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In this episode, we discuss how to best balance tech efficiency and human empathy, how data is changing the way advisors serve investors, why advisors and investors should consider allocating with boutique managers, advice for business founders in present day and much more. 

• In Robbie’s view, what is the right balance between tech efficiency and human empathy in wealth management?
• How does Robbie think data is changing the way that advisors serve investors and what does he think are the biggest opportunities ahead?
• Learn more about the Money Management Institute that Robbie participates in and what excites him about how MMI is helping the industry evolve.
• What’s a success story, or an example, from THRIVE that demonstrates the program’s impact on innovation or inclusion for these emerging managers?
• Why should financial advisors and investors consider allocating with emerging and boutique managers?
• What challenges do these emerging managers face, particularly against these larger firms in the broader ecosystem?
• What were some of Robbie’s pivotal lessons in growing the asset management firm Horizon into a recognized brand?
• What advice would Robbie give to business founders today who want to grow their firm sustainably as the landscape becomes increasingly competitive?
• How does Robbie maintain his energy and pace, both physically and mentally?
• Are there any habits, routines or practices that Robbie maintains to promote his wellbeing?
• How has Robbie’s approach to balance and recovery evolved as his career and responsibilities have grown?
• What is one practice or principle, outside of work, that Robbie believes most enhances his decision making as a leader?

Quote

“I think mobile has won, I think we can say that, right? Mobile over Desktop has won, and the problem with mobile is that everything is set up for you to make an emotional or quick decision…We want clients to make really good, well-informed decisions, and the device that has won, mobile, and the way we put technology in mobile is actually not suited to make that well-informed decision.” - [04:45] Robbie Cannon

Links

• Robbie Cannon on LinkedIn
• The Advice Age
• “Sound of Madness” by Shine Down

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss Fritz’s work at 3EDGE, three timeless investment principles, the difference between real risk and perceived risk, how diversification in today’s world may be more nuanced than ever and much more.

• Learn about 3EDGE and the work that Fritz does there.
• At the highest level, what would Fritz say are three investment principles that are timeless?
• From Fritz’s vantage point, how does he balance the pursuit of upside versus the protection of downside when building portfolios?
• How does Fritz advise investors about the importance of asset allocation versus securities selection? What matters more for longterm outcomes?
• How does Fritz educate investors on the differences between real risk and perceived risk?
• What’s Fritz’s current high-level read on the market and why does he think it's different from the last 5-10 years?
• How does Fritz view diversification in today’s world where a lot of elements of the market seem to rise and fall together? How can investors recognize false diversification?
• What routines or practices does Fritz use to maintain his mental clarity and high-quality decision making?
• What does Fritz do to emotionally regulate and avoid behavioral traps during difficult market moments?
• How does Fritz maintain his work-life balance and how important is this balance for his long-term performance?
• If Fritz were mentoring a younger investor, what would he tell them about living well while also building a long-term investing mindset?
• On Fritz’s team, what do they do to cultivate a high-performance, disciplined investment culture and how does this reflect in his personal leadership habits?

Quotes

“In our model we have factors we call canaries, the canaries in the coal mine, and we are looking very closely at those to see if any of those should start to signal that the market might start to crack in here. So, one thing that we watch closely are credit spreads, and credit spreads…are actually starting to widen out now, not to the extent that it’s a problem yet, but that would be one of the warning signs. So, go ahead and stay invested in the equity markets but understand there are a lot of potholes out there that you need to be aware of and take defensive action.” - Fritz Folts

“I really feel like that is a good approach to investing, think about yourself as an athlete. You’re not going to go win a gold medal, but you need to keep your body in shape, you need to sleep, you need to get nutrition and take it seriously and it will really help you.” - Fritz Folts

Links

• Fritz Folts on LinkedIn
• 3EDGE Asset Management
• Email Fritz
• 3EDGE Youtube Channel
• 3EDGE Brochure
• Hard Assets Whitepaper
• "Bulletproof" by La Roux 

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss how to take great investment theory and make it actionable for the everyday investor, some of the biggest behavioral mistakes Donald has seen in both individual and professional investors and how to synthesize the cultures of two merging finance firms.

