Cirio Weigert

Growing Assets Under Management (AUM) is the primary goal for most financial advisors and firms. As someone who's built a successful practice, here's what works:

Client service and retention come first - happy clients refer and maintain assets. Provide exceptional service, regular communication, and transparent performance reporting. Existing clients are your best source of growth through additional assets and referrals.

Develop a clear niche or specialization that differentiates you. Whether it's a specific client type (doctors, retirees) or strategy (ESG, options), specialization makes marketing more effective.

Leverage centers of influence - build relationships with accountants, attorneys, and other professionals who can refer clients. Educational seminars and content marketing establish expertise.

CFP Board practice management has professional resources. Sustainable AUM growth comes from delivering real value, not just salesmanship!

Propagating golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) from cuttings is quite straightforward! I've successfully expanded my bamboo grove this way:

The best method is culm (cane) cuttings taken in spring when new growth appears. Select healthy, year-old culms and cut sections with 2-3 nodes each. Remove leaves from lower nodes.

You can root in water or directly in soil. I prefer a well-draining potting mix with extra perlite. Plant cuttings horizontally or at a slight angle with nodes buried. Keep consistently moist but not soggy, with high humidity (cover with plastic dome).

Bottom heat around 75°F encourages rooting, which takes 4-8 weeks. Once rooted and showing new growth, gradually acclimate to normal conditions before planting out.

Important: Golden bamboo is running bamboo - always plant with root barriers unless you want it to spread!

Bamboo Garden propagation guide has detailed techniques!

Raising healthy, fast-growing goats requires attention to nutrition, housing, and health management. Having raised goats for over a decade, here's what really works:

Nutrition is the foundation - good quality hay (alfalfa for kids, mixed grass for adults) should be available 24/7. Supplement with grain specifically formulated for goats, adjusting amounts based on age and purpose (meat, dairy, or pets). Fresh, clean water is absolutely essential - goats drink a lot!

Proper parasite control is crucial for growth. Work with your vet to establish a deworming schedule based on fecal exams. Minerals specifically for goats (with copper!) should always be available - loose minerals are often consumed better than blocks.

Adequate space, proper shelter from weather, and companionship (goats are herd animals!) all reduce stress and promote growth. Regular hoof trimming and vaccinations complete the health picture.

The Goat Wisdom blog has some fantastic detailed resources!

While you can't dramatically increase nail growth in just one week, you can optimize conditions for maximum growth and prevent breakage. Here's what actually helps:

Moisturize constantly - dry nails break and appear shorter. Apply cuticle oil (jojoba or vitamin E) 3-4 times daily and thick hand cream after every wash. Hydrated nails are more flexible and less prone to breaking.

Protect your nails - wear gloves for cleaning and dishes. Avoid using nails as tools. Keep them filed smooth to prevent snagging. A clear hardening polish can provide protection.

Nutrition matters - ensure adequate protein, biotin, iron, and zinc. Stay well-hydrated. Gently massage nail beds to increase blood flow to the matrix where growth occurs.

Realistically, nails grow about 0.5-1.2mm weekly. The American Academy of Dermatology has evidence-based advice for nail health.

Growing giant mushrooms in Minecraft is actually pretty straightforward once you know the mechanics! Here's what you need:

You'll need bone meal and either red or brown mushrooms. Find them in dark forest biomes, mushroom fields, or sometimes in caves. To grow them huge, you need the right space - at least 7 blocks tall clearance and a 7x7 area for the cap to spread.

Place your mushroom on dirt, grass, podzol, or mycelium (mycelium works best). Use bone meal on it repeatedly - sometimes it takes several tries. The environment needs to have light level 12 or less, unless you're on mycelium where light doesn't matter!

Pro tip: Podzol and mycelium allow mushrooms to stay planted at any light level, making indoor farms much easier. Giant brown mushrooms give more drops than red ones when broken.

The Minecraft Wiki has a great mushroom farming guide with all the technical details!

Establishing beneficial bacteria is crucial for a healthy, clear pond ecosystem. I've maintained ponds for 20+ years and here's what really works:

Beneficial bacteria occur naturally but often need help establishing, especially in new ponds or after cleaning. These bacteria colonize your filter media and pond surfaces, breaking down fish waste, uneaten food, and organic debris.

