In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock are joined by Diana Britton, executive editor of WealthManagement.com and host of the award-winning podcast The Healthy Advisor.

Diana shares her journey from growing up in Los Angeles to building a career in financial journalism. She reflects on her early days covering pension plans, some of the standout stories she’s covered at WealthManagement.com and why trust between journalists and publicists is essential.

We cover:

Diana’s journey highlights the power of trust, curiosity and connection in wealth management—don’t miss it!

Topics:

(0:15) Meet Diana Britton

(1:12) What’s for lunch?

(2:49) Never heard of a boca ribeye

(4:10) In N Out Burger reviews

(6:28) Diana’s background and growing up in Palos Verdes, LA

(7:14) Three summers in Cairo working with Sudanese refugees

(8:15) Her first foray into documentary filmmaking

(9:04) Journalism school: NYU vs. USC

(10:08) Working for Institutional Investors newsletter division

(10:37) Her experience writing about defined benefit pension plans

(11:28) The bug for financial journalism that led her to WealthManagement.com

(12:10) The openness of financial advisors to tell their stories

(12:45) First week on the job…Bear Stearns went under

(14:05) 401k vs. pension plans

(15:25) What makes for a story on pension plans?

(16:22) Looking under the hood of a teacher’s defined benefit plan

(19:35) One of the most memorable stories Diana has ever covered on 403bs

(20:25) 403bs and how they escape regulatory scrutiny; how the retirement system is failing teachers

(23:00) Shout out to Tony Isola!

(23:35) Diana’s go to sources: Joe Duran, Doug Fritz, Brian McLaughlin and others

(24:28) Incredible analogies by Philip Palaveev: describing the industry as “a monkey in a banana trap”

(25:46) “The Ensemble Practice”

(26:25) What is the “banana”?

(28:10) Technology adoption

(29:02) Wealth Management’s internal AI engine

(30:55) Can you tell when pitches are written with ChatGPT?

(31:45) What makes a story stand out to Diana: “We thought it was one way, but it’s actually this way”

(35:52) Worst interaction with a PR person (it wasn’t anyone at StreetCred!)

(37:25) The importance of respecting boundaries with journalists

(38:55) Shout out to David Armstrong!

(39:52) It’s not all bad—real relationships with journalists and publicists

(40:10) The importance of trust

(43:47) The origin story of The Healthy Advisor podcast and its important human-centered mission

(45:28) Impactful episode with George Kinder “The Father of Life Planning” on the art of mindfulness

(46:35) How do you meditate?

(47:52) Time for our Play segment!

(48:09) Dreams of being an astronaut and writing a letter to NASA

(49:20) Star Wars fandom and favorite movie

(52:05) They don’t make ‘em like they used to

(54:39) Moment of gratitude for the Wealth Management team

(56:57) Thank you to our listeners!

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About our Guest: 

Diana Britton is the executive editor of WealthManagement.com, covering independent broker/dealers and RIAs from all angles. She’s also the host of the Jesse H. Neal Award Winning Podcast, The Healthy Advisor, focused on advisor health and wellbeing. All told, she’s been at WealthManagement for almost 15 years, and so it’s fair to say, she’s seen it all.  Diana is a Los Angeles native native, and now lives in Rocklin, California.

In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock sit down with Jacqueline Martinez, managing partner at Alaris Acquisitions. Jacqueline shares her journey into M&A, her experience working at United Capital during its landmark sale to Goldman Sachs and her perspective on the human side of dealmaking. She also reflects on a decade-long partnership with Allen Darby and how their work at Alaris helps buyers and sellers find their best match.

We cover:

Learn more about Jacqueline’s story and how the team at Alaris is changing the way buyers and sellers come together! 

Topics:

(0:15) Meet Jacqueline Martinez 

(1:23) What’s for (plot twist) breakfast? 

(2:00) Coffee or tea?

(3:07) Already thinking about happy hour 

(4:16) Jimmy and Jacqueline go way back 

(4:32) Jacqueline’s professional background and how she got her start in M&A

(4:55) Gary, Joe, Mike…the whole gang at United Capital!

(5:55) Joe Duran’s infamous holiday parties

(6:50) 10 years of partnership with Allen Darby

(7:49) Curiosity about being more neutral in the seller/buyer dynamic

(8:15) Alaris and its agnostic approach

(8:57) “The four horsemen of inorganic growth”

(10:05) An abundance of opportunity for sellers

(10:38) “So many different flavors of what partnership can look like”

(12:45) Succession planning: are advisors taking their own advice?

