Risk Management with Scott Heinila, CEO of Optimized Insurance Hosts Brad Wright and Michael Connaughton are joined by Optimized Insurance CEO, Scott Heinila. After graduating from California State University Long Beach (CSULB) with a Finance degree, Scott began his insurance career in 2001, dedicating his time to assisting Insurance Professionals and Financial Advisors within the three facets of Protective Portfolio Planning – annuities, life insurance, and long-term care insurance. He’s an expert in the industry with 20+ years of experience, Scott has led roles such as the Director of Sales for a growing FMO, Regional Vice President with a leading fixed and indexed annuity insurance company, and most recently, the Executive Director for Producers Choice Network. In his current role, Scott is the CEO and Co-Founder of Optimized Insurance Planning, a wholesale insurance planning and marketing firm. He is also the President and Founder of Prism Wealth Preservation, a professional financial & insurance services firm specializing in working with pre-retirees, retirees, and business owners. Scott is also the host of the Optimized Advisor Podcast, dedicated to enhancing the professions, best practices, and personal well-being of Advisors.

They discuss:  Approaching risk management via annuities, life, and long-term care insurance  Common advisor obstacles to utilizing each  Resources for both advisors and clients

Optimized Insurance: https://optimizedins.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/https-www.linkedin.com-company-optimized- insurance-planning-/

For more information, contact Bill Bonk: [email protected]

Stephen Schweich Host Michael Connaughton is joined by Stephen Schweich.

Stephen is Chairman of the Cherrystone Angel Group and held a 30 year career in Investment Banking. Stephen has been an active investor in venture capital and private companies in Europe and the USA for nearly 20 years and has served on the boards of numerous technology companies. Since joining Cherrystone in 2011, Stephen has a played a key role in sourcing and leading investments in several of Cherrystone’s portfolio companies.   They discuss:

Stephen’s background and experience.

Angel Group investing due diligence.

Angel investing time horizon and expectations.

And much more.

Learn more about the Cherrystone Angel Group: Website: https://www.cherrystoneangelgroup.com/

Paw-sitive Planning: Estate Planning for Your Pets – with Liza Connelly

Kathleen speaks with Liza Connelly, director of trust and estate services for CIBC Private Wealth. Liza has more than 25 years of trust, estate and fiduciary experience, but this isn’t your usual conversation about estate planning – we talk about estate planning for your pets!

We discuss the different options that are available if you would like to provide for your pets after you pass away; best practices for planning ahead for unexpected emergencies, including what you might want to include in your durable power of attorney; how Liza helped get a pet trust statute passed in Massachusetts; her tips for shopping for pet insurance; and more! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-connelly-1891006/

https://www.professorbeyer.com/Articles/Animals.html

From Confused to Confident: Helping Families Navigate Aging with Parker Polidor

Kathleen and Kevin speak with Parker Polidor, co-founder of CareAlly.

CareAlly is a turnkey software solution that financial advisors can use to help clients and families navigate the financial and health related questions brought on by aging. We talk with Parker about the cost of the “sandwich generation tax,” ideas for initiating conversations about caregiving, tools and resources available through the CareAlly platform, and much more. If you have clients that are getting older, or clients whose loved ones are getting older, then this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

For more information:

www.Joincareally.com[email protected]

Kathleen and Brad speak with freelance journalist, keynote speaker, and nutrition educator Reyna Gobel. Reyna is a nationally recognized expert in college funding, student loans, and financial wellness who brings a unique background in journalism, education and nutrition to conversations about money, health and long-term wellbeing.

We hear from Reyna about how she went from journalism to getting a master’s degree in public health in nutrition; how financial advisors are well positioned to discuss the impact of nutrition on health care and life care planning; and the work she does creating custom wellness and personal finance educational programming and workshops for businesses and nonprofits. Reyna also shares her tips for how financial planners can best collaborate  with media sources. 

