Focused on the Future

For financial advisors who hope to become firm owners, succession planning involves more than transferring equity. It means navigating difficult conversations, earning a founder’s trust and preparing to lead before the ownership transition is complete. In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Jorge Padilla, CEO of Meira Wealth, about his journey from intern...

RIA leaders are often under pressure to keep growing, but growth can expose weaknesses in technology, infrastructure and advisor support. Sometimes the better decision is to strengthen the foundation before pushing for more scale. In this episode of Focused On The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Stan Gregor, CEO and chairman of Summit Financial, about building an advisory firm prepared f...

How can financial advisors grow their practice while maintaining strong client relationships? What does it take to develop future generations of advisors while keeping the human side of advice at the center? In this episode of Focused On The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse sits down with Jim Mellin, president of advice and wealth management at Equitable Advisors, to talk about building sustainable a...

What will financial advisors and wealth management firms need to prepare for as consumer expectations, technology and the financial planning profession continue to change? From attracting the next generation of financial planners to using AI responsibly, the profession is facing decisions that could shape how advisors build trust, serve clients and grow in the years ahead. In this episode of Focus...

Financial advisors can build meaningful businesses by understanding the people and communities they serve beyond the numbers.  What changes when advice starts with listening, culture, trust and behavior? In this episode of Focused On The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Louis Barajas, CEO and wealth advisor of International Private Wealth Advisors, about his journey from East Los Angeles...

Growing an advisory firm requires more than attracting new clients. It requires clarity around the type of business you want to build, the systems that support it and the people who help move it forward. How do you decide whether growth, independence or a different path is right for your firm? How do you create an organization that reflects your long-term goals? In this episode of Focused On The F...

Growth is a priority for many advisory firms, but building a business that can continue growing while serving clients well requires thoughtful planning. What separates firms that continue attracting advisors and clients from those that struggle to scale? How can technology, business development and hiring decisions shape the future of an advisory business? In this episode of Focused On The Future,...

Traditional financial planning assumes a familiar life path, but what happens when that doesn’t include children? Many advisors unknowingly rely on planning frameworks built around legacy, inheritance and next-generation wealth transfer. For millions of people, those assumptions simply don’t fit. In this episode, Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Dr. Jay Zigmont, founder and CEO of Childfre...

Marketing is changing fast, and many advisors are wondering how to stay visible as artificial intelligence tools reshape the way people search for information. How can firms stand out when clients are asking questions directly to AI platforms instead of clicking through websites? What signals actually help advisors get noticed online today? In this episode of Focused on the Future, Suzanne Siracus...

What happens when technology removes friction instead of adding to it? And how does that shift reshape the value of human advice? In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse interviews Dani Fava, chief strategy officer at Carson Group, about how artificial intelligence is transforming financial advice by increasing advisor capacity and enhancing client relationships. Dani share...

What truly drives long-term growth in a financial advisory business? Is it better tools, stronger strategies, or something far more human at the core? In this first episode of season 4 of the Focused on the Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse interviews Dany Martin, partner and wealth advisor at WFA, about how relationship-first thinking shapes a sustainable advisory business. He shares how earl...

Many people want guidance that truly supports their goals, yet the way advice is delivered can shape how confident they feel. How do you create space for every voice at the table? How do you build a client experience that reflects communication, care and long-term thinking? In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Cary Carbonaro, CFP, MBA, author, fee-only financi...

Building a firm that reflects your values does not happen by accident. In this episode of Focused on the Future, host  Suzanne Siracuse talks with Julia Carlson, founder and CEO of Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group, about creating an inclusive culture, serving clients without traditional minimums and using technology to strengthen relationships. Julia also shares insights from her new book...

Partnership in life and business takes communication, balance and understanding, and when money enters the mix, the stakes are even higher. In this episode of the Focused on The Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Douglas and Heather Boneparth, the husband-and-wife team behind Bone Fide Wealth, about how their personal and professional lives intersect, the inspiration behind their new...

What happens when a schoolteacher from Ireland follows her curiosity halfway across the world and ends up helping shape one of the nation’s largest wealth management firms? In this episode of the Focused on the Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Claire O’Keefe, partner and head of partner development at Cerity Partners, about her unconventional journey from education to wealth manage...

In this episode of Focused on The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Pammi Bhullar, senior director of corporate citizenship at Edelman Financial Engines, about how the firm integrates purpose into its culture and client impact. Pammi shares her career journey across multiple sectors and why she chose Edelman to align her passion for helping others with financial planning. She explains how...

In this episode of Focused on The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Michael Brady, founder and president of Generosity Wealth Management, about how he built a firm dedicated to aligning wealth with purpose and possibility. Michael shares how his early mentors shaped his people-first approach to advising, and the client story that inspired him to create a values-driven practice centered on...

When your career path zigzags from Wall Street to pastry kitchens and back to finance, you pick up lessons most playbooks miss. In this episode of the Focused on the Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Bridget Venus Grimes, CFP, founder and president of WealthChoice and co‑founder of Equita Financial Network, about centering a firm on breadwinner women, elevating Gen Z through a Risin...

In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Liz Miller, founder and president of Summit Place Financial Advisors and current chair of the CFP Board, about how she’s built a purpose-driven firm that prioritizes clarity, culture, and continuous evolution. Liz shares her journey from institutional portfolio management to launching a boutique firm focused on multigenera...

In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Lee Korn, co-founder of Opal Wealth Advisors, about how his firm is growing by focusing on people, purpose and process. Lee explains how Opal begins every client relationship by uncovering meaningful life goals, not just financial ones, using a discovery process rooted in George Kinder’s life planning framework. While AI t...

In the latest Focus on the Future podcast episode, industry veteran Suzanne Siracuse chats with Tom Orecchio, CEO of Modera Wealth Management, about the evolving dynamics and secrets to building a successful financial advisory firm. Tom brings in his wealth of experience, sharing stories from his inspiring journey into financial planning and revealing why he continues to foster long-term client re...

In this all-new episode of Focused on the Future, Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Kevin Keller, CEO of the CFP Board, about the evolving landscape of financial advice and the growing importance of holistic financial planning. Kevin highlights the industry’s shift from a focus on investment management to comprehensive financial advice, a change embraced by firms large and small, benefiting both adviso...

In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse kicks off Season 3 with a powerful conversation with Katrina Radenberg, chief investment officer of Mariner and president of the Mariner Foundation. Katrina shares her unique path from investment analyst to C-suite leader, the importance of mentorship and how intentional partnerships and niche marketing are fueling Mariner’s organic g...

In this episode, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse hosts the dynamic duo of Shannon Spotswood, CEO, and Abby Salameh, chief growth officer, from RFG Advisory. Listen as they wrap up Season 2 with an insightful discussion on what it takes to build the RIA of the future. From effective strategies for driving organic growth to fostering a thriving firm culture and community, this is a must-lis...

What does it take to build a future-proof financial advisory business?  Veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse sits down with Jon Jones, CEO and co-founder of Brighton Jones, to explore his incredible journey from small-town beginnings to leading a $30 billion RIA.  In this episode of the Focused on the Future podcast, Jon reveals how a client-centric, holistic approach has propelled his firm to...