(13:35) Exit plans aren’t always as expedited as people think

(14:44) Alaris Acquisitions Lens

(15:45) Buyers and sellers match-making

(17:25) When clients learn about a potential sale from the headlines instead of their advisor

(20:35) Paranoia & PR go hand in hand

(21:10) The United Capital sale to Goldman Sachs

(23:15) Montage Laguna Beach David Bowie tribute on the night he died

(25:42) What Jacqueline is most excited about right now at Alaris

(27:15) Recent favorite moments from the Buyer’s Boardroom

(28:05) “The freak out moment”

(29:15) Being a calm guide to sellers

(30:15) Change is scary no matter who you are

(31:25) Our many, many listeners

(32:05) Time for our Play segment!

(32:30) An alternate life as an interior designer/professional gift wrapper

(34:00) Love of traveling

(34:25) Going to Barcelona? Hit Pallella Club

(35:30) Moment of gratitude

(36:11) Call her “The Velvet Hammer”

(37:52) From one podcast host to another

(38:22) Thank you to our listeners!

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About our Guest: 

Jacqueline Martinez is the managing partner of Alaris Acquisitions, an M&A advisory firm exclusively dedicated to the wealth management industry. Previously, Jacqueline served on United Capital’s M&A team where they executed on adding $10.5B in acquisitions to the organization in the five years leading up to the firm’s sale to Goldman Sachs in 2019. Following her two years at Goldman Sachs, she joined Allen Darby at Alaris where they led the team through executing 43 closed acquisitions in a short 3-year period with the nation’s top wealth management firms. Jacqueline is also the co-host of the podcast The Buyer’s Boardroom, where she shares insights and best practices to help sellers and buyers successfully execute their M&A aspirations.

In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock are joined by Greg Bartalos, editor-in-chief of Barron’s Wealth & Asset Management Group. Greg tells our listeners the story of how he landed at Barron’s—not once, but three times—and offers valuable advice on how to foster relationships with journalists in the financial services space.

We cover:

Don’t miss this conversation packed with insider perspective from one of the most respected editors in the industry! 

Topics:

(0:38) Meet Greg Bartalos

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Contact Us

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LinkedIn: Elena Krasnow

LinkedIn: Jimmy Moock

LinkedIn: StreetCred

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About our Guest: Greg Bartalos is editor in chief of Barron’s Wealth & Asset Management Group. He previously was editor of Institutional Investor’s RIA Intel, which he helped launch in 2019. He also was editor in chief of Barrons.com and has worked at Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg News.

Publishing Tags: StreetCred PR, Press Play, Podcast, Elena Krasnow, Jimmy Moock, Public Relations, Financial Services, Barron’s Advisor, Barron’s, Greg Bartalos, Alternative Investments, Financial Journalism, Active Listening

In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock sit down with Ryan VanGorder, chief executive officer of Opto Investments. Ryan shares his career journey, from his early days at BlackRock during the Global Financial Crisis to executive leadership at Opto. 

We also discuss:

Tune in for a compelling conversation about Ryan’s career, investment insights and the adventurous mindset that drives his leadership! 

P.S. Watch on YouTube to see Ryan do periodic jumping jacks.

In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock sit down with Don Bennyhoff, founder of Bennyhoff & Co., a fractional CIO consulting firm. Don takes us through his 30+ year career in the financial services industry, including his time at Vanguard and his transition to life as an entrepreneur.

We also discuss:

Join us for a thoughtful conversation filled with stories from Don’s past and his unique take on investing and behavioral coaching.

Topics:

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About our Guest: 

Don is the founder of Bennyhoff & Co., a fractional CIO consulting firm for growth-minded RIAs, family offices, endowments and foundations.

He has worked in the financial services industry for over 30 years and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He most recently served as chief investment officer and chairman of the investment committee at Liberty Wealth Advisors. Shout out to James Gladney!

In 2020, Don retired from Vanguard after nearly 23 years, where he worked as a senior investment strategist. Don was also a co-creator and co-author of Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha research, which is highly regarded in the financial services industry and plays a key role in shaping advisor best practices.

Don is also an expert content creator, known for his market commentary, blogs and articles. He has published content in various media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, CNN, Market Watch, among others.

He is a father of four, a grandfather of three, and devoted husband. He also supports the fantastic efforts of the Teton Regional Land Trust, the Native Fish Coalition, and Reel Recovery.

