In the Money

What role does human connection play in the ever-evolving world of wealth management?

In this episode, Rusty Sommer speaks with Kate Healy of AdvoKate IQ about the importance of personal interaction in an industry increasingly dominated by technology. Rusty and Kate navigate through the dynamics of integrating human elements with advanced technology, exploring cultural awareness, next-gen talent acquisition, and adaptable service models.

Kate shares insights on:

This episode is a must-listen for those interested in understanding how to balance the digital transformation in finance with the critical human element. Don’t miss out, hit play!

Connect with Kate Healy:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Guest: 

Kate Healy is CEO and Founder of AdvoKate IQ, LLC, designed to help wealth management firms with their growth strategy, focusing on the intersection of organic growth and workforce development. Kate offers diverse leadership experience as a financial services industry executive and nonprofit leader. Develop and guide high-performing teams. Deliver innovative, client-first marketing. Embrace change and modernize leveraging technology and business intelligence. Lead with humor and empathy.

Are you keeping pace with the rapidly changing landscape of independent financial advice? If your practice isn’t evolving, you might be left in the dust.

In this episode, Rusty Sommer sits down with Brian Hamburger, JD, CRCP, President and CEO of MarketCounsel, to explore the ever-evolving world of independent advisors. Brian shares his insights on evolving business models, the impact of technology, and what advisors need to know about current industry trends. Tune in to find out how innovation is reshaping client relationships and what the future holds for regulatory changes.

Brian discusses: 

Connect with Brian Hamburger:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Guest: 

Brian Hamburger, JD, CRCP, is the founder, president and CEO of MarketCounsel Consulting, the leading business and regulatory compliance consultancy to the country’s preeminent entrepreneurial independent investment advisors. Brian is also the founder and chief counsel of the Hamburger Law Firm, a boutique law firm with its practice in virtually all areas related to the investment and securities industry, entrepreneurial and employment matters. The MarketCounsel companies and the Hamburger Law Firm reflect Brian’s unrelenting entrepreneurial drive and genuine desire to provide an unparalleled combination of preeminent counsel and uncompromising service to the wealth management profession. Hamburger is also the president of MarketCounsel Productions, a company that has built community within the wealth management profession by hosting events such as The MarketCounsel Summit, MarketCounsel Supper Clubs and MarketCounsel After-Hours. The MarketCounsel Summit is the industry’s capstone event of the year and a forum for debate and dialogue on some of the most critical issues facing leaders of wealth management firms.

Are you ready to take center stage in financial advice? Discover what it takes to make true partnerships and community-building the cornerstone of your business strategy.

In this episode, Rusty Sommer sits down with Andree Mohr, President of Integrated Partners, at the Market Counsel Conference in Las Vegas. They discuss the art of collaboration between financial advisors and CPAs, detailing how Integrated Partners is redefining success through strategic partnerships and community support. Andree shares insights on how they empower advisors to connect deeper with their clients, streamline operations with technology, and foster a vibrant, collaborative environment. As the conversation unfolds, you’ll learn about their innovative approach to advisor support, including leveraging AI for strategic planning and the power of community building.

Rusty and Andree discuss:

Connect with Andree Mohr:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Guest: 

As the president of Integrated Partners, Andree Mohr serves as a driven leader, visionary, and implementor for the organization.

Her mission is to bring simplification to the financial advice industry and create a sustainable path of success for financial advisors, their support staff, management teams, and CPA partners.

Her adept workflows and nimble judgment have proven instrumental in creating a culture of innovation, efficiency, and collaboration. She skillfully leverages these capabilities to oversee Integrated’s day-to-day operations, drive the firm’s key objectives, and ensure the consistent and healthy growth of the organization.

A particular passion of hers is helping Integrated’s entrepreneurial-minded financial advisors implement strategic operations that foster practice growth and optimization to bring their business visions to fruition. Through Integrated’s nationally renowned CPA Alliance program, she assists CPA partners in monetizing their most trusted advisor status while simultaneously aiding clients in their financial planning and tax needs.

She is the co-author of the exclusive book Center Stage: How to Become the Star of Your Practice with colleagues Matt Ackermann and Paul Saganey. The book focuses on operational, team-building, and business processing efficiencies to help empower advisors to streamline their practices. The result: advisors have a roadmap to grow their business, leave a lasting legacy, and ultimately provide a boutique, concierge, and memorable experience for their clients.

She graduated from Northeastern University, where she excelled in their experiential learning programs. She has been supporting advisors in various capacities for the last 13 years and truly enjoys watching them realize their goals.

Outside of the office, her favorite pastimes include cherished moments with her husband and their twin daughters, passionately cheering on the New England Patriots, traveling to her favorite destinations, and supporting charitable causes that are important to her.

For those interested in talking football or discussing what it’s like bringing advisors onto the most open-architecture, independent, growth-oriented advisor partnership platform in existence, she can be reached at [email protected].

How will embracing technology today redefine financial advising tomorrow?

