Marketing is a critical piece of any business. It is the function that focuses on bringing awareness and interest to a company, its products, and services. When done correctly, marketing can help a business achieve incredible results. 

In this episode, Rusty and Robyn talk with Manish Khatta, CEO & CIO of Potomac Fund Management, a boutique investment strategy firm for financial advisors.

Manish is a quant, a true math geek. He has spent his career creating and refining trading strategies built on mathematical computations and number crunching. He is a lifelong Potomac employee who started with the firm after college and programmed the initial work behind Potomac’s mechanical trading systems. Manish is a staunch believer that investment risk is something that can be contained and conquered using quantitative trading systems.

Manish talks with Rusty and Robyn about how Potomac Fund Management helps financial advisors, the value of marketing, and what marketing and branding strategies he uses on social media.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[06:06] - "We build everything through indicators, quant indicators. We're not just looking at charts and deciding subjectively. It's based on numbers." - Manish Khatta

[08:50] - "Part of the culture that permeates our entire firm is just being transparent and brutally transparent to the point where I could come across as very abrasive because I'm very forward. I literally don't have time to beat around the bush. I think that's the best way to run a business. I think that's the best way to run an asset management firm " - Manish Khatta

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0485-OPS-3/21/2022

New technologies, economic shifts, demographic changes, urbanization, and climate change are global trends that have a significant impact on society and the economy. They are also shaping the way people invest their money. While these megatrends offer investors a great way to tap into new markets and opportunities, how can they be effectively incorporated into portfolios?

In this episode, Rusty and Robyn talk with Jeff Spiegel, Director, US Head of iShares Megatrend, Sector and International ETFs at BlackRock, a global asset manager and technology provider.

At BlackRock, Jeff manages product, sales, and marketing for the Megatrend and International franchises. 

In this episode, Jeff talks with Rusty and Robyn about megatrend investing strategy, the general guidelines for incorporating megatrends into a portfolio, and the top three investment themes that investors need to keep an eye on in 2022.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[24:03] - "A great investor, a great financial advisor, or a great institutional investor who's thinking holistically about their portfolio starts with asset allocation. That's the name of the game in terms of the overall most important determinant of the returns in your portfolio." - Jeff Spiegel

[25:41] - "The most thoughtful way to incorporate megatrends into a portfolio is to actually just start a portfolio or pick the megatrends in a way that keeps your intended asset allocation in line. Don't take unintended bets in technology, on size, in sector or geography just by adding those megatrends securities in." - Jeff Spiegel

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0431-OPS-3/9/2022

Global markets have been experiencing a lot of volatility lately, leaving many investors wondering how to respond. What strategies are successful money managers using to protect their clients' investments?

In today’s episode, Rusty and Robyn talk with Kenneth Sleeper, Co-Founder, Co-Managing Director, and Portfolio Manager at Ocean Park Asset Management, a firm with a unique investment approach that limits downside risk and delivers satisfying returns.

Before co-founding Sierra Investment Management (parent company of Ocean Park Asset Management) in 1987, Kenneth applied his extensive background in statistical and computer applications to develop and refine computerized techniques for reducing downside risk. In his current roles at Ocean Park Asset Management, Kenneth jointly oversees all aspects of the organization’s activities, including asset management, research, and client relationships. He utilizes his experience to help create productive investment solutions for clients so they can retire safely and successfully. 

Kenneth talks with Rusty and Robyn about how successful money managers are responding to volatility, how investors can balance risk in uncertain times, and the biggest problems people face when it comes to investing.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[03:00] - "We have to manage our portfolios both in good times and bad times, times when the markets are just trending uninterrupted for months and months, and then periods like this, where there's extreme volatility. We're still responsible for managing the portfolios every day. Every day the markets are open. We have to be doing that and we don't get a rest to think about what must be done." - Kenneth Sleeper

[04:30] - "If we didn't have a process, if we didn't have discipline, where would we be? Where would our clients be? It’s even more important during this period of volatility." - Kenneth Sleeper

[22:27] - "I think the biggest problem investment people have is having a mindset that doesn't make them open to change, that doesn't make them open to what can happen moving outside of their comfort zone." - Kenneth Sleeper 

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0403-OPS-3/2/2022

In this episode, Rusty and Robyn talk with Eben Burr, President of Toews Asset Management.

Eben came to the financial industry with an unusual background. With degrees in architectural history and product design, he studied architecture in Paris, designed products, and worked in NYC real estate market, before eventually landing at Toews.

That said, the common thread throughout Eben’s career has been a focus on user experience — a skill that turned out to be a huge asset at Toews. 

