Tag: Financial Advisors
The WealthStack Podcast: Elevating the Client Meeting with Dan Zitting

The WealthStack Podcast: Elevating the Client Meeting with Dan Zitting

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Client meetings remain the heartbeat of the advisory relationship, but the expectations around them have never been higher. Advisors are under pressure to show up prepared, deliver deeply personalized guidance and answer increasingly complex questions on the spot, all while navigating a fragmented tech stack and rising client expectations shaped by artificial intelligence.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic sits down with Nitrogen CEO Dan Zitting to unpack how technology is reshaping the before, during and after of client engagement. Fresh off Nitrogen’s Fearless Investing Summit, Zitting shares why the real opportunity in wealthtech isn’t replacing advisors with automation, but amplifying their expertise through connected workflows, compelling visuals and agentic AI.

Key takeaways:

  • Why the client meeting is becoming the most important battleground for advisor value
  • How Nitrogen rebuilt its platform around its Nucleus AI engine to automate advisor workflows
  • Why tax conversations may spark the next generation of “catalyst moments” for clients
  • Why persuasive visuals can transform client understanding and engagement
  • How AI tools could help advisors manage larger client books while offering deeper planning insights

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Dan Zitting:

About Our Guest:

Nitrogen CEO Dan Zitting is a SaaS entrepreneur & operator, with a passion for software that enables a bold vision, especially one as bold as empowering the world to invest fearlessly. Prior to Nitrogen, Dan spent 13 years in enterprise SaaS for governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC). That journey started with founding Workpapers.com, the first true cloud software for audit & compliance management, which was acquired by Galvanize (then ACL) in late 2011. Then, leading Galvanize, Dan oversaw growth into the industry-recognized leader globally in GRC as recognized by analysts, investors, and (most importantly) customers alike. Galvanize was ultimately acquired by Diligent in a $1B transaction that created by far the world’s largest company in GRC software, a $650m+ revenue SaaS business serving 25,000 customers in 130+ countries. Dan’s lessons along the way have been published in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Business Week, Reuters, The Street, CNBC, etc., as well as from the stage at hundreds of professional speaking events.

Dan graduated with a BSBA in Information Systems and Finance from Colorado State University and received a Master of Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. Dan believes his purpose is to challenge the planet’s organizations to maximize impact by operating with a conscience, and he’s found cloud software to be his best contribution to that personal mission.

 

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The WealthStack Podcast: Rethinking Technology, AI and the Advisor Experience with Freedom Dumlao

The WealthStack Podcast: Rethinking Technology, AI and the Advisor Experience with Freedom Dumlao

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Technology in wealth management isn’t just changing, it’s colliding with reality. Advisors are expected to deliver deeply personalized experiences, operate at consumer-grade speed and navigate increasing complexity, all on top of legacy systems never designed for this moment. As AI accelerates what’s possible, the real challenge isn’t adopting new tools, it’s rethinking how technology supports the advisor experience from the ground up.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic sits down with Vestmark CTO Freedom Dumlao to go behind the curtain of modern wealthtech and unpack why advisor experience, data integration and agentic AI are now the real battlegrounds for scaling RIAs. 

Key takeaways:

  • Why consumer software experiences are redefining advisor expectations at work
  • How integration challenges quietly drain time and limit true personalization
  • Why agentic AI is the real leap forward
  • Why the advisor’s moat is validation, not information
  • How compliance doesn’t kill innovation, it sharpens it

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Freedom Dumlao:

About Our Guest:

Freedom Dumlao is the Chief Technology Officer at Vestmark, where he leads the firm’s technology strategy with a focus on resilience, scalability, and building long-term client confidence. He brings a disciplined, hands-on approach shaped by senior leadership roles at Amazon, Zipcar, Flexcar, Wayfair, and Drift, including his work on the Alexa machine learning and AI platform. A strong advocate for open-source communities, Freedom also serves as a board member and treasurer of Ruby Central. Outside of work, he enjoys woodworking, cooking, and spending time with his two daughters building robots and experimenting with electronics.

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The WealthStack Podcast: Beyond the Model & Scaling Personalized Portfolios with Joshua Allen

The WealthStack Podcast: Beyond the Model & Scaling Personalized Portfolios with Joshua Allen

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“Personalization” has become one of the most overused words in wealth management and one of the hardest promises to actually deliver. Clients want portfolios that reflect their goals, values, tax realities, and life events. Firms want scale, efficiency, and fewer operational landmines. Too often, those two goals collide.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic sits down with Joshua Allen, CEO of TCP Asset Management, to unpack what real portfolio personalization looks like inside a fast-growing RIA and why most firms underestimate the operational cost of getting it wrong. Josh shares how TCP moved beyond model-only workflows, where automation actually helps (and where it doesn’t), and why saying no to most technology is critical to scaling personalization without creating an ops headache.