In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock sit down with the unstoppable Joanne Bradford, chief money officer at Domain Money. Joanne takes us on an incredible journey through each phase of her impressive career. From her early days of running her college newspaper at San Diego state to her present day life as a powerhouse in financial services, tech and digital marketing, Joanne’s life story leaves listeners with valuable lessons and insights. 

With experience spanning executive roles at Microsoft, SoFi, Pinterest and Honey, Joanne gives us a look behind the curtain of how she helped these companies become multi-billion-dollar businesses. She also discusses her passion for financial planning and the work she’s done to create impactful spaces for women to connect and grow as leaders. 

Joanne covers:

Joanne’s career is a masterclass in vision, resilience and bold decision-making. This episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Topics:

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About Our Guest: 

Joanne Bradford is an experienced operating executive with a demonstrated track record of helping build companies at every level, from startups to Fortune 50 enterprises. She is currently the Chief Money Officer at Domain Money, where she exercises her passion for simplifying financial planning and empowering people to achieve their goals.

Joanne’s rich technology background includes pivotal executive roles such as President of Honey, COO of SoFi, Chief Revenue Officer at Microsoft, and Head of Partnerships at Pinterest (to name a few), contributing to over $20 billion in total value creation.

She also serves as a strategic advisor to the Female Quotient, focusing on the Business of Equality, and has been a strong advocate for women in business for decades. Additionally, she is on the boards of Kahoot, Cue Health, and Super.

In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock talk with Jen Wing, chief investment officer at GeoWealth. She shares her extraordinary journey from growing up in a remote log cabin in Connecticut to driving innovation at the intersection of financial technology and wealth management. 

Jen shares personal insights on her career, the importance of hybrid work for inclusion and her vision for the future of financial services.

She discusses:

Discover how Jen’s dedication to innovation and inclusion is shaping GeoWealth’s next chapter.

Topics:

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About our Guest: 

Jen Wing is the chief investment officer and head of investment solutions at turnkey asset management platform GeoWealth. She is responsible for delivering on the broad range of investment needs of the firm’s clients, ensuring the platform offers access, flexibility and investment expertise. Since joining GeoWealth, she has also built out the firm’s model marketplace to 800+ models, taking work directly off of advisors’ plates. Jen draws from 15 years of experience at J.P. Morgan in various positions in wealth management– from investment manager due diligence to digital product, strategy, operations and more. She received her MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and received her BS in Finance from The Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University.

Achieving growth in alternative investments takes a blend of passion, adaptability and vision.

In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock sit down with Mark Gatto, co-founder and co-CEO of CION Investments (CION). Mark shares the story of how he went from being an entrepreneur in the sports industry to establishing CION, a leading alternative investment platform.

Mark discusses CION’s approach to providing individual investors with access to institutional-grade alternative investment opportunities, the death of the 60/40 portfolio and his past experience at Topps baseball trading company.

They discuss:

Tune in to discover how CION Investments is empowering investors to build more resilient portfolios and rethink alternative investments.

Topics:

Resources:

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About our Guest: 

Mark is the co-founder & co-CEO of CION Investments Corporation, a leading alternative investment solutions platform, and serves on its investment committee. He is also a director, co-CEO and investment allocation committee member of CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund.

Mark has been with CION for almost 25 years and has served in numerous leadership positions during that time, including: executive vice president, chief acquisitions officer, EVP of business development, VP of marketing and associate general counsel.

Previously, Mark was an executive for a leading international product development and marketing company. He has also worked as an attorney in a private practice.

Mark received an M.B.A from the W. Paul Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and a B.S. from Montclair State University.

Building meaningful connections in the finance world doesn’t need to be confined to stuffy hotel ballrooms. 

In this episode of PRess Play: The StreeCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock are joined by Chris Cherry, head of strategic partnerships at Future Proof, for a powerful discussion about how she is redefining networking with her team through unconventional experiences and the company’s proprietary Breakthru technology.

Chris discusses her surprising career transition, her role in reimagining events across the wealth and asset management community and how Future Proof is facilitating unforgettable experiences like zip-lining and falconry. 

They discuss: 

Learn about the lore behind the event series that is changing how our industry approaches networking for good. 

Topics:

(0:56) Host Elena Krasnow introduces Chris Cherry

(2:59) What’s for lunch? 

