Focused on the Future

For financial advisors who hope to become firm owners, succession planning involves more than transferring equity. It means navigating difficult conversations, earning a founder’s trust and preparing to lead before the ownership transition is complete.

In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Jorge Padilla, CEO of Meira Wealth, about his journey from intern to owner of an independent wealth management firm. They explore what makes internal succession successful, why the emotional side of ownership transitions deserves more attention, and how Jorge worked to preserve his founder’s legacy while shaping the firm’s next chapter. They also discuss cultural fluency, purpose-driven financial planning and how meaningful client experiences can support long-term growth.

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 About Our Guest:

Jorge Padilla is the CEO of Meira Wealth, an independent, employee-owned, fee-only wealth management firm based in Coral Gables, Florida. Originally from Spain, Jorge came to the United States on a tennis scholarship before discovering his passion for financial planning. He began his career as an intern at Meira Wealth and spent more than two decades developing his experience across client service, investment management, leadership, and business operations before becoming the firm’s owner. His approach to wealth management emphasizes building meaningful client relationships, aligning financial decisions with personal values, and helping individuals and families pursue their long-term goals. Jorge is also passionate about financial literacy, cultural understanding, and developing the next generation of financial advisors, with a focus on building a firm that honors its legacy while continuing to evolve.

RIA leaders are often under pressure to keep growing, but growth can expose weaknesses in technology, infrastructure and advisor support. Sometimes the better decision is to strengthen the foundation before pushing for more scale.

In this episode of Focused On The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Stan Gregor, CEO and chairman of Summit Financial, about building an advisory firm prepared for long-term growth. Stan shares how Summit rebuilt its infrastructure before accelerating recruiting, why technology and cybersecurity require sustained investment, how advisor support contributes to organic growth, and what artificial intelligence could mean for advisors, clients and new talent entering wealth management.

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 About Our Guest:

Stan Gregor is the CEO of Summit Financial LLC and has more than 30 years of experience across banking, wealth management, investment management, insurance, financial planning, and capital markets. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles at Cantor Fitzgerald Wealth Partners, Wells Fargo, Wachovia, Commerce Capital Markets, Quick & Reilly, Bank of America Investment Services, and Citigroup. He has led large teams, overseen significant assets, and played a central role in acquisitions, business integrations, and the growth of advisory and wealth management organizations.

How can financial advisors grow their practice while maintaining strong client relationships?

What does it take to develop future generations of advisors while keeping the human side of advice at the center?

In this episode of Focused On The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse sits down with Jim Mellin, president of advice and wealth management at Equitable Advisors, to talk about building sustainable advisory practices through client experience, advisor development, and thoughtful team structures. 

Jim shares how strong relationships, personalized coaching and continuity planning can help advisors grow their businesses while maintaining meaningful connections. He also explores the role of AI, technology and next-generation talent in shaping the future of financial advice.

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 About Our Guest:

James Mellin is the President of Advice and Wealth Management for Equitable Advisors and a member of Equitable’s Operating Committee.

In his current role, he leads the growth strategy for Equitable Advisors, the company’s network of 4,600 financial professionals nationwide, including advisor development, performance, and training.

A nearly four-decade veteran of the company, Mr. Mellin began his career as a financial professional and steadily advanced through various leadership roles at Equitable Advisors, including district manager, branch manager, and Chief Sales Officer.

What will financial advisors and wealth management firms need to prepare for as consumer expectations, technology and the financial planning profession continue to change?

From attracting the next generation of financial planners to using AI responsibly, the profession is facing decisions that could shape how advisors build trust, serve clients and grow in the years ahead.

In this episode of Focused On The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Dane Snowden, chief executive officer of CFP Board, about his vision for making CFP certification essential to consumers, firms and financial professionals. Dane explores the profession’s talent pipeline, CFP Board’s workforce initiatives and its evaluation of the bachelor’s degree requirement for CFP certification.

He also shares his perspective on AI, professional judgment, ethical accountability, public trust and expanding access to financial planning earlier in people’s lives.

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 About Our Guest:

Dane Snowden serves as Chief Executive Officer of CFP Board, the professional body for more than 110,000 CFP professionals in the United States. He joined CFP Board in 2023 as Chief Operating Officer after previously serving as a public member of its Board of Directors from 2017 to 2020. Throughout his career, Dane has held senior leadership roles across communications, technology, government, and public policy, including President and CEO of the Internet Association, Chief Operating Officer of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, Vice President of External and State Affairs for CTIA, and Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission following his appointment by President George W. Bush. As CEO of CFP Board, he is focused on strengthening the organization’s role in advancing competent, ethical financial planning, expanding public awareness of CFP certification, supporting academic and professional pathways, addressing emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, and maintaining strong competency standards as the profession grows. Dane holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from William & Mary and has served on numerous nonprofit, education, and industry boards throughout his career.