• Learn more about Mercer’s culture and investment philosophy from their CIO
• How does Mercer balance the insights of academic research with the practical realities of working with clients and real world markets?
• How does Donald take great investment theory and make it work for the everyday investor?
• How does Donald incorporate new structural changes into his investment thinking when they don’t have long historical data sets?
• How do you determine when a secular shift truly changes the investment landscape vs. when it is simply just another market cycle?
• As a Chief Investment Officer, how does Donald balance the data-driven discipline with the human side of investing like client emotions, behaviors and their expectations?
• What are some of the biggest behavioral mistakes Donald has seen both individual and professional investors make and how does he help them stay disciplined?
• When Mercer acquires advisory firms that have long been independent, how do they strike the right balance between keeping their individuality and creating a standardized investment approach across all Mercer advisors?
• What does a typical day, or week, look like for Donald and how does he maintain his energy with his demanding schedule?
• Does Donald have any non-negotiables or family routines that really help him stay balanced?
• How does Donald’s experience with farmland inform how he thinks about the markets or patience more generally?
• What advice would Donald give to other executives, or investors, who are trying to maintain high performance and wellness over the long run?

Quote

“We live in an age where there is so much of what I call ‘financial pornography’ out there, on the internet and everywhere else, that really does a poor job managing investor expectations. So, I think, a big part of our job as advisors is to manage investor expectations [and] to use technology to personalize their portfolios where we can and where is appropriate. I think that’s really the hallmark of what it means to be a wealth manager, is marrying the personal with the portfolio.” - Donald Calcagni

Links

• Donald Calcagni on LinkedIn
• “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
• Mercer Advisors

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss Randy’s work at Intention.ly, what being future ready means and why it is so urgent now, what separates firms that strive through industry change from those that struggle, how Randy helped craft the culture at Orion and much more.

• How would Randy describe his professional journey and what led him to his current work at Intention.ly?
• What does being “future ready” mean in Randy’s view and why is it so urgent now?
• What separates firms that strive through industry change from those that struggle?
• How did Randy help craft the culture at Orion Advisor Solutions?
• How can wealth management firms stay resilient amid consolidation and changing client expectations?
• What does the phrase “human plus digital” really look like in practice?
• What is engagement AI and how is it changing the advisor experience?
• What are practical ways advisors can integrate data and new technology to really improve their efficiency and deepen client relationships?
• What’s an example of a firm going from a reactive to a proactive transformation?
• Looking ahead in the next couple of years, what does Randy think will define the most successful firms?
• What are some actionable steps that leaders can take today to really start future proofing their businesses?
• How is Randy investing in his family as empty nesters and what have they learned from being intentional about that?
• How does being intentional at home, and in his family life, help him lead more effectively at work? 
• What fuels Randy’s contagious energy? How does he maintain this energy in high stress situations?

Quote

“Engagement AI surfaces insights and helps advisors anticipate [the] needs of the customer [and] deliver timely outreach. You know, these are just things that they haven’t been able to do in the past and now they have this layer of intelligence, with some of the tools that they have, that allow them to do that. So, a core part of what we do to help future proof firms is we help blend that data, the technology, into those outcomes that they’re looking for in the experience delivery of their service.” - [13:50] Randy Lambert

Links

• Randy Lambert on LinkedIn
• Intention.ly
• “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss why The Great Wealth Transfer is often overstated and we add some nuance to that conversation, how wealth managers should rethink their strategies to better serve the next generation, what product innovations are true innovations and which are overhyped and why next gen investments like tokenization & sports betting may be here to stay, for better or for worse

• Why does Chip believe that the traditional narrative around “The Great Wealth Transfer” is overstated and how there is an under appreciated horizontal wealth transfer happening right now. What does this mean for advisors in practice?
• How should wealth managers rethink their client strategies to serve this next generation effectively?
• How does Chip see independent advisors competing in a landscape that includes “The Big 4,” roboadvisors and other new developments?
• How might the trends of RIA mergers, and the growing number of companies that run 401k plans, might affect everyday investors and financial advisors?
• What product innovations excited Chip most and which does he think are overhyped?
• Are “next gen investments,” such as sports betting, tokenization and meme coins, just fringe curiosities or signals of something broader in terms of investing?
• What best practices, in terms of marketing, does Chip see that separates firms that grow versus ones that stall?
• How far does Chip think we are from genuine, scaleable human-grade AI advice?
• Across investment management, wealth tech and advice Chip sees venture capital, mergers & acquisitions and IPOs accelerating - in short, what does this mean for advisors choosing partners or platforms?
• What is Chip’s headline for where the industry is heading in the next 3-5 years?
• How does Chip maintain his energy, decision making clarity and balance?
• What habits or practices does Chip believe consistently show up among the top performers in their field?
• If Chip had to summarize his personal philosophy on performance, professional or personal, what would it be?