In this episode, Rusty Sommer speaks with Joel Bruckenstein, a leading voice in financial technology, to explore the transformative power of today’s tech landscape. As the founder of the T3 conferences, Joel provides first-hand insights into technology trends reshaping financial advisory services. Dive deep into discussions on real innovation versus incremental evolution, and how these shifts impact the industry. Discover why staying ahead with AI and automation isn’t just beneficial but essential for growth and client satisfaction.

Joel discusses: 

Connect with Joel Bruckenstein:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Guest: 

Joel P. Bruckenstein, CFP®, is a globally recognized authority in the field of applied technology for financial professionals. He is renowned as the Publisher of Technology Tools for Today (T3), formerly known as Virtual Office News and now known as the T3 Tech Hub.

What sparked the evolution of RIAs?

In this episode, Rusty Sommer sits down with Robb Baldwin, CEO of TradePMR, at the Market Council Summit in Las Vegas. Together, they have a candid conversation on the history and evolution of the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) sector and the current trends shaking up the landscape. From the entrepreneurial spirit that fuelled the RIA space to recent developments as Trade PMR joins forces with Robinhood, this episode provides a fresh perspective on where the industry is heading.

Robb discusses:

Tune in to explore how these dynamics shape the future of wealth management and trading technology.

Connect with Robb Baldwin:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Guest: 

With over 30 years of experience in the brokerage and RIA industry, Robb Baldwin is the founder, president, and CEO of TradePMR, a technology and custodial services provider for RIAs. Robb is passionate about empowering advisors to achieve their true independence and deliver exceptional service to their clients.

Robb founded TradePMR in 1998 after facing a challenging transition in his own RIA firm due to a merger of two major custodians. He saw the need for a better solution that would combine innovative technology, extraordinary support, and seamless workflow for RIAs. Under his leadership, TradePMR has grown to serve RIAs across the country, earning recognition for its award-winning Fusion platform and its customer satisfaction. Robb holds multiple securities licenses registered with TradePMR, and he continues to drive the firm’s vision and mission to provide the best technology and service in the industry.

What will shape the financial landscape by 2025? Join us as we dive deep into predictions for the future of wealth management. 

In this episode, Rusty Sommer dives into the future of wealth management with an exciting lineup of guests from the 2024 MarketCounsel summit: John O’Connell, Kartik Srinivasan, Oleg Tishkevich, Kate Healy, Andree Mohr, Bill McFadden, Brian Hamburger, Joel Bruckenstein, Robb Baldwin, Tony Stich, and Amy DeTolla. They explore the big predictions for 2025, like how AI co-pilots and personalized client apps are set to transform the industry, why mega firms driven by private equity are emerging, and how personalization will redefine client experiences. Discover insights on trends like mergers, private equity’s impact on growth, and the looming cybersecurity challenges. The dialogue is rich with insights about the continual evolution of technology, regulation impacts, and strategic industry shifts.

Key Highlights:

Immerse yourself in this forward-looking discussion and get a head start on 2025’s transformative impact!

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

Will AI transform wealth management overnight?

In this episode, Rusty Sommer speaks with Tony Stich from MarketCounsel about the fascinating insights and key takeaways from the latest industry summit. Dive into the world of asset management as they explore how technology and AI are reshaping the industry, the significance of real-time curriculum changes, and the introduction of fresh faces and ideas in finance.

Tony and Rusty discuss: 

Tune in to gain a fresh perspective on the future of wealth tech and discover how the industry’s shifts can enhance your professional approach. 

Connect with Tony Stich:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Guest: 

Tony is an industry speaker, consultant, trusted advisor, and active investor that specializes in GTM strategies — with a heavy emphasis on marketing — for financial services firms, RIAs, and FinTech companies. 

Published in numerous global outlets including the Journal of Financial Planning, Wealthmanagement.com, Investopedia, US News & World Report, and ThinkAdvisor as well as being featured on Reuters, FinTech TV, Financial Advisor IQ, Asset TV, and InvestmentNews, Stich is an award-winning thought leader in the FinTech space, providing compelling statistics, a thought-provoking perspective, and much-needed humor to a rapidly-evolving industry. 

He is currently Executive Managing Director of MarketCounsel — the leading business and regulatory compliance consultancy to the country’s preeminent independent investment advisers throughout all stages of their lifecycle.

Before this, he spent most of his career in the WealthTech industry with his latest role serving as Chief Revenue Officer for Entrustody — a modern, digital-first custodial platform. Prior, he was at InvestCloud which acquired Advicent, the global financial planning software developer of NaviPlan, Profiles, and Figlo. There as Chief Operating Officer, he led North American Sales, Marketing, Professional Services, Customer Success, and Support ultimately netting him recognition by Wealthmanagement.com as Chief Marketing Officer of the Year (2021) and obtaining the inaugural ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES Executive Leadership Award (2021).

Are you ready to revolutionize your firm’s growth strategy in the wealth management industry?

Discover how to unlock the full potential of your wealth management firm with growth strategies and technology integration from industry leader Joe Duran of Rise Growth Partners.