Financial advisors can build meaningful businesses by understanding the people and communities they serve beyond the numbers. 

What changes when advice starts with listening, culture, trust and behavior?

In this episode of Focused On The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Louis Barajas, CEO and wealth advisor of International Private Wealth Advisors, about his journey from East Los Angeles to financial planning. Louis shares how culture and financial behavior shape client relationships, why underserved communities need greater access to advice, how Corazón Financial is supporting advisors, and why artificial intelligence may make human connection even more valuable.

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 About Our Guest:

Louis Barajas has strived to redefine what it means to be a wealth and business expert. Rather than limiting his scope to the size of the client’s bank balance, investment portfolio, or retirement account, his approach has always been to show people how to use their finances to enrich their lives. Louis connects with people through their passions, their dreams, and their sometimes-challenging situations of life. The ever-changing landscape of consumer finance has helped to transform Louis into an internationally renowned speaker, author, media segment expert, and wealth & business manager to some of the most iconic Latin artists and executives in the entertainment industry for over three decades. He is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and presenter for some of the most influential organizations in the United States.

Growing an advisory firm requires more than attracting new clients. It requires clarity around the type of business you want to build, the systems that support it and the people who help move it forward.

How do you decide whether growth, independence or a different path is right for your firm? How do you create an organization that reflects your long-term goals?

In this episode of Focused On The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse interviews James Bogart, founder and CEO of Bogart Wealth, about building a growing advisory firm through intentional decisions, educational content and digital strategies. He shares how his firm expanded organically, how the pandemic changed his approach to client acquisition, and why investing in people, data and future advisors is essential for creating an enduring organization.

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 About Our Guest:

As CEO of Bogart Wealth, James Bogart focuses on maintaining the highest level of customer service possible and seeking to deliver the most effective technology, reporting tools, and analysis to every Bogart Wealth client. A charismatic visionary and next-gen founder with seemingly endless energy, he surrounds himself with people who complement his skills. James promotes a collaborative environment, leading by example and always exemplifying Bogart Wealth’s core values. He sets a high bar for himself and his employees, encouraging everyone to acquire designations that will help them advance their careers and better serve clients. 

A seasoned wealth advisor and visionary leader, James takes personal pride in assisting executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals in pursuing their dreams through highly customized financial planning strategies. James’ practice spans wealth plan design, investment management, estate planning, family legacy planning, business succession, charitable giving, asset protection, and retirement concerns, with a special insight and focus on multi-generational strategies. He regularly addresses audiences of industry professionals and senior corporate executives on new and upcoming developments in this field.

James enjoys spending time with his wife and children.  He is a proud Eagle Scout, remaining active with the Boy Scouts of America. He enjoys golf, travel, reading, and cooking.

Growth is a priority for many advisory firms, but building a business that can continue growing while serving clients well requires thoughtful planning.

What separates firms that continue attracting advisors and clients from those that struggle to scale? How can technology, business development and hiring decisions shape the future of an advisory business?

In this episode of Focused On The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse chats with Neil Turner, co-founder of NewEdge Advisors and chief strategy officer and chief revenue officer at NewEdge Capital Group, about building an advisor-focused wealth management platform. They explore the role of net new assets as a growth metric, how dedicated business development teams support advisors, the realities of digital marketing and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. 

Neil also shares lessons from launching a shared RIA model, investing in talent and why people remain the foundation of a lasting business.

Neil discusses:

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 About Our Guest:

Neil Turner is the Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of NewEdge Capital Group and the Co-Founder of one of its subsidiaries, NewEdge Advisors.

Neil has a strong track record of taking great business ideas and turning them into exceptional companies, such as NewEdge Advisors. After starting his career at JP Morgan, Neil made his way to New Orleans-based technology firm, iSeatz.com, as their Chief Strategy Officer. It was there that he met current business partner, Alex Goss. The two went on to form AdverCar.com before co-founding what is known today as NewEdge Advisors. As Co-Founders, they continue to develop NewEdge Advisors into one of the most advisor-first firms in the nation.

Neil graduated from Kenyon College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He was born and raised in New York City and currently resides in New Orleans. Outside of work, he enjoys running, playing golf and supporting local charities.

Traditional financial planning assumes a familiar life path, but what happens when that doesn’t include children?

Many advisors unknowingly rely on planning frameworks built around legacy, inheritance and next-generation wealth transfer. For millions of people, those assumptions simply don’t fit.

In this episode, Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Dr. Jay Zigmont, founder and CEO of Childfree Wealth and Childfree Trust, about the unique planning needs of childfree and permanently childless individuals. They explore how financial planning, estate planning, charitable giving, retirement strategies and pet care decisions change when there are no children involved. 

Dr. Zigmont also shares why many traditional planning tools create blind spots, how advisors can better serve this growing population, and why deeper life planning conversations can transform the client experience.