(5:21) A quick stroll down food truck memory lane 

(6:10) Chris’ transition from dental hygienist to public relations professional 

(7:00) Chris’ first panel at Future Proof Festival

(7:40) When Chris and Matt Middelton collide

(8:08) Emotional intelligence and reading the room

(10:40) How Future Proof is selling itself 

(12:24) When you’re comfortable, business gets done 

(14:00) The story of Future Proof and its Breakthru networking technology

(16:38) The launch of Breakthru Talks

(17:21) Fly fishing and falconry 

(19:00) Future-proofing networking

(22:22) Matt’s vision for putting the advisor in the driver’s seat

(24:47) Breakthru listing

(26:15) Chris shares a few favorite moments

(28:33) “I’ll never miss it again” 

(30:40) Future Proof Citywide teaser 

(34:00) Building a successful outdoor event 

(36:00) Love for Paula 

(37:10) Time for our play segment!

(37:30) Paddle boarding, tennis and bartending 

(38:00) Chris’ cosmopolitan with a twist 

(40:00) Moment of gratitude

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Connect with Chris Cherry:

About our Guest: 

Chris joined the award-winning Future Proof team in 2023 as head of strategic partnerships. Future Proof organizes a variety of events throughout the calendar year, all of which leverage cutting-edge event technology to connect people across the financial services industry. With pioneering formats such as outdoor festivals and curated retreats, Future Proof is reimagining the next era of finance events. And, the proof is in the pudding as Future Proof just earned a world-class NPS score of 74. 

Chris was recruited to be a key driver behind what could be described as Future Proof’s most innovative product, Breakthru, which consists of three distinct programs across Future Proof’s events. These include the Breakthru Meetings Program, Breakthru Talks and Breakthru Experiences. At this year’s Future Proof Festival, the technology helped facilitate over 30,000 one-to-one meetings, 166 peer-to-peer roundtables and 55 unique experiences. 

Previously, Chris spent seven years as chief engagement officer at JConnelly, a financial services communications and marketing firm. She is an expert at driving successful partnerships on a large scale and has a deep understanding of the role technology plays in accentuating in-person connections.

In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred PR Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock are joined by Andree Mohr for an engaging conversation about her impressive 14-year career trajectory and the incredible impact she is making at Integrated Partners. Andree draws compelling parallels between her beginnings as a financial services public relations/marketing intern and her current role as president of Integrated Partners. Listeners will glean tangible ways to leverage their PR skills for business growth. 

Andree also discusses: 

Discover how Andree’s experience in public relations and marketing supported her rapid rise to executive leadership in wealth management in this fun and insightful conversation. 

Topics:

(1:01) Host Elena Krasnow introduces Andree Mohr 

(2:13) What’s for lunch? 

(4:36) New England Patriots 

(5:01) Andree Mohr’s early career in financial services public relations and marketing

(5:58) From Pioneer Investments PR and marketing intern to president of Integrated Partners

(6:26) The power of storytelling

(6:45) Intern to president in under 14 years

(8:00) Don’t be afraid to ask questions 

(8:22) Getting the ‘juicy nuggets’

(9:44) What are your ‘Big 3’? 

(10:30) What Andree is most excited for in her new role as president 

(12:14) Navigating the abundance of new fintech offerings

(14:44) Using technology to ease advisor pain points 

(15:54) The book Center Stage: How to Become the Star of Your Practice, inspired by Elton John

(21:37) Integrated Partner’s CPA Alliance 

(24:12) “What is my business really worth?”

(26:58) Public relations story time: Media tour gone wrong 

(28:30) Managing client and reporter expectations 

(28:50) The unknown you can never prepare for: The news cycle

(29:51) Time for our play segment!

(30:00) How Andree and Mike met/update on life with their identical twin daughters

(38:09) Moment of gratitude

Resources:

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About our Guest: Andree Mohr is the president of Integrated Partners. In her role she oversees day-to-day operations, manages budgets and drives the firm’s key objectives to ensure the consistent and healthy growth of the organization. She has supported advisors in various capacities for the last 13 years and is particularly passionate about helping entrepreneurial-minded financial advisors implement strategic operations that enhance efficiencies, foster practice growth and bring their business visions to fruition. Andree is the co-author— alongside her colleagues Matt Ackermann and Paul Saganey—of the recently published book Center Stage: How to Become the Star of Your Practice. She is a graduate of Northeastern University where she studied communications. Outside of work, Andree’s favorite pastimes include spending time with her husband and twin daughters, passionately cheering on the New England Patriots, traveling and supporting charitable causes she cares about.