We welcome back Samantha Russell, Chief Evangelist at FMG, to break down the marketing shifts defining 2025 and how advisors can carry them into 2026. Samantha says AI has transformed both how content is made and how it’s found—shifting SEO into AEO, or answer engine optimization. Firms that structure Q&A content with schema, gather reviews, … Continue reading Episode 300 – AI, AEO, and the Future of Advisor Marketing with Samantha Russell →

Kevin Flanagan, Head of Fixed Income Strategy at WisdomTree, joins us to discuss how advisors can navigate uncertainty as the Fed manages policy in a “flying blind” environment. He explains why Treasury Floating Rate Notes remain a cornerstone even in a rate-cut cycle, how defining the true neutral rate will shape future decisions, and why concerns … Continue reading Episode 299 – Fixed Income Clarity in an Uncertain Fed Cycle with Kevin Flanagan →

Alex Khassa, Founder and CEO of Clients Blackbox, joins us to discuss how financial advisors can grow more efficiently by shifting from demand capture to demand generation. He explains why traditional tactics—like buying leads or relying solely on referrals—limit scalability, and how educational marketing funnels help advisors connect with prospects earlier in their decision journey. … Continue reading Episode 298 – Demand Generation That Actually Works for Advisors with Alex Khassa →

Today we welcome back Fred Kaynor, Managing Director at DAFgiving360™. Fred explains how donor-advised funds have become an effective way for individuals and families to maximize their charitable giving, making the process simple, tax-smart, and impactful. Since inception, DAFgiving360 donors have granted more than $44 billion to over 280,000 organizations, including a record $8.9 billion last year … Continue reading Episode 297 – Maximizing Charitable Impact Through Donor-Advised Funds with Fred Kaynor →

Mike Foy, Managing Director and Head of Wealth Intelligence at J.D. Power, shares insights from the 2025 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study. The research highlights a critical industry crossroads: investor demand for professional advice continues to rise, even as many seasoned advisors near retirement. Foy discusses the urgent need to attract younger and more diverse … Continue reading Episode 296 – J.D. Power 2025: Succession, Satisfaction, and the Future of Human Advice with Mike Foy →

Matt Schiffman, founder of totumai, joins us to share how the platform is reshaping advisor-client communication. By combining personality science with artificial intelligence, totumai helps advisors move beyond demographic labels and understand how each client truly thinks, decides, and connects. Instead of one-size-fits-all messaging, advisors can tailor communication to fit personality, building trust, strengthening relationships, … Continue reading Episode 295 – Cracking the Personality Code: AI for Better Client Relationships with Matt Schiffman →

Greg Banasz, Chief Marketing Officer at Steward Partners, shares how he brings the firm’s brand to life while empowering more than 200 independent advisors to express their individuality. Instead of a one-size-fits-all playbook, he offers a flexible “spice rack” of strategies—helping advisors mix and match tools that best support their goals in branding, communication, and … Continue reading Episode 294 – Modern Tools, Human Stories: Marketing That Truly Connects with Greg Banasz →

Ryan George, Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, joins us to discuss how back-office innovation is helping advisors scale smarter. He shares his personal journey to Docupace and how the firm has grown into a 23-year-old leader in streamlining advisor operations, from account opening and compliance to compensation management and advisor transitions. He also highlights the … Continue reading Episode 293 – The Back-Office Advantage: Innovation That Elevates Advice with Ryan George →

Jeremy Schwartz, Global CIO, and Sam Rines, Macro Strategist for Modern Portfolios at WisdomTree, join us to explore how today’s shifting geopolitical landscape is shaping new global investment strategies. Sam explains how Europe’s renewed focus on defense and infrastructure—driven by NATO spending commitments—is creating long-term momentum across industries. He highlights companies like Saab, Leonardo, and … Continue reading Episode 292 – Navigating Global Change: Strategy, Infrastructure, and Opportunity with Jeremy Schwartz and Sam Rines →

Jason Bottenfield, Managing Partner at Park Cities Group within Steward Partners, joins us to share the story of his unique path from professional baseball to wealth management. He reflects on how the discipline and resilience he developed as an athlete helped him navigate the early challenges of breaking into the industry—without connections or a finance … Continue reading Episode 291 – From the Mound to the Market: Building a Business With Purpose with Jason Bottenfield →