In this episode, Rusty Sommer interviews Joe Duran, Managing Partner at Rise Growth Partners, to highlight essential growth strategies for advisory firms. They explore the critical gaps in brand innovation, technology application, and growth imagination that firms need to address. With expertise from Joe’s extensive background, this episode offers actionable insights for firms looking to evolve. 

Joe discusses: 

Resources:

Connect with Joe Duran:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Guest:

Joe is a serial entrepreneur and an industry visionary in wealth management and wealthtech. 

Most recently Joe was a Partner at Goldman Sachs as Co-Head of the Workplace and Personal Wealth business. Joe founded and was CEO of United Capital, one of the nation’s largest independent wealth management firms, which was acquired by Goldman Sachs in July, 2019. Prior to that he built and sold Centurion Capital, one of the first Turnkey Asset Management Platforms to General Electric where he served as President of GE Private Asset Management (now NYSE listed AssetMark.) 

He has written three books on investing and entrepreneurship and has been on the New York Times and USA bestseller lists. Joe is a sought after conference speaker and appears frequently on a broad spectrum of media from CNBC to Goop.

Joe has MBAs from Columbia University and UC Berkeley, and an undergraduate degree from Saint Louis University. He is a CFA Charterholder and a member of YPO. He has been a Yogi for decades, meditates daily and is an avid beach volleyball player. 

Joe is married to Jennifer and they have three daughters that they cherish.  They live in Laguna Beach, California and Tribeca, New York. They travel frequently, love dining, dancing and live concerts.

Is your financial advisor about to be replaced by AI? The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no.

Tune into this episode to discover how AI is doing more than just automating repetitive tasks—it’s redefining the role of financial advisor and reshaping the entire financial landscape.

As AI drives significant change in wealth management, the industry stands at a crossroads. Join host Rusty Sommer and fintech professional and industry thought leader, Jason Pereira, as they discuss whether financial advisors are at risk of being replaced by AI, and unpacking the reasons why the answer isn’t an easy one. They also discuss what steps advisors can take to harness the benefits of AI in order to enhance their practice while preserving the vital human touch required to maintain client relationships.

Key Highlights:

Connect with Connect with Jason Pereira:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About Jason Pereira:

Jason is a financial planner who has lived and breathed topics related to financial planning for over 20 years. In that time, he has become a recognized writer, commentator, speaker, podcaster, teacher, and expert in the areas of financial planning, practice management, and fintech. He has also obtained two degrees, nine professional designations, been nominated for or won over 30 industry awards, and produced over 600 articles, podcasts, and interviews. www.JasonPereira.ca is his conduit for sharing his thoughts, views and learning that he has amassed over the years.

What factors are driving the continuing evolution of wealth management? 

In this episode, we dive into the world of private equity with industry insiders!

Explore the impactful role of private equity in the wealth management sector in this engaging episode of ‘In the Money,’ sponsored by Flyer Financial Technologies. Host Rusty Sommer sits down with Lori Hardwick, Strategic Advisor at Genstar Capital, and Noreen Beaman, Head of Leadership Development at East Bay Executive Coaching. They explore how private equity is reshaping the industry, enhancing business strategies to drive growth and efficiency.

Key Highlights:

Connect with Lori Hardwick:

Connect with Noreen Beaman

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About Lori Hardwick:

Lori is a member of Genstar Capital’s Strategic Advisory Board and advises the firm in the financial services industry. She brings more than 25 years of experience of working in the financial industry as a prominent voice and is known for her intense passion for continuous improvement in the financial advisory industry. As CEO of WealthTech at RedRock Strategic Partners LLC, Lori works directly with C-suite level executives at some of the largest financial services companies, to help them create, and execute against, winning growth strategies and to improve the overall experiences for advisors and their clients. She has expertise in investment, technology, distribution and advisory solutions and is a regular speaker at industry events. Lori received a BA from The Ohio State University and graduated from the Executive MBA Program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

About Noreen Beaman:

Noreen D. Beaman is the Vice Chair of Orion’s Board of Directors. She most recently served as President of Orion Advisor Solutions following Orion’s 2020 merger with Brinker Capital. Prior to the merger, Noreen was CEO at Brinker Capital where she helped advisors and their clients build better outcomes for over 30 years. Noreen has received numerous accolades for her lasting impact on the financial advice industry including Philadelphia Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO, InvestmentNews’ 2017 Women to Watch, and Greater Philadelphia’s Entrepreneur of the Year, alongside Chuck Widger in the financial services category by EY.

Noreen received her Bachelor of Science from Saint Peter’s University. She earned the CPA designation in New Jersey and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. As an industry leader, Noreen is passionate about supporting culture, women, and diversity in the workplace. She is a mentor for the Money Management Institute’s Leadership Pathway, which connects members of the next generation with industry veterans to further enhance the mentee’s knowledge and insights surrounding the investment advisory industry. Noreen is an active contributor and frequently participates in panels to discuss the importance of women and greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in wealth management.