The Bucket Plan® On-Demand Series

Technology continues to reshape client expectations in wealth management, with consumers comparing advisory firms to companies like Amazon and Coinbase rather than just other financial institutions. Advisors are now challenged with finding a balance between operational efficiency and personal connection. Join host Dave Alison as he continues his conversation on the future of wealth management with Jamie Hopkins, CEO of Bryn Mawr Capital Management and WSFS Bank. Transform your client service experience by learning which processes to automate for maximum impact, how to eliminate client communication black holes during volatile markets, and why AI might actually drive more in-person meetings in the future.

Resources:

• Estate planning platform: Wealth.com
• FinTech platform referenced: Altruist

Client expectations continue to evolve in wealth management, and exceptional service delivery has become the key differentiator for advisory practices. In this first part of our two-part conversation on the future of 120% wealth management, we explore how strategic client experience enhancements can differentiate your practice and drive sustainable growth. Join host Dave Alison as he interviews Jamie Hopkins, Esq., LLM, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP, CEO of Bryn Mawr Capital Management and WSFS Bank. Together they discuss practical strategies for creating memorable client touchpoints and implementing scalable service enhancements. From $8 barbecue sauce gestures to systematic milestone recognition, learn how to build the kind of exceptional service that creates lasting client loyalty in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Resources:

• Financial Services Coaching: FinServ Foundation
• Estate planning platform: Wealth.com
• Books referenced:
• Find Your Freedom by Jamie Hopkins
• Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara
• Financial planning process: The Bucket Plan®

Conversation Circles are a powerful tool any financial advisor can leverage to uncover the values of their clients and prospects to offer a more personalized experience. When you host one of these small-group events featuring a structured conversation, you can build years’ worth of rapport in a short period of time. Having held over 100 Conversation Circles, Ashley Ilardo, Regional Director & Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), and Mia Hanson, former Associate at DFA’s Global Client Group, now a Financial Planning Associate at Venture Visionary Partners, provide a crash course on hosting these events and making them authentic to your firm. Listen and follow along with the slides linked below as our special guests teach you how to add these intimate conversations into your business model for stronger client relationships and referrals. 

Resources:

• Presentation: Dimensional Fund Advisors Conversation Circles
• Worksheet: Dimensional’s Ideal Client Worksheet

When markets turn volatile, clients often start calling with questions and seeking answers. How you handle these conversations often determines whether clients stay the course or make emotional decisions that can hurt their long-term outcomes. Join host Kalem Mackey, CFP®, BPC, Executive Vice President and Partner at C2P, as he sits down with Stoyan Petev, Senior Vice President of Advanced Markets at C2P, and Mark Peterson, Director of BlackRock's Market and Portfolio Insights team, for an honest conversation about what's really driving market turbulence and how to navigate it effectively. From reading market signals that others miss to capitalizing on new income opportunities, listen to learn how to help guide your clients through uncertainty while positioning their portfolios for future success.

Resources:

• BlackRock Publication by Mark Peterson: Student of the Market
• Financial planning process mentioned: The Bucket Plan®

Statistics:

• Stocks have been up two years in a row
• The market experienced a 10% decline in two days in early April, followed by a 9.5% rebound on April 9th
• Interest rates on the 10-year US Treasury bond exceeded 4% for the first time since 2007, marking almost 15 years
• Inflation peaked at 9+% in June 2022 and recently dropped to 2.3%, the lowest level since February 2021
• There were 14 consecutive months when both stocks and bonds lost money - unprecedented in investing history 

The retirement tax landscape has fundamentally shifted, and what once served as powerful wealth-building tools have now become potential financial landmines. Discover why America's IRA expert Ed Slott calls traditional retirement accounts "the worst assets on Earth" and learn the strategic moves advisors need to make before it's too late. Join host Dave Alison as he sits down with Ed Slott, CPA and founder of Ed Slott and Company, to explore how the SECURE Act transformed retirement planning and why the strategies that worked for decades no longer apply. From understanding the true cost of "fake deductions" to leveraging historically low tax rates, you’ll learn how to protect your clients' retirement wealth and build exceptional value in your practice.

