ETFs have leveled the playing field for advisors and investors alike. Funds that were once available only to the largest firms are now available to anyone. In this episode, we talk to Elisabeth Kashner, VP and Director of Global Funds Research and Analytics at FactSet.

She led research at ETF.com, where she authored extensively on strategic beta, ETF classification, efficacy, and robo‑adviser portfolio exposures. She’s also a founding co‑head of the San Francisco chapter and Speakers Bureau of Women in ETFs, reinforcing her leadership in advancing diversity and thought leadership in the ETF industry. 

In this rich, deeply informed conversation, Elisabeth explains why ETFs remain one of the most powerful and efficient tools for advisors, from rigorous due diligence frameworks to advanced tax optimization and trading strategies. You’ll gain clarity on how to navigate the crowded ETF landscape with intel grounded in unmatched research and industry visibility.

Connect with us! 

• Elisabeth Kashner on LinkedIn
• FactSet
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee

Knomee, Wealth management, 

Grace Belangia believes in the power of entrepreneurs so deeply that she frequently refers to entrepreneurship as “the backbone of democracy.” That’s why she’s dedicated her life to helping entrepreneurs bring their visions to life through her company, Make Startups.

In this episode, Grace shares her thoughts on catalytic philanthropy, why she wishes more women thought of themselves as investors and more men thought of themselves as philanthropists, and the three things entrepreneurs need to succeed (and none of them are money). Tune in to hear the full conversation!

Connect with us! 

• Grace Belangia on LinkedIn
• Make Startups
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee

When Rich Walker founded Quik!, he set out to tackle one of the most frustrating inefficiencies in wealth management: endless paperwork. Twenty-three years later, he is still on that mission, now with AI as his ultimate tool to make paper forms a thing of the past.

In this episode of Knowing Me, Knowing You, Rich shares how he went from IBM intern to financial advisor to tech founder, building a solution that manages over 42,000 forms and generates 1.2 million each month for wealth management firms nationwide. But his story is not just about software. It is about privacy, trust, and designing technology that actually serves people.

We explore how AI is powering Quik!’s next chapter, from extracting and structuring data across any type of form to creating dynamic, TurboTax-like digital experiences for clients. Rich also opens up about his leadership philosophy, the cultural shift required to embrace AI, and his vision for giving clients more control over their own financial data.

If you are an advisor, fintech innovator, or client tired of processes that belong in another decade, this conversation will show you what the future of forms and client engagement could look like.

.Connect with us! 

• Rich Walker on LinkedIn
• Quik!
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee

Capital Gives You Wings: Jennifer Povlitz on Wealth, Purpose & Generational Impact

When UBS Global Wealth Management U.S. Vice Chair Jennifer Povlitz talks about money, she’s really talking about possibility. Drawing on wisdom from her grandmother, “Capital equates to influence, and you can use that influence for good,” Jennifer makes the case for a new era of wealth management that starts with knowing who you are, not just what you earn.

In this episode of Knowing Me, Knowing You, Jennifer and Marla explore:

• Why the coming $30 trillion wealth transfer is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for women
• The 4 most common—and avoidable—wealth transfer “surprises”
• How digital tools are making estate planning and client discovery more personal and less intimidating
• The link between success and significance in defining your financial legacy
  
  

Whether you’re an advisor, a wealth holder, or planning for the next chapter, Jennifer’s insights will inspire you to align your capital with your purpose and create impact that lasts for generations.

🎧 Listen now and start building the plan that reflects who you are.

Connect with us! 

• Jennifer Povlitz on LinkedIn
• UBS Wealth Management
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee

When it comes to leveraging AI to scale financial services, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger proponent than Sandeep Mangaraj, co-founder and managing partner of Aileron Group. The data problem of the financial world has always been a sticking point. The avalanche of disorganized data with no easy way to analyze and access it has left financial professionals scratching their heads for decades now. 

Enter AI. As Sandeep sees it, generative AI is on the verge of a massive breakthrough that will lead to better data utilization than ever before. Tune in to hear this exciting conversation!

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Aileron Group

Connect with us! 

• Sandeep Mangaraj on LinkedIn
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee

Harry Mamaysky gets the feeling that a lot of advisors aren’t keeping up with the latest research – or any research at all, for that matter. And he’s not here to blame advisors! The financial industry is incentivized to attract new clients, which is typically best accomplished by emotional appeals rather than academic research. 