Quotes

“The generational wealth transfer is the headline, yes it’s 100 Trillion, but don’t forget about the liquidation, don’t forget about the spouse-to-spouse horizontal transfer and don’t forget about healthcare expenses at the end…that [money] will go to the insurance company, not to the kids.” - [03:48] Chip Roame

“On the horizon, we would suggest that…the consolidation of the consolidators…is coming to a station near you soon here. You’re going to wake up someday and Mercer will have bought Mariner, or Mariner will have bought Cap Trust…or something like that. You’re going to see the big firms start merging with each other at some point. Again, if you know history, that’s how the wire houses became the wire houses…so nothing all that unique about predicting the consolidation of the consolidators, but you haven’t really seen it get started yet, so I think that’s going to happen.” -  Chip Roame

Links

• Chip Roame on LinkedIn
• “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”
• Tiburon Strategic Advisors

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

Compliance Code:

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In this episode, we discuss how to foster cross-functional collaboration when silos start to form, what leadership practices are transferable across different disciplines, how the Fintech industry will continue to shape the investment landscape and much more.

• What first drew Chris into the fintech and financial services industry and what helps him stay energized about it today?
• As Chris looks back over his career, what are some common threads across his senior leadership roles?
• What are some of the ways that Chris has successfully fostered cross-functional collaboration when silos start to form?
• How do you build a culture where accountability is embraced rather than feared?
• What leadership practice has been most transferable across different industries in Chris’s experience? 
• From Chris’s perspective, how critical is unique insight and consistent high-quality information when you’re talking about successful investing?
• How does Chris see the Fintech industry continuing to shape the investment landscape, particularly for advisors trying to deliver better outcomes to clients?
• How do “ultrahiking” and other wellness activities help shape Chris’s leadership and decision making process? 
• What practices does Chris rely on for recovery after feats of endurance?
• How does Chris maintain energy and focus while he is balancing some of these demanding professional responsibilities?
• If Chris could give one piece of advice to young professionals about sustaining a career over the long run, what would it be?
• Looking ahead, what excites Chris the most about the future of fintech and financial services?
• What does living life to the fullest look like for Chris?
• What does “invest well, be well” mean to Chris personally?

Quote

“I look at accountability [and] it’s not punishment, it’s ownership, right? I focus on building a culture where people feel trusted to make decisions and actually feel supported when things are not going as planned. So, when leaders model accountability with either transparency or humility, it becomes something that the organization should value and not really avoid.” - [06:33] Chris Riggio

Links

• Chris Riggio on LinkedIn
• “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
• LegitScript

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss why ETFs are such a powerful tool for wiser investing, how the ETF industry may evolve going forward and lessons of resilience from Allison who lost her home and all her belongings to the LA wildfires.

• Learn more about Allison’s career and what led her to her current role at State Street Investment Management
• What does Allison believe are the qualities that make a “wise investor?”
• From Allison’s vantage point, why are ETFs such a powerful tool for wiser investing and how does she see their role evolving in the years ahead?
• Aside from manufacturing dependable investment strategies and solutions, how does State Street Investment Management help advisors and investors put wiser investment into practice?
• What daily or weekly practices does Allison use to keep her own focus and decision making sharp?
• What practices has Allison found that build resilience and sustain performance for teams, especially when markets get tough?
• How did Allison get through losing her home and all her belongings in the recent LA fires?
• How does Allison’s experience with the fires apply to building resilient portfolios for investors?
• What habits, or mindset shifts, have been most critical for Allison as she has rebuilt her life after the fires?

Quote

“The global financial crisis turned out to be a really significant accelerator for the ETF industry. The reason why that happened was because it underscored their value of liquidity, the value of transparency and the value diversification. So, the GFM was this big accelerator for the industry as it shifted from Mutual Funds to ETFs.” - [09:06] Allison Bonds Mazza

Links

• Allison Bonds Mazza on LinkedIn
• State Street Global Advisors
• “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss the importance of storytelling and laughter in building client relationships, some tips for preparing for big public speaking engagements, tips for non-verbal communication in online conferencing and much more.