Resources:

• Exclusive organization and membership for financial advisors: Ed Slott and Company Elite IRA Advisor Group
• IRA training: Ed Slott and Company’s 2-Day IRA Workshop

Statistics:

• Traditional IRAs now face a 10-year distribution window for most non-spouse beneficiaries under the SECURE Act
• Current tax rates represent historically low levels, with the 24% bracket significantly lower than historical norms
• The SECURE Act eliminated the stretch IRA provision that previously allowed distributions over 30-70 years

Women are living longer than ever with women outliving men by an average of five years, and half of all widows over 65 outliving their husbands by an additional 15 years.* This longevity creates unique planning challenges, as women face extended healthcare costs and a widening health-span gap. Join host Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President and Head of Annuity Sales at C2P, and panelists Ashley Ilardo, Regional Director and Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors, and Tiya Stanley, VP of National Accounts at F&G, to explore comprehensive approaches to women's longevity planning. Discover strategies for addressing women's unique retirement needs, from investment considerations to insurance solutions that provide both protection and independence. Learn how advisors can have meaningful conversations about lifestyle goals, aging in place, and creating financial security that lasts through a woman's entire retirement journey.

*Statistics:

• Women on average outlive men by five years, with half of all widows over age 65 outliving their husbands by an additional 15 years.
• The health-span gap for women is 13.73 years versus 11.08 years for men.
• Women need long-term care for an average of 3.7 years versus 2.2 years for men.
• 70% of nursing home residents are women.

The Bucket Plan® strategy — a time-segmented approach that organizes assets into Now, Soon, and Later buckets — can provide both financial security and psychological confidence for clients, especially when in a volatile market environment. Join guest host Kalem Mackey, CFP®, BPC, Executive VP at C2P, as he interviews Dave Alison, Founding Partner of C2P and CEO of Alison Wealth Management, to discover how to create "Bucket Plans of Steel" that withstand major market uncertainty. Whether you're already implementing The Bucket Plan® or new to this methodology, you’ll learn practical strategies for streamlining your planning process, improving client deliverables, and effectively communicating with clients during turbulent markets.

Advisors are encouraged to consult with their firm's compliance department prior to using or distributing consolidated reports like the ones mentioned in the episode, as such reports may present risks related to accuracy, custody, and client communication under SEC rules.

Resources:

• Philosophy discussed: The Bucket Plan®  
• Advisor Trainings: The Bucket Plan® 1.0, The Teamwork Movement Live Training
• Portfolio analytics tool: Kwanti
• Planning software: eMoney, Orion
• AI Notetaker: Zocks
• Video tool: Loom (for client communications)

Life insurance is often misunderstood, mismanaged, and mis-sold, yet it remains one of the most powerful tools in comprehensive financial planning. Join host Dave Alison as he interviews Dave Buckwald, founder and CEO of OneTeam Financial and partner at C2P, who shares his deeply personal journey shaped by the tragic events of 9/11. With over 30 years of experience guiding individuals, families, and business owners through comprehensive financial planning, Dave Buckwald reveals how to overcome client inaction and effectively position life insurance as a strategic asset class within holistic wealth management. Discover the innovative "love and greed" approach to life insurance, learn how to reframe the conversation around taxes rather than mortality, and understand why even the wealthiest clients should consider life insurance as part of their legacy and estate planning.

Resources:

• Book referenced: The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder: How to Avoid Unnecessary Tax Landmines, Defuse the Latest Threats to Your Retirement Savings, and Ignite Your Financial Freedom by Ed Slott
• Planning process referenced: The Bucket Plan®
• Training referenced: The Tax Management Journey®

Upgrade your retirement planning with strategies built for longer lifespans. Join host Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President and head of Annuity Sales at C2P, as she interviews Jeannette Bajalia, a senior wealth manager at JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management with nearly two decades of experience specializing in elder care life transition planning. Learn how Jeannette adapted the traditional three-bucket approach of The Bucket Plan® to include a fourth bucket specifically allocated for healthcare planning, alternative care, and support services that extend beyond traditional retirement needs. Learn how this methodology particularly serves women's unique longevity challenges while helping advisors differentiate their practice through comprehensive planning.

Resources:

• Book referenced: Wi$e Up Women: A Guide to Total Fiscal and Physical Well-Being by Jeannette Bajalia
• Organization referenced: Women's Worth

Statistics:

• 80% of women are dying single
• The centenarian population is one of the fastest-growing segments worldwide
• Healthcare costs can reach $30,000 per month for certain medications without proper planning

Most financial advisory firm owners plan on an internal succession, but many delay the planning process, losing out on substantial profits and time saved both immediately and in the long run. Host Kirsten Schlumbohm, BPC, Vice President of Annuity Sales at C2P, and special guest, Kathryn, “Kem” Taylor, CBEC™, consultant at FP Transitions, team up to discuss the critical topic of timely succession planning. From G1 (founders) to G2 (next-generation owners) and even G3 advisors, they cover the challenges and opportunities of setting up a firm for lasting success. Taylor also highlights the importance of creating a clear career path and cultivating a culture that fosters growth and diversity in the industry. Tune in for practical advice and strategies for empowering the next generation of financial advisors and creating a thriving, inclusive industry for all.