At 1847Financial, leadership isn’t just about strategy—it’s about people, vision, and creating an environment where financial professionals can thrive. Recently, Niki Muller was promoted to VP, 1847Financial, and in this Q&A, she shares her vision for the role, her leadership philosophy, and how she balances a thriving career with family life.

Congratulations on your promotion to VP. What does this new role mean to you, and how do you see it shaping your career at 1847Financial?
This role is an incredible opportunity to lead an outstanding team. We've brought in tremendous experience with leaders like Lori Bogatz, AVP, BD/RIA Operations, Suzanne Denby, AVP, Supervision and Suitability and Micah Wei, AVP, Investment & Advisory, all joining within the past six months. My role focuses on leading operations, product, and platform for our broker-dealer (HTK) and RIA, while also aligning our distribution operations to create a cohesive, enterprise-wide strategy for 1847Financial.

Pictured: Niki Muller, Lori Bogatz, Suzanne Denby, Micah Wei and Joe Nicholson

What excites me most is continuing the work we’ve done over the last three years—bringing together our field partners, operations, and distribution teams under a single vision. We are one team, 1847Financial, and this role allows me to further unite our efforts to serve financial professionals more effectively.

You’ll be leading new teams in this role. What excites you most about working with them, and how do you plan to foster collaboration and success?
Our top priority this year is service. We are raising the bar to deliver the best experience for our financial professionals. We have a huge opportunity to differentiate ourselves in the industry by focusing on strong relationships and exceptional service.

For me, leadership is all about alignment and relationships. We are positioning ourselves to transform how we support financial professionals, ensuring they receive high-touch, proactive service that allows them to focus on their clients. I'm excited to build on the great momentum we’ve established.

What are some key goals or initiatives you're focusing on in this new role? How do they impact our firms and the financial professionals?
First and foremost, service excellence is our biggest priority. But that’s not just about being responsive—it’s about creating transparency, accountability, and measurable success.

We’re implementing better internal metrics to ensure we measure service quality and hold ourselves accountable. Additionally, we are enhancing the ease of doing business for financial professionals, which includes improving onboarding, account opening, and overall operational efficiencies.

One of the major initiatives we’re currently rolling out is a new annuity order entry system, which will streamline the process for financial professionals. Looking ahead, we’re considering larger-scale improvements to further simplify operations.

Heather Nagengast has been a strong leader at 1847Financial. How has she influenced your leadership approach?
Heather is the ultimate servant leader—she genuinely cares about her people, and that makes all the difference. She leads with care, accountability, and excellence, and she’s built a culture where people feel empowered to do their jobs well.

One of Heather’s greatest strengths is her ability to see potential in people before they see it in themselves—she did that for me. When I stepped into this role, I wasn’t sure I was ready, but she saw that I could do it. That level of belief and support has been instrumental in my growth.

She also recruits top talent, which has been a game-changer for 1847Financial. Her leadership has raised the bar, and I aim to carry that forward.

Work-life balance is important at 1847Financial. How do you personally prioritize it, and what advice do you have for others?
I believe work-life balance is more of a moving target than a fixed state—I strive for it, but it never feels perfectly in sync. Instead of chasing balance, I focus on setting boundaries and being intentional with my time and energy.

When I’m working, I’m all in. But when I’m with my family, I try to be fully present by avoiding emails and other distractions.

One thing I prioritized when taking this role was picking up my kids from school every day when I’m not traveling. That car ride home is when they open up the most, and I wouldn’t trade that time for anything.

I cannot talk about work-life balance without acknowledging my husband’s support. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I have an amazing partner—I couldn’t do what I do without him. We are fully committed to each other achieving our career goals, which means we split home and kids’ responsibilities 50/50. That teamwork makes all the difference.

My biggest piece of advice? Set boundaries and protect the moments that matter. Also, for me, sleep, exercise and eating well is essential! You can’t be your best self at work or at home if you’re running on empty.

You’ve been part of 1847Financial for two and a half years. What has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?
The biggest reward has been seeing financial professionals succeed. Watching them thrive in our organization and knowing that our support has helped them grow their practice is incredibly meaningful.

Another recent highlight was hosting our first Breakthrough event in Charlotte earlier this year. Seeing financial professionals from different firms come together, collaborate, and build relationships—that’s when I really felt the impact of everything we’ve been working toward.

We have a unique model that fosters an abundance mindset, where financial professionals can thrive together rather than compete. Watching that vision come to life has been incredibly fulfilling.

Can you tell us a little about your background and what brought you to this point in your career?
I started out in public accounting as a CPA, then moved into corporate accounting and HR. Spending three years in HR completely changed my perspective—it helped me understand that this industry is all about people. That experience shaped how I approach leadership, strategy, and business decisions.

From there, I moved into distribution and operations, which ultimately led me to 1847Financial. My career has always been driven by learning, growth, and adaptability—and I’ve never stopped being curious.

Any final thoughts as you step into this new chapter?
My philosophy has always been to keep learning and growing. Titles and promotions were never my goal—I just focus on becoming better, staying curious, and making a meaningful impact.

At the end of the day, it’s about delivering for our financial professionals so they can deliver for their clients. That’s what excites me the most about this role and the future of 1847Financial.

Looking Ahead
As Niki steps into this new role, her vision for elevating service, strengthening teams, and driving operational efficiency will shape the future of 1847Financial. We’re excited to see how her leadership continues to impact financial professionals and the firm as a whole.

Want to learn more about our leadership team? Check out our recent welcome announcements for Lori Bogatz, Suzanne Denby, and Micah Wei.

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