Key takeaways:

  • How hiring a director of advisory services strengthened tech integration
  • Why deeper use of existing tech beats adding more tools to the stack
  • How personalized portfolios are driving referrals across generations
  • Why most “personalized portfolios” still feel identical to clients
  • What’s real vs hype when it comes to AI in portfolio management

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Joshua Allen:

About Our Guest:

As a founding Partner and  Chief Executive Officer of TCP Asset Management, Josh Allen is charged with leading a team of wealth advisors in practice management, business development, and innovative planning solutions. These solutions have provided our clients with the resources and flexibility needed to deliver a personalized financial planning experience that is fluid and dynamic. Josh and his team have developed and refined a process that is comprehensive in nature and ties together: investment management, risk management, retirement income planning, estate planning, business and family legacy planning, and philanthropy. This exclusive process allows them to put together all the pieces of the financial puzzle for their clients as their lives unfold and be engaged when their needs evolve.

Josh received a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University in Family Resource Management. He also received a certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University. Upon completion of the education, examination and experience requirements, Josh obtained the Certified Financial Planner™, CRPC® and CRPS® designations. His securities licenses include the series 7,9,10 and 66 and State of Ohio insurance license.

Josh is married to Branda, who is also one of his business partners. They together have three children, two dogs and two cats. As a family they love the outdoors, whether it is on the beach or in the mountains, they are always up for an adventure.

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The WealthStack Podcast: Portfolio Personalization Without the Ops Headache with Wes Caywood

The WealthStack Podcast: Portfolio Personalization Without the Ops Headache with Wes Caywood

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As advisors race to deliver “personalized” portfolios at scale, a hard reality is setting in: most personalization is still just a model tweak with a nicer label. Meanwhile, clients want more hands-on service, more transparency and more customization, while firms are trying to grow without hiring an army of operations and investment staff. The result is a widening gap between what clients expect and what legacy portfolio tools can realistically deliver. The firms that win won’t be the ones stacking more complexity. They’ll be the ones using automation to deliver truly bespoke outcomes, with clearer decisioning, tighter risk controls and better records behind every trade.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic sits down with Wes Caywood, head of distribution at Pave Finance, to unpack what “real personalization” actually means in 2026, why portfolio complexity rarely translates into client-perceived value and how automation can make portfolio management more defensible, not less. 

Key takeaways:

  • How to modernize portfolio management with “blowing up” your existing workflows
  • Where AI actually fits in portfolio management
  • Where the personalization gap shows up most clearly (and why it becomes an ops and time problem fast)
  • What automation should capture for compliance, auditability, and transparency 
  • The biggest mistake firms make when evaluating portfolio tech

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Wes Caywood:

About Our Guest:

Wes Caywood is the Head of Distribution at Pave Finance, where he works closely with advisors and firms to modernize portfolio management through thoughtful use of technology and automation. With more than 20 years in financial services, Wes brings deep experience working with sophisticated clients, family offices, and advisory teams. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Navy officer, he is driven by a service-oriented mindset and a focus on helping advisors deliver personalized, well-prepared client experiences at scale.

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The WealthStack Podcast: Tech Meets Behavioral Finance with Dr. Joshua Wilson

The WealthStack Podcast: Tech Meets Behavioral Finance with Dr. Joshua Wilson

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As artificial intelligence-powered tools flood the market and marketing becomes faster, cheaper and easier to automate, advisors are discovering an uncomfortable truth: more tech doesn’t automatically create more trust. In an industry that’s louder and more crowded than ever, growth is no longer a tactics problem; it’s an attention, resonance and differentiation problem. The firms that win will be the ones that understand how technology amplifies identity, not replaces it, and how behavioral finance and neuroscience shape decisions long before a prospect ever takes a meeting.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, Shannon Rosic sits down with Dr. Joshua Wilson, founder of NeuBeFi, to explore where tech, behavioral finance, and human psychology actually intersect, and why most advisors are focusing on the wrong side of the decision-making process.

Key takeaways:

  • Why most firms have a marketability problem, not a marketing problem 
  • How technology amplifies identity rather than creating differentiation
  • What “signal discovery” means and how it turns sameness into differentiation
  • Why growth fails when treated as a checklist instead of a diagnosis
  • How clarity and cognitive relief drive trust in money decisions

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Dr. Joshua Wilson:

About Our Guest:

Dr. Joshua Wilson is the pioneer behind Neuro-Behavioral Finance—a transformative approach that fuses behavioral finance, neuroscience, narrative strategy, and decision science to help advisors and FinTechs become the only option their ideal clients feel drawn to.

