Derek Hagen, CFA, CFP®, FBS®, CFT™

“Learning more is a smart person’s favorite form of procrastination.”

-Mark Manson

Learning more doesn’t always lead to doing more—and how advisors can finally bridge the gap.

You don’t learn to ride a bike by reading about it.

You learn by getting on, wobbling, falling, and trying again.

It sounds obvious, but in professional settings, many of us forget this. We sign up for the next webinar, read the next book, and tweak our workflow one more time before we implement what we already know works. In theory, we’re preparing. In reality, we’re stalling.

This is the knowing/doing gap.

Why Advisors Get Stuck

Hiding behind learning is common; especially for thoughtful professionals. We want to do things right. We want to feel ready. But if we’re honest, sometimes “I’m still learning” is code for “I’m not doing.”

We’ve all been to conferences where we took pages of notes and left feeling inspired… only to return to our desks and change nothing. That’s because learning without implementation doesn’t shift behavior. Execution takes something more.

In this short video, I share how endless learning can become a way to hide from taking action, and why real growth starts when you step into the discomfort of doing.

Subscribe for Updates

Get notified when the latest articles are published.

Knowledge Is Necessary—But Not Sufficient

To be clear, knowledge matters. You can’t facilitate deep planning conversations without a strong foundation in communication skills, behavioral finance, and psychology. But knowledge alone doesn’t transform client relationships.

You have to do something with it.

Why It Feels Safer to Keep Learning

If you don’t implement, you can’t fail. You also can’t fall short, or do it “wrong.” Learning feels safe. It can even feel virtuous. But the real growth happens in the messy middle—where knowledge meets practice.

There’s no shortage of content about values-based planning and meaningful advice. What sets Money Quotient apart is the structure and support for implementation.

You don’t just learn theory. You build a repeatable process. You have tools to lean on when the conversation gets hard. You walk away not just knowing—but doing.

FAQ: Closing the Knowing-Doing Gap

What is the knowing-doing gap?

The knowing-doing gap refers to the common disconnect between what advisors know and what they actually implement. It’s the difference between theory and execution.

Why is it hard to apply what we learn?

Because learning feels safe—there’s no risk of failing. But real growth happens when we take action, make mistakes, and refine through practice.

How can I move from knowing to doing?

Use structured tools, follow a repeatable process, and start small. Implement just one new behavior at a time and build from there.

In this short video, I explore the common trap of endless learning—and why putting soft skills into practice is the only way to grow.

Want to Learn More?

Money Quotient trains financial professionals in the True Wealth process and helps them implement the concepts into their practices. The first step is to learn about the Fundamentals of True Wealth Planning.