Category: Financial

The WealthStack Podcast: The Future of Financial Wellness with Adam Holt of Asset-Map

The WealthStack Podcast: The Future of Financial Wellness with Adam Holt of Asset-Map

As financial planning becomes more accessible, the U.S. population is looking to become more “financially fit”. Advisors can help clients achieve this by having a deep understanding of their client’s financial situation, risk tolerance, objectives, and preferences.

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with CEO and Founder of Asset-Map, Adam Holt, about the impact of advice engagement on client outcomes, such as financial wellness and satisfaction.

Shannon and Adam discuss:

  • What Asset-Map’s recent round of funding means in terms of growth for the firm
  • Where advice engagement fits into financial planning
  • What kind of impact advice engagement is having across the wealth management industry
  • Why advisors need to consider the “6Ls” approach when speaking to clients 

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About Our Guest:

Adam Holt has been a financial advisor for 20 years helping to build and manage his wealth management firm to over $1B in assets under management. Holt is known for his early adoption of technology to build customer experiences that are trend-setting in the industry. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Asset-Map, LLC, a fintech firm dedicated to creating engaging visual communication tools used throughout the customer and advisor journey.

Holt obtained his Bachelor of Science in economics and environmental planning from Rutgers University, an MBA from Drexel University and a certificate in retirement planning from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Holt also attended the American College where he earned his Chartered Financial Consultant® designation.



The WealthStack Podcast: What Do Advisors Really Need in a TAMP with Colin Falls of GeoWealth

The WealthStack Podcast: What Do Advisors Really Need in a TAMP with Colin Falls of GeoWealth

RIAs who are seeking balance between evolving high-tech solutions with high-touch advisory services may need to consider a tech-forward TAMP. The TAMP model continues to be appealing to advisors because it offloads so much operational work that can take up a significant amount of time. So, how does a firm like GeoWealth support an RIA’ growth in AUM, and scale as they scale?

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Colin Falls, President and CEO of GeoWealth, about why RIAs are desiring more flexibility and control with the technology solutions.

Shannon and Colin discuss: 

  • Where the opportunities are within the RIA space
  • What is means for a technology company to be flexible
  • What advisors really need in a TAMP
  • What technology consolidation will mean for the industry

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About Our Guest:

As President & CEO, Colin is responsible for leading GeoWealth’s international team of financial professionals and technologists. He focuses primarily on business strategy, organizational management, and platform product development. With over a decade of industry experience, Colin has an intimate understanding of both the technology and investment tools that power the GeoWealth platform.

Prior to joining GeoWealth in 2012, Colin served in various roles and departments – ranging across advisory and back office – at Frontier Wealth Management, a Kansas City based Registered Investment Advisor. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business with a B.A. in Management and Entrepreneurship. As a captain of the Notre Dame Basketball team, Colin earned First Team All-Big East honors as a senior and finished his career with the most three-point field goals made in Notre Dame and Big East Conference history. Colin went on to play basketball professionally in Italy and the Czech Republic.

Colin is based in Chicago with his wife and three children. He spends most of his free time staying active, either on the lake, on the tennis court, or chasing his kids.

The WealthStack Podcast: Keeping Tech Simple as a Virtual Advisor with Derek Notman

The WealthStack Podcast: Keeping Tech Simple as a Virtual Advisor with Derek Notman

After spending years in a suit and tie and feeling held back by technology within the broker-world, Derek Notman, CFP®, made the decision to take his practice completely virtual. While that was back in 2013, he has since designed a tech stack that satisfies the needs not only for his business, but one that his clients enjoy using as well.

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Derek, who is also the founder of Couplr, Conneqtor, and host of Rethink – The Financial Advisor Podcast, on his future wealthtech outlook.

Shannon and Derek discuss: 

  • How he approached building his own tech stack 
  • Why he is on a mission to fix money
  • What to future holds for Couplr and Conneqtor (and where AI fits in)
  • Why the power of personal branding is critical for growth

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About Our Guest:

Derek entered the financial services industry in 2006 and experienced a high level of success early on which he attributed to the philosophy of “do what is right for my clients and eventually I will get paid.” After 3 years, he started his own firm.

