WealthTech on Deck

Strategic partnerships between businesses can be a powerful way to enhance growth and achieve goals that would be difficult to attain independently. By forming mutually beneficial relationships with asset managers and professionals, wealth management businesses can gain access to new ideas, strategies, and technology platforms, enabling them to focus on what they do best: providing high-quality service to their clients.

In today’s episode, Jack talks with Mark Spina, Chief Operating Officer and President at FLX Networks.  Mark has over two decades of experience managing sales, national accounts, product, data, and marketing teams around the globe. His current responsibilities include developing and delivering cost-effective solutions to FLX members. 

Mark talks with Jack about FLX Networks' approach to helping asset managers and management firms scale their businesses, how having a network can be leveraged to build capabilities that resonate across the community, and how technology plays a crucial role in enabling their business model.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[07:30] - "It's kind of amazing when you think about how modern all other sales engagements have become. Most of the selling experiences, it's better targeted. There's more data flowing into it. You can be more precise. But at the point of sale, it still looks and feels very similar to the way it did 30 years ago." - Mark Spina 

[19:42] - "Being in the network of networks, we are able to source a combination of componentry. We are able to source practice management capabilities from external providers. We've built in-house capabilities in some of the areas that we think resonate across that community." - Mark Spina

[26:00] - "In a business and industry that requires scale to succeed, managers have to think about how they can creatively and collaboratively create that scale. And it's unlikely for the vast majority of asset managers to be able to create the requisite scale by themselves." - Mark Spina

[27:02] - "The concept of wholesaling products has to evolve in the next three to five years. It has to look more like everything else that an advisor or person does in their day-to-day life of buying and selling product." - Mark Spina

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch

Leading a financial advisory firm is a challenge. The goal is to provide sound and objective financial planning advice to clients but to do so profitably and at scale is an uphill battle. 

In today’s episode, Jack talks with Robert Pettman, EVP, Wealth Management Solutions at LPL Financial. Robert is responsible for leading the advisory and brokerage platforms, investment products, and relationships with asset managers, insurance companies, and wealth tech providers. In addition to his role, he also heads the research department, a new component that is essential to a comprehensive wealth management strategy.

Robert talks with Jack about LPL Financial's spectrum of products, solutions, and opportunities, how they enable advisors to run a models-based practice more efficiently and effectively, and what his outlook is for the future of the financial advisory business.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[14:18] - "It's really important to have great talent, creative and innovative, and client-centric that understands the issues, that's focused on solving problems for the clients and essentially bringing forward those ideas to actually help propel the company in doing the best that it can in serving advisors." - Robert Pettman

[17:34] - "A product really exists as a vehicle of convenience. And it so happens that with the evolution of technology, we're actually getting to a place where that's not actually the most efficient and effective way to deliver solutions." - Robert Pettman

[23:02] - "That theme of technology attacking the product wrapper is not something that's scary. It's something to be embraced and that can provide extra features and benefits for advisors and investors." - Robert Pettman

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch

Taxes are a reality for all investors. Their effects can significantly affect financial outcomes and take a big bite out of investment returns. In response, advisors look for strategies that minimize tax liabilities while maximizing returns. As tax alpha may be the holy grail for many investors, what investment strategies can they use to maximize their financial outcomes?

In this episode, Jack talks with Martin Cowley, Executive Vice President of Product Development at LifeYield. As one of the pioneers in building UMH solutions in the industry, Martin is an expert at building platforms across the wealth management ecosystem. At LifeYield, Martin and his team focus on finding the client's unique circumstances and then determining the best way to serve them.

Martin talks with Jack about five ways to achieve tax alpha through a comprehensive advice platform. He discusses how these strategies work and how advisors utilize them to help clients reach their financial goals.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[10:16] - "The fact that you can see multiple tax lots across more than one account gives you more room for efficiency. It gives you more tax lots to pick from." - Martin Cowley

[17:53] - “Tax harvesting is good, it's a part of our toolkit. But asset allocation does mitigate the need for tax-loss harvesting, especially considering it dissipates over time.” - Martin Cowley

[18:42] - "A transition from an existing set of assets over to a new model can be made a lot more efficient by putting controls on gain realization and potentially breaking up the move over a year or more depending on what works for the clients and their appetite for taxes." - Martin Cowley

[29:07] - "Tax harvesting is well-established and it's a vulnerable exercise, but it's more valuable when you spread it across multiple accounts to the extent that you can." - Martin Cowley

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch

The wealth management industry is constantly evolving with new trends. These trends are driving significant changes in the wealth management industry, prompting firms to adopt new strategies and technologies in order to meet investor demands. How can advisors make the most of these trends and make a significant impact on their clients?

