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In this episode, we discuss why The Great Wealth Transfer is often overstated and we add some nuance to that conversation, how wealth managers should rethink their strategies to better serve the next generation, what product innovations are true innovations and which are overhyped and why next gen investments like tokenization & sports betting may be here to stay, for better or for worse

• Why does Chip believe that the traditional narrative around “The Great Wealth Transfer” is overstated and how there is an under appreciated horizontal wealth transfer happening right now. What does this mean for advisors in practice?
• How should wealth managers rethink their client strategies to serve this next generation effectively?
• How does Chip see independent advisors competing in a landscape that includes “The Big 4,” roboadvisors and other new developments?
• How might the trends of RIA mergers, and the growing number of companies that run 401k plans, might affect everyday investors and financial advisors?
• What product innovations excited Chip most and which does he think are overhyped?
• Are “next gen investments,” such as sports betting, tokenization and meme coins, just fringe curiosities or signals of something broader in terms of investing?
• What best practices, in terms of marketing, does Chip see that separates firms that grow versus ones that stall?
• How far does Chip think we are from genuine, scaleable human-grade AI advice?
• Across investment management, wealth tech and advice Chip sees venture capital, mergers & acquisitions and IPOs accelerating - in short, what does this mean for advisors choosing partners or platforms?
• What is Chip’s headline for where the industry is heading in the next 3-5 years?
• How does Chip maintain his energy, decision making clarity and balance?
• What habits or practices does Chip believe consistently show up among the top performers in their field?
• If Chip had to summarize his personal philosophy on performance, professional or personal, what would it be?

Quotes

“The generational wealth transfer is the headline, yes it’s 100 Trillion, but don’t forget about the liquidation, don’t forget about the spouse-to-spouse horizontal transfer and don’t forget about healthcare expenses at the end…that [money] will go to the insurance company, not to the kids.” - [03:48] Chip Roame

“On the horizon, we would suggest that…the consolidation of the consolidators…is coming to a station near you soon here. You’re going to wake up someday and Mercer will have bought Mariner, or Mariner will have bought Cap Trust…or something like that. You’re going to see the big firms start merging with each other at some point. Again, if you know history, that’s how the wire houses became the wire houses…so nothing all that unique about predicting the consolidation of the consolidators, but you haven’t really seen it get started yet, so I think that’s going to happen.” - Chip Roame

Links

• Chip Roame on LinkedIn
• “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”
• Tiburon Strategic Advisors

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss how to foster cross-functional collaboration when silos start to form, what leadership practices are transferable across different disciplines, how the Fintech industry will continue to shape the investment landscape and much more.

• What first drew Chris into the fintech and financial services industry and what helps him stay energized about it today?
• As Chris looks back over his career, what are some common threads across his senior leadership roles?
• What are some of the ways that Chris has successfully fostered cross-functional collaboration when silos start to form?
• How do you build a culture where accountability is embraced rather than feared?
• What leadership practice has been most transferable across different industries in Chris’s experience?
• From Chris’s perspective, how critical is unique insight and consistent high-quality information when you’re talking about successful investing?
• How does Chris see the Fintech industry continuing to shape the investment landscape, particularly for advisors trying to deliver better outcomes to clients?
• How do “ultrahiking” and other wellness activities help shape Chris’s leadership and decision making process?
• What practices does Chris rely on for recovery after feats of endurance?
• How does Chris maintain energy and focus while he is balancing some of these demanding professional responsibilities?
• If Chris could give one piece of advice to young professionals about sustaining a career over the long run, what would it be?
• Looking ahead, what excites Chris the most about the future of fintech and financial services?
• What does living life to the fullest look like for Chris?
• What does “invest well, be well” mean to Chris personally?

Quote

“I look at accountability [and] it’s not punishment, it’s ownership, right? I focus on building a culture where people feel trusted to make decisions and actually feel supported when things are not going as planned. So, when leaders model accountability with either transparency or humility, it becomes something that the organization should value and not really avoid.” - [06:33] Chris Riggio

Links

• Chris Riggio on LinkedIn
• “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
• LegitScript

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss why ETFs are such a powerful tool for wiser investing, how the ETF industry may evolve going forward and lessons of resilience from Allison who lost her home and all her belongings to the LA wildfires.

• Learn more about Allison’s career and what led her to her current role at State Street Investment Management
• What does Allison believe are the qualities that make a “wise investor?”
• From Allison’s vantage point, why are ETFs such a powerful tool for wiser investing and how does she see their role evolving in the years ahead?
• Aside from manufacturing dependable investment strategies and solutions, how does State Street Investment Management help advisors and investors put wiser investment into practice?
• What daily or weekly practices does Allison use to keep her own focus and decision making sharp?
• What practices has Allison found that build resilience and sustain performance for teams, especially when markets get tough?
• How did Allison get through losing her home and all her belongings in the recent LA fires?
• How does Allison’s experience with the fires apply to building resilient portfolios for investors?
• What habits, or mindset shifts, have been most critical for Allison as she has rebuilt her life after the fires?