You can jumpstart the process by adding bacterial supplements specifically for ponds. Look for products containing Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter species - these convert toxic ammonia to nitrite, then to less harmful nitrate. Add bacteria weekly for the first month in new ponds, then monthly maintenance doses.

Warm water (above 50°F) is needed for bacterial activity. Avoid cleaning all filter media at once - you'll remove established bacteria. Rinse media in pond water, not tap water which contains chlorine.

The Pond Trade Magazine guide has excellent technical details!

Cardoons are one of those "wow factor" plants that make people stop and ask what they are! I've been growing them for both eating and ornamental value for years. Here's my method:

Start seeds in late winter - I usually sow mine in February for May planting. They have a taproot so don't like being pot-bound too long. When transplanting, be gentle with the roots and water well initially.

These are Mediterranean plants so they love full sun and well-drained soil. They're drought tolerant once established but produce better stalks with consistent moisture. For eating, you need to blanch the stalks by wrapping them for 2-3 weeks before harvest - this makes them tender and less bitter.

The flowers are absolutely stunning and attract tons of bees and butterflies. Just be prepared - they do spread readily if you don't deadhead, but the seedlings are easy to pull or transplant.

Cynara cardunculus, also known as cardoon, is that dramatic architectural plant you've seen in fancy gardens - and it's edible too! I grow these every year and they're surprisingly easy from seed:

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Sow them 1/4 inch deep in seed starting mix. They need darkness to germinate, so cover trays or use a dark propagation dome. Keep soil temperature around 70°F - they should sprout in 10-21 days.

Once they have true leaves, transplant to larger pots. They grow into massive plants (up to 6 feet tall and wide!), so space them at least 3 feet apart in full sun with rich, well-draining soil. They're heavy feeders, so work in plenty of compost before planting.

The young leaf stalks are delicious when blanched, but even if you don't eat them, the spectacular purple thistle-like flowers are worth growing for ornament alone!

The RHS has excellent growing advice for these stunning plants.

Cymbidium orchids grow from pseudobulbs (storage organs), not true bulbs, and propagation is straightforward! I've divided my plants for years:

The best time to divide is after flowering when new growth appears. Remove plant from pot and gently separate the pseudobulbs. Each division should have at least 3-5 healthy pseudobulbs with roots.

Use sterile tools to cut through connecting rhizomes. Dust cuts with cinnamon or fungicide. Pot each division in fresh orchid mix (pine bark chips). Water lightly initially, then normally once new roots establish.

Don't divide too small - larger divisions recover faster and flower sooner. The back bulbs (oldest, leafless pseudobulbs) can also be potted separately - they may produce new growth but take longer.

They like being slightly crowded, so only divide every 3-4 years when pots become full.

Orchid Web division guide has excellent step-by-step instructions!

Kent pumpkins (also called Japanese pumpkins) are one of Australia's favorite winter squashes and they're quite easy to grow! Here's what works in our climate:

Timing is key - plant from September to December in most regions, after frost danger has passed. They need warm soil (at least 20°C) to germinate well. Sow seeds directly 2cm deep, 1-2 meters apart - these plants need space!

They love full sun and well-draining soil enriched with compost and well-rotted manure. Water deeply but infrequently, avoiding wetting leaves to prevent mildew. As fruits develop, place straw or cardboard underneath to prevent rot.

Harvest when stems begin to dry and crack, usually 4-5 months after planting. Leave 5-10cm of stem attached and cure in sun for 10 days before storage.

Gardening Australia has excellent pumpkin guides specific to our conditions!

G'day mate! I've been growing Kent pumpkins in Queensland for years - they absolutely thrive in our climate. Here are my tips:

I plant mine in October in mounds about 30cm high - improves drainage and warms the soil faster. Each mound gets a bucket of compost and a handful of complete fertilizer mixed in. The vines will run everywhere, so give them space or train them up a trellis (support developing fruits with slings).

Watering is crucial during fruit set - inconsistent watering can cause fruit drop. I use drip irrigation on a timer to keep it consistent. Watch for fruit fly - I use exclusion bags when fruits are small.

My harvest tip: Don't be too eager! Kent pumpkins develop their full sweetness when fully mature and properly cured. They store for months in a cool, dry place. Nothing beats homegrown pumpkin soup in winter!