Episode Description

In this episode of The Scientiam Show, we sit down with Bhanu Singh, CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors Australia and Senior Investment Director. Bhanu shares his journey from studying accounting in the US, to unexpectedly landing at Dimensional, to eventually leading the firm in Australia and New Zealand.

We dive into what sets Dimensional apart— from its evidence-based investment philosophy to its culture of long-term thinking. Dr. Katherine Hunt (fresh from the surf!) also shares insights into Dimensional’s ethical commitment to avoiding commissions and resisting the pull of short-term trends. Bhanu reflects on the challenges and rewards of carrying this culture across a global business, highlighting why staying true to principles matters in an industry so often swayed by fads.

Whether you’re an investor, adviser, or simply curious about how one of theworld’s leading asset managers thinks, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

About the Hosts

Nigel Baker — Founder & CEO of ⁠Scientiam⁠, Chartered Accountant, and

CFP® with 20+ years in finance.

Dr. Katherine Hunt — Founder & Head Researcher at ⁠Ardentura⁠, finance academic, and former financial adviser. Connect with Katherine for your next event as a keynote speaker.

About Scientiam

Scientiam provides a white-label solution for advice firms to engage thousands of clients who aren’t yet ready for full advice. Our platform helps address key challenges such as improving access to advice, facilitating intergenerational wealth transfer, and effective client segmentation.

Book a call — Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠ to learn more.

Are today’s investing trends truly unlocking greater transparency, personalisation, and outcomes for clients, and how can advisers harness them to deliver lasting value?

In this episode of The Scientiam Show, Nigel Baker and Dr. Katherine Hunt explore:

• Evidence-Based Investing (EBI): How decades of research and data-backed strategies are better than speculation - and why adoption remains limited.
• SMAs: The benefits, considerations, and evolving role they play in delivering personalised, transparent client experiences.

Sharing practical ways to combine evidence, ethics, and technology to keep investment strategies client-focused and future-ready. Whether you’re an adviser, wealth manager, or investor, this conversation will help you navigate these trends with clarity and confidence.

About the Hosts:

Nigel Baker — Founder & CEO of Scientiam, Chartered Accountant, and CFP® with 20+ years in finance.

Dr. Katherine Hunt — Founder & Head Researcher at Ardentura, finance academic, and former financial adviser.

Connect with Katherine for your next event as a keynote speaker.

About Scientiam
Scientiam provides a white-label solution for advice firms to engage thousands of clients who aren’t yet ready for full advice. Our platform helps address key challenges such as improving access to advice, facilitating intergenerational wealth transfer, and effective client segmentation.

📩 Book a call — Email us at [email protected] to learn more.

Sustainable investing is more than a trend — but what does it really mean?

In this episode of The Scientiam Show, we take a dive deep into the growing world of sustainable investing, from ESG screening to greenwashing scandals.

Nigel breaks down how to align your investments with your values, the challenges super funds face in ethical investing, and how evidence-based firms like Dimensional and Vanguard approach sustainability with integrity and rigour.

We’ll also explore:

• Why investor confidence has been shaken — and how to rebuild it

• How to avoid "greenwashed" funds

• Real-world ESG examples, metrics & carbon footprint insights

• The difference between exclusions vs reduced weightings in portfolios

  
  

  👉 Want to learn more? Visit the Scientiam website or reach out to Nigel directly at [email protected].

In this episode of The Scientiam Show, Nigel Baker sits down with Nick, a creative entrepreneur and founder of Journey Maker, a tech platform reshaping the travel experience through AI and authentic storytelling.

From designing record covers for global stars in London to launching startups in India and Silicon Valley, Nick shares his unconventional journey from advertising to founding a growing ecosystem of businesses across film, branding, and AI-powered travel tech.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How AI is revolutionising personalised travel experiences

• The power of relentless creativity in entrepreneurship

• Why mass tourism is outdated—and how hyper-personalisation creates better travel

• Tips for validating and testing business ideas quickly with AI

• How AI isn’t replacing jobs—it’s elevating the quality of human work

🚀 Whether you’re a business owner, creative, or tech-curious traveller, this episode is full of insights on navigating change, building smarter, and embracing innovation.

🔗 Stay tuned as we explore how to use AI not just to scale — but to tell better stories, solve real-world problems, and make meaningful connections.

• Scientiam
• Journey Maker | AI Travel Planning That Feels Personal

HOST - Nigel Baker

PRODUCER - Andrew O'Brien

In this episode, host Nigel Baker is joined by psychologist and industry expert Dr Katherine Hunt to unpack the mindset barriers holding advisers back — and what it really takes to build the advice practices of the future.