In 2013, he made the decision to transition his practice to a Virtual model. Derek did this to best serve his unique clientele while also ensuring a great life-work balance for him to spend more time pursuing his passions and enjoying more of life’s moments with his wife and son. He is no longer taking on new clients other than direct referral for his RIA.

Knowing the financial industry & profession as both an advisor & fintech founder has given him a unique perspective on how to address and tackle some large problems which he is laser focused on via his four dimensions with:

  • Couplr
  • Conneqtor
  • Rethink FA Podcast
  • Intrepid Wealth Partners
The WealthStack Podcast: The Future of Investing with John O’Connell of The Oasis Group

The WealthStack Podcast: The Future of Investing with John O’Connell of The Oasis Group

From the metaverse to alternative investments, the future of investing is going to look very different. Alternatives have historically been reserved for institutions, as alternative asset managers targeted those who could write the biggest checks. But that’s now starting to change as tech companies look to the retail market, opening up opportunities to wealth managers, advisors, and even consumers.

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with John O’Connell, founder and CEO of The Oasis Group about: 

  • The future of investing, specifically when it comes to alternative investments
  • How the metaverse is changing the investment landscape
  • Why advisors need to stay on top of AI trends
  • What other trends advisors should be watching

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About Our Guest:

Mr. O’Connell has more than 30 years of leadership experience in both emerging businesses and mature, established organizations. He started his career designing and developing financial applications at Merrill Lynch and KPMG Peat Marwick. He was a member of the team for an IPO, sale of a firm, and packaging 2 other firms for sale. He held North American leadership positions at Oracle for over 8 years. He was the president of a FinTech firm and held C-level customer-facing roles at two global, publicly traded companies.

John is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for The Oasis Group. A firm specializing in helping wealth management and technology firms to solve their most complex challenges. The Oasis Group helps firms with technology selection and implementation, sales processes and strategy, and processes to attract, sell, propose, onboard, and service new clients.

John is the author of Rise of The Activist Investor, a handbook for investors who would like their money to reflect their values by exercising their rights as owners of publicly traded firms. He invented the Activist Investor Arc to describe how retail investors progress through different phases of activist investing.

John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science & Mathematics from the College of Staten Island and an MBA in Finance from Rider University.



The WealthStack Podcast: How Technology Can Bridge the Gap in Underserved Areas of Financial Planning

The WealthStack Podcast: How Technology Can Bridge the Gap in Underserved Areas of Financial Planning

Investors are looking for more complex advice, so how is technology helping bridge the gap in areas of financial planning that are currently underserved, like estate and tax planning? 

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Andrew Altfest, CFP®, CEO and Founder of FP Alpha, to learn how his firm is empowering advisors to identify more actionable opportunities.

Shannon and Andrew discuss:

  • Why there’s a disconnect in what investors want and what some advisors deliver
  • Why investor needs have become so complex
  • How AI is being used effectively now in the financial planning process
  • How financial advisors can use advice engagement tools to quantify and communicate the value they are creating for clients

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About Our Guest:

Andrew Altfest, CFP®, MBA is the founder and CEO of FP Alpha, the first AI-driven comprehensive financial planning solution that enables advisors to provide actionable and personalized recommendations to clients across over 15 financial planning disciplines, and is complementary to their current retirement planning software, starting where it stops.

The software enables financial advisors to save time in the planning process through document automation, showcase their value beyond investments, and create a customized deliverable for their entire client base.

Founded in February of 2020, FP Alpha is regularly cited by industry experts and advisors as one of the most innovative wealth tech solutions for advisors. Andrew is also the President and Principal Advisor at Altfest Personal Wealth Management, a $1.5B RIA based in New York City. There he advises clients about their personal finances and drives financial planning strategies across the firm. He is also an active member of Altfest’s Investment Committee and the Portfolio Action Group, which sets investment strategy for client portfolios.