• Learn about Arthur’s professional journey and how he got to where he is today.
• Why does Arthur think communication is so important for professionals who need to guide clients with clarity and confidence?
• What is Arthur’s overall philosophy when it comes to communicating effectively?
• What role can storytelling play in financial advising and similar professions? Why do “facts fade and stories stick?”
• How does Arthur prepare for a big public speaking engagement?
• What are some techniques for drawing in an audience’s focus when a topic is dry and numbers heavy, like finance?
• What feedback mechanisms has Arthur found most useful for improving his own speaking practice?
• How does Arthur adjust his presentation style to suit the different types of audiences he encounters?
• What does Arthur think are some common communication habits or patterns that tend to erode confidence and how can financial advisors correct them?
• Does Arthur have any tips for using non-verbal communication, particularly when interacting on online conferencing? 
• How can performers ensure that they are coming across as authentic?
• What daily or weekly routines help Arthur stay sharp physically, mentally and emotionally?
• How has Arthur learned from his failures, either professionally or personally?
• What practices does Arthur have in terms of life-long learning?
• What roles do discipline, consistency and mindset play vs. raw talent in terms of the performing arts?

Quote

“Victor Borge…had a great quote, and it was ‘laughter is the shortest distance between two people.’ I think that is so true. If you want to get someone to consider your point of view, get them to laugh. It lowers all the defenses - all the chemicals change in the body, the oxytocin shows up instead of the cortisol. I think that’s something that we forget, on a conscious level, but when we remind ourselves to do it…it makes a big difference when you’re working with your client.” - [05:35] Arthur Fratelli

Links

• Arthur Fratelli on LinkedIn
• “Hold Your Head Up” by Rod Argent
• The Amazing Arthur
• Arthur’s Linktree
• TedX Talk

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss how tokenization will change the future of asset management, alternative investments, artificial intelligence and how functional medicine can improve performance in your life and career.

• What drew Skyler to alternatives and digital assets originally?
• How does Skylar define alternative investments?
• What role should alternatives play in building sound, long-term portfolios along with traditional asset classes?
• How should investors and advisors think about liquidity trade-offs when investing in alts? 
• How does Skylar explain what tokenization means in practical terms to investors that are new to the idea?
• What are some other real world assets that Skyler is seeing being tokenized today and where does he think is the strongest momentum?
• What are some of the risks, or challenges, that still exist with tokenization?
• How are people using AI solutions in the fund services and asset management industry, how should they be using it and how is it upscaling for investment professionals?
• What sparked Skylar’s interest in functional medicine and biohacking?
• What are some of Skylar’s daily or weekly practices that help him maintain energy and clarity?
• Does Skylar see a difference in his professional performance as a result of his biohacking practices?

Quotes

“By taking on a less liquid product, or investment, you can enhance your alpha or your return, so there’s a premium to taking on that additional illiquidity [associated with alts]…[Also] certain products now are becoming more liquid in the alternative space, so the liquidity paradigm is changing a bit.” - Skylar Steinke

“[At] the bottom line, [tokenization] is really the digitalization, and fractionalization, of an investment. So, you think of an example like real estate - someone can tokenize a real estate investment, so I can have a token and I own part of that investment that is physical in the real world, but digital in a wallet shall we say.” - Skylar Steinke

Links

• Skylar Steinke on LinkedIn
• The Ascent Group
• “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

In this episode, we discuss innovation, what to look for in growth tech companies, Main Management’s ETF TMAT, large language models and how to “own your future.”

• What advice does James have to offer for other young professionals hoping to enter the financial services industry? 
• What does Main Management believe is not currently working about the traditional ways of capturing growth in the markets? 
• For investors who are looking for growth tech companies to invest in, what qualities does James believe differentiate good emerging tech companies from unsuccessful ones? 
• What makes Main Management’s TMAT different from other thematic ETFs in the space?
• Why is TMAT built with individual stocks? 
• What kind of exposure should growth investors aim for with TMAT?
• What were some of the highlights from this year’s presentation on the power and usefulness of AI at the Main Management conference? 
• Where are we on the curve of AI adoption so far in James' opinion?
• What are some of the biggest myths around AI that James has seen?
• What is one risk about AI investments that the market is under pricing and how is Main Management managing that risk in their ETF TMAT?
• How are James and Kim using TMAT in their personal portfolios right now? Also, any rules of thumb for sizing a position in TMAT for advisors and investors?
• How do James and Kim “own their future” when it comes to health, family and general wellbeing?
• What are James’ and Kim’s workout routines?
• What’s a personal practice that gives James an edge both professionally and personally?
• What are some of the parallels between disciplined living and disciplined investing?

Quote

“It’s very hard, especially early on, to predict the exact winners and losers of any sort of major change. If you’re picking ten different companies and nine are complete failures, and one is the absolute huge winner of that cycle, you’ve actually done pretty well. So, that’s kind of the philosophy that we go into growth investing with.” - [08:00] James Maxwell

Links

• Kim Arthur on LinkedIn
• James Maxwell on LinkedIn
• Main Management
• “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn