Category Archives: Business Planning

Ep 59: DE&I as a Strategic Imperative — With Connie Lindsey

July 30, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice Management#Advisors, #FinancialPlanning, #TheFlexibleAdvisor, DEI, Diversity, Inequities, POC, PodcastRobyn Walter

Diversity isn’t the end game in DE&I. To create powerful outcomes, leaders need to understand how to create Equity and Inclusion within their firms, which takes strategy, commitment and accountability.

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain welcome back Connie Lindsey, long-recognized for her outstanding work and former Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for, who has since retired. Connie discusses why she views DE&I as a strategic imperative. She also shares some misunderstood aspects of DE&I and how leaders can sidestep common pitfalls in order to create powerful outcomes.

Connie Lindsey discusses:

What diversity really means
How to apply Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as a strategic imperative
Understanding equity and how it differs from equality
The Future of Work and its impact on our industry
Building an intentional culture of inclusivity
Consumers’ growing demand for DE&I
And more

Resources:

Connect With Connie Lindsey:

Connect With Laura Gregg:

Connect With David Partain:

About Our Guest:

Connie L. Lindsey, now retired after years of service, is the former Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) at Northern Trust. She was responsible for the design and implementation of the global Corporate Social Responsibility, Community Development and Investments, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy at Northern Trust. In addition to strategic oversight, she provided leadership in the firm’s response to environmental matters and social issues: within the marketplace, workplace, and community.

Prior to becoming the Head of CSR and Global DE&I, Ms. Lindsey led client servicing teams in the Corporate & Institutional Services business, serving public fund and not-for-profit clients. Over the course of her Northern Trust career, she held a number of leadership roles, including Deputy Business Head in Operations and Technology, Group Head in Wealth Management, Director of Enterprise Relationship Management, and Manager in Treasury Management Consulting and Product Management and holds the Certified Treasury Professional designation.

Ms. Lindsey is a former National Board President of Girl Scouts of the USA, the highest-ranking volunteer of this 2.5 million-member organization. In this role she provided guidance in three vital areas—policy, fund-raising, and leadership. She was an integral part of the Girl Scout transformation, committed to building and sustaining membership growth and ensuring girls receive a premier leadership development experience.

Ms. Lindsey serves on several civic and charitable boards to include Leadership Greater Chicago (Board President, 2001 Fellow); McCormick Theological Seminary (Chair of the Board of Trustees); Obama Foundation Inclusion Council (Co-Chair); Chicago Urban League; Executives’ Club of Chicago; and YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

Ms. Lindsey received her BA in Finance at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, completed the Harvard Business School Executive Education Corporate Social Responsibility program, and is also a licensed Qualified Administrator of The Intercultural Development Inventory®. She is a public and motivational speaker on topics of diversity and inclusion, corporate responsibility, leadership, and personal and professional empowerment.

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Ep 58: Disrupting With Purpose — With Dana Wilson

July 23, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice Management#Advisors, #Consumers, #FinancialPlanning, #TheFlexibleAdvisor, Diversity, POC, PodcastRobyn Walter

Consumers want to work with advisors like them! That’s according to FlexShares’ most recent DE&I research. But in an advisory industry that is primarily white and male, finding a Black or LatinX advisor can be difficult. Dana Wilson, Founder and CEO of CHIP (Changing How Individuals Prosper) is working to change that! In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain welcome Dana back to the show to check in on the progress of her fintech firm that matches consumers and advisors of color and the new resources CHIP is providing to build a vibrant new community.

Dana Wilson discusses:

Why building a community of black and brown advisors and consumers is necessary
How CHIP matches consumers to advisors who share key cultural characteristics
Why trust matters – and how to build it in communities of color
Getting comfortable in sharing your money story
And more

Resources:

Connect With Dana Wilson:

Connect With Laura Gregg:

Connect With David Partain:

About Our Guest:

Dana L. Wilson is the CEO and founder of CHIP (Changing How Individuals Prosper). She has 15+ years of industry experience as a customer-focused financial professional and has received many awards and recognitions, including Inspiring Fintech Females 2020. She demonstrates the ability to build long-lasting client relationships, fosters successful collaborative partnerships, and drives social impact through emerging technologies.

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Ep 57: Guiding Women Through Divorce – With Steph Wagner

July 9, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice ManagementDivorce, Northern Trust, Podcast, The Flexible Advisor, Wealth Management, WomenRobyn Walter

While divorce rates have decreased over the last 20 years according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the rates of divorce among baby boomers are increasing. Because family wealth tends to be much higher at this age, these divorces may present complex problems for clients.

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Steph Wagner, Director of Women and Wealth at Northern Trust. They explore the meaningful impact that advisors can make – both financially and emotionally — when guiding women through major life changes and steps, advisors can take proactively to ensure couples are prepared for any unexpected transitions.

