The Flexible Advisor

How can financial advisors embrace generative AI? Today on The Flexible Advisor, Laura Gregg and David Partain welcome Darren Tedesco, President of Advisor360°, to explore generative AI’s impact on the financial services industry. They talk about how most advisors see AI as an opportunity, not a threat, with the potential to serve more clients efficiently. However, data quality and compliance are...

Understanding the variety of healthcare plans available to consumers, the nuances of cost and coverage, and Medicare’s inexplicable geographic variations, is no small feat. Yet, when it comes to estimating healthcare expenses, advisors have had few, if any, solutions at their disposal.  In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with Christine Simone, CEO of Caribou Wealth, about the chal...

Amid the Great Wealth Transfer, advisors are seeing a paradigm shift in the way clients are approaching their wealth and legacy strategies. In the second of a two-part series with Nikè Anani, Director of Next Generation for Northern Trust Wealth Management, The Flexible Advisor podcast looks at some ways in which advisors can help satisfy the objectives of a new, Rising Generation. Nikè discusses:...

The emerging generation of adults — particularly family business owners — are grappling with challenges and responsibilities their parents did not. In this episode, Laura Gregg speaks with Nikè Anani, Director of Next Generation at Northern Trust Wealth Management. Based on personal experience running her own enterprising family office and finding her joy and purpose in consult...

How generative AI could transform your practice. In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with John Prendergast, co- founder and CEO of Blueleaf. John puts the strengths (and shortcomings) of generative AI into context for advisors – and suggests how this “lazy intern” should be managed. John discusses: ● What generative AI is, how it evolved, and what it’s capable of ● Some concerns an...

Helping clients address multiple objectives can be fraught with any number of misconceptions, ingrained assumptions, and fears. Laura Gregg and David Partain talked with Sarah Newcomb, Ph. D., founder of The Thrive Financial Empowerment Center, to talk about balancing the desire to finance children’s higher education with the need to work toward a secure retirement. Leaning into core tenets of beh...

Many advisors have yet to move beyond a vague idea of what a succession plan might look like, let alone formalizing one. While the concept of succession should be considered in every stage of your business, it becomes critical in the later stages. In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with Linda Willis, founder and CEO of Career Management Advisors Consulting (CMA) about the importan...

As The Flexible Advisor marks its 100 th episode, content marketing strategist Matt Halloran joins hosts Laura Gregg and David Partain to discuss the podcast’s genesis, evolving scope, and most impactful topics. Originally focusing on proprietary research, The Flexible Advisor has become a dynamic forum exploring multiple aspects of many topics concerning financial advisors and planners  In t...

Limited access and chronic under-saving continue to leave many Americans ill-equipped for retirement. New legislation may have a meaningful impact in getting more people access and saving in workplace sponsored retirement plans. In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain are joined by Lee Freitag, former practice lead of the Retirement Solutions Group at Northern Trust Asset Management to disc...

Creating a distinct personal brand may be the most important (and underestimated) thing you can do to attract ideal clients and enhance your practice.  In this podcast episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain invite Susan Danzig, a certified business development coach, to discuss how your brand can help clients and prospects understand who you are and what you can provide.   Susan dis...

We know that internal biases form specific client personas which, in turn, shape a person’s approach to making financial decisions. Financial professionals can use those biases as a “nudge” rather than an obstacle to build more productive client relationships.  In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Patrick Fagan, Chief Scientific Officer at Capuchin Behavioral Science, about us...

The rapid expansion of social media and artificial intelligence within the financial services space holds undeniable implications for the advisor/client dynamic – particularly when it comes to young investors.  Ryan George, Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, shares insights from his firm’s recent white paper — Five Ways to Capitalize on the Changing Attitudes of American Investors. Laura Gr...

Why pay a financial advisor for services available on a host of digital platforms?  Today’s clients expect more from a paid financial professional than a diversified investment portfolio. They appreciate advice, but they expect a plan.  In this episode, Laura Gregg speaks with Chazz Logue, Regional Director and Business Development Team Lead of Advice and Financial Planning at MassMutual...

The new generation of investors includes a growing and influential population: childless/child-free clients. They present a distinctly unique set of priorities, objectives, concerns, and expectations.  In this episode, Pamela Lucina, President of the Northern Trust Institute and Head of Trust and Advisory Practice, talks with Laura Gregg and David Partain about this demographic, and why advis...

Clients who feel engaged in the planning process are more likely to have a positive experience. But how do you better engage clients in the process? In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Brad Connors, CEO of iWealth. Brad talks about iWealth’s proprietary software, FDC Plan on Purpose , which helps advisors demonstrate their value and elevate the client experience through clien...

It’s not just you. Most advisors face the same challenge. Your client base is broadening and diversifying. You need to provide more sophisticated, more personalized solutions but where do you find the right resources? In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Lacy Garcia, Founder and CEO of Willow, an award-winning financial technology and guidance platform. Her mission: To equip a...

Building a practice from scratch after years in a large-team environment may not be easy, but it can be immensely rewarding. In this episode, we invited Kaysian Gordon, Founder and Wealth Advisor at Kaysi Gordon Financial Planning, to talk about how she came to that decision, and the lessons she has learned that can benefit any advisor no matter what their career plan.  Kaysian discusses:  He...

It’s True: GRIT can be a game-changer.  In this episode, Austin Hatch – a motivational speaker, athlete, and remarkable survivor—shares his inspiring journey and lessons that can help others respond to unexpected circumstances. Tune in for Austin’s powerful story and learn how the G.R.I.T. framework can help managers adapt to today’s challenges.  Austin discusses:  Helping oth...

What has changed in the advisor landscape? What are advisors doing differently? In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with Michelle Lynn, Global Head of Data Science and Insights at Bloomberg Media Organization about the research she leads on the state of the advisor landscape. Michelle explains why Bloomberg supports this long-running study and discusses highlights from its findings...

Are you familiar with the SEC’s 206(4) proposal? Will you be compliant?  In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain are joined by Paul Binnion of Hanlon Investment Management to consider the intent and potential impact of the proposal.  If you outsource certain investment functions or have been evaluating third-party service providers, join us to learn more. Paul discusses:  Cor...

How can your favorite pastime — running, cooking, travel… whatever — boost your performance, increase job satisfaction, build a stronger team culture?  In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Regina Huber, the CEO and founder of Transform Your Performance, about the powerful connection between our hobbies and our professional lives.   Regina discusses:  Her personal experience of...

Just as people look online to check a restaurant or service provider before making a reservation or appointment, prospects and referrals are probably vetting you (among others) to determine whether to contact you. Who are they seeing?  In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain dive into the world of digital marketing and personal branding with April Rudin, founder and president of the Rudin G...

What are your clients not telling you? What could you do differently to earn greater trust?  In this episode, Laura Gregg talks with Barnaby Riedel, one of the architects of FlexShares’ behavioral study on growing wallet share. The findings provide a sensible groundwork to build more productive and mutually rewarding client relationships.  Barnaby discusses: His firm, RDCL, and its work in the fin...

Provide good numbers and exceptional service and you’ll have a satisfied client. Create a personal connection, and you may be surprised at the results.  In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with financial advisor Brendan Frazier, founder of Wired Planning and host of The Human Side of Money podcast. Brendan offers three simple steps to help you exceed mere ‘satisfaction’ in y...

Most advisors recognize that, when it comes to making investment decisions, a client’s emotions can derail a plan. Equipping yourself with knowledge on behavioral finance and financial personas could be the key to a more successful approach to ensuring your clients stick to their plan.  In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with Michael Pompian , CFA, CAIA, CFP, an author and a...