Is it possible to apply investment best practices and still meet the emotional needs of every prospect and client? Tune in for a fascinating discussion with Harry Mamaysky, a professor at Columbia Business School and the co-founder of QuantStreet Capital in New York. 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• QuantStreet’s Substack

Connect with us! 

• Harry Mamaysky on LinkedIn
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee

Some days, the mountain is Everest, and other days, it’s just keeping up with your mammogram appointment. No matter what it is, you need clarity to recognize it. And to climb it! Cokie Cox, our guest on this episode of Knowing Me, Knowing You, knows a bit about that.

During the week, Cokie is a financial advisor who helps women navigate the challenges that come after divorce. On weekends, she climbs mountains. Literally. Every day, she lives by the Perfect Day philosophy: do everything with intention and never lose sight of what matters most. She has authored two books, founded two nonprofits, won Woman CEO of the Year, and climbed the 7 Summits of the world.

This is a conversation about how wealth managers grow by talking about goals, plans, and impact, but also a reminder that you are capable of more than you think. You don’t want to miss this discussion!

Connect with us! 

• Cokie Cox on LinkedIn
• Alphavest.com
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee

In today’s fast-changing wealth landscape, differentiation is survival. Abby Salameh, Chief Growth Officer at RFG Advisory, believes that every advisor has a story worth telling and that it has nothing to do with the services they offer. To build a brand that drives growth, advisors should align their personal story with the feeling they want to evoke in clients and prospects. 

With three decades in advisor marketing, Abby breaks down what most firms get wrong about branding (it’s not the logo), why intentional referrals still work, and how women and next-gen clients are reshaping the future of advice. You’ll walk away with clear guidance on how to tell a compelling story that cuts through the noise, builds trust, and turns your values into a scalable business.

This episode is a must-listen for advisors looking to grow, transition, or future-proof their practice.

Connect with us! 

• Abby Salameh on LinkedIn
• RFG Advisory
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee

“I remember meeting with a financial planner, and feeling talked down to, not feeling empowered.” When women feel heard, seen, and genuinely supported, they are capable of anything. 

Caterina Rando is an expert community builder. She empowers women to reach their full potential. As an entrepreneur and trusted leader, she shares insights and tips to help wealth managers connect more meaningfully with women as they come into $30T in the next five years. Caterina has helped thousands of women by listening with intention. She models the type of client engagement wealth managers are desperate for in their practices. 

Listen in for Caterina’s story of humor, heart, and wisdom, and to learn from a master in women’s community building. 

Connect with us! 

• Caterina Rando on LinkedIn
• Join Thriving Women in Business Community
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee

This July 4th, we celebrate freedom & purpose, and honor the people who have dedicated their lives to protecting it.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Comitz served in the U.S. Army for over 20 years.
West Point grad. PhD in organic chemistry. Army professor. Strategic ops leader.

And then?

He was expected to start over.

Veterans like Richard carry a rare combination of discipline, resilience, and proven high stakes leadership. But when the uniform comes off, they’re handed uncertainty without a playbook for civilian life.

Richard didn’t back down.
He stepped into a new mission: helping others navigate the same challenge.

Today, he leads American Corporate Partners (ACP), a national nonprofit connecting veterans and their spouses with mentors across 100+ of America’s top companies.

“Mentors have helped me get through countless situations in my life,” he told me.
 “Now I help others build that same network, at one of the most critical transitions they’ll ever face.”

ACP has already supported 21,000+ veterans, and under Richard’s leadership, it’s expanding partnerships with businesses, government, and military leaders alike.

I’m delighted to know Richard and to amplify his important message on the Knowing Me, Knowing You podcast. The future of wealth demands that we envision financial services and wealth management, in particular, as another form of service, one rooted in trust, leadership, and solving human problems.

🎧 Richard’s story is one of humility, honor, and purpose.
The call to serve doesn’t end. It evolves.

Honor those who have given their lives to our country by listening to this podcast and amplifying it in your own network.

This episode will challenge you to think differently about experience, transition, and second acts.

• Richard Comitz on LinkedIn
• American Corporate Partners
• Marla Sofer on LinkedIn
• Knomee