Power Your Advice

Ryan Frederick , founder of Here.life , explains why “place planning” is an increasingly important—but often overlooked—factor in long-term wellbeing and financial outcomes. He argues that where people live has a profound impact on health, relationships, purpose, and spending, yet these decisions are often made reactively or reduced to housing or financial decisions. By viewing place through four...

Rob Arnott, Founder and Chairman of Research Affiliates , breaks down what he sees in today’s markets—from bubble-like pricing in some AI leaders to the behavioral traps that push investors toward the latest market fads. He emphasizes that advisors can add real value by countering the pull of popular narratives before they shape decisions. Arnott also points to the distortions created by cap-weigh...

Carly Brooks , Senior Vice President of Advanced Sales at Crump Life Insurance Services , outlines how the firm is elevating advanced planning from a technical resource into a true strategic partnership for financial professionals. She highlights Crump’s scale and depth of expertise, and how that support helps advisors guide clearer, more confident conversations around protection, retirement, and...

Wes Crill , Senior Client Solutions Director and a Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors , joins Doug to break down the biggest myths around “volatility-proofing” portfolios. He explains that reducing volatility always comes with trade-offs — most often in expected return — and that many investors underestimate how much is already achievable with traditional tools like disciplined global div...

Matt Kaufman , Global Head of ETFs at Calamos , returns with big news: CAIE has earned two major industry honors—the SRP Americas Most Innovative Product Award and Structured Product Intelligence’s Deal of the Year—rare recognition for an ETF in a category traditionally dominated by structured notes. Kaufman says the awards validate the core idea behind CAIE: bringing a complex autocallable note s...

Chris Cherry , Head of Partnerships at Future Proof , joins us to talk about Future Proof Citywide and how it expands on the Future Proof Festival model by moving into Miami Beach, allowing the event to grow beyond the Festival’s 5,000-person limit while keeping the same outdoor, relaxed, anti-conference feel. Citywide also introduces a rotating theme structure — Invest, Build, Grow, and Live — wi...

We welcome back Samantha Russell , Chief Evangelist at FMG , to break down the marketing shifts defining 2025 and how advisors can carry them into 2026. Samantha says AI has transformed both how content is made and how it’s found—shifting SEO into AEO, or answer engine optimization. Firms that structure Q&A content with schema, gather reviews, and earn media mentions are the ones AI will recog...

Kevin Flanagan , Head of Fixed Income Strategy at  WisdomTree , joins us to discuss how advisors can navigate uncertainty as the Fed manages policy in a “flying blind” environment. He explains why Treasury Floating Rate Notes remain a cornerstone even in a rate-cut cycle, how defining the true neutral rate will shape future decisions, and why concerns around Fed leadership changes may be overblown...

Alex Khassa , Founder and CEO of Clients Blackbox , joins us to discuss how financial advisors can grow more efficiently by shifting from demand capture to demand generation . He explains why traditional tactics—like buying leads or relying solely on referrals—limit scalability, and how educational marketing funnels help advisors connect with prospects earlier in their decision journey. Alex also...

Today we welcome back  Fred Kaynor , Managing Director at  DAFgiving360 . Fred explains how donor-advised funds have become an effective way for individuals and families to maximize their charitable giving, making the process simple, tax-smart, and impactful. Since inception, DAFgiving360 donors have granted more than $44 billion to over 280,000 organizations, including a record $8.9 billion last...

Mike Foy , Managing Director and Head of Wealth Intelligence at J.D. Power , shares insights from the 2025 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study . The research highlights a critical industry crossroads: investor demand for professional advice continues to rise, even as many seasoned advisors near retirement. Foy discusses the urgent need to attract younger and more diverse talent, build strong...

Matt Schiffman , founder of totumai , joins us to share how the platform is reshaping advisor-client communication. By combining personality science with artificial intelligence, totumai helps advisors move beyond demographic labels and understand how each client truly thinks, decides, and connects. Instead of one-size-fits-all messaging, advisors can tailor communication to fit personality, build...