Before becoming a sought-after strategist to RIAs and FinTechs, Joshua spent nearly two decades inside the arena where he achieved significant success. Joshua has personally closed hundreds of millions in AUM both virtually and in person.

During his time with TD Ameritrade, he was a highly decorated advisor, National Coach of the Year, led the national sales training program, and traveled the country representing the firm.

After transitioning to the independent RIA world, he built and grew his advisory practice from $0 AUM and no base salary. After selling his book, he led another RIA from turnaround to rapid expansion to acquisition as CEO. In addition to guiding wealth advisors and FinTechs, his expertise has been sought by $20+ billion asset managers, platforms backed by Y Combinator, marketing agencies, and venture capital firms.

His programs have reshaped firms that later appeared in Forbes, Financial Times Top 300 RIAs, the RIA Database’s Top 100 Emerging Wealth Managers, and more. Individually, Joshua has been named to multiple Forbes lists honoring America’s top financial advisors and recognized multiple times as a 5 Star Wealth Manager.

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From Franken-Stacks to AI Agents: The Annual WealthTech Outlook with Davis Janowski

From Franken-Stacks to AI Agents: The Annual WealthTech Outlook with Davis Janowski

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For three years running, the WealthStack season has officially started the same way: with an unfiltered wealthtech outlook conversation between Shannon Rosic and Davis Janowski, senior technology editor and research analyst at Wealth Management. If 2025 was the year firms finally started using AI, 2026 is shaping up to be the year we find out whether all that tech actually pays the rent.

In this annual tech vibe check, Shannon and Davis dig into how AI notetakers quietly reshaped advisor workflows, why agentic AI and “AI operating systems” are the next wave, and what this all means for junior talent, firm structure and the future “Chief AI Officer.”

They also explore whether Franken-stacks are really dying, how niche platforms and new lead-gen tools are redefining value, and why cybersecurity and deepfakes may be the biggest underpriced risks on every CTO’s roadmap. 

Key takeaways:

  • What under-the-radar innovations to watch in the 2026
  • How data fragmentation limits real AI adoption despite rising tech budgets
  • What agent-based platforms signal about the future of advisor software
  • Why critical thinking remains more valuable than pure AI skills
  • How cybersecurity risks are growing faster than regulatory responses

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Davis Janowski:

About Our Guest:

Davis Janowski is a New York-based technology journalist whose work spans consumer, business and the FinTech sectors.

Prior to his six years with WM, Janowski worked for Forrester Research as an analyst covering Digital Wealth Management. In edition, he has worked for two FinTech startups, Wealthfront and New York-based FeeX, Inc. (now Pontera). His work covering the advisor tech space began in 2007 when he joined InvestmentNews as the advisor industry’s first dedicated technology reporter. His start in tech journalism began as an editor with PC Magazine in 1999 where he later served as an analyst and reviewer.

His work has appeared in The New York Times, Wealth Management, Financial Planning, RIABiz, InvestmentNews, PC Magazine, numerous blogs and several books, including Technology Tools for Today’s High Margin Practice. He has also been a speaker and moderator at numerous industry conferences.

Outside his day-to-day he is a senior guide for Manhattan Kayak Company in New York City.

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The WealthStack Podcast: Jason Pereira’s Unfiltered Take on 2025 Wealthtech Wins and Wipeouts

The WealthStack Podcast: Jason Pereira’s Unfiltered Take on 2025 Wealthtech Wins and Wipeouts

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Technology promises speed and clarity, yet frustration keeps showing up instead. Many firms buy tools expecting instant results, only to find the real challenges start after launch.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic speaks with Jason Pereira, senior partner and financial planner at Woodgate Financial, about what actually broke in wealthtech adoption this year. They unpack why most failures are human, not technical, how unrealistic expectations derail implementation and why AI often complicates workflows before helping. 

They also explore where AI truly adds value, why surface-level integrations fall short, and what advisors should focus on before buying the next shiny tool.

Key takeaways:

  • Why most tech “fails” at the human level
  • The rise and risks of vibe coding and DIY tools
  • AI’s real wins and painful misfires in 2025
  • The danger of treating complex tools like plug-and-play appliances
  • What advisors should actually do heading into 2026

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Jason Pereira:

About Our Guest:

Jason Pereira is a financial planner who has lived and breathed financial planning for over 20 years. Over that time, he has become a recognized writer, commentator, speaker, podcaster, teacher, and voice in financial planning, practice management, and fintech. He has earned two degrees, nine professional designations, been nominated for or received more than 30 industry awards, and produced over 750 articles, podcasts, and interviews. JasonPereira.ca serves as his platform for sharing the insights, perspectives, and lessons he has gathered throughout his career.

