Episode 130: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Adam Spiegelman, Founder and Wealth Advisor at Spiegelman Wealth Management, which offers investment and wealth management programs and services for high-net-worth clients. The company’s mission is to develop enduring relationships with clients by providing professional guidance for a lifetime of financial security. 

Adam talks with Kyle about what it really means to go independent and why freedom, service, and intentional scale matter more in financial services. He shares why he left large firms to build a boutique RIA, the emotional weight of the transition, and how he maintains a human-centric approach in an automated world.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:32) - Adam's money moment

(03:18) - Navigating the LPL acquisition of Commonwealth

(06:07) - What Adam learned after going independent

(08:41) - The reality of independence

(10:09) - The challenges and rewards of building a custom technology ecosystem

(13:03) - What made Commonwealth technology user-friendly

(17:53) - Adam's vision for Spiegelman Wealth Management

(20:20) - What great service actually looks like in practice

(22:31) - Adam's growth strategies

(26:04) - Adam's outlook on the future of the wealth management industry

(28:30) - Adam's Milemarker Minute

Key Takeaways

Freedom creates clarity, but also responsibility. Going independent removes bureaucracy but also challenges leaders to own every decision, especially in technology and operations.

Great service lives in the small, thoughtful moments. Picking up the phone, anticipating confusion, and proactively helping clients through stressful situations often matter more than flashy offerings.

Growth doesn't have to mean “bigger”. Staying intentionally small can be a competitive advantage when relationships, trust, and responsiveness are the core product.

AI will change the work, but not remove the human role. As modeling and analysis become commoditized, judgment, empathy, and contextual thinking become even more valuable.

Quotes

"I talked to dozens of recruiters, firms, and advisors. And I did all this due diligence with one purpose in mind: to scare me out of wanting to go independent. And no one could scare me. I knew in my heart that this was the absolute right thing to do." ~ Adam Spiegelman

"I learned a long time ago that this business is not just about lining my pockets. It's not about money and fees, it's about relationships." ~ Adam Spiegelman

"People want to take more charge of their finances. Gone are the days of pension plans and the government providing all that support." ~ Adam Spiegelman

Links 

Adam Spiegelman on LinkedIn

Spiegelman Wealth Management

Fidelity Investments

A Gentleman in Moscow

Connect with our hosts

Milemarker.co

Kyle on LinkedIn

Jud on LinkedIn

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