Greg Banasz , Chief Marketing Officer at Steward Partners , shares how he brings the firm’s brand to life while empowering more than 200 independent advisors to express their individuality. Instead of a one-size-fits-all playbook, he offers a flexible “spice rack” of strategies—helping advisors mix and match tools that best support their goals in branding, communication, and growth. By putting col...

Ryan George , Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace , joins us to discuss how back-office innovation is helping advisors scale smarter. He shares his personal journey to Docupace and how the firm has grown into a 23-year-old leader in streamlining advisor operations, from account opening and compliance to compensation management and advisor transitions. He also highlights the company’s latest invest...

Jeremy Schwartz , Global CIO, and Sam Rines , Macro Strategist for Modern Portfolios at WisdomTree , join us to explore how today’s shifting geopolitical landscape is shaping new global investment strategies. Sam explains how Europe’s renewed focus on defense and infrastructure—driven by NATO spending commitments—is creating long-term momentum across industries. He highlights companies like Saab,...

Jason Bottenfield, Managing Partner at Park Cities Group within Steward Partners, joins us to share the story of his unique path from professional baseball to wealth management. He reflects on how the discipline and resilience he developed as an athlete helped him navigate the early challenges of breaking into the industry—without connections or a finance degree—and how those lessons continue to s...

Dan Bjerke , President of Digital Wealth at InvestCloud , joins us to discuss how the firm is tackling one of wealth management’s biggest pain points — fragmented technology and siloed data. With 35 years in financial services technology, Dan explains how disconnected systems drain advisor productivity and weaken client experiences. He outlines InvestCloud’s approach to unifying systems through a...

Susan McKenna , CEO of eMoney Advisor , joins us to discuss the company’s evolution as it marks its 25th anniversary. She shares her path from tech-focused marketing leader to CEO, and how eMoney has stayed true to its planning-first mission while adapting to changing market needs. Susan reflects on its unique culture, dedication to client service, and the importance of equipping advisors with the...

We sit down with James Sahagian, Managing Partner at Ramapo Wealth Advisors within Steward Partners, to explore his path from an early fascination with financial markets to leading a client-focused, team-based practice. He highlights Steward’s responsive culture and commitment to innovation, which have expanded his team’s capabilities through educational seminars, digital platforms, and a holistic...

In this episode, we catch up with Anuj Gupta , Head of Sales Engineering, and Blake Wood , Head of Platform Strategy at Envestnet . They walk us through how Envestnet is helping advisors scale personalization and drive efficiency across their practices. From AI-powered insights and tax-aware investment tools to client review automation and UMA flexibility, Blake and Anuj highlight the innovations...

We catch up with Tim Burklow , Managing Director and Wealth Advisor at Mainstay Wealth Management within Steward Partners . Tim shares his journey from being inspired by his father’s advisor to building a successful career in financial services, including over three decades with a single firm. He explains what ultimately led him to make the leap to Steward Partners and the importance of preparing...

Thomas Moore , Head of Betterment Advisor Solutions , shares how Betterment is reimagining custody and advisor technology to help modern RIAs scale efficiently. Drawing on his background at legacy institutions, Moore explains how Betterment’s all-in-one, tech-forward platform integrates portfolio management, billing, and reporting—eliminating inefficiencies and streamlining advisor workflows. Inno...

Today we catch up with Samantha Russell , Chief Evangelist at FMG , to talk about how AI is reshaping the way people search for financial advice—and what that means for advisors. With most Google searches now ending in AI summaries instead of clicks, and more people turning to tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, visibility strategies have to change. Samantha breaks it down: focus on real reviews, b...

In this episode we sit down with Matt Kaufman , Global Head of ETFs at Calamos , to explore how the firm is translating decades of institutional expertise into modern ETF solutions. Kaufman shares insights from his 23-year career—from helping pioneer smart beta ETFs to creating defined outcome strategies—and how those experiences now fuel Calamos’ approach to options-based income strategies....

We sit down with Mohan Gurupackiam , Chief Information Officer at Steward Partners , to explore how smart tech strategy can fuel advisor success. Mohan explains why Steward avoids one-size-fits-all solutions, instead building a flexible stack shaped by advisor feedback, evolving business models, and demographic trends. With a strong data foundation and a focus on usability and cost efficiency, the...