Quote

“The global financial crisis turned out to be a really significant accelerator for the ETF industry. The reason why that happened was because it underscored their value of liquidity, the value of transparency and the value diversification. So, the GFM was this big accelerator for the industry as it shifted from Mutual Funds to ETFs.” - [09:06] Allison Bonds Mazza

Links

• Allison Bonds Mazza on LinkedIn
• State Street Global Advisors
• “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss the importance of storytelling and laughter in building client relationships, some tips for preparing for big public speaking engagements, tips for non-verbal communication in online conferencing and much more.

• Learn about Arthur’s professional journey and how he got to where he is today.
• Why does Arthur think communication is so important for professionals who need to guide clients with clarity and confidence?
• What is Arthur’s overall philosophy when it comes to communicating effectively?
• What role can storytelling play in financial advising and similar professions? Why do “facts fade and stories stick?”
• How does Arthur prepare for a big public speaking engagement?
• What are some techniques for drawing in an audience’s focus when a topic is dry and numbers heavy, like finance?
• What feedback mechanisms has Arthur found most useful for improving his own speaking practice?
• How does Arthur adjust his presentation style to suit the different types of audiences he encounters?
• What does Arthur think are some common communication habits or patterns that tend to erode confidence and how can financial advisors correct them?
• Does Arthur have any tips for using non-verbal communication, particularly when interacting on online conferencing?
• How can performers ensure that they are coming across as authentic?
• What daily or weekly routines help Arthur stay sharp physically, mentally and emotionally?
• How has Arthur learned from his failures, either professionally or personally?
• What practices does Arthur have in terms of life-long learning?
• What roles do discipline, consistency and mindset play vs. raw talent in terms of the performing arts?

Quote

“Victor Borge…had a great quote, and it was ‘laughter is the shortest distance between two people.’ I think that is so true. If you want to get someone to consider your point of view, get them to laugh. It lowers all the defenses - all the chemicals change in the body, the oxytocin shows up instead of the cortisol. I think that’s something that we forget, on a conscious level, but when we remind ourselves to do it…it makes a big difference when you’re working with your client.” - [05:35] Arthur Fratelli

Links

• Arthur Fratelli on LinkedIn
• “Hold Your Head Up” by Rod Argent
• The Amazing Arthur
• Arthur’s Linktree
• TedX Talk

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss how tokenization will change the future of asset management, alternative investments, artificial intelligence and how functional medicine can improve performance in your life and career.

• What drew Skyler to alternatives and digital assets originally?
• How does Skylar define alternative investments?
• What role should alternatives play in building sound, long-term portfolios along with traditional asset classes?
• How should investors and advisors think about liquidity trade-offs when investing in alts?
• How does Skylar explain what tokenization means in practical terms to investors that are new to the idea?
• What are some other real world assets that Skyler is seeing being tokenized today and where does he think is the strongest momentum?
• What are some of the risks, or challenges, that still exist with tokenization?
• How are people using AI solutions in the fund services and asset management industry, how should they be using it and how is it upscaling for investment professionals?
• What sparked Skylar’s interest in functional medicine and biohacking?
• What are some of Skylar’s daily or weekly practices that help him maintain energy and clarity?
• Does Skylar see a difference in his professional performance as a result of his biohacking practices?

Quotes

“By taking on a less liquid product, or investment, you can enhance your alpha or your return, so there’s a premium to taking on that additional illiquidity [associated with alts]…[Also] certain products now are becoming more liquid in the alternative space, so the liquidity paradigm is changing a bit.” - Skylar Steinke

“[At] the bottom line, [tokenization] is really the digitalization, and fractionalization, of an investment. So, you think of an example like real estate - someone can tokenize a real estate investment, so I can have a token and I own part of that investment that is physical in the real world, but digital in a wallet shall we say.” - Skylar Steinke

Links

• Skylar Steinke on LinkedIn
• The Ascent Group
• “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

In this episode, we discuss innovation, what to look for in growth tech companies, Main Management’s ETF TMAT, large language models and how to “own your future.”

• What advice does James have to offer for other young professionals hoping to enter the financial services industry?
• What does Main Management believe is not currently working about the traditional ways of capturing growth in the markets?
• For investors who are looking for growth tech companies to invest in, what qualities does James believe differentiate good emerging tech companies from unsuccessful ones?
• What makes Main Management’s TMAT different from other thematic ETFs in the space?
• Why is TMAT built with individual stocks?
• What kind of exposure should growth investors aim for with TMAT?
• What were some of the highlights from this year’s presentation on the power and usefulness of AI at the Main Management conference?
• Where are we on the curve of AI adoption so far in James' opinion?
• What are some of the biggest myths around AI that James has seen?
• What is one risk about AI investments that the market is under pricing and how is Main Management managing that risk in their ETF TMAT?
• How are James and Kim using TMAT in their personal portfolios right now? Also, any rules of thumb for sizing a position in TMAT for advisors and investors?
• How do James and Kim “own their future” when it comes to health, family and general wellbeing?
• What are James’ and Kim’s workout routines?
• What’s a personal practice that gives James an edge both professionally and personally?
• What are some of the parallels between disciplined living and disciplined investing?