This week, we flip the script as Jack Sharry takes the guest chair and Matt Nollman, VP of Marketing at LifeYield, hosts the show. As Executive Vice President, Chief Growth Officer, and Principal at LifeYield, Jack helps industry leaders, platform builders, advisors, and investors understand UMH platforms and the advantages they create.

As a leading industry voice on wealthtech, Jack shares his insights on the top five trends in wealth management, how these trends are impacting the industry, and how the combination of platform and advisor makes the biggest difference in client relationships.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[05:41] - "At the end of the day, an advisor and a client need to talk. Algorithms aren't human beings. They just tell you how to optimize what's going on. You’ve got to ask them questions and you have to have a real dialogue often with clients that don't fully understand what it is they're trying to solve." - Jack Sharry

[20:02] - "More people are retiring today with more money and more complexity than at any point in history. So, a tidal wave of assets and complexity are driving our business for the foreseeable future." - Jack Sharry

[20:13] - "Digital and human advice are coming together on comprehensive advice platforms. And the job of the underlying algorithms is to identify the next best actions. Strategy is a start, but the ultimate job of these platforms is to coordinate implementation across the household and to determine the next best thing to do to improve financial outcomes." - Jack Sharry

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch

Digitization and personalization are two emerging trends in asset and wealth management. With financial wellness also becoming an important factor in overall portfolio management, the convergence of digital advice and concierge services has grown more complex. How can advisors cope with the rapid changes in the asset and wealth management industries?

In today’s episode, Jack talks with Nalika Nanayakkara, Managing Partner Americas, Financial Services Consulting Leader, EY. A leader in EY's Wealth and Asset Management (WAM) Consulting business, Nalika advises many of the world's leading WAM organizations on strategy, growth, efficiency, and innovation.

Nalika talks with Jack about the recent changes in the asset and wealth management industry, how financial leaders are coping with digitization and concierge services, and why complexity is an opportunity.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[04:39] - "Clients are becoming a bit more self-directed, but it doesn't mean the value of advice goes away. It's really how the advisor's role changes from financial advisor to a life coach." - Nalika Nanayakkara

[14:22] - "Complexity is a threat but it's also an opportunity. I think if things are easy, then everything could be automated and everything would be free." - Nalika Nanayakkara

[20:19] - "I think retirement is also becoming a part of the wellness agenda, like how do I get financial peace of mind? And retirement is a big piece of it." - Nalika Nanayakkara 

[22:08] - "You can't be all things to all clients. So, you have to figure out how to balance digitization with the human touch. You have to figure out how to use tech and data to provide differentiated experience and build trust." - Nalika Nanayakkara

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch

Technology has always been a driver for change, and the financial sector is no exception. Driven by clients who are looking for more holistic advice, financial advisors are now leveraging technology solutions to provide a higher level of service. With the development of comprehensive advisory platforms, advisors can offer better advice and outcomes to their clients.

In today’s episode, Jack talks with Rich Cancro, Founder and CEO at AdvisorEngine. Rich brings more than 25 years of experience building wealth management technology. Prior to founding AdvisorEngine, he served as a Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and created industry-leading solutions for J.P. Morgan, Bear Stearns and DLJDirect. 

Rich talks with Jack about how he helps advisors provide better advice and outcomes for their clients, how he built AdvisorEngine to be a comprehensive advice platform, and what the future looks like for the financial advisory industry.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[02:30] - "I am absolutely passionate about fiduciary advisors. I love the fact that fiduciary advisors are fully aligned with the client's interests. They're small businesses. How they get service and how they service their clients, every moment matters." - Rich Cancro

[18:03] - "I think advisors really have to evolve from relationship building. They're great at it, that's where they build their trust. But they have to pivot from that perspective into becoming great marketers. A vast majority of independents are not great at marketing" - Rich Cancro

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch

Data and technology are critical when it comes to providing holistic wealth advice. They are two essential resources that can help advisors gain a deeper understanding of their clients' financial situations, enabling them to offer more tailored recommendations. 

In today’s episode, Jack talks with Paula, Managing Director & Head of Growth Strategy at Global Atlantic Financial Group. Prior to joining Global Atlantic Financial Group, Paula served as CEO and President of Transamerica Capital, and Managing Director for Aegon Financial Services Group. In her current role, Paula's primary focus is on growth that involves bringing insurance strategies and alternative asset options to financial professionals. 

Paula talks with Jack about the role technology plays in the insurance industry, how Global Atlantic applies innovative approaches to offer better services to financial professionals, and how data and technology are key to providing holistic wealth advice.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[13:44] - "The ability and the key that technology will allow is these products to sit alongside other things that advisors and clients can work with much more seamlessly than a standalone package product." - Paula Nelson

[16:02] - "What [technology] can provide to financial professionals who really want to expand what they do for clients is critically important to how they become more than just a money manager. And I don't know how they do it without technology." - Paula Nelson 

[22:58] - "If your organization is not investing in digital data analytics, you should be asking why. Why aren't we making those investments? Technology and data are key to really providing holistic wealth advice." - Paula Nelson

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch

Disclosure

This podcast is intended for Financial professional use only. The opinions expressed are those of the opinions of the speakers as of May 2022 and may not come to pass. Nothing said should be considered a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security product.

