In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Justin Singer, Partner at EY. Justin provides strategy and management consulting services to many top wealth management, asset management, insurance, and retirement firms to drive growth and retention, improve their offerings, and achieve stronger operating margins through strategic and tactical projects.

Jack and Justin discuss why WaaS (Wealth as a Service) is the future of financial services. Justin explores how financial institutions can use this integrated, cost-effective, scalable solution to drive efficiency and growth. He also dives into the key drivers behind this shift, the players involved, the exciting opportunities it presents, and the broader industry implications.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro

(02:23) - Wealth as a Service defined

(05:23) - Service providers in the wealth management space

(08:56) - The expected consolidation of broker-dealers and RIAs

(11:14) - Challenges for firms in operating wealth management businesses

(16:20) - How WaaS improves client outcomes and advisor efficiency

(18:51) - The industry's reaction to EY's Wealth as a Service research

(21:59) - Justin's key takeaways

(23:52) - Justin's interests outside of work

Quotes

"Wealth as a Service (WaaS) is an integrated, cost-effective, and scalable solution for financial institutions to deliver wealth management in a more turnkey way." ~ Justin Singer

"The assets we've built are really positioning financial institutions to be able to drive toward the outcomes that many of them are looking to achieve, which are growth, improved operating efficiency, and scale." ~ Justin Singer

"If we end up in a world where there's less broker-dealers, less RIAs, less trust companies, and a few providers that are supporting those entities that are left, I truly believe it's going to drive down costs and allow many firms to be able to go more down market to the mass affluent segment with a more scalable offering." ~ Justin Singer

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EY

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Alternative investments are surging in popularity, but how do distributors, asset managers, and advisors adapt? While the appetite for alternatives continues to rise, education remains one of the biggest hurdles to widespread adoption. Managing alternatives requires more than just a basic understanding. It demands deep, specialized expertise. Despite significant investments in training and educational initiatives, the need for deeper expertise remains critical.

In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Neil Bathon, Managing Partner at FUSE Research Network, about the latest trends in alternative investments. Neil shares insights from FUSE's recent study on alternative distribution, diving into key findings on education gaps, sales strategies, and the importance of partnerships in alts adoption.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:47) - About FUSE Research Network

(04:54) - FUSE's alts distribution research findings

(06:09) - The importance of education in alts adoption

(07:38) - Neil's advice for firms entering the alts market

(09:04) - Why partnerships are critical

(11:33) - How alts can be incorporated into asset allocation

(12:58) - Managing client expectations

(16:48) - Neil's recommendations for investing in alts

(19:18) - How alternative assets benefit distributors, advisors, and asset managers

(20:00) - Neil's key takeaways

(21:13) - Neil's interests outside of work

Quotes

"Distributors are making clear that despite many educational initiatives for years, some of these traditional firms have big institutes or universities specifically to help bring advisors along, but there's still an enormous need for additional education." ~ Neil Bathon

"Some of these alternatives can get very complicated. You need to make a significant investment in educating your sales team and your marketing team. You really have to back them up with specialists who can go this third, fourth, or fifth level deep." ~ Neil Bathon

"Partnership of some form is the way to go for most firms if they're not already firmly in the alternative business." ~ Neil Bathon

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FUSE Research Network

Apollo Global Management

KKR

Ares Management

Blackstone

Franklin Templeton

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In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Arnulf Hsu, CEO of GReminders. Arnulf is a serial entrepreneur and has been leading and running B2B enterprise software companies for the last 20+ years as CEO, CTO, Product Leader, and Board Member. He has a strong background in technology and business development, focusing on building successful ventures and growing companies from the ground up.