They explore the difference between advisers stuck solving yesterday’s problems and those with a bold vision to help thousands. From aligning your goals with your values tochallenging the industry’s "100-client" mindset, this episode is a powerful call to think bigger.

🔍 Topics covered:

• Why mindset matters more than tech
• Aligning your business model with your values
• Scaling advice without losing the human touch
• How tech like Scientiam helps expand your reach
• Shifting from lifestyle practice to impact-driven firm

Whether you're an adviser, business owner, or just someone thinking about the future of financial advice — this one's for you.

In this episode, host Nigel Baker is joined by Dr Katherine Hunt to explore one of the most debated topics in the financial advice industry: the future of Statements of Advice (SOAs).

With looming legislative changes, increased scrutiny on compliance, and the rapid evolution of AI tools, how should advisers respond?

This episode dives into:

✅ AI and the automation of SOA workflows✅ Compliance in a post-reform world✅ Why advice quality starts with strategy, not documents✅ The role of tech in scaling meaningful client engagement✅ Practical opportunities for paraplanning firms and licensees

Packed with insights, strong opinions, and practical suggestions — this is a must-listen for forward-thinking financial professionals.

🎧 Listen now and transform the way you think about advice delivery.

🎙️ Episode 2: Reimagining the Client Experience in Financial Advice – with Nigel Baker & Dr Katherine Hunt

In this episode of The Scientiam Show, co-hosts Nigel Baker and Dr Katherine Hunt explore how technology and behavioural research are transforming the client experience in financial advice.

From the deeply human emotions clients face in their very first meeting, to the science-backed strategies that build lasting trust, this episode unpacks the psychology, ethics, and systems that create better outcomes — and how advisers can implement them today.

🔍 What you’ll learn:

• Why the first client meeting is one of the most vulnerable moments — and how to approach it with empathy

• How staying in touch throughout onboarding dramatically improves client confidence

• The ideal first conversation: it’s not about products, it’s about goals and values

• How a consistent CCM process can align your entire team and build client trust

• Screening for the right clients and servicing them in a meaningful way

• The latest tools and innovations enhancing adviser-client relationships

Please see resource links below:

• Scientiam
• MoneyMind Profile

👥 About your hosts:
Nigel Baker is the Founder of Scientiam and CEO of Arch Capital, with 20+ years in wealth management.
Dr Katherine Hunt is an award-winning financial planner and global expert in financial services ethics, with a PhD in Law and Economics and a background in psychology and commerce.

Whether you're a financial adviser or simply interested in how tech and behavioural science can elevate human connection, this episode offers insights you won't want to miss.

Episode 1 – How AI Is Transforming Financial Advice: Ethics, Scale & the Future of Advice
with Nigel Baker & Dr Katherine Hunt | The Scientiam Show

Welcome to the first episode of The Scientiam Show. Join co-hosts Nigel Baker and Dr Katherine Hunt as they dive into how technology is reshaping the financial advice industry — creating better outcomes, improving access, and helping advisers scale with impact and integrity.

Join co-hosts Nigel Baker, Founder of Scientiam and CEO of Arch Capital, and Dr Katherine Hunt, global expert in ethics and financial services, as they unpack how artificial intelligence is reshapingthe future of financial advice.

From scalable advice models to ethical AI adoption, discover how technology is empowering advisers, enhancing client trust, and making financial advice more accessible than ever.

🔍 In this episode, we cover:
• The real impact of AI in financial advice
• Why ethics must lead tech adoption in financial services
• Tools and AI note-takers every modern adviser should know
• How firms can scale without losing the human touch
• The rise of client-first, compliance-smart digital advice

🛠️ Featured AI Tools for Financial Advisers:
Otter Meeting Agent      MicrosoftCopilot  Fathom AINotetaker scribenote.ioNotion AIParadino  Filenote.ai Evernote

💡 Stay ahead of the curve.Follow The Scientiam Show for bold conversations on advice, ethics, fintech, and the tools transforming the industry.

Trailer for the new podcast from Nigel Baker.

Josh Smyth is an Associate Advisor for Arch Capital, a highly qualified independent financial advice company. They are professionals with Chartered Accounting and Certified Financial Planning qualifications who use a rigorous investment philosophy and access to the world's best academic research to ensure client portfolios are commendably constructed using science rather than speculation.