Book clubs sharpen MDRT members’ competitive edge

Professional and personal growth requires intentional effort. You don’t have to do this on your own though. More MDRT members worldwide are forming book clubs to connect with peers and explore ideas that strengthen their practices.

There are several advantages to book clubs for financial advisors, said 10-year MDRT member Irene Stolte, ChFC, who is also a Court of the Table member. “Sometimes financial advisors in business can feel all alone,” she said. Through MDRT book clubs, though, “you have a group of colleagues who you can contact at any time to help you.”

By talking about nonfiction, business-related books, you discuss ideas and can learn how other MDRT members run their practice, hire staff, talk with clients and market, said Stolte.

The number of MDRT book clubs is on the rise. There are about 14 clubs in the U.S. and three in Canada, she said. In addition, MDRT book clubs are starting in Europe, Africa, Malaysia and the Middle East.

One of the books Stolte’s book club discussed that made an impact on her, and mentioned as a favorite in other book clubs, was “The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness” by Morgan Housel. The book discusses how to have better behaviors around money and some of the questions you can ask to learn more about clients such as, “Where did you learn about money, and who taught it to you?”  

See more from Irene Stolte in the video “Why MDRT members are joining book clubs.”  (MDRT member exclusive)

 “MDRT book clubs bring the power of connection,” Stolte said. 

 MDRT members can find a book club near them:   

• U.S. and Canada — fill out a form at mdrt.org/bookclub
• Europe
  • General — email Kyriakos Chatzistefanou, DMS, CMI, at chatzistefanou@gmail.com
  • Poland — contact Pawel F. Skotnicki through social media or by email at biuro@kfps.pl
  • Lithuania — contact Svetlana Plitin-Tamaviciene at info@svetlana.lt
• Africa — contact Kobus Kleyn, CFP, TEP, at kleyn@liblink.co.za
• Middle East — contact Rima Antonios, BCA, at rimaantonios014@gmail.com
• Malaysia — contact Thian Lung Jong through social or at thian@jmh.my

You can learn more about starting your own book club in “5 favorite books to boost your career and personal development” or in the January/February 2026 issue of Round the Table.