Jack and Arnulf talk about why GReminders is one of the leading scheduling and meeting management platforms for professionals. They discuss how GReminders integrates with existing CRM systems to manage everything from scheduling and reminders to AI-generated meeting summaries and follow-ups. Jack and Arnulf also share the importance of deeply understanding customer needs and how AI can enhance personalization and efficiency in client relationships.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:59) - What GReminders is and how it works

(04:57) - The origin story of GReminders

(05:59) - Why Arnulf chose to focus on wealth management

(09:25) - Feedback from advisors and clients

(12:49) - How GReminders compares to Arnulf’s past ventures

(15:06) - Learning through listening

(17:57) - How AI empowers GReminders

(19:56) - What's next for GReminders

(21:50) - Arnulf's key takeaways

(23:34) - Arnulf's interests outside of work

Quotes

"In this area (wealth management), there were scheduling products that were installed in our customers that, to some degree, they were using, but they weren't very good." ~ Arnulf Hsu

"If you have a bunch of data islands everywhere, it's not going to do anybody any good. If you ever want to use AI and analytics on top of this stuff, you better have systems that talk to each other, and data must flow between them." ~ Arnulf Hsu

 "Wealth managers aren't IT experts. And so, we believed pretty strongly in a smaller technology stack that has fewer moving parts. It's inherently a better system because you have less complexity." ~ Arnulf Hsu

Links 

Arnulf Hsu on LinkedIn

GReminders

Redtail Technology

Wealthbox

Salesforce

Smarsh

PreciseFP

Zapier

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In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Mike Capelle, Co-founder & Co-CEO of Modern Wealth Management. From his decades-long career in wealth management, Mike has experience building advisor-client platforms that drive continuous growth. He was part of the team that co-founded, scaled, and sold United Capital, a $25 billion RIA with 90 locations, to Goldman Sachs for $750 million.

Jack and Mike discuss how Modern Wealth Management provides a full-service wealth management platform, including tax planning, estate planning, and insurance. They address the challenges and opportunities of integrating legacy systems and the importance of creating a replicable model for national expansion.

In this episode:

Quotes

"We saw the need in the market and the opportunity because we felt there was a shift from going to investment to planning, where there was much more alignment between the advisors and the client." ~ Mike Capelle

"It's a great opportunity to really impact people's lives. They don't have all the resources to do everything they want. You have to help them understand what they want their future to look like, what things are important, and what trade-offs make sense to them." ~ Mike Capelle

"We certainly recognize the opportunity with the industry, and not only do you have an underserved market of people across the country who are developing wealth, but needing help in how they manage it and how they use it as the engine to get to the outcome they want to." ~ Mike Capelle

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In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Randy Lambert, EVP and Head of RIA Solutions at Intention.ly. Randy shares how his experience scaling Orion informs his work helping FinTech and RIA firms streamline operations, align marketing, and enhance client engagement. He highlights the importance of eliminating silos, implementing intelligent automation, and transforming operations from a cost center to a strategic growth engine.

In this episode:

Quotes

"One of the weakest links in the technology chain is the advisor using the technology." ~ Randy Lambert

"The better that an advisory team is able to systematize its operations, the better chance they have of being successful in scaling up." ~ Randy Lambert

"When a firm's data is clean, structured, and fully integrated, technology stops being a barrier. It starts to become an enabler." ~ Randy Lambert

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In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Ryan VanGorder, CEO at Opto Investments, about revolutionizing private markets for wealth managers. Ryan highlights how Opto’s technology simplifies complex private market strategies, helping advisors deliver tailored, scalable solutions to their clients. They discuss the shift from institutional to retail access in private investments and the importance of guided intelligence, customization, and automation. Ryan also shares his passion for adventure racing, drawing parallels between endurance sports and business, emphasizing discipline, adaptability, and teamwork as core values shaping Opto’s culture and approach to client success.

In this episode:

Quotes

"At Opto, we're engineering the future of private markets with a focus on client outcomes and driving capital to the best ideas." ~ Ryan VanGorder

"Opto is built and backed by operators who understand the potential in the private markets, not by AUM-focused mega funds or product pushers." ~ Ryan VanGorder

"The winners in our space, particularly our market, will heavily invest in technology-based solutions and solving for transparency, scale efficiency, and flexibility. And you're going to do all that while delivering on your client's demands." ~ Ryan VanGorder

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This week, Jack Sharry is joined by Ryan Eisenman, Co-Founder and CEO of Arch—a platform built to streamline and standardize private investment operations. With a strong background in private markets, Ryan shares how Arch is leveraging technology to make alternative investing more secure, efficient, and accessible. Ryan breaks down the key trends fueling mainstream adoption and explains how Arch is helping family offices, RIAs, and institutional investors overcome the operational hurdles that come with managing alts. He also shares his perspective on where the market is headed—and how platforms like Arch are unlocking access to a broader range of investors