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The WealthStack Podcast: CRM, AI, and the Future of Advisor Productivity with Michelle Feinstein

The WealthStack Podcast: CRM, AI, and the Future of Advisor Productivity with Michelle Feinstein

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Wealth firms are finally moving beyond “CRM as a Rolodex” and into a world where CRM, data and AI operate as the command center of the entire business. As growth pressures mount, advisor demographics shift and AI-driven tools flood the market, the firms that win will be those that treat their CRM as a true engagement and orchestration layer for advisors, clients and operations, not just a system of record.

In this episode of the WealthStack Podcast, Shannon Rosic sits down with Michelle Feinstein, former general manager of Salesforce, to unpack how leading firms are reimagining their data strategy and piloting AI agents to drive advisor productivity, deeper client engagement and real organic growth.

Key takeaways:

  • How CRM has evolved into a unified layer for data, workflow and AI
  • What Salesforce is building with Financial Services Cloud for advisors and planning integrations
  • Which AI use cases are actually delivering productivity gains
  • Where firms get stuck on data, governance, talent and culture
  • What high-growth firms do differently with tech, AI and client engagement

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Michelle Feinstein: 

About Our Guest:

Michelle Feinstein is the former general manager of Salesforce. Her expertise is in digital transformation for wealth management. This process of digitization is complex; it requires firms to accelerate plans to harness data, digitize advisor-client experiences, and modernize service to scale and support growth.

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The WealthStack Podcast: Modern Philanthropy Reimagined with Sarah Angello

The WealthStack Podcast: Modern Philanthropy Reimagined with Sarah Angello

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When giving meets innovation, philanthropy transforms from a year-end transaction into a powerful force for ongoing impact.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic sits down with Sarah Angello, co-founder of Daffodil, to discuss how technology is modernizing charitable giving and helping advisors weave generosity into their clients’ financial planning. 

Sarah shares how Daffodil’s platform bridges wealth management and philanthropy, the rise of donor-advised funds and the next wave of “always-on giving” powered by artificial intelligence and data-driven insights.

Key takeaways:

  • How Daffodil turns charitable giving into a continuous part of wealth management rather than a one-time transaction
  • Why integrating philanthropy conversations strengthens client loyalty and retention
  • The truth about donor-advised funds and why they are far more active than critics claim
  • How AI is enabling personalized, real-time impact reporting and smarter giving strategies
  • The shift toward “always-on giving” and how advisors can prepare for the next generation of donors

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Sarah Angello:

About Our Guest:

Sarah Angello is the Co-Founder of Daffodil. Sarah brings over 15 years of experience, blending tech-for-good expertise with experience working with donor-advised funds, philanthropic capital networks, and nonprofits. She has served on grants and advising panels for the City of New York, numerous private foundations, and social good enterprises throughout the US

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The WealthStack Podcast: Why Consistency Is the New Scalability with JP Pattinson

The WealthStack Podcast: Why Consistency Is the New Scalability with JP Pattinson

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Wealth management is no longer powered by people using technology, it’s powered by firms built on it. As artificial intelligence, data and digital experiences reshape the industry, the winners will be those who modernize from the inside out, and where infrastructure, integration and culture work together to deliver scalable, human-centric advice.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic sits down with JP Pattinson, chief information and digital officer at MAI Capital Management, to unpack how leading RIAs are transforming their tech foundations to prepare for what’s next. Drawing on his unique journey from advisor to technologist, JP shares how he’s bridging innovation and practicality. 

Key takeaways:

  • How MAI Capital is using Salesforce Financial Services Cloud as its digital foundation
  • Why “consistency is the new scalability” for enterprise RIAs
  • The growing importance of cybersecurity and centralized vendor management programs
  • How to align tech adoption with advisor experience 
  • How to balance short-term tech demands with long-term vision

Resources:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with JP Pattinson:

About Our Guest:

JP Pattinson is the Chief Information and Digital Officer at MAI Capital Management, where he leads the firm’s digital and technology strategy, overseeing network infrastructure, management information systems, applications, and both client and advisor digital experiences. He joined MAI in 2024 after an extensive career at Merit Financial Advisors, where he served in multiple roles, including client service, relationship management, and 12 years as a wealth advisor before becoming Vice President of Technology. Outside of work, JP is actively involved with the Remember the Fallen charity and enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Services from the University of North Texas.

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