Quote

“It’s very hard, especially early on, to predict the exact winners and losers of any sort of major change. If you’re picking ten different companies and nine are complete failures, and one is the absolute huge winner of that cycle, you’ve actually done pretty well. So, that’s kind of the philosophy that we go into growth investing with.” - [08:00] James Maxwell

Links

• Kim Arthur on LinkedIn
• James Maxwell on LinkedIn
• Main Management
• “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss how Dick’s varied career experiences have shaped his outlook on life, the power of optimism, traits Dick has observed across successful leaders and the power of deep reading and a love of knowledge.

• Looking back over Dick’s varied career, what guiding principles have guided his decision making across such different areas?
• What does Dick believe makes a truly wise investor today?
• What does Dick think about the financial sector today and what does he think is misunderstood about banks and their role in the economy?
• In Dick’s career, he’s been at the intersection of Wall Street, Washington and global business - how has this perspective shaped the way he thinks about diversification, risks and opportunities for investors today?
• Learn about “Track,” a venture capital firm that Dick is the chair of, and what they’re all about.
• How did Dick’s experience being an ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein inform the way he invests, leads and lives?
• In his years serving on various boards, what are some of the common themes Dick has seen in successful leadership and decision making across such diverse organizations?
• How did Dick get involved with Turley Wine Cellars, as a grower and board member, and what has that experience been like?
• How has Dick’s knowledge and experience, as both a voracious reader and a member of the trust fund board of the Library of Congress, shaped his outlook on life, investing and personal fulfillment?
• Dick went to Oxford University to complete a program that he designed on the moral philosophers that influenced our Founding Fathers. Learn more about this experience.
• What advice would Dick give to younger professionals, and investors, about how to practically build the habit of continuous learning?
• What is the key to living a life that is full of wisdom, balance and meaning?
• What is Dick’s physical wellness routine like?

Quotes

“I believe in compounding. You know, Einstein’s theory that it’s the 8th wonder of the world, I strongly believe in that, but on the way you’ve gotta have humility and you’ve gotta learn from your mistakes…Also, while I’m a long-term investor, there’s the Nike thing ‘Just Do It…’ [To be a truly wise investor]...you’ve got to be in the game…while I’m a long-term investor, I do have a pocket of short-term stuff because it just keeps me active.” - Dick Fredericks

“What you realize when you go through all of those sectors…[Wall Street, Washington and global business], [is that] people are people. People are fallible, they make mistakes…and you realize that nobody's got the ultimate edge. Now, you mentioned diversification, I do believe that’s the one free lunch in investing. It’s powerful, it protects you, so I believe strongly in diversification.” - Dick Fredericks

Links

• Dick Fredericks
• Main Management
• Dick Fredericks on LinkedIn
• Rocky OST - “Theme Song”
• The Power of One
• The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves
• Higher Calling: A Guide to Helping Investors Achieve Their Goals

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn

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In this episode, we discuss Wes’s career and company, how his experience in the Marines has shaped his investing philosophy, the importance of transparency in investment strategy and how investors can balance simplicity and sophistication in their portfolios.

• Learn about Wes’s career history and what led him to build a firm that really does things differently with Alpha Architect?
• How has his experience in the Marine Corp shaped both Wes’s life and his investing philosophy?
• What does Wes think the core principles of wise investing are?
• What does “affordable alpha” mean in practice for investors?
• Why is transparency such an important value for Wes within investment strategy design?
• Why does Alpha Architect focus on systemic, evidence-based approaches rather than discretionary decisions?
• What does Wes mean about being “robust to chaos” in terms of portfolio construction and financial resilience?
• How does Wes coach investors, and himself, to stay disciplined when strategies are underperforming in the short run?
• For investors listening today, how should they think about the balance between simplicity and sophistication when building their portfolios?
• What has Wes’s experiences hiking and doing ultramarathons taught him about perseverance and mindset?
• What are some daily or weekly practices that Wes relies on to keep sharp mentally, physically and emotionally?
• How does Wes define discipline and how does he believe one can cultivate it?
• What does investing well and living well mean to Wes personally?

Quotes

“I’m going to pull out inner Jack Bogle here, because he seems to be the best for this kind of thing, but wise investing is just…understanding what you are trying to achieve, and then once you have a goal and objective…[you need to ask] how do we achieve that with the lowest fees, the most liquidity, the least complexity and the best tax structure? It’s just that simple.” - [05:00] Wes Gray

“Transparency [within investment strategy design] is great…there’s a lot of reasons for that, but the biggest one is behavioral…If we can be transparent and help the actual end client understand what’s going on, it just makes them more resilient, because if it’s ‘not working’ they will be like ‘oh, well I know it doesn’t work sometimes because of xyz.’” - [07:30] Wes Gray

Links

• Wes Gray on LinkedIn
• Wes Gray on Twitter
• Wes Gray on Alpha Architect
• “A Country Boy Can Survive” by Hank Williams Jr.

Connect with Us

• Rusty Vanneman on LinkedIn
• Robyn Murray on LinkedIn