In this episode:

Quotes

"We want to unlock the ability to make, manage, and track alternative investments without the pain people are used to when they do make those investments." ~ Ryan Eisenman

"To work at Arch, you have to love clients and love learning. We want to be doing this for decades, and the way you do this for decades is you invest in customers because customers can be the best advocates for you." ~ Ryan Eisenman

"We're continuing to build the operations management automation tools that help people scale their alts businesses. And we're doing it increasingly in partnership with larger firms to support their offerings." ~ Ryan Eisenman

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This week, Jack Sharry talks with Brooke Elliott, Dean of Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Brooke leads the college in developing a compelling, strategic vision while continuing to build upon its distinctive brand and identity.

They discuss how the college empowers future leaders through transformative education, research, and innovation. Brooke shares how their purpose-driven approach is embedded in the curriculum, the impact of technology and AI in shaping this mission, and how experiential learning bridges the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world opportunities.

In this episode:

Quotes

"We want to create amazing leaders who move into business and really have an impact on their community, their state, and their nation." ~ Brooke Elliott

"We really believe in expanding access to high-quality education. We serve individuals from all types of different backgrounds. And so, it's diversity in its very broadest sense." ~ Brooke Elliott

"Our online programs were intentionally designed to be online. We did not take an existing program and move it to a remote environment. We started a new one and knew that we were going to offer these programs online and serve learners all around the world. And so, every single design choice was made with intention." ~ Brooke Elliott 

"Education is still the greatest investment an individual can make in themselves and an organization can make in their employee." ~ Brooke Elliott

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In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Steven Miyao, an Executive Coach at Coaching Metta. Steven equips executives, entrepreneurs, and startups with the skills, strategies, and mindset needed for sustainable success. He helps professionals navigate career transitions, balance family and personal goals, and discover lasting fulfillment.

Jack and Steven explore the challenges and opportunities of midlife career transitions, offering insights on how leaders can redefine their purpose and direction. Steven shares his coaching philosophy, the crucial role of understanding one’s ‘why’ before making a career shift, and how he helps financial services executives build a fulfilling second act in their careers

In this episode:

Quotes

"The older I get, it’s more important for me to see other people succeed than myself. It's just so gratifying when you see the impact that you have on others." ~ Steven Miyao

"Most people are stuck in the hamster wheel, and they're running and running, but they don't even know why they're running. Oftentimes, it's because of the expectations that they have on themselves. But these expectations are often driven by society, their parents, or their peers." ~ Steven Miyao

"A lot of us are going through this midlife. Whenever that point comes where you say to yourself, 'Is this really it?', it's important to take a break and really think about what you want to do, identify your ‘why’, and then pivot if you need to." ~ Steven Miyao

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Edward Jones is redefining what it means to provide personalized advice. The firm is creating a signature experience where personalized service is not a luxury but an expectation and where the best financial advisors have the tools, capabilities, and technology needed to provide a seamless, sophisticated, and impactful advisory experience.

In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Russ Tipper, General Partner at Edward Jones. Russ leads more than 300 professionals across North America and drives the firm's advisory offerings, including SMAs and UMAs, alternatives, retirement products, and more.

Jack and Russ discuss how Edward Jones is doubling down on comprehensive, personalized financial planning, moving beyond point-in-time solutions to ongoing advice. Russ also talks about how the company strategically expands its product offerings, including alternative assets and retirement products, as well as its signature experience and future developments.

In this episode:

Quotes

"We want to help make our clients’ needs, wants, and wishes a reality." ~ Russell Tipper

 "Our goal is to help our clients move into an advisory perspective and never be stuck in a brokerage account or a legacy model where they can't move because of friction." ~ Russell Tipper

"We want to be a highly curated shelf, but we want to offer a choice. The last thing I want to do is for a client to leave their great financial advisor because of a lack of access to a product that would improve their outcome." ~ Russell Tipper

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