Power Your Advice

We sit down with Mohan Gurupackiam, Chief Information Officer at Steward Partners, to explore how smart tech strategy can fuel advisor success. Mohan explains why Steward avoids one-size-fits-all solutions, instead building a flexible stack shaped by advisor feedback, evolving business models, and demographic trends. With a strong data foundation and a focus on usability and cost efficiency, the firm prioritizes tools that align with how advisors actually work.

Mohan also shares how Steward is streamlining operations through custodian-agnostic platforms, transparent workflows, and AI tools like StuBot that simplify support and training. Rather than replacing advisors, he sees AI as a way to eliminate friction and boost efficiency, especially in research and portfolio construction. His approach is grounded in listening, staying nimble, and keeping the advisor-client relationship at the center of every tech decision.

Resources: Steward Partners

Source

In today’s episode we speak with Rich Boghosian, co-founder and CIO of PeakAlts, about how RIAs and family offices can gain smarter access to private markets. Drawing on his background in private equity and investment banking, Rich explains PeakAlts’ investor-first approach, which emphasizes alignment, independence, and institutional-level diligence—without placement fees or manager conflicts.

Rich breaks down why alternative investments are becoming essential in today’s market, how proper manager selection drives results, and where he’s seeing opportunities across private equity, private credit, secondaries, and co-investments. He also discusses how PeakAlts simplifies the advisor experience through backend technology, education, and long-term partnership.

Resources: PeakAlts

Source

Today we sit down with Kirstie Eustace, Chief Administrative Officer at Steward Partners, to discuss how the firm preserves its culture while expanding nationwide. Kirstie shares how Steward’s values—like partnership, excellence, and respect—are intentionally reinforced through clear communication and shared responsibility. She highlights talent management as a key driver of cohesion across more than 30 states, along with efforts to maintain consistency in employee experience and advisor engagement.

Kirstie also talks about attracting and developing the next generation of advisors, from internal mentorship to multi-generational teams. Today’s advisors, she notes, prefer collaborative, multi-disciplinary environments over going it alone. With a focus on transparency, onboarding, and leadership by example, Kirstie emphasizes that culture isn’t just maintained from the top—it’s upheld by everyone at the firm.

Resources: Steward Partners

Source

Today we catch up with Jeff Gonyo, Head of Wealth Management at Steward Partners, during the firm’s annual symposium. Jeff explains how Steward’s culture of ownership, advisor autonomy, and bottom-up support model attracts top advisors leaving traditional wirehouses. With a ten-person transition team and full-service infrastructure, Steward provides a smooth path to independence—empowering advisors to reclaim their entrepreneurial spirit while offering equity ownership to every full-time employee.

Jeff also outlines Steward’s long-term strategy, including next-gen advisor development, internal mobility, and a growing M&A division that preserves advisor identity. He emphasizes the firm’s investment in AI and multi-custodial technology to meet evolving client expectations and support advisors through the coming generational wealth transfer. His advice to advisors: look for a partner that values your brand, supports your growth, and gives you a real stake in the future.

Resources: Steward Partners

Source

Today we talk with Scott Danner, EVP and Head of Legacy at Steward Partners, about helping advisors transition their practices while preserving what makes them successful. Scott shares how Steward approaches M&A with empathy, flexibility, and a focus on culture fit—offering both sell-and-stay and sell-and-exit models that prioritize continuity, relationships, and advisor freedom.

Scott also discusses the firm’s commitment to developing next-gen talent through mentorship, hands-on training, and modern tools that simplify complex planning conversations. He explains how Steward uses digital marketing and video to engage younger investors and enable multi-generational relationships. It’s all part of helping advisors live their legacy—not just leave one.

Resources: Steward Partners

Source

In today’s episode we talk with Douglas Ferguson, president of Voltage Control, about how financial advisory firms can use facilitation and collaborative leadership to build high-performing teams. Douglas shares how techniques like “connection before content” and intentional meeting design help foster innovation, alignment, and culture—especially during growth or uncertainty.

He also explores how design thinking and prototyping can improve both internal collaboration and client conversations. By approaching challenges with curiosity, visual tools, and a mindset of iteration, advisors can surface better ideas, strengthen relationships, and create more agile, effective organizations.

Resources: Voltage Control

Source

Today we sit down with Charlie Johnston, board member at Steward Partners and former CEO of Smith Barney. Charlie shares lessons from his 35-year career and explains how Steward balances entrepreneurial freedom with structure as it scales. He emphasizes the board’s active role in upholding culture, compliance, and advisor-first decision-making.

Charlie outlines Steward’s two growth priorities: empowering existing advisors and strategic recruiting. He discusses why the firm appeals to both wirehouse breakaways and independents looking to shed operational burdens. As the firm aims to triple in size, Charlie stresses the importance of preserving culture and staying close to the field—key lessons he brings from leading one of the industry’s largest mergers.

Resources: Steward Partners

Source

Today we talk with Kevin Knull, CEO of TaxStatus, about how TaxStatus is transforming the way advisors access and utilize client data. Kevin explains how the platform integrates directly with the IRS to give advisors full transparency into a client’s income, accounts, and tax history—empowering them to offer more precise advice. By streamlining data collection and eliminating the friction of onboarding, TaxStatus addresses one of the industry’s biggest pain points: incomplete client information.

Kevin also weighs in on AI’s role in the future of advice, stressing that quality outcomes depend on quality data. With thousands of data points per household, tools like TaxStatus can help advisors scale insights, improve efficiency, and prepare for a future where personalized advice must be both faster and smarter.

Recorded at Envestnet Elevate 2025

Resources: TaxStatus

Source

Emily Blue, co-founder of Hue Partners, joins us to explore the human side of selling a financial practice. She explains that while advisors often prepare for the financial aspects of M&A, the real challenge lies in navigating identity shifts, fear of losing control, and concern for clients and teams. Tools like journaling and reflection can help advisors stay grounded, while clear, timely communication builds trust through the transition.

Emily also shares key lessons from the field: don’t wait too long to sell, don’t go it alone, and don’t underestimate the value of self-awareness. She urges advisors to stay open-minded about potential partners, think early about their post-sale purpose, and define what success looks like beyond the deal. A well-executed exit, she says, is as much about clarity and intention as it is about valuation.

Resources: Hue Partners

Source

Today we’re joined by Jim Gold, CEO and Co-Founder of Steward Partners, at the firm’s Annual Symposium to discuss Steward’s growth, culture, and future. After nearly 30 years in the industry, Jim reflects on how a shift in big-firm culture inspired him to build a client- and advisor-first model. Since launching in 2013, Steward has become one of the top RIAs in the world, thanks to strategic moves like launching its own RIA, acquiring a broker-dealer, and offering a multi-custodian platform. With a focus on both M&A and organic growth, the firm is rapidly scaling toward $1 billion in revenue and $100 billion in AUM.

Jim credits Steward’s success to a true equity partnership—advisors collectively own half the firm—and outside investments that validated its value. With over 14 advisor-led committees shaping decisions, Steward keeps its culture advisor-driven while preparing for industry succession through flexible legacy planning and next-gen recruitment. For Jim Gold, maintaining a culture of trust, transparency, and shared ownership is key to staying grounded while aiming higher.

Resources: Steward Partners

Source