In this episode of The Modern Advisor podcast, host Chris Arnold sits down with Kris Barney, founder of 30-40 Wealth Partners, to explore how financial advisors are leveraging AI and technology to enhance client service delivery while maintaining the personal touch that sets boutique practices apart.

Kris brings a unique perspective to the conversation, having spent a decade in tech startups and investment banking before launching his advisory practice four years ago. Now serving 40 households of tech professionals, he shares practical insights on building and evolving a modern tech stack while navigating the complexities of equity compensation planning.

Key topics covered:

• From MVP to Scale: How Kris started with Google Sheets and gradually built a sophisticated tech stack including Salesforce/Quiver CRM, Jump.ai for meeting notes, and specialized tools for equity compensation analysis
• AI Meeting Assistants: Real-world experience transitioning from generic solutions like Fireflies to advisor-specific platforms like Jump.ai, and the productivity gains from automated meeting recaps and task creation
• Client Accountability Challenges: The ongoing struggle to find effective project management solutions that clients will actually use, and why email remains the "best bad solution" for many practices
• Privacy and Security: How tech-savvy clients respond to AI adoption and the importance of due diligence when implementing new technologies
• Content Creation at Scale: Using AI to enhance LinkedIn posting and newsletter writing while maintaining authentic voice and messaging
• Integration Frustrations: The persistent challenge of data silos between financial planning platforms and the promise of emerging technologies to solve integration issues

Kris also shares his vision for the future of advisory technology, including automated task tracking, personalized client communications, and the potential for AI to help advisors stay on top of life events and company-specific information that deepens client relationships.

Whether you're a solo advisor looking to optimize your practice or interested in how AI can enhance the client experience without replacing the human element, this episode offers actionable insights from an advisor actively implementing these technologies in his practice serving tech professionals.

Connect with Kris:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-barney/

- 3040Wealth: https://www.3040wealth.com/

Connect with Chris:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisarnold20/

- Website: https://refreshwealth.com/

- Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/65YiwfF2XMqLh2Xz2SiOxA?si=vtGBejiOSc6_u-Dl4Heumw

This Episode is presented by Zocks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgil/

Website: https://www.zocks.io/