What if the real ROI of technology isn’t efficiency, but time?

In this conversation, Chip Kispert sits down with Rich Whalen, VP of Technology Strategy and Execution at Equity Services, Inc., to unpack how the right technology strategy can give advisors something far more valuable than speed: space to focus on clients. From his early days as an advisor to leading technology strategy at Equity Services, Rich shares how a single shift in workflow changed everything, and why most firms still get this wrong today.

You’ll hear how ESI approaches innovation differently, starting with data and process before tools, why advisor choice drives stronger adoption, and how AI should be approached with intention, not urgency. This episode is a grounded look at what actually works when building technology that supports real growth.

What to expect:

• Why “return on time” matters more than traditional ROI
• How better workflows can unlock 20+ hours per month
• The real reason most tech adoption fails in wealth management
• A practical framework for evaluating AI without risking trust
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert
• chipkispert@beaconstrategiesllc.com

Connect with Rich Whalen:

• LinkedIn: Rich Whalen
• LinkedIn: Equity Services Inc.
• Equity Services Inc.

About Our Guest:

Rich Whalen is the VP of Technology Strategy and Execution at Equity Services, Inc., where he leads platform development focused on improving advisor efficiency and client experience. With a background as a financial advisor, Rich brings a practical, user-first perspective to building technology that actually gets adopted and delivers meaningful impact.

What does AI actually look like inside a modern wealth management firm, and where is it creating real impact today?

In this conversation, Chip Kispert sits down with Brad Goodman, COO of Apollon Wealth Management, to unpack how fast-growing firms are using AI to streamline operations, improve advisor efficiency, and scale without losing what matters most: the client relationship. Brad shares a behind-the-scenes look at how thoughtful infrastructure, not just new tools, is shaping the future of advisory firms. If you’re thinking about growth, technology, or how to give time back to your advisors, this episode offers a clear, practical lens into what’s working right now.

What to expect:

• How AI is reducing meeting prep time and increasing advisor capacity
• Why owning your data and workflows matters more than chasing new tools
• The shift from fragmented tech stacks to integrated ecosystems
• How culture and technology must evolve together to support growth
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert
• chipkispert@beaconstrategiesllc.com

Connect with Brad Goodman

• Apollon Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: Apollon Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: Brad Goodman

About Our Guest:

Brad Goodman is the Chief Operating Officer at Apollon Wealth Management, one of the fastest-growing RIA firms in the country. With a background that spans leadership roles at William Blair and early-stage growth at Hightower Advisors, Brad brings deep experience in building infrastructure, scaling operations, and supporting advisor growth. He is particularly focused on how firms can use AI and technology to streamline workflows, improve client experience, and give advisors more time to focus on what matters most: meaningful client relationships.

Progress often starts with a hard look at what is actually working, not what looks good on a vendor slide. Wealth firms keep buying more technology, yet advisors still juggle too many logins, duplicate data entry, and workflows held together by workarounds.

In this episode, Chip Kispert sits down with Ryan George, CMO of Docupace, to unpack the tech stack myth in wealth management. They talk about why tech sprawl is creating friction instead of freedom, how AI can support operations and compliance without putting client data at risk, and why unstructured data has become a hidden liability that can hurt valuation, regulatory readiness, and M&A outcomes. Ryan also shares why the industry is closer to the “wealth transfer wave” than most people think, and what advisory firms may need to rethink as servicing models evolve.

Ryan discusses:

• Why does more software rarely fix a broken process, and how simplification becomes a real competitive advantage
• How AI is shifting from standalone tools to embedded capability, and why many firms are still hesitant to adopt
• What “data health” looks like in practice, and how unstructured archives can create real compliance and operational risk
• Why poor data hygiene can drag M&A timelines and impact valuation, and what acquirers are starting to pay for
• How the advisor role may change as automation reduces admin work, and why human connection becomes even more valuable
• Why marketing works best when it connects emotionally, not when it adds more noise to the inbox
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast
• Docupace

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert

Connect with Ryan George:

• Docupace
• LinkedIn: Docupace
• LinkedIn: Ryan George
• ryan_george@docupace.com

About Our Guest:

Ryan George is the Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, a firm that supports broker-dealers, RIAs, and hybrid firms with workflow, operations, and compliance technology. He brings a sharp, practical perspective on how firms can reduce friction, improve data quality, and build systems that support both advisors and enterprise leaders. Ryan is known for his candid take on industry trends and his focus on what actually moves the business forward.