Tim Townsend: Can Personal Service Survive the Tech Age?

21st Century Entrepreneurship

Tim Townsend is a seasoned financial advisor with over 35 years of experience, and we spoke about the enduring value of personal service in an increasingly depersonalized, technology-driven world. Tim’s career spans from leading major firms to building his own practice alongside business partner Rod Cobain, always with a clear vision: to protect the human connection at the heart of client relationships.

We explored why “bigger is not always better” in business, the difference between a customer and a client, and how the pursuit of cheap has often come at the expense of genuine service. Tim shared candid reflections on the limits of personal capacity — his “60 seats on the bus” philosophy — and why trying to stretch beyond it can “turn your life into a personal hell.”

With a mix of humor and hard truth, Tim observed: “You will never, ever hear the words ‘your call is important to us’ when you ring me… because if that were true, we’d employ enough staff to answer the phone.” He also reminded us that information alone isn’t enough: “It takes motivation with information, it takes discipline with information, to actually get the outcomes that we seek.”

Key themes included:

• Client vs. customer: Why the depth of the relationship matters more than the transaction.
  
• The 60-client rule: How setting clear limits can safeguard both service quality and personal well-being.
  
• Technology’s double edge: AI can enhance service but can’t replace human knowledge and connection.
  
• Value-based pricing: Charging appropriately for high-touch service to protect both business and client outcomes.
  

Whether you’re in financial services or any profession where relationships matter, this conversation is a masterclass in building sustainable, trust-based client care — and a call to resist the race toward depersonalization at all costs.