Tag: Fintech

The WealthStack Podcast: How AI Is Reshaping the Advisor Experience with Mark Gilbert

The WealthStack Podcast: How AI Is Reshaping the Advisor Experience with Mark Gilbert

The rise of AI is creating a pivotal shift in wealth management—streamlining operations, enhancing client engagement, and helping advisors scale. While some firms remain hesitant, the future belongs to those embracing AI not as a replacement but as a co-pilot that empowers them to serve clients better and grow more efficiently.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack content and solutions, sits down with Mark Gilbert, founder and CEO of Zocks, to explore how AI is redefining client intelligence, product reliability, and compliance in the advisor tech stack. 

Shannon and Mark discuss:

  • How AI is being used to automate emails, capture meeting dat,a and reduce manual tasks
  • Why the first 60 days of tech adoption are crucial for long-term success
  • How client intelligence tools can surface key life events and strengthen relationships
  • The critical importance of data privacy, complianc,e and advisor control in AI systems

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Mark Gilbert:

About Our Guest:

Co-founding and leading Zocks for over two and a half years, they’ve pioneered a privacy-first AI platform for financial services that revolutionizes data capture from conversations. This role has allowed Mark Gilbert to leverage his skills in AI, enterprise, and fintech Platforms, as well as Go-to-market Strategy. 

Prior to Zocks, he held executive product and technology roles at Twilio, Hearsay Social, and Microsoft after graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) focused in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

The WealthStack Podcast: The Independent Advisor Boom and the Tech Shaping Their Future with Vickie Lewin

The WealthStack Podcast: The Independent Advisor Boom and the Tech Shaping Their Future with Vickie Lewin

What exactly does it take to ride the wave of independence in wealth management, and how can technology ease the transition? The breakaway movement is accelerating, with more advisors leaving traditional wirehouses to build independent RIAs that offer greater flexibility, control and client-centric service. 

But with independence comes new challenges—scaling efficiently, selecting the right tech stack and ensuring seamless client experiences. As advisors navigate this shift, AI, automation and integrated technology solutions are becoming essential tools for driving long-term growth. 

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic sits down with Vickie Lewin, chief growth officer at Amplify, to explore:

  • Why more advisors are breaking away and how it’s reshaping the industry
  • Amplify’s mission as a tech-driven, all-in-one advisory solution
  • Challenges and solutions for advisors modernizing their tech infrastructure 
  • The role of AI and automation in shaping wealth management’s future 

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Vickie Lewin:

About Our Guest:

As Chief Growth Officer, Vickie leads Amplify’s sales and marketing team, driving strategic direction, business development, and market positioning. She is responsible for articulating and amplifying the competitive advantages of Amplify’s unified wealth management platform, ensuring alignment between product development and market needs. Vickie also plays a key role in shaping product and market development strategies and is an integral member of the leadership team.

Prior to joining Amplify, Vickie was Senior Vice President and Chief Success Officer at AssetMark from 2021 to 2024. She joined AssetMark in 2001 when it was a $1 billion TAMP provider and was instrumental in its growth to a $100+ billion industry leader. Her leadership spanned multiple roles, including SVP – Central Division and Internal Sales Development, SVP – Eastern Divisional Sales Manager, and New England Regional Consultant. Vickie played a pivotal role in guiding AssetMark through acquisitions and spearheaded marketing efforts, including overseeing 80+ industry events annually. She previously held roles at FundQuest (now part of Envestnet), Investment Advisory Network (now SS&C Technologies), and Nuveen.

Vickie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and communications from Ohio State University, where she was a varsity tennis player and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta.

Outside of work, Vickie and her husband, Oren, enjoy a lively family life with their five adult children. She loves traveling, golfing, and sharing great wine with family and friends. She is also passionate about increasing the representation of women in financial services and mentoring the next generation of female industry leaders

Harnessing the Power of Testimonials for Business Growth with Andrew Johnson of Testimonial IQ

Harnessing the Power of Testimonials for Business Growth with Andrew Johnson of Testimonial IQ

The use of testimonials creates a powerful opportunity to amplify the potential reach of positive experiences through word-of-mouth sharing to new audiences. For financial advisors, online reputation is becoming increasingly important as clients turn to digital channels for information. Understanding how to leverage testimonials effectively can be a game-changer for business growth.

In this episode of WealthStack, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content & Solutions, chats with Andrew Johnson, CEO, and Co-founder of Testimonial IQ, about why financial advisors should care about Google reviews, the role of compliance in managing testimonials, and how to align online presence with real-world client relationships.

Shannon and Andrew discuss:

  • Understanding testimonials vs. endorsements
  • Overcoming the fear of feedback
  • What advisors need to know about SEO
  • Future trends in online reputation management and the role of AI in compliance

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Andrew Johnson:

About Our Guest:

An experienced FinTech entrepreneur, Andrew previously co-founded Datalign Advisory, an RIA referral platform where he serves as a board advisor. Before Datalign, he worked in management consulting with a focus on B2C marketing and in product/operations strategy with Meta (Facebook). Andrew served for five years in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, including two deployments on the world’s finest Destroyer, USS O’Kane. Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Virginia and his BS from Davidson College. He resides with his family in Denver, CO.