Dan Bjerke, President of Digital Wealth at InvestCloud, joins us to discuss how the firm is tackling one of wealth management’s biggest pain points — fragmented technology and siloed data. With 35 years in financial services technology, Dan explains how disconnected systems drain advisor productivity and weaken client experiences. He outlines InvestCloud’s approach to unifying … Continue reading Episode 290 – Breaking the Swivel Chair Cycle: Smarter Tech for Advisors with Dan Bjerke →

Susan McKenna, CEO of eMoney Advisor, joins us to discuss the company’s evolution as it marks its 25th anniversary. She shares her path from tech-focused marketing leader to CEO, and how eMoney has stayed true to its planning-first mission while adapting to changing market needs. Susan reflects on its unique culture, dedication to client service, … Continue reading Episode 289 – The Advisor–Client Connection in a Digital Age with Susan McKenna →

We sit down with James Sahagian, Managing Partner at Ramapo Wealth Advisors within Steward Partners, to explore his path from an early fascination with financial markets to leading a client-focused, team-based practice. He highlights Steward’s responsive culture and commitment to innovation, which have expanded his team’s capabilities through educational seminars, digital platforms, and a holistic … Continue reading Episode 288 – How Technology and Teamwork Elevate Client Service with James Sahagian →

In this episode, we catch up with Anuj Gupta, Head of Sales Engineering, and Blake Wood, Head of Platform Strategy at Envestnet. They walk us through how Envestnet is helping advisors scale personalization and drive efficiency across their practices. From AI-powered insights and tax-aware investment tools to client review automation and UMA flexibility, Blake and … Continue reading Episode 287 – Advice at Scale: Smart Tech Meets Human Insight with Anuj Gupta and Blake Wood →

We catch up with Tim Burklow, Managing Director and Wealth Advisor at Mainstay Wealth Management within Steward Partners. Tim shares his journey from being inspired by his father’s advisor to building a successful career in financial services, including over three decades with a single firm. He explains what ultimately led him to make the leap … Continue reading Episode 286 – Shaping What’s Next: Legacy, Leadership, and Next-Gen Talent with Tim Burklow →

Thomas Moore, Head of Betterment Advisor Solutions, shares how Betterment is reimagining custody and advisor technology to help modern RIAs scale efficiently. Drawing on his background at legacy institutions, Moore explains how Betterment’s all-in-one, tech-forward platform integrates portfolio management, billing, and reporting—eliminating inefficiencies and streamlining advisor workflows. Innovations like fully digital onboarding, solo 401(k)s, and … Continue reading Episode 285 – Automation, Efficiency, and the Future of Custody with Thomas Moore →

Today we catch up with Samantha Russell, Chief Evangelist at FMG, to talk about how AI is reshaping the way people search for financial advice—and what that means for advisors. With most Google searches now ending in AI summaries instead of clicks, and more people turning to tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, visibility strategies have … Continue reading Episode 284 – How AI Is Redefining Advisor Discoverability with Samantha Russell →

In this episode we sit down with Matt Kaufman, Global Head of ETFs at Calamos, to explore how the firm is translating decades of institutional expertise into modern ETF solutions. Kaufman shares insights from his 23-year career—from helping pioneer smart beta ETFs to creating defined outcome strategies—and how those experiences now fuel Calamos’ approach to … Continue reading Episode 283 – Exploring the Future of ETFs and Autocallables with Matt Kaufman →

We sit down with Mohan Gurupackiam, Chief Information Officer at Steward Partners, to explore how smart tech strategy can fuel advisor success. Mohan explains why Steward avoids one-size-fits-all solutions, instead building a flexible stack shaped by advisor feedback, evolving business models, and demographic trends. With a strong data foundation and a focus on usability and … Continue reading Episode 282 – Real-World AI for Human-Centered Advice with Mohan Gurupackiam →

In today’s episode we speak with Rich Boghosian, co-founder and CIO of PeakAlts, about how RIAs and family offices can gain smarter access to private markets. Drawing on his background in private equity and investment banking, Rich explains PeakAlts’ investor-first approach, which emphasizes alignment, independence, and institutional-level diligence—without placement fees or manager conflicts. Rich breaks … Continue reading Episode 281 – Accessing Private Markets With Clarity and Confidence with Rich Boghosian →