Tag Archives: Financial Advisors

Grow Your Brand Without Giving It Up with Carolyn Armitage



More and more financial advisors are outsourcing various aspects of their business, from compliance and HR to asset management and back office work. Finding an ethical company that can provide all this without taking over your brand can be a great option for growth.

In this episode, Davis Janowski is joined by Carolyn Armitage, head of Thrivent Advisor Network. Thrivent has been named one of the world’s most ethical companies 10 years in a row by the Ethisphere Institute. Thrivent provides financial advisors with a partner that they can outsource as much or as little as they need or want—without surrendering their brand.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • The foundation of Thrivent Advisor Network’s position to ‘live generously’
  • What makes Thrivent different from competitors in the industry and is building a platform for the next 100 years
  • How outsourcing certain aspects of administrative functions can benefit advisors at work and in their personal lives
  • The importance of determining your ‘how’ and ‘why’ for growth to achieve independence with impact and success with significance.

Resources: WealthManagement.com | Thrivent Advisor Network | Carolyn Armitage


Adapting To Change With Fidelity Investments’ Amanda Robinson and Bill Spera



The needs and demands of younger generations of clients are changing dramatically, and advisors are going to have to change and evolve with them. And adapting to prospect and client expectations will change how financial advisors market their services as well.

In this episode, Davis Janowski, senior technology editor at WealthManagement.com is joined by Amanda Robinson, director of model portfolios business development and Bill Spera, director of market research at Fidelity Investments. They discuss what Fidelity research has shown are some of the key differences between Gen X, Y and Z expectations as compared to their Boomer forbearers. The firm also discusses some significant recent shifts in outsourcing trends among advisors, from technology to asset management.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • Some of the challenges advisors face in today’s market
  • What different generations are looking for from their advisor
  • How technology changes the way advisors market to and interact with clients
  • How advisors’ views on outsourcing have changed over the last few years.

Resources: WealthManagement.com | Fidelity Investments | Amanda Robinson | Bill Spera


A Look Into 2022 for Financial Advisors with John Pierce of Cetera



As we approach the new year, many firms are both taking a look back and leaning into the future and setting plans for 2022. 

In this episode, Davis Janowski, senior technology editor at WealthManagement.com is joined by John Pierce, head of business development at Cetera Financial Group to talk about what his firm is doing on many fronts to both help advisors grow and assist them in their work with clients to establish the best version of their own financial wellbeing. 

In this episode, you will learn:

  • About some of the many challenges Cetera is striving to solve for advisors 
  • Cetera’s focus on a more diverse and female workforce 
  • Three key trends John Pierce sees in the advisor industry 
  • Initiatives and strategic planning steps Cetera will undertake in 2022 
  • How Cetera is advancing technology for advisors 
  • Challenges in the industry and how it is addressing the skillset scarcity within the advisor industry. 

Resources: WealthManagement.com | Cetera.com | John Pierce


The Future Of Technology Is Now with Jack Swift



Personalization and artificial intelligence are buzzwords advisors are hearing all the time these days but few have real access to either.

In this episode, Wealth Management Senior Technology Editor Davis Janowski  is joined by Jack Swift, senior partner and president of The TIFIN Group. Jack dives into financial technology and artificial intelligence, detailing how the nine business units in the group use machine learning, natural language processing, semantic search and other technologies to provide personalization to financial advisors and their clients.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • How The TIFIN Group’s nine business units and their applications apply emerging technology to provide personalized data about clients and their investments to advisors
  • The benefits of semantic search, machine learning, natural language processing and how data lakes are helping build the future of financial advice.
  • The democratization of AI and what this means for the industry
  • Potential future services of TIFIN
  • And more!

Resources: WealthManagement.com | TIFIN | Jack Swift


Succession Planning in Wealth Management – with Guest Ric Edelman



In this episode, David Armstrong is joined with Ric Edelman, founder of Edelman Financial Engines, as they discuss the succession planning that financial advisors should be doing in order to keep up with the changing industry. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The results from a survey Edelman Financial Engines completed to uncover the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • The changing advisory model since COVID-19
  • How the financial Advising role might change as the industry changes
  • What the market may look like for younger advisors in the financial industry  
  • And more! 

Tune in to learn what succession planning might look like for financial advisors who want to stay successful in a changing industry. 

