Work Ethic

How is AI specifically impacting the wealth and investing industry? Today's episode pulls together insights from recent guests on how AI is shaping the future.

In this episode you’ll hear from:

• Adam Katz - Partner and Head of Founder and Entrepreneur Group at Corient
• Kelly Coffey - Co-founder of Verita Strategic Wealth Partners
• Gary Hirschberg - CEO of Aaron Wealth
• Ron Albahary - CIO of LNW
• Tripp Friedler - CEO of Free Gulliver

Timestamps:

00:00 - What 5 Wealth Leaders Really Think About AI

01:11 - AI is Inventing Hours (Adam Katz)

04:06 - Starting an AI-Native Wealth Firm (Kelly Coffey)

08:10 - AI for Institutional Due Diligence (Gary Hirschberg)

10:34 - Cutting the Cord on Old Tech (Ron Albahary)

14:22 - “I Was a Skeptic.” (Tripp Friedler)

17:36 - Will AI Destroy Jobs?

19:26 - The Big Takeaway

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Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Today, we're going in depth with Michel Del Buono. Michel is the chief investment officer of a16z Perennial. With a career spent leading investment strategy, he brings global knowledge and innovative thinking to help make sense of complex markets.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why you don’t need to over-engineer your career
• How wealth is a much more complicated optimization problem
• Why it’s important to broaden your aperture

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:41 - The Investor Who Fixes His Own Air Conditioner

03:20 - How Living Across Continents Shaped His Thinking

05:15 - The Renegade Quant

09:26 - Why You Don’t Need a Master Plan

10:57 - What the E&F World Taught Him About Choosing People

13:05 - The Multidisciplinary Challenge of Wealth Management

16:45 - The Mistake That Changed How He Builds Teams

19:22 - Recruiting Teams: Looking for the Player/Coach

23:45 - Inside a16z Perennial’s Investment Philosophy

28:08 - How AI Will Transform Wealth Management

30:10 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions

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Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter https://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Find out more about Michel and a16z Perennial (​​https://a16z.com/author/michel-del-buono/)

Connect with Michel on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdelbuono/)

Today, we're going in depth with Matthew Weatherley-White, partner at Sorensen Impact Advisory. Matthew has spent three decades at the intersection of finance and impact, helping families and institutions align their capital with their mission.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why you should challenge the default playbook
• How independent thinking is a competitive advantage
• Why sometimes you hire for skill, and other times you hire for culture fit
• That true fulfillment comes from aligning work with meaning

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:25 - From Private Chef to Finance

05:30 - Why Independent Thinking Is Rare in Finance

06:39 - Challenging the Cold-Calling Playbook

08:07 - Converting His First $10M Client

09:34 - Why He Started His Own Firm

13:44 - Hiring: Skill vs. Culture Fit

15:05 - Leadership Philosophy: Setting High Standards

18:01 - How Wealth Management is Evolving

20:30 - The Future of Impact Investing

22:36 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions

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Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Find out more about Sorenson Impact Advisory (https://sorensonimpact.com/impact-advisory/)

Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-weatherley-white-4ab3a84/)

Today, we’re going in-depth with Steve Tenney. After a 30-year career as a leader in wealth management, including as Founder and CEO at $700MM RIA Great Diamond Partners, Steve launched Grandview & Co to be the coach to RIAs that he wished he had. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How relentless effort and persistence can open doors that strategy alone cannot, especially when starting out without a network
• How struggles can become superpowers
• How true leadership means making yourself less important
• The advice that Steve wished he had over his 30-year career

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:37 - How Steve Turned Dyslexia Into a Superpower

04:12 - The Conversation With His Father That Led Steve Into Wealth Management

07:08 - Career Beginnings—Cold Calling the White Pages and Winning Clients

10:31 - The Moment Steve Went Independent and Started His Own Firm

13:36 - The Biggest Mistakes Steve Made (So You Don’t Have To)

17:03 - What Steve Looks for When Hiring Talent

20:20 - The Family Story Behind Grandview

23:14 - Becoming the Coach He Wishes He Had Over His 30-Year Career

26:57 - Steve’s Leadership Philosophy

30:07 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions

—

Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Find out more about Steve and Grandview & Co (https://www.grandviewandco.com/)

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/steventenney/)

Today, we go in-depth with Gary Hirschberg, Founder and CEO of Aaron Wealth Advisors. He helps ultra high net worth families navigate the complex business of managing their wealth, always guided by the values and perspectives shaped by his roots.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why simplicity wins in a complex industry
• Why you shouldn’t wait too long to take the leap and go independent
• Great work ethic = initiative without noise
• Your brand is built on values, not marketing

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:14 - From Archaeology to Wealth Management - How an Interest in History Shaped His Career

02:47 - Losing a Business in 4 Months and What Early Failure Taught Him

04:44 - How Fundraising Became His Entry Into the Wealth World

06:47 - Why Complexity is Overrated - “If I can’t explain it to a client, we don’t do it.”

