088: Book #1 Tripled His Business. Here's Why He's Writing 3 More. With Guest Anton Anderson

The Influential Advisor

Episode Summary:

After 11 years scaling Elite Resource Team, Anton Anderson's revenue tripled when he released "The Art of Collaboration" in 2024. He shows how one book became a growth flywheel, why his event is now the "Virtual Family Office Collective," & how AI is speeding—not threatening—progress. Anton previews book #2, "The Art of Proactivity" (co-authored with Paul Latham, who sold his CPA firm for $45M) to help accountants become proactive VFO pros. These titles anchor a four-book series proving collaboration now outperforms competition.

About the Guest:

• Anton Anderson sketched his first "team-based" diagrams on napkins with CPAs. Today, he leads 25 internal staff & a 75-specialist virtual family office, supporting 700+ advisors & accountants. His annual event, now titled Virtual Family Office Collective, showcases that model in action.

Key Concepts Explained:

The Flywheel Effect: Growth gains momentum over time; add a strategic asset (a book) & the wheel accelerates exponentially.

Virtual Family Office (VFO): Members tap a 100-person expert bench without hiring them, delivering "big-firm" depth minus the overhead.

AI-Driven Disruption: As AI handles data & routine tasks, value shifts to relationships, strategy, & coordination—exactly what VFOs amplify.

The Four-Book Vision:

• "The Art of Collaboration" – Advisor + Accountant Playbook
• "The Art of Proactivity" – Accountants become proactive VFO pros
• Client-facing guide to VFO benefits (in development)
• Advisor-focused growth manual (planned 2026)

Strategic Book Leverage:

Beyond Royalties: Success is measured in relationships, not unit sales. Books earn trust, open doors, & anchor speaking invites.

Multi-Use Asset: Lead magnet, onboarding text, event giveaway, & training manual. New members receive "Collaboration" on day one & discuss it with their success manager.

Peer-to-Peer Credibility: "Proactivity" was co-written by Paul Latham, who sold his accounting firm for $45M; accountants listen because it's "one of us" talking.

Market Timing & Opportunity:

Perfect Storm: COVID normalized virtual work; AI threatens "old school" fee models; professionals crave partnership over rivalry.

10X Mindset: Anton targets delivering ten-times the value, not just closing ten-times the deals—fueling retention & referral growth.

Future-Proofing: Information is cheap; process & partnership are priceless. The VFO structure is built for the next decade of tech upheaval.

Implementation Insights:

Rock-Climber Rhythm: Surge upward, pause to secure footing, then climb again; this guards culture & quality during hyper-growth.

Community-Driven Innovation: Members co-create new ideas, challenge assumptions, & keep ego in check.

Systematic Integration: Books, events, AI tools, & VFO experts are woven into one seamless client experience.

Connect with Anton

• Company: Elite Resource Team
• Event: Virtual Family Office Collective
• Books: "The Art of Collaboration" & "The Art of Proactivity"

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Chapters

1. 088: Book #1 Tripled His Business. Here's Why He's Writing 3 More. With Guest Anton Anderson (00:00:00)

2. The Power of Strategic Publishing (00:00:27)

3. Virtual Family Office Evolution (00:03:20)

4. Value of Collaboration in Today's Market (00:07:12)

5. AI Disruption and Business Adaptation (00:11:52)

6. Leveraging Books for Business Growth (00:14:21)

7. Four-Part Book Series Vision (00:20:58)

8. The Path Forward for Financial Professionals (00:25:31)

9. Building a Legacy Through Publishing (00:29:03)