Eben talks with Rusty and Robyn about preparing for a potential bear market,  hedging portfolios against inflation, and bringing introspection to investing.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[27:13] - “We've gotten so complacent with thinking about S&P large caps that we no longer have this idea of true diversification, where there's intentionally something underperforming, right? There's intentionally something not going well.” - Eben Burr

[29:14] - “Seeing someone really compelling at a conference is not likely to change your behavior. There is a deep, deep gulf between inspiration and implementation. So we're working every day with advisors to help them improve their communication, portfolio construction (which is really important in behavior), and implement structure so that the advisor practice is really embracing behavioral change on all levels. Really you need to look at things like client delight and retention, as well as just their understanding. All those things come into play.” - Eben Burr

[33:26] - “Know your strengths and weaknesses. I mean, introspection, I think is so fantastically underrated in American society. You know, we're amazing doers as Americans, right? We're just like, give me something to do and I will do it to death but don't ask me to think about it after I've done it. Cause I don't want to do that.” - Eben Burr

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0348-OPS-2/23/2022

In this episode, Rusty and Robyn talk with Justin Christofel, Portfolio Manager at BlackRock. 

For more than a decade, Justin has been overseeing and managing income-oriented multi-asset portfolios. His focus is to generate a consistent level of cash flow for clients, particularly for those who are living through retirement.

Justin talks with Rusty and Robyn about active management strategies, the challenge of measuring volatility for the investing population, and the need for a disciplined and methodical investing approach during highly inflationary periods.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[15:45] - “We're trying to hit singles and doubles consistently for clients. We're not trying to hit triples and home runs. And we're certainly trying hard not to strike out. We want to get on base all the time.” - Justin Christofel

[22:19] - “A little bit of volatility in the short run begets a much healthier backdrop for taking risk over time. I think continuing to run pretty high allocations to equities focused more so on value and dividend orientations, as opposed to the sexier growth stuff that's worked over the last three to five years makes a lot of sense.” - Justin Christofel

[26:51] - “As much as we all like to think that there's a science to investing, that having a great process or focusing on the fundamentals and valuations will lead to success, I think perhaps equally important is managing emotions, and kind of combating the falsehoods and the biases and the tricks that our minds can play on us.” - Justin Christofel

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0260-OPS-2/9/2022

When it comes to building an investment portfolio, it's important to have a diversified mix of assets in order to reduce risk. While there are a number of different options to choose from, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) can be an attractive choice for investors looking to add some diversity.  How can ETFs be a low-risk option for diversifying portfolios and why might they be a good option for you?

In this episode, Rusty and Robyn talk with John Davi, Founder, CEO, and Chief Investment Officer of Astoria Portfolio Advisors, an investment management firm that specializes in research-driven, cross-asset, ETF, and thematic equity portfolio construction.

John Davi is an award-winning research strategist and has more than 20 years of experience in macro ETF strategy, quantitative research, and portfolio construction. Prior to founding Astoria, he was the head of Morgan Stanley’s Institutional ETF Content and advised many of the world’s largest hedge funds and asset managers on ETF portfolio construction. John is a regular contributor to CNBC, Bloomberg, and other media outlets. He was recognized by Bloomberg as an “ETF Master Chef”.

John talks with Rusty and Robyn about what makes ETFs attractive as investment vehicles, how his company addresses inflation, and how he uses social media to engage with his audience.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[05:26] - "Over time, ETFs proved that they're tax-efficient, they're liquid. You can build a portfolio and you can basically replicate any risk-return profile that you want." - John Davi

[18:34] - "What we're seeing now in terms of inflation and all the crosscurrents between COVID is just something that we haven't seen in a long period of time. So, you want to have a strategy for inflation and then you want to embrace it. And you want to look for sectors that benefit from higher inflation. Don't be scared of it, try to embrace it and build a portfolio that can actually benefit from it." - John Davi

[20:13] - "Different asset classes perform at different stages of the inflation cycle. So cyclical stocks tend to be early, commodities tend to be a little bit later. So, we think that there's value in all three of those asset classes, but you want to tilt more toward the four sectors - banks, energy, materials, and industrials." - John Davi 

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0244-OPS-2/8/2022

Risk is inherent in any investment. It is therefore crucial to plan your investment portfolio in a way that protects you against losses. Without a solid downside risk management strategy in place, you are exposing yourself to unnecessary losses and financial instability. Taking steps to protect yourself from losses can help ensure that your portfolio remains healthy and profitable, even in difficult market conditions.

In today’s episode, Rusty talks with Geremy van Arkel, Principal and Director of Strategies at Frontier Asset Management, an independent national asset manager that supports and manages strategies for the clients of investment advisors.

With more than 25 years of extensive experience working with national accounts as well as with financial advisors and their clients, Geremy has developed expertise in managing global allocation portfolios, performing manager due diligence, and working with advisors and enterprise clients. As a member of Frontier’s Investment Committee, he is an expert in mutual fund selection, asset allocation, and portfolio optimization.