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 About Our Guest:

Jay Zigmont is the Founder and CEO of Childfree Wealth, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping Childfree and Permanently Childless people. He and his wife are Childfree.

Dr. Jay is a Childfree Wealth Specialist and author of the book “Portraits of Childfree Wealth” and the upcoming book “The Childfree Guide to Life and Money.” Dr Jay is the co-host of the Childfree Wealth podcast. 

He has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, and many other publications. In 2023, he was named a “Rising Star” by Financial Planning.

Marketing is changing fast, and many advisors are wondering how to stay visible as artificial intelligence tools reshape the way people search for information.

How can firms stand out when clients are asking questions directly to AI platforms instead of clicking through websites? What signals actually help advisors get noticed online today?

In this episode of Focused on the Future, Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Susan Theder, chief marketing  and experience officer at FMG, and Samantha Russell, chief evangelist at FMG, about how advisors can adapt their marketing for AI-driven search. They share practical ideas around testimonials, authenticity, FAQ content, podcasts and third-party endorsements. 

The conversation also explores how AI tools are changing advisor workflows, improving client communication and creating more time for meaningful human connection.

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About Susan Theder:

Susan Theder is the Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at FMG and a member of the company’s Senior Leadership Team. Susan places an emphasis on the importance of customer-focused strategies that leverage data and technology to deliver personalized and customized experiences that WOW.

She has a passion for helping financial professionals grow and market their businesses and is an active supporter of women and diversity initiatives. She was named CMO of the year by WealthManagement.com in 2019 and a Women to Watch by Investment News in 2019. Susan currently serves on the Board of Directors for SMARSH and ComplySci, both leading SaaS/RegTech companies serving the financial services industry.

Before joining FMG, Susan served as Chief Marketing Officer at both Advisor Group and Cetera Financial Group where she was responsible for all aspects of marketing and advisor marketing. Prior to that, she was a Managing Director at Pershing/BNY Mellon and held senior positions in marketing, product management and practice management at Fidelity Investments.

About Samantha Russell:

Samantha teaches financial advisors how to utilize digital marketing strategies to produce exponential growth through website development, content marketing, SEO, social media and video.

Her cutting-edge thought leadership is recognized throughout the financial services industry and has led to her being awarded an Investment News 40 Under 40, ThinkAdvisor “Luminary” and Wealth Management Ten to Watch.

In addition to being a trusted, go-to resource for advisors looking to grow through digital marketing strategies, Sam is also known as a voracious reader, avid runner and hiker, and master juggler of 3 kids under 6.

What happens when technology removes friction instead of adding to it?

And how does that shift reshape the value of human advice?

In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse interviews Dani Fava, chief strategy officer at Carson Group, about how artificial intelligence is transforming financial advice by increasing advisor capacity and enhancing client relationships. Dani shares how Carson’s proprietary AI assistant is helping advisors streamline workflows, prepare for meetings and access client insights instantly. 

She also explains why the demand for human connection is rising, how advisors can scale without losing personalization and why the future of advice is more relationship-driven than ever.

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About Our Guest:

Dani Fava serves the pivotal role of Chief Strategy Officer at Carson Group, wielding over two decades of experience in wealth management to drive our strategic direction. Charged with enhancing the client experience through differentiated products and services, Dani’s leadership is instrumental in shaping innovative growth strategies and advancing the industry on financial advice and the use of AI.

Before joining Carson Group, Dani held influential positions at Envestnet and TD Ameritrade, where she spearheaded initiatives such as digital onboarding, strategic partnerships, and AI integration. Dani’s contributions include the development of advisor technologies like iRebal and the Model Market Center, reflecting her commitment to empowering advisors with cutting-edge tools and insights. Her impact and forward-thinking vision earned her a spot on FinTech Magazine’s Top 100 Women in FinTech (2021), InvestmentNews’ Women to Watch (2020), and ThinkAdvisor’s 2020 IA25, underscoring her status as a trailblazer in wealth management innovation.

In addition to her professional achievements, Dani is recognized for her thought leadership in the industry, often speaking at conferences and contributing to discussions on the future of financial technology. Dani also serves on the board of Language & Culture Worldwide (LCW), a culture consulting company. This work is an extension of her commitment to see more inclusion in the wealth management industry.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Dani finds joy in the company of her loved ones, including her life partner, Julie, and their two children, Camryn and Frankie. Their family is completed by three beloved dogs—Slim Shady, Ghostface and Dolly Parton. When not immersed in strategy, Dani indulges her obsessive passion for pickleball, a testament to her commitment to both work and play. Embracing the guiding principle of “Per aspera ad astra” (from the ashes to the stars), Dani embraces resilience and determination in her pursuit of transformative opportunities for advisors in an ever-evolving market landscape.