Steph shares:

Her own story of working through an unexpected transition
The risk of giving up your seat at the family financial table
The power story telling has on igniting conversations of hypothetical events
What to do if there appears to be financial infidelity in a relationship
Things to consider when a family business is involved
What to do – and not to do – when helping clients through a transition
And more

Resources:

Connect With Steph Wagner:

Steph Wagner’s Linkedin

Connect With Laura Gregg:

Connect With David Partain:

About Our Guest:

Steph Wagner, director of Women and Wealth at Northern Trust Corporation, has long advocated for women who find themselves single due to divorce or the loss of their spouse. She leads the firm’s advisory practice for women who are facing unexpected transitions and oversees our women’s initiative by elevating women. Over the years, Steph has developed a specialized expertise in utilizing financial strategies and empowering women with the resources they need to become effective stewards of their own wealth. She has worked extensively with women across the country to help them address the financial impact of widowhood, to secure equitable settlements, and marriage disillusions. And she has helped them establish a solid foundation for their next chapter

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Ep 56: Assess Before Building A Diversity & Inclusion Program – With Kemy Joseph, CEO of F.E.A.R.S Advantage

June 25, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice ManagementBusiness Owners, Company Culture, David Partain, DEI, Diversity, Equity, Financial Advisors, Financial Services, Kemy Joseph, Laura Gregg, Leaders, Podcast, Research, The Flexible AdvisorRobyn Walter

“Assess before you make a mess,” is what Kemy Joseph, CEO and DEI Strategist at F.E.A.R.S. Advantage tells Laura Gregg and David Partain in this episode of The Flexible Advisor.

Kemy talks about the stress that firm leaders face when it comes to the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and why it’s critical that firm leaders understand the current culture that exists within their firm before implementing DEI change. Once existing staff and leaders feel safe, trusted and included, then consider adding other diverse hires in an intentional way to strengthen your firm’s culture. The conversation covers data from FlexShares latest diversity study and how Kemy works with firm leaders identify appropriate goals for their firm’s DEI program that lead to measurable business benefits

Listen to learn:

Why trust is a critical underpinning for building a successful DEI program.
Confusion that DEI is just about hiring people of different skin colors or genders
The difference between DEI committees and DEI clubs
Building a DE&I program based on specific outcomes firms desire
The four measures of safety within an organization
And more

Resources:

Connect With Kemy Joseph:

Connect With Laura Gregg:

Connect With David Partain:

About Our Guest:

Kemy Joseph is the CEO and DEI strategist at F.E.A.R.S. Advantage LLC. He works with firm owners and leaders within the financial services space to help them better understand how to create diversity, equity and inclusion programs that will yield results, both business and social. He’s on a mission to help around 5 million business leaders advance equity in their organizations by 2030 to create company culture where people of all backgrounds can work safely and thrive.

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Ep 55: Consumer Preferences In Hiring a Financial Planner — With Dr. Miranda Reiter, CFP®, Texas Tech University

June 11, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice ManagementDavid Partain, Diversity, Financial Advisors, Financial Services, Laura Gregg, Miranda Reiter, Personal Finance, Podcast, Research, The Flexible AdvisorRobyn Walter

What’s most important when choosing a financial planner? Does race and gender outweigh other characteristics like age, years of experience or levels of trust?

Dr. Miranda Reiter, CFP®, from Texas Tech University, is studying this topic and shares her findings on what’s most important to consumers. Listen as Laura Gregg and David Partain compare and contrast data with Dr. Reiter’s about her work and the FlexShares’ 2021 study on diversity in advisory. Where were findings similar and where did they diverge and why?

Topics covered:

Dr. Reiter’s journey from banker to financial planner and entrepreneur to college professor.
What sparked her curiosity to study the impact of race and gender in hiring a planner?
Where does trust rank in the decision process?
How planning students are engaging in digital advisor technology
Covid’s impact on virtual engagements and reach in finding a planner
Why to consider improving your cultural competency
And more

Resources:

Connect With Dr. Miranda Reiter

Miranda Reiter’s Linkedin

Connect With Laura Gregg

Connect With David Partain

About Our Guest:

Miranda Reiter, CFP® is an assistant professor of financial planning at Texas Tech University. Her research interests in financial planning and consumer finance include race, diversity, and gender issues. She has worked as a financial planner and a banker at several Fortune 500 firms. Miranda recently received recognition for her work including 2020 Omicron Nu Research Fellowship, 2020 Center for Financial Security Junior Scholar, 2019 Financial Planning Association Best Research Award and 2019 Under 40 Award!

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Ep 54: Finding Your Ideal Clients Through Content Marketing — With Samuel Deane

June 1, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice Management#Clients #BehavioralFinance, #Diversity #Millennial, #FinancialAdvisors, #FinancialServices, #PersonalFinance, #TheFlexibleAdvisor, PodcastRobyn Walter

How do conversations with your prospects start? Is it about their needs or about your firm?

Samuel Deane, CEO of Deane Financial Partners, talks about his experience as an immigrant seeking the American dream and why taking a traditional wealth management path wasn’t a fit for him. At 25 he started his own firm focused on addressing the unique needs of Millennial tech executives. Samuel talks with Laura Gregg and David Partain about how he’s grown his firm through a laser focus on his ideal client and a robust content marketing program which has led to his insights being featured in major national media outlets.