Annuities issued by Forethought Life Insurance Company, Indianapolis, Indiana. Global Atlantic Financial Group (Global Atlantic) is the marketing name for The Global Atlantic Financial Group LLC and its subsidiaries, including Forethought Life Insurance Company and Accordia Life and Annuity Company. Each subsidiary is responsible for its own financial and contractual obligations. These subsidiaries are not authorized to do business in New York. 

Trust is the cornerstone of a successful advisor-client relationship. And earning that trust starts with empathy – the ability to have a complete understanding of clients' situations and concerns.  Having a clear understanding of what drives clients' decisions allows advisors to develop and recommend solutions that align with their goals and preferences, laying the foundation for successful advisory platforms.

In today’s episode, Jack talks with John Connors, Founder and CEO of Boathouse. Prior to founding his own marketing agency in 2001, John held positions at companies such as Hill Holliday and Merrill Lynch, served as CEO of Zentropy Partners, and became part of the McCann World Group Management team. With the aim of bringing a new level of performance-mindedness to the agency business, John created Boathouse.

John talks with Jack about why narratives matter, why advisors deserve more attention and value, and how empathy can be key to building trust with clients.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[10:22] - "There's so much emphasis on product platform and tech, and it's striking to me how little emphasis is on the advisor and how management tends to commoditize the advisor rather than actually leverage the advisor." - John Connors

[19:14] - "If you can't walk in and build that empathy based on understanding those issues and those audiences, you can't build that trust" - John Connors 

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch

In a rapidly changing industry, Allianz Life has been able to stay ahead of the curve and emerged as one of its most innovative and thriving companies. While technology has undoubtedly been instrumental in this transformation, Allianz has built upon four cornerstones that have contributed to its success. 

In today’s episode, Jack talks with Corey Walther, President of Allianz Life Financial Services. Corey is responsible for the business results, strategic direction, sales execution and distribution for several Allianz Life Insurance Company product lines. He is also passionate about leading teams and developing strategies that help identify and implement opportunities to improve sales, service delivery, and profitability.

Corey talks with Jack about the 4 Ps of growing a business, the secret to Allianz’s continued growth and success, and how technology is changing the game of wealth management.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[14:54] - "Technology, in general, has been a game-changer for our industry. And, quite frankly, not just for insurance and annuities but also for our clients. I just couldn't be more excited and bullish about what we can do with technology being the epicenter of really helping our industry and this country improve livelihoods for so many households across the country." - Corey Walther

[17:22] - "In our world, it's not just about solution selling. It's about starting with the conversation that a financial professional might be having with an investor and that financial planning approach. And then it's how do we best fit that goals-based planning conversation to be able to demonstrate where does an annuity fit and where does it not fit." - Corey Walther

[24:26] - "As a financial advisor and professional investor, make sure that you're incorporating and thinking about risk management strategies, not just investment management, but risk management." - Corey Walther

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch

Wealth management and retirement planning are two important aspects of financial planning. While they are often discussed separately, the convergence of these two industries allows people to take a holistic approach to their finances and create a comprehensive financial plan that helps them achieve their financial goals.

In today’s episode, Jack talks with Fred Barstein, Founder and CEO of The Retirement Advisor University (TRAU) and The Plan Sponsor University (TPSU). He is also the contributing editor for WealthManagement.com's RPA Edge and Editor in Chief & Founder of 401kTV, a media channel helping mid-size and smaller companies better manage their defined contribution plans.

Fred talks with Jack about what he does to serve the DC 401k market, how wealth management and retirement can work together, and how big players in the wealth management industry are now focusing on retirement.

Key Takeaways

Quotes

[03:17] - "We saw that there were a lot of designations and it seems like there's a lot popping up. But the credibility of them, if you can just do it online and take a test, doesn't make you an expert. So, we wanted to have a designation and training that plan sponsors could be sure of or we are confident that this advisor is actually well trained and has the experience." - Fred Barstein

[08:24] - "Part of the reason that I work with wealth management is they want a platform.  The DC industry wants to get into and speak to the wealth management industry. They see a huge opportunity in the convergence of wealth, retirement, and benefits." - Fred Barstein

[14:40] - "RPAs have a huge advantage over traditional wealth management when it comes to getting access and credibility." - Fred Barstein

[26:55] - "DC plans have now become a strategic benefit rather than tactical. Retirement plan advisors have moved from the waiting room with the rest of the salespeople to the boardroom talking strategy." - Fred Barstein

Links 

Connect with our hosts

Subscribe and stay in touch