Resources: WealthManagement.com | Edelman Financial Engines | Ric Edelman 


Managing Financial Risk with Riskalyze – With Guest Aaron Klein



In this episode, David Armstrong, executive director of content at WealthManagement.com,speaks with Aaron Klein, founder and CEO of Riskalyze. Aaron introduces the firm’s digital technology designed to help financial advisors and their clients manage risk.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How Riskalyze’s Life Alignment software, portfolio analytics, and investment research help advisors and their clients manage risk
  • About the firm’s spreadsheet that promises to efficiently keep up with custodial workflow 
  • Riskalyze’s advisor questionnaire-approach for client risk assessment calculation 
  • Aaron’s take on their Volatility Resource Kit as volatility and pandemic-relief tool 
  • And more!

Tune in to learn more about Riskalyze and how they embody their mantra, “technology needs to be a means to an end”! 

Resources: WealthManagement.com | Aaron Klein | Riskalyze 


Reps Supporting Reps with Peak Brokerage Services (Peak Reps) – With Guest Michael Lomas



In this episode, David Armstrong, editor in chief at WealthManagement.com, speaks with Peak Brokerage Services’ owner and partner, Michael Lomas about everything from Medicare, Social Security and college planning. Mike reveals why his firm is a “one-stop financial shop” and why it resonates with the firm’s marketing, compliance, and “reps help reps” vision. 

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

  • Mike’s insight on Peak Reps’ as a “one-stop financial shop” that creates a virtually-connected atmosphere for advisors   
  • Peak Reps’ family-like approach to educate advisors to get out there and grow their practice  
  • How Mike’s firm uses workshops, online platforms, radio, social media, and virtual libraries to reach and train current advisors and prospects 
  • Mike’s take on the importance of shared knowledge and using Peak’s experts as a resource 
  • And more!

Tune in to find out how Peak Reps can help you develop all the knowledge you need to succeed in the industry! 

Resources: WealthManagement.com | Peak Brokerage Services | Michael Lomas


Helping Advisors Make A Move to Independence with Goldman Sachs Private Bank Select – With Guest Gary Basso



In this episode, David Armstrong, editor in chief at WealthManagement.com speaks with Gary Basso, head of distribution and institutional sales at Goldman Sachs Private Bank. Gary discusses the firm’s tech and digital banking strategy for independent advisors and clients and how the company’s securities-based lines of credit allow borrowers to access cash without liquidating their investment portfolios.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

  • How Goldman Sachs Private Bank Select approaches technology and digital banking for liquidity and line of credit purposes  
  • The firm’s tech commitment for high-speed loan processing 
  • How clients and independent advisors can benefit from GS Select as a tool for liquidity 
  • Gary Basso’s take on how Goldman Sachs’ platform impacts banks and advisors 
  • And more!

Tune in to discover the Goldman Sachs approach for clients and advisors and how they can seamlessly finalize a loan!  

Resources: WealthManagement.com | GS Select | Gary Basso


Optimize The Growth and Profitability of your Business with LPL Financial – With Guest Rich Steinmeier



In this episode, David Armstrong, editor in chief at WealthManagement.com, talks to LPL Financial’s Rich Steinmeier. Today, Rich discusses the firm’s tech strategy for business owners and independent advisors. While it allows business owners to reach their business goals, it allows advisors to secure their and their client’s financial path.  

LPL is a three-category finalist for 2020’s WealthManagement.com industry awards.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

  • The firm’s CFO Solutions as a tool for advisors and business owners designed to cut expenses and maximize profit 
  • LPL Financial’s technological approach and its benefits for independent practices 
  • How these tools increase advisor flexibility 
  • Affiliation Models as independent LPL Financial employee models
  • And more!

Tune in to discover how these platforms can effectively help you outsource achieving efficient practice results! 

Resources:  WealthManagement.com | LPL Financial | Rich Steinmeier 


Addressing Systematic Volatility with Hercules Investments – With Guest James McDonald



In this episode, David Armstrong, editor in chief at WealthManagement.com, talks to Hercules Investments’ James McDonald. Today, James not only discusses all things volatility but also explains different risk-related techniques professionals can use to keep clients comfortable with their portfolios in the market.  Hercules Investments won a 2020 Wealthies Award for being the top Alternative Asset Manager.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

  • How Hercules Investments capitalizes on systematic volatility  
  • The company’s risk hedging technique designed to help financial advisors and clients  
  • How James McDonald’s firm helps financial advisors grow their prospects 
  • Hercules Investments’ ideal client as those who got aggressive growth goals  
  • And more!

Tune in to discover different ways that Hercules Investments can provide you with overlay strategies while giving you market volatility protection! 

Resources: WealthManagement.com | Hercules Investments | James McDonald