In this episode, we cover:

How to narrow your target market
The power of educational content marketing
The importance of creating an intentional user experience
How Sam has succeeded with Millennial tech executives
Why it’s critical to understand your clients’ money stories
Sam’s candid views on why this industry isn’t inclusive
And more!

Tune in now to learn how targeted business and content marketing plans can help drive ideal clients to your firm!

Resources: FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Laura Gregg | David Partain | Deane Financial | Samuel S. Deane

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Ep 53: Finding and Retaining Women Advisors — With Jana Gregorek, Visionary Wealth Advisors

May 25, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice Management#FinancialAdvisors, #FinancialServices #Diversity, #Firms, #PersonalFinance, #TheFlexibleAdvisor, PodcastRobyn Walter

FlexShares research continues to confirm that high-net-worth clients prefer advisors with a similar culture and gender and whom they feel will understand their unique needs.

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak about the growing importance of women advisors with Jana Gregorek, Chief Growth Officer at Visionary Wealth Advisors. They discuss how firms can attract and better retain women advisors.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The power of teaching financial literacy at an early age
Breaking down barriers of entry to financial advisory for women
Rethinking the idea of work/life balance
How an advisory team can support retention of women in the industry
Enabling your team members to be their authentic selves at work
And more!

Listen to learn ways that your firm can recruit and retain women advisors!

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Ep 52: Conquering Stress Through Flexible Work Arrangements — With Lauren Oschman, CFP®

May 14, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, COVID - 19, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice Management#Employee, #FinancialAdvisors, #FinancialServices, #MentalHealth, #PersonalFinance, #Productivity, #Stress, #TheFlexibleAdvisor, #Wellness, PodcastRobyn Walter

As vaccinations ramp up and offices are re-open, many firms are facing a dilemma:

Bring the entire staff back, create a hybrid team model or go fully virtual?

In this fourth episode of our Advisor Wellness series, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Lauren Oschman, CFP®, Partner, Chief Experience Officer and producing Advisor at Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors. They discuss the power of building an intentional firm culture that embraces flexibility in both work location and hours and how this ultimately can promote greater productivity while reducing stress for the team and its partners.

In this episode, you will learn:

The bold way Vestia is recruiting remote hires
Using remote/hybrid work models to help alleviate stress and build diversity
Why culture matters and how to build it virtually
How a virtual model has increased the retention of physician clients
Insights into how virtual engagement can actually deepen client relationships
Strategies to effectively onboard remote hires
And more!

Listen in now to discover how to create an optimal mix of virtual and in-office staff!

Investment advisory services offered through Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, and Vestia Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. Securities offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., 5187 Utica Ridge Rd, Davenport, IA. 52807 (563)326-2064. Member FINRA/SIPC. Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, Vestia Advisors, LLC and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated.

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Ep 51: Conquering Stress with Productivity — With Patty Kreamer, CPO®

April 29, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice Management#Advisors, #AdvisorWellness, #Coaching, #COVID, #FinancialPlanning, #PersonalFinance, #Productivity, #Stress, #TheFlexibleAdvisor, #TimeManagement, PodcastRobyn Walter

Is work getting the best of you? Do you wish you had more control over your life and time?

In this third episode of our advisor wellness series, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with Productivity Coach, Patty Kreamer. Patty helps financial advisors develop personalized systems to get more done in less time while clearing the brain clutter that blocks success through her firm Productivity Uncorked, LLC.

Everyone has a vision of what life was supposed to look like but not everyone has made it happen. Patty shares actionable steps for creating efficiency with work space, email, time, and attention that can help free up time for the things that bring you joy.

In this episode, you will learn:

Simple steps that can lead to more efficiency and less stress
The new look of business development
What’s behind the stress advisors are (still) feeling
Productivity coaching strategies that work
What to look out for if you are adopting a hybrid work schedule
And more!

Tune in to learn about Patty Kreamer’s tips for building and maintaining an efficient business so that you can spend more time on the what brings you joy!

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Ep 50: FPA’s NexGen and LGBTQ Outreach — With Joey Stemmle, President, FPA NexGen

April 16, 2021Advisors, Business Planning, Financial Advisor, Financial Advisors, Practice ManagementDiversityAndInclusion, Financial Advisors, Financial Planners, FPA, LGBTQ, Podcast, The Flexible AdvisorRobyn Walter

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) is taking action to drive change in our industry through both its NexGen and Pride Planners programs.

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with FPA NexGen President Joey Stemmle about his new leadership role and what he hopes to accomplish. He also talks about the growth of the FPA’s Pride Planners and how it is helping advisory firms create more inclusive environments for LGBTQ employees and clients.

In this episode, you will learn:

How the FPA is working to change the financial planning landscape
The ways different generations can learn from one another
Why an inclusive workplace can support talent retention and client acquisition
What companies should be doing to assist the new generation of advisors
And more!

Tune in to discover how the new generation of advisors is going to change the industry — and what employers should be doing to help them along the way!

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