Next Mile

The Playbook Behind the Fastest-Growing RIA in History with Jason Wenk


Listen Later

Episode 112: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Jason Wenk, Founder and CEO of Altruist. Jason has lived and breathed the financial services industry over the last 20 years as a financial advisor, investment systems developer, analyst, and founder.

Jason shares his journey from humble beginnings to building some of the fastest-growing RIAs. From his early days at Morgan Stanley to pioneering digital marketing for his own RIAs, Jason discusses the innovations that led to the founding of Altruist. Jason also explores the power of content and why social media platforms are today's hub for advisor growth.

In this episode:

  • (00:00) - Intro

  • (02:44) - Jason's money moment

  • (05:21) - From intern to industry disruptor: Jason’s path to building two RIAs

  • (13:56) - Jason's digital marketing playbook

  • (17:38) - Where attention is won: YouTube, TikTok, referrals, and more

  • (25:02) - Why offline marketing still crushes in 2025

  • (28:05) - The pain points that led Jason to create Altruist

  • (34:12) - How Altruist is using AI to transform advisor workflows

  • (43:06) - Jason's Milemarker Minute

    Key Takeaways

    • Leverage digital marketing. Blogging and creating videos on social media build authority and trust.

    • Play the long game. Social media platforms can drive billions in new business. But when they eventually get crowded, differentiation comes from client experience and outcomes, not just marketing tactics.

    • Know your audience. AI and SEO shifts may impact younger investors, but retirement-age clients still search the old-fashioned way. Tailor your approach to the people you want to reach.

    • Consistency wins. Whether it's local seminars, radio shows, or social media content, firms that pick a lane and execute with discipline tend to outpace the rest.

      Quotes

      "A lot of our fastest-growing advisors are using YouTube as their primary mechanism to be in front of new clients. We have a few who are using social media, so they're active on X, some are heavy on LinkedIn, and we're starting to see some who are actually doing decent volume from TikTok." ~ Jason Wenk

      "Our generation is open about how and what we do. We all have an abundance mindset, and we share and love celebrating everybody else's wins." ~ Jason Wenk

      "In a world where it'll be nearly impossible to be different and unique based on your content, what you actually deliver will matter a lot more. Driving the best outcomes and the best experience will become a differentiator. " ~ Jason Wenk

      Links 

      • Jason Wenk on LinkedIn

      • Altruist

      • Morgan Stanley

      • AI Assistance - Altruist

      • Elon  Musk

        Connect with our hosts

        • Milemarker.co

        • Kyle on LinkedIn

        • Jud on LinkedIn

          Subscribe and stay in touch

          • Apple Podcasts

          • Spotify

          • YouTube

            Produce game-changing content with Turncast

            Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at Turncast.com.

            ...more
            View all episodesView all episodes
            Download on the App Store

            Next MileBy Milemarker

            • 5
            • 5
            • 5
            • 5
            • 5

            5

            5 ratings


            More shows like Next Mile

            View all
            The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

            The Joe Rogan Experience

            227,699 Listeners

            Money Guy Show by Brian Preston and Bo Hanson

            Money Guy Show

            3,210 Listeners

            Between Now and Success by Steve Sanduski

            Between Now and Success

            105 Listeners

            Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry by Ted Seides – Allocator and Asset Management Expert

            Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

            793 Listeners

            Animal Spirits Podcast by The Compound

            Animal Spirits Podcast

            2,014 Listeners

            The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors by Mindy Diamond Financial Advisor Recruiter and Consultant

            The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors

            103 Listeners

            Wall Street Breakfast by Seeking Alpha

            Wall Street Breakfast

            1,029 Listeners

            The Compound and Friends by The Compound

            The Compound and Friends

            2,111 Listeners

            Down the Middle by Peter Mallouk & Jonathan Clements

            Down the Middle

            146 Listeners

            Kitces and Carl - Real Talk for Real Financial Advisors by Michael Kitces, MSFS, MTAX, CFP and Carl Richards, CFP

            Kitces and Carl - Real Talk for Real Financial Advisors

            245 Listeners

            All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

            All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

            9,833 Listeners

            The Megyn Kelly Show by SiriusXM

            The Megyn Kelly Show

            40,098 Listeners

            RIA Edge by David Armstrong

            RIA Edge

            12 Listeners

            The WealthStack Podcast by Shannon Rosic

            The WealthStack Podcast

            4 Listeners

            The Morgan Housel Podcast by Morgan Housel

            The Morgan Housel Podcast

            1,042 Listeners