Rusty talks with Geremy about the importance of downside risk management, why Frontier Asset Management puts a lot of emphasis on actively managed mutual funds, and how international and emerging markets are becoming a serious part of the investment opportunity set.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[07:19] - "Risk in the modern markets happens like a black swan. We don't get these obvious signs that it is happening. If you just look at all the risks that have occurred in my entire career, the last 30 years, every risk event was a complete surprise." - Geremy van Arkel

[15:17] - “I have a deep affection for the management and the art and science that security selection managers bring to the table. I understand the difference between different types of stocks and different types of exposures within a portfolio. And I believe in this day of indexing, it's almost like a lost art." - Geremy van Arkel

[49:00] - "You have to be unafraid to be wrong and alone in some areas. So, the key is understanding history and then being able to look forward and balancing all the opportunity sets that are in front of you. Not just betting on what you think will happen, but really balancing multiple outcomes to end up being on the right side of things." - Geremy van Arkel

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0243-OPS-2/8/2022

Firms and investment professionals must keep up. Tech innovations, demographic shifts, redefined client-advisor engagement—you name it. The future of the investment management industry is promising. But, how can the industry keep its vision to provide continuous better outcomes for clients?

In this episode, Rusty and Robyn talk with Noreen Beaman, President at Orion Advisor Solutions. 

Aside from oversight of the firm’s operations, Noreen serves as a leader and a mentor to almost 1200 investment professionals at Orion. Her focus is mainly on the firm’s investments and sales and marketing operations. Prior to that, Noreen was the Founding Partner and CEO at Brinker Capital where she offered her expertise for 29 years

Noreen talks with Rusty and Robyn about the importance of behavioral finance, the strategies of being a successful professional, and the future of Orion and the entire investment industry.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[06:13] - “The consumer today and the end investor is smarter than they've ever been because they have access to so much information. They're going to drive for continued personalization. And I'm a big believer in that. We need to be ahead of that curve, thinking about what they are going to want.” - @nbeaman

[13:15] - “There are women in our organization that have had the opportunity to be successful. And now we need to continue to mentor and bring the next generation of young women into this industry.” - @nbeaman

[15:40] - “This is not an easy business. I would say it's not for the faint of heart. So this is not an easy job to have. It's a lot of responsibility, but going after that with the right attitude and being resilient, and being able to weather those storms, when the markets go in a direction that you might not have expected them to—it’s important to have an open mind.” - @nbeaman

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0150-OPS-1/24/2022

In this episode, Rusty talks with Eric Clarke, CEO of Orion Advisor Services. Eric is a high-profile industry speaker and advocate, and has won numerous industry awards. As Orion’s CEO, he’s focused on creating a suite of technology that can fully transform every client-advisor journey for the better.

Eric talks with Rusty about how tech integrations can help build meaningful and seamless client-investor connections, and what the coming months and years look like for Orion and the industry.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[07:18] - “The basis of all great relationships, at least I believe, are founded on trust. And being able to help the advisor understand the investor in at a more meaningful level is something that we think will set the relationship off to a good start and help the investor better respond to the coaching that they are receiving from all these great advisors that we work with.” - Eric Clarke

[17:29] - “Obviously, as an investor, every time you can have that long-term perspective and not panic and stick with your strategy, you’re rewarded for that. And I'm a believer that whether that's a strategic or tactical or even an alternative strategy, if you stick with it over the long-term, odds are you'll be rewarded for that and it'll be worth it.” - Eric Clarke

[28:49] - “What we're focused on here in 2022 is all about connecting that experience through technology integrations, through seamless user experience, helping our advisors connect with their client in a more meaningful, seamless way and using technology to efficiently make that happen.” - Eric Clarke

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In this episode, Rusty and Robyn talk with Jamie Susanin, portfolio manager at Brinker Capital Investments, LLC.

At an early age, Jamie was already learning about the basics and even foundational skills in finance from her then-advisor grandfather. While Jamie was in sales, one of the (toughest) first clients she served was her grandfather.  There was pressure, but most of all there was a lot of mentoring and guidance.

Currently, Jamie is part of the Tax Management Team at Orion- Brinker. Applying what she has learned from her mentor-grandfather, she helps clients keep unrealized gains invested within their portfolio through effective tax management.

Jamie discusses with Rusty and Robyn the impact of investing in yourself, the importance of having a mentor, and the true value of tax management.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[15:44] - “What’s very important is this concept of investing in yourself. And that looks different for different people and you can go about it in different ways. One of which is pursuing a designation or postgraduate education or something along those lines. But there are other soft skills that are really important in the industry as well.” - Jamie Susanin

[10:18] - “It can be hard in the industry to feel comfortable asking questions and challenging things. And having someone to go to for these seemingly dumb questions got me comfortable being someone who continually asks questions and challenges what's going on. That was so helpful for my professional development. And it's definitely something that I've carried into when I'm considering being a mentor for other people as well.” - Jamie Susanin

[29:09] - “The other part of that tax savings number that's very important is the upfront tax savings when we do that tax transition of a portfolio. So the fact that a client comes to us, we're able to keep a lot of their unrealized gains invested within the portfolio—that's a value added to them since day one.” - Jamie Susanin

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0077-OPS-1/13/2022