Why Business Owners Deserve Better from Their Advisory Partners with Trevor Greenway

Why Business Owners Deserve Better from Their Advisory Partners with Trevor Greenway

Small to medium-sized businesses make up 99% of all U.S. businesses, and most of these business owners are unaware of their enterprise value. The episode dives into how Interval provides critical insights for business owners by automating business health analytics and delivering ongoing value monitoring, ultimately helping advisors provide better guidance by integrating business health data into their planning process.

Join Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack content and solutions, as she speaks with Trevor Greenway, Co-Founder & CEO at interVal, on how interVal is empowering financial advisors to attract, retain, and better serve high-value business owner clients through the innovative use of technology.

Shannon and Trevor discuss:

  • What data is most important in business valuations
  • How InterVal fits into an advisors overall tech stack
  • How wealth managers can act as the “quarterback” for business owners
  • The importance of having clear business goals when implementing AI

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Trevor Greenway:

 

About Our Guest:

Trevor Greenway is an exceptionally passionate leader who believes that when data is harnessed for good, everyone in the ecosystem benefits. He understands that business owners and their advisors can operate more efficiently when financial data is sorted and contextualized in meaningful ways. Believing that everyone succeeds with access to comprehensive information, Trevor led the development of a software platform that provides this data in real time.

The WealthStack Podcast: The Power of the CRM with Craig Ramsey

The WealthStack Podcast: The Power of the CRM with Craig Ramsey

A powerful CRM is crucial for financial advisors if they ultimately want to grow their business. As firms gain access to more and more data, the CRM has become the centralized hub to capture, organize and manage data through the entire client lifecycle. With more information available than ever before, advisors can use this technology to continuously enhance the client experience. 

 

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack content and solutions, speaks with Craig Ramsey, COO of AdvisorEngine, about why having up-to-date allows for better and faster decision making. 

 

Shannon and Craig discuss:

  • Why firms need to invest in talent around handling data
  • Grading the average RIA around how they’re using technology to drive value
  • The core components of the the ‘platform mentality’ 
  • Why he helped launch Action! magazine

 

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

 

Connect with Craig Ramsey:

 

About Our Guest:

Craig is a business builder with a background in corporate strategy, investment banking and consulting. He joined AdvisorEngine from WisdomTree where he led strategy, helped establish an international presence and pushed the company beyond ETFs into technology solutions. Craig has prior experience at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Accenture and UBS.



The WealthStack Podcast: The Ever-Evolving Role of the CTO with Vib Arya

The WealthStack Podcast: The Ever-Evolving Role of the CTO with Vib Arya

The role of the CTO has morphed into a complex, evolving set of responsibilities. Historically, technology was seen as an expense to reduce, but as firms redefine themselves in this digital era, we’re seeing the technology strategy become intertwined with business strategy. Yet, very few RIAs have a CTO. As technology and data become central to the value companies offer their customers, spearheading transformational change is increasingly a top priority for CTOs. But, how should they prioritize and manage it all? 

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack content and solutions, speaks with Vib Arya, COO/CTO of Shufro Rose, about the constantly changing role of the CTO and how to stay ahead of the technology curve.

Shannon and Vib discuss:

  • Tips that can help RIAs evolve their practice with technology
  • The biggest concerns that keep CTOs up at night
  • How to create a company culture that embraces technology
  • How technology can help deepen the client/advisor relationship

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Via Arya:

About Our Guest:

Vib is Shufro Rose’s Chief Operating Officer and previously served as the firm’s Head of Operations and Information Technology. Vib has spent over 25 years within the investment management industry, having held increasing levels of responsibility for technology and operations management, project management, strategy & transformational change, and business administration.

Vib received his B.A. in Computer Science from New York University’s College of Art & Sciences and his M.B.A. with concentrations in Finance and Organizational Management from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.

Vib is frequently requested to participate as a thought leader on operations, technology, and practice management topics for industry conferences and periodicals. Vib is currently on the Advisory Board for the 2023 TSAM (The Summit of Asset Management) NYC Conference.



The WealthStack Podcast: Delivering Better, Data-Driven Outcomes for Clients with Joe Stensland

The WealthStack Podcast: Delivering Better, Data-Driven Outcomes for Clients with Joe Stensland

The emergence of WealthTech-as-a-Service is redefining the wealth management industry. Now, APIs are shaping the future of financial services by providing access to valuable data, enhancing integration and automation, enabling personalization, supporting scalability, and reducing costs. With the increased availability of data, wealthtech firms can quickly develop new products and connect with different financial systems and tools to improve their products and client satisfaction. 

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Joe Stensland, CEO of BridgeFT, about how they’re helping firms power their next generation of digital experiences.