As a leader of Altfest Personal Wealth Management, Andrew has spearheaded a number of initiatives to expand the firm. These have included organizing different practice groups focused on client segments, launching private equity solutions and directing the firm’s Young Professionals group aimed at millennials. He also has encouraged further formalizing investment processes and led the introduction of a new technology process mandate with digital planning, to enhance decision-making, client experience and productivity. Additionally, Andrew leads the firm’s efforts in the tax management of investment portfolios, and advises clients on charitable contributions.



The WealthStack Podcast: Innovation in Fixed Income with Russell Feldman of IMTC

The WealthStack Podcast: Innovation in Fixed Income with Russell Feldman of IMTC

The fixed income market is 30x larger than the equity market, but while 92% of equities trade electronically, fixed income continues to be dominated by voice trades and manual processes. Fortunately, a technological shift is happening as automation is having a profound impact on the fixed income market, with workflow efficiency being top of mind. 

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Russell Feldman, Co-Founder and CEO of IMTC, about what’s driving innovation in fixed income.

Shannon and Russell discuss:

  • Why fixed income, as an asset class, has been neglected technologically
  • What fixed income workflows need innovation
  • The impact of inflation on fixed income investments
  • How IMTC helping along the electronification of fixed income

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About Our Guest:

Russell is the CEO and co-founder of IMTC, leading the strategic direction across all areas of the company. Prior to launching the business in 2016, Russell worked in Institutional Sales and Client Advisory at Deutsche Asset Management serving clients across a broad array of investment products. The creation of IMTC is a direct outgrowth of his time as a fixed income portfolio manager at the bank where frustrations around the limitations with existing tools ultimately triggered the need for a more dynamic solution.

Mr. Feldman is a frequent speaker and thought leader in the fixed income industry with appearances on WealthManagement.com, The Desk, and numerous industry events. He was also named a 2022 Rising Star by the Bond Buyer and the Community Impact Award Honoree from the Crohns & Colitis Foundation, for which he actively supports. Russell graduated from the George Washington School of Business and currently lives with his wife in New York City.



The WealthStack Podcast: Utilizing AI to Help Advisors Grow Organically with Yelena Melamed

The WealthStack Podcast: Utilizing AI to Help Advisors Grow Organically with Yelena Melamed

Time. It’s the one thing advisors need more of, and fortunately, Catchlight is on a mission to save advisors time and help them reach their top leads quicker.

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Yelena Melamed, Head of Product and Co-Founder, Catchlight Insights LLC, about how financial advisors can scale and grow organically through the use of powerful data, unique insights, and pre-scripted actions all driven by proprietary AI models.

Shannon and Yelena discuss:

  • How AI is being used as a tool to support the human work of financial advice
  • Why data is key to driving efficiency in an advisor’s prospecting efforts
  • How advisors can understand their prospects at scale
  • Use cases around using data to drive personalized engagement

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About Our Guest:

Yelena Melamed is a co-founder and head of product at Catchlight, a prospect analysis and lead-conversion provider that came out of Fidelity Labs.



The WealthStack Podcast: 4 Major Post-Pandemic Trends in the Investment Advisory Industry with Rob Roquitte

The WealthStack Podcast: 4 Major Post-Pandemic Trends in the Investment Advisory Industry with Rob Roquitte

Financial advisors are struggling to meet client demands in a post-pandemic, virtual world. Research shows that investors want more virtual services, and a one-size-fits-all service model does not work anymore.

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Rob Roquitte, Founder and CEO of eCIO, which is powered by eVestech, a virtual communication hub for financial professionals.

Shannon and Rob discuss:

  • Why technology proliferation is leading to a terrible client experience
  • How advisors can service clients profitably by using technology
  • What the great wealth transfer will mean for advisor and the implications
  • The importance of providing client-centered service

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About Our Guest:

Rob has 30 years of investment experience serving in business development, client servicing, portfolio management, and department oversight roles. At eVestech, he leads our team of talented investment and technology professionals delivering state-of the art solutions to institutional investors and other financial services firms. Rob serves as an Investment Advisor to our clients, developing investment strategy, overseeing portfolios, and communicating with investors. He also chairs our investment committee.