07:56 - Why He Left Goldman to Start His Own Firm

10:26 - The Story Behind “Aaron Wealth”

13:36 - Gary’s Rigorous Interview Process for Hiring Top Advisors

14:55 - Scaling to $5B (Without Breaking the Firm)

16:28 - The Hardest Part of Scaling Culture

18:36 - How AI Will Change Wealth Management

21:00 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions

—

Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Find out more about Gary and Aaron Wealth (https://aaronwealth.com/team/gary-hirschberg-j-d/)

Connect with Gary on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-hirschberg/

Today, we go in-depth with Cameron Dawson, Chief Investment Officer at NewEdge Wealth. She's known for insightful and distinctive financial commentary, which you may have seen on Bloomberg, CNBC, or other media outlets.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Volatility is feature, not a bug
• The biggest investor mistake is emotional timing
• Hard work alone isn’t enough–you need to find the right river to swim in
• Curiosity = Work Ethic

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:20 - The Childhood Video Cameron Doesn’t Want You To See

02:58 - How Quitting High School to Dance Ballet Taught Cameron the Lessons Needed for Her Career Today

05:42 - Cameron’s Early Years in Finance and “Finding the Right River to Swim In”

10:58 - The Previous Bosses She Tries to Emulate Today

16:01 - To Recruit Talent, Take the Bureaucracy Out of Hiring

18:30 - Why a Flat Structure Works at Her Firm

21:57 - The Most Important Initiatives NewEdge is Prioritizing Right Now to Meet the Pace of Technological Innovation

25:34 - Why the Wealth Industry Is Far More Complex Than People Think

27:39 - How To Navigate Complex Situations and Emotions with a Steady Hand

33:02 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions

—

Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Find out more about Cameron and NewEdge (https://www.newedgewealth.com/team/cameron-dawson/

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-dawson-cfa-89754b22/)

Today, we go in-depth with Ron Albahary, Chief Investment Officer at LNW where he determines overall investment strategy.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• That great investors understand humans, not just markets
• That risk is psychological, not just mathematical
• How vulnerability is a leadership advantage
• Why innovation = solving problems, not launching products

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:17 - Ron’s Childhood Artistic Passion

02:52 - The Lessons he Learned from Moving Between Five Countries Before the Age of Eighteen

05:52 - Ron’s Beginnings in Wealth Management, from Building Out New Concepts to his First Experience Working Directly with Clients

09:28 - The Psychological Trick that Changes How Investors See Risk

11:26 - Ron’s Leadership Philosophy and Why Vulnerability is Crucial

14:16 - The Initiatives at LNW that Ron is Prioritizing Right Now, Applying a Multi-Generational View

16:08 - How Ron Sees Impact Investing and Why He Hopes We Stop Talking About It

19:21 - How AI Can Maximize the Return on the Investment of Time

23:32 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions

—

Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Find out more about Ron and LNW (https://lnwadvisors.com/bio/ronald-g-albahary/)

Connect with Ron on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-albahary-cfa/)

Today, we go in-depth with Yie-Hsin Hung, President and CEO of State Street Investment Management, one of the world’s largest asset managers.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How Yie-Hsin built a strong non-linear career by making thoughtful pivots toward opportunity and skill-building
• How she’s navigating rapidly evolving markets, AI, and shifting investor expectations
• Why great leadership today requires adaptability, continuous learning, and the confidence to evolve

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:24 - Yie-Hsin’s Background: Growing Up in Pittsburgh, Dance, and Engineering

03:15 - How Yie-Hsin Uses an Engineering Mindset to Solve Complex Problems

04:37 - How She Pivoted Into Asset Management From Engineering

07:37 - How Mentors Can Make a Real Impact

10:05 - Why Building Culture Has Become a Big Focus and How It Impacts Hiring

14:08 - The Initiatives at State Street that Yie-Hsin is Prioritizing Right Now, Amid Rapid Technological Change

24:20 - How the Next Generation is Changing Investing (U.S. and Global)

27:12 - How Raising an Autistic Child Influenced the Way that Yie-Hsin Views the World

28:45 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions

—

Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Find out more about Yie-Hsin and State Street Investment Management (https://www.statestreet.com/us/en/about/our-people/leadership/yie-hsin-hung)

Connect with Yie-Hsin on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/yiehsinhung/)

Doug Scott is the co-founder and CEO of Ethic and the host of Work Ethic. In this special bonus episode, Doug trades places to answer the same rapid-fire questions he asks every guest.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:04 - What Does Work Ethic Mean to You?

02:52 - What Do People Get Wrong About Work Ethic?

03:50 - What Advice Do You Have for Aspiring Leaders in Wealth Management?

—

Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Connect with Doug on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwascott/)

Today, we're going in depth with Greg Brown, the Co-CEO of Caprock, an independent multi-family office serving ultra–high-net-worth families. Before leading Caprock, he built a career as an entrepreneur and investor — experience that now shapes his approach.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How Greg and his team built Caprock from the ground up, bootstrapping without outside capital and taking seven years to reach their first $1B
• How the lessons he previously learned from tech entrepreneurship helped him think about serving ultra–high-net-worth families
• How a CEO thinks about recruiting, techstacks, A.I., and the dealing with pace of change

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction

01:14 - Fun special skills and playing in a cover band

03:13 - Greg’s early days as a tech entrepreneur—the lessons he learned and how being “unhirable” led to entrepreneurship

05:10 - Moving into the wealth space and starting Caprock

08:02 - The early years of Caprock—bootstrapping to the first $1B

16:05 - What Greg looks for when recruiting talent

19:04 - Leadership philosophies and why there are nights he does dishes at his own firm

20:53 - Changes and innovations in the wealth space that Greg is paying attention to

28:45 - Work Ethic Rapid Fire Questions

—

Just a heads up: this podcast is for information purposes only. Read more about Work Ethic and subscribe to our newsletter http://ethic.com/work

Connect with Ethic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethic)

Find out more about Greg and Caprock (https://caprock.com/about/our-team/gregory-brown/)

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorybrown/)