For More Information:

https://reynagobel.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/reynagobel/

https://walletsandwaistlines.com/

5 to 9 Things You Don’t Know About 529 Plans with Chris Stack

Hosts Brad Wright and Kevin Williams are joined by attorney and consultant, Chris Stack. -Chris is managing consultant, Savingforcollege.com, is a nationally recognized 529 authority and experienced in educational finance. An attorney for over 30 years, licensed in New York & Pennsylvania, Chris has experience in finance, investments and law relating to tax advantaged products, including Section 529, since it became federal law in 1996. - He has been credited for actively and successfully initiating, advocating and assisting in the 2022 federal tax law changes allowing for “leftover” 529 funds to be transferred to a Roth IRA. He’s also assisted several states and plan managers implementing their 529 investment plans that now service over $20B in assets. -Currently, Chris advises and consults with sponsoring state agencies, program managers and investment companies, and presents nationally to financial advisors, accountants, and attorneys on 529 plans. They discuss: -The effects of the Big Beautiful Bill on 529 plans -How to choose the right 529 plan -Rules around converting leftover 529 funds to a Roth IRA -Why 529 accounts should be considered as part of any estate plan

For more on Saving For College: Savingforcollege.com To contact Chris: [email protected]

Breaking Money Silence with Kathleen Burns Kingsbury

Kathleen and Kevin speak with money psychology expert Kathleen Burns Kingsbury. Kathleen is the founder of KBK Wealth Connection and a leading voice on women and money and breaking through emotional barriers that get in the way of productive money conversations. We discuss the importance of open financial conversations, gender differences in money attitudes, and strategies advisors can use to financially empower their female clients. We also talk about building negotiation confidence, the importance of male involvement in empowering women in financial advising and leadership roles, and the coaching work KBK does with women in finance and women in business to help them take their careers to the next level.

Learn more about KBK Wealth Connection

Connect with KBK on LinkedIn

Check out Breaking Money Silence: How to Shatter Money Taboos, Talk More Openly about Finances and Live a Richer Life

Download the Assessment Is Your Firm Ready to Serve the New Face of Wealth

Navigating Egos and Emotions During the College Planning Process – With Jack Wang

Hosts Kathleen Kenealy and Michael Connaughton speak with Jack Wang, a nationally recognized college funding expert who helps families answer two critical questions: how to lower the cost of college and how to pay for it without derailing their financial future.

Tune in to hear us talk about what the NFL draft has to do with the financial aid system; common misconceptions parents and students have about paying for college; why the phrase “ you can borrow for college but you can’t borrow for retirement” drives Jack bananas; and creative ways families can save and pay for college that don’t involve selling a kidney.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejackwang/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smart-college-buyer/id1800378410

[email protected]

The Human Side of Wealth: Navigating Family Dynamics – with Emily Bouchard

Kathleen and Brad speak with Emily Bouchard, founder of Bouchard Bespoke Consulting. 

Emily is a Chief Learning Officer and Family Dynamics Advisor for Family Offices and Financial Advisory Firms, working alongside financial advisors, estate attorneys, and family offices to address the human side of money.

We speak with Emily about her role as a listening coach and how she works with families to help them better communicate with full transparency and the steps she takes to help them assess, rebuild and sustain trust across all family members. We also talk about the importance of educating and preparing beneficiaries for the roles and responsibilities they will take on within the context of their family’s wealth. We learn what a “purposeful prenup” is, tips on how to navigate the fair versus equal debate, and different assessments advisors can think about implementing in their practice to help deepen conversations they’re having with families. 

If you’ve ever found yourself navigating tricky family dynamics in a client relationship this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

www.EmilyBouchard.com

Bringing the Human Element Back to Human Resources – with Angela Sarver

Hosts Kathleen Kenealy and Kevin Williams are joined by Angela Sarver, founder of EllieBlu HR Consulting. Angela is a human resources expert who specializes in consulting with independent financial advisors.  Angela is on a mission to bring the human element back to the workplace by helping business owners lead their teams more intentionally.

We discuss all the different ways that Angela supports the firms she works with, including how she helps her clients through all phases of employee recruitment and how she uses her own assessment tool to help business owners identify their hiring needs. We also talk about ways to assess candidates' skills and behaviors through structured interviews and case studies during the hiring process; the importance of establishing strong HR foundations early on to prevent potential future problems; and tips that firm leaders can use to shape their company’s culture and success while managing their teams effectively.

https://elliebluhr.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-sarver/

[email protected]