Shannon and Joe discuss:

  • The state of the API economy 
  • Why BridgeFT wants to retire the tech-stack mentality 
  • What the next generation of wealth management applications look like 
  • Why having access to better data points leads to better decision-making 

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Joe Stensland:

About Our Guest:

Joe Stensland is the CEO at BridgeFT. Prior to this, he was the Head of Digital Investor at LSEG, and before that, he held positions at Refinitiv and Scivantage. 

Mr. Stendland attended Colorado State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He later attended Georgetown University McDonough School of Business to complete his MBA. He also holds a certification from the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA).



The WealthStack Podcast: Democratization and Digitization of Estate Planning with Andres Mazabel

The WealthStack Podcast: Democratization and Digitization of Estate Planning with Andres Mazabel

More than 60% of families in the U.S. do not have a plan to protect their loved ones. Estate planning can have several moving parts, and many people get turned off by the process. But, Trust & Will is on a mission to make estate planning simple and affordable—with the end goal to make it accessible to everyone.

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Andres Mazabel, Head of Advisor Sales at Trust & Will, about how they’ve helped streamline estate planning for thousands of advisors.

Shannon and Andres discuss:

  • How advisors can incorporate estate planning into their practice
  • Why more Americans need to get their trust and estate “house” in order
  • Why the demand for estate planning is booming among millennials
  • What the great wealth transfer means for advisors in the context of estate planning

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Connect with the Guests:

About Our Guest:

Andres Mazabel is the Head of Advisor Sales at Trust & Will. After spending 10+ years in private banking, he’s now on a mission to help advisors implement estate planning and deliver more comprehensive planning. Andres views estate planning as a huge opportunity for financial advisors to deepen relationships, add value, and implement legacy planning conversations. Trust & Will now works with over 8,000 financial advisors nationwide to help solve the fact that more than 60% of individuals don’t have an estate plan in place.



The WealthStack Podcast: Making the Digital Asset Investing Ecosystem Accessible with Eric Ervin

The WealthStack Podcast: Making the Digital Asset Investing Ecosystem Accessible with Eric Ervin

*Since recording this episode, Onramp Invest has been acquired by Securitize, with a mission to expand alternative asset access for RIAs.

The advent of digital assets has led to the development of new financial products with the ability to profoundly change where and how wealth is invested. Fortunately, Onramp is on a mission to bring together everything financial advisors need to safely invest in an array of digital assets for their clients.

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Eric Ervin, CEO of Onramp Invest, about wealth management in the age of digital assets. 

Shannon and Eric discuss:

  • Why tokenization is a key driver of digital asset adoption
  • The opportunities and challenges advisors face when approaching digital assets
  • What’s happening in the regulatory space when it comes to crypto and digital assets
  • What this all means for the custodial landscape

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with the Guests:

About Our Guest:

Eric Ervin is the CEO of Onramp Invest. After nearly 20 years at Morgan Stanley in wealth management, in 2011, Eric Ervin founded Reality Shares, a firm known for innovation in Exchange Traded Funds. The firm’s first ETF, DIVY, was the first ETF based entirely on the dividend swap market. He also pioneered DIVCON™, a quantitative method for analyzing and ranking companies according to their dividend health. As the portfolio manager on seven publicly traded funds as well as other private funds, he has demonstrated expertise in alternatives e.g., dividend swaps, long-short equity, and quant-based cryptocurrency strategies. He is passionate about driving innovation in financial markets, he is a member of the CFTC Virtual Currency Subcommittee for the Technology Advisory Council, he is also regularly featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Barron’s CNBC, Bloomberg, and other media outlets.



The WealthStack Podcast: Future-proofing the Next Generation of Wealth Management Firms with Anton Honikman

The WealthStack Podcast: Future-proofing the Next Generation of Wealth Management Firms with Anton Honikman

What happens to the wealth management industry when your clients can leave you with a click of a button on their smartphone? Change continues to sweep through the industry, with technology playing a critical role. In order for firms to succeed, they should be focused on future-proofing their practice, which means they need to adapt and adopt new technology in order to remain competitive.

In this episode, Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack Content and Solutions, speaks with Anton Honikman, CEO of MyVest, about how advisors need to evolve and elevate the way they do business.

Shannon and Anton discuss:

  • The importance of embracing ‘holistic’ wealth management by considering all of a client’s assets and liabilities
  • Trends around autonomous finance 
  • What personalized portfolio construction means to the client experience 
  • Why the industry needs to expand from wealth management to financial wellness, including non-investment advice 

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with the Guest:

About Our Guest:

Anton is the CEO of MyVest, a wholly owned wealthtech subsidiary of TIAA, where he drives the company’s strategic vision, culture, and business development. He is a regular speaker and commentator in the fields of wealth management, wealth technology and the future of financial advice.

Anton’s career has focused on the confluence of investments and technology. Prior to joining MyVest in 2012, Anton served as President of Ada Investments, a startup investment manager that built innovative ESG strategies, he launched the corporate venture capital group at Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock), and he spent 10 years in a variety of roles at Barra, Inc. (now MSCI), where he led the team that created BarraOne, a leading multi-asset class portfolio analytics platform.

Anton holds a BS in financial economics and applied statistics from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is a former trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee of The San Francisco School.