values with professional excellence

👤 Guest Links

• 🌐 PaulVanSpeaks.com
• 📗 Leadership Is Influence by Paul Lawrence Vann – Amazon

💎 FREE DOWNLOAD: The Self-Leadership Mastery Guide

Transform the way you lead — from the inside out.

This exclusive downloadable guide walks you through the five pillars of self-leadership: self-awareness, resilience, emotional intelligence, influence, and action.

👉 Download The Self-Leadership Mastery Guide (Free)

Guest: Kevin D. St.Clergy

What happens when the real problem isn’t what you think it is?

In this revealing episode, Dr. Allen Lycka sits down with Kevin D. St.Clergy—transformational business leader, podcast host, and author of Beyond Blind Blaming—to uncover how “blind blaming” keeps people and organizations stuck solving the wrong problems over and over again.

From his early career as an audiologist and founder of multiple successful businesses to his personal journey of rediscovering purpose after a major exit, Kevin shares how he developed the RCD Method—Reflect, Connect, Decide—to help leaders and entrepreneurs uncover the unseen obstacles holding them back.

Through relatable stories, scientific insights, and practical tools, Kevin explains how to identify hidden root causes, make faster, smarter decisions, and create transformation that lasts. His breakthrough framework, the ODNA (Obstacle Deep Nexus Analysis), helps you isolate the one constraint that, when addressed, creates ripple effects across your entire life and business.

If you’ve ever felt stuck chasing the same goals without progress or wondered why “solutions” never seem to stick, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s really going on beneath the surface.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How “blind blaming” forms—and the three hidden biases that sustain it

• Why most people succeed at fixing the wrong problems perfectly

• The 3-step RCD Method to stop overanalyzing and start deciding

• How to use ODNA to uncover one leverage point that transforms everything

• Why faster decisions—with quick pivots—create compounding gains

Connect with Kevin D. St.Clergy:

• Website: blindblaming.com

• LinkedIn: Kevin D. St.Clergy

• Book: Beyond Blind Blaming — Get Your Copy

Click here to claim your free gift:

👉 Download the Free Toolkit The Blind Blaming Breakthrough Toolkit (RCD + ODNA)

Transform how you think, decide, and solve problems with Kevin’s proven framework.

This free workbook helps you uncover hidden patterns, stop blind blaming, and start creating lasting breakthroughs in your business and life.

Guest: Tonya Hennessey

What happens when food becomes more than a meal? In this flavorful episode, Dr. Allen Lycka sits down with Tonya Hennessey—San Francisco Bay Area travel and food writer—to explore how simple dishes, local markets, and farm-to-table traditions reveal the soul of a place.

From backpacking in Beijing and tasting dumplings in hidden alleyways, to sipping cava with tapas in Spain, Tonya’s stories uncover how food sparks connection, sustainability, and joy. She shares experiences of kindness from strangers abroad, how agritourism reshapes the way we value food, and why eating seasonally can change the way we travel—and live.

If you’ve ever craved deeper cultural connection, wondered how to travel sustainably, or simply wanted to recreate the tastes of your journeys at home, this episode will inspire you to see food as the bridge between people and places.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How local dishes like dumplings and tapas open doors to culture.
• Why agritourism and indigenous stays connect travelers to food systems.
• How farm-to-table supports sustainability and flavor.
• Why markets and small merchants are the heart of community travel.
• The destinations that surprised Tonya most—and why

Connect with Tonya Hennessey:

• Website: tonyahennessey.com
• Video Show: https://create24.co/

Click here to claim your free gift: The Sustainable Food Traveler’s Playbook

Guest: Vynny Hick

What can a police dog teach us about leadership? In this powerful episode, Dr. Allen Lycka sits down with Vynny Hick—decorated law enforcement veteran, bilingual keynote speaker, and leadership trainer—to uncover lessons from 30 years in policing, recruitment, and K-9 handling.

From leaving home at 15 to becoming a respected Ontario Provincial Police officer and national recruiter, Vynny’s journey is one of resilience, transformation, and service. He shares candid lessons about choosing to be “better, not bitter,” why retention matters as much as recruitment, and how gratitude practices keep leaders grounded. And yes—you’ll hear the unforgettable story of the police dog who cracked a cold case.

If you’ve ever faced setbacks, struggled with leadership challenges, or wanted to build deeper trust with your team, this episode will inspire you to lead with clarity, courage, and calm.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why leadership is about mindset, not titles

• How trusting your experts can change everything (including a K-9 story that solved a crime)

• Why retention is the missing piece in most recruitment strategies

• The “bitter or better” choice that builds resilience in hard times

• How daily gratitude rituals strengthen leaders and teams

Connect with Vynny Hick:

• Website: vynnyhick.com

• Social: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Click here to claim your free gift: The Unshakable Leadership Toolkit

Guest: Rafael McMaster

What happens when fear takes the driver’s seat? In this powerful episode, Dr. Allen Lycka sits down with Rafael McMaster—creative visionary, social entrepreneur, and founder of Indivisible Arts—to explore how art, mindfulness, and community tools are transforming the mental health landscape for today’s youth.

After hitting his own rock bottom at 35, Rafael turned pain into purpose, dedicating his life to equipping young people with simple, science-backed practices that spark resilience and connection. From his signature “G-flipping” gratitude practice to the ABCs of the Heart morning ritual, he shows how anyone can shift from fear to love, judgment to compassion, and isolation to authentic connection.

If you’ve ever wrestled with anxiety, felt trapped in negative loops, or wanted better ways to support your kids or grandkids, this conversation will leave you inspired—and ready—with tools to rise above fear and live from the heart.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why fear isn’t the enemy—it’s a signal you can flip into love, courage, or faith

• The 7 Core Tools that build resilience: awareness, acceptance, intention, gratitude, compassion, forgiveness, and connection

• How “G-flipping” instantly reframes negative thoughts into empowering perspectives

• Why creative flow—whether painting, cooking, or walking the dog—can act as therapy

• How teens are teaching other teens the very tools that transformed their own lives

Connect with Rafael McMaster:

• IndivisibleArts.org

• RaphaelMcMaster.com

• StreamOfConsciousness.life

• StreamOfConsciousness.org

Click here to claim your free gift: From Fear to Flow Toolkit

Guest: Gregory Russell Benedikt

What happens when you walk away from the “perfect” career everyone else admires but you secretly hate? In this transformative episode, Dr. Allen Lycka sits down with Gregory Russell Benedikt—TEDx speaker, ICF-certified coach, and founder of the Bold Action community—to explore what it means to face fear, leave comfort zones, and create a story worth telling.

From quitting finance at the height of the pandemic to launching a 100-Day Rejection Challenge, Gregory’s journey reveals the real formula behind courage: terrified action. With humor, playfulness, and practical wisdom, he shares how to break big dreams into small bold moves and why the universe truly rewards those who dare.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in someone else’s expectations, struggled with fear, or wondered how to spark more meaning in your life, this conversation will inspire you to step boldly into your next chapter.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why staying the same can be scarier than making a leap

• How to use the “Fear Flipper” technique to turn fear into fuel

• The surprising power of “terrified action” and dancing with fear

• What Gregory discovered from 100 days of playful rejection experiments

• Why breaking dreams into bite-sized bold steps leads to lasting change

Connect with Gregory Russell Benedikt:

• Website: gregoryrussellbenedikt.com

• LinkedIn: Gregory Russell Benedikt

• TEDx Talk: How Being Bold Will Change Your Life

Click here to claim your free gift: The 5-Day Bold Action Starter Kit