Rob has held senior level positions with large money management organizations, where he has sought out entrepreneurial roles including establishing new products and markets, opening new office locations, and maintaining P&L responsibilities. Prior to launching eVestech, Rob established the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) practice for Madison Investments focused on serving larger non-profit organizations. He was also a founder and lead portfolio manager of the small cap portfolio management team at Allegiant Asset Management, which was later acquired by PNC Bank. In Rob’s first entrepreneurial role, he established and built a regional pension consulting office in Chicago which was later acquired by Empower Retirement.

Rob is actively involved in his community serving on two institutional investment committees for nonprofit organizations (including chairing the endowment/finance committee). He received a BSBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Denver and his MBA in Finance and Economics from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Rob also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

The WealthStack Podcast: Making Data Actionable with Scott Leak of FP Transitions

The WealthStack Podcast: Making Data Actionable with Scott Leak of FP Transitions

To help practices monitor, measure, protect and grow their business, FP Transitions provides a valuation driven by customized benchmarks against 50 to 60 key performance indicators. The end result is enabling wealth managers to achieve their goals for mergers and acquisitions, enterprise development, valuation, and growth. 

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Scott Leak, Director of Business Development at FP Transitions, on how to distill all the data they provide and to make it actionable at the firm level.

Shannon and Scott discuss:

  • What kind of data should advisors be looking at especially when it comes to major decisions or transitions
  • The importance of advanced planning
  • Examples of advisors who have taken action with their data and the end results
  • How FP Transitions takes a different approach to benchmarking 

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About Our Guest:

Scott started at TD Ameritrade just before the turn of the century and spent the last decade helping them build their Advisor Services division. He was one of the first employees dedicated to launch that effort, and he helped them scale all the way up. In fact, Scott was so dedicated to serving advisors to the best of his ability that he earned his CFP® designation in 2010, helping him gain a deeper understanding the unique challenges advisors face.

While at TD Ameritrade, Scott wore a variety of hats. For example, he spent a decade serving as their Director of Sales and Relationship Management and led a nationwide team supporting emerging registered investment advisor (RIA) practices. Prior to his leadership roles, he was also named as his team’s salesperson of the year three times, which attributes to his consultive approach with his advisors.

What drives Scott is the opportunity to sit across the table from the partners of an advisory practice, helping them shape —and then achieve —the vision for their business. Scott says, “I want to do what I can to elevate the public understanding of, and trust in, the independent model.” He believes that helping advisors create enduring, transferable businesses plays a huge role in that effort.

Scott chose to join FP Transitions because he sees us as a pioneer in supporting independent advisors. As a Senior Consultant here, he can tap into his extensive expertise to help advisors grow and protect their business. He sees particular value in leveraging our Equity Management Solutions™ to help advisors compare their practice valuations to industry peers and to identify opportunities to maximize that valuation.

Scott is also a seasoned and talented golfer who has played in the Nebraska Mid-Amateur Golf Championship twice. If you need recommendations for a dinner pairing, ask Scott. He’s earned the Level 1 and Level 2 awards in wines from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

 

The WealthStack Podcast: How Advisors Can Leverage Online Reviews (and be Compliant) with Brian Thorp of WealthTender

The WealthStack Podcast: How Advisors Can Leverage Online Reviews (and be Compliant) with Brian Thorp of WealthTender

The SEC’s new marketing rule resulted in sweeping changes to how firms can market themselves and interact with investors. Fortunately, modernization of archaic regulations has seen digital platforms take the lead to meet compliance demands.

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack content and solutions, speaks with Brian Thorp, Founder and CEO of Wealthtender, aka, the “Yelp” for financial advisors.  

Shannon and Brian discuss:

  • What the latest SEC marketing rule means for advisors 
  • How advisors can leverage online reviews to grow their practice
  • Why online reviews can have a significant impact on SEO
  • How Wealthtender’s Certified Advisor Reviews™ are designed to comply with the new SEC rule

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About Our Guest:

Brian Thorp is the CEO and founder of Wealthtender. He and his wife live in Texas, enjoying the diversity of Houston and the vibrancy of Austin.

With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress.