Category: COVID – 19

Ep 96: Reaching and Retaining Next-Generation Investors – with Ryan George

Ep 96: Reaching and Retaining Next-Generation Investors – with Ryan George

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 Gregg talks with Ryan about the needs, approaches, and attitudes of younger investors in today’s environment, and how best to engage, serve, and retain them as clients.

Ryan discusses: 

  • Why digitization and one-to-one planning and advice must co-exist 
  • Mistaken assumptions about Millennial and GenZ investors 
  • 3 ways younger Investors think about money differently 
  • Using tech to elevate the advisor/client experience 
  • Key themes to drive acquisition and retention of next-gen clients 
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Ryan George:

Connect With  Laura Gregg: 

About Our Guest:

Ryan George is the Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, a solutions provider focused on digitizing and automating operations in the financial advice and investment industry. He serves as the company’s “chief diplomat” evangelizing the company’s people, solutions and brand across the financial services and wealth management industry. As a member of the senior executive committee, Ryan collaborates with key stakeholders across Docupace to support the company’s growth, retention, and profitability objectives. Ryan has spent all of his career within the financial advice and investment space, previously serving many as Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications at 1st Global. 

Ep 95: Clients Want More Than Advice; They Want A Plan – With Chazz Logue

Ep 95: Clients Want More Than Advice; They Want A Plan – With Chazz Logue

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, about the trends pushing advisors toward full-service planning models. 

Chazz discusses: 

  • What is driving advisors toward financial planning 
  • Why a one-and-done advisory approach often falls short 
  • The case for creating ongoing financial planning relationships 
  • Actionable ideas to make planning a larger part of your practice
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Chazz Logue:

Connect With Laura Gregg: 

Connect With  David Partain: 

About Our Guest:

Charles (Chazz) Logue is the Regional Director and Business Development Team Lead of Advice and Financial Planning at MassMutual. Through a deep understanding and in-depth knowledge of tools and options available, he and his experienced team partner with advisors to help clients articulate their goals and then develop a plan of action to make achieving their goals inevitable, including short-term liquidity needs, longer-term retirement or purchase goals and even leaving a legacy. Outside the office, Charles can be found volunteering as a Wildlife Rescuer, instructing drivers at various racetracks, working with venomous reptiles, surfing, volleyball, and enjoying theatre and the arts. 

*Basis Point definition: “A basis point is a common unit of measure for interest rates and other percentages in finance. Basis points are typically expressed with the abbreviations bp, bps, or bips.” (Fernando). 

Fernando, Jason. “Basis Points (BPS).” Investopedia, 2019, www.investopedia.com/terms/b/basispoint.asp.

*Alpha definition: “Alpha measures the amount that the investment has returned in comparison to the market index or other broad benchmark that it is compared against.” (Banton, 2022) Banton, C. (2022, May 13). Alpha vs. Beta: What Is The Difference? Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/102714/whats-difference-between-alpha-and-beta.asp

Ep 94: When Children Are Not Part of the Plan – With Pamela Lucina

Ep 94: When Children Are Not Part of the Plan – With Pamela Lucina

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 advisors should recognize and rethink some long-standing biases and assumptions.

Pamela discusses: 

  • How unconscious biases can undermine client conversations, particularly with women
  • Rephrasing discovery questions for more productive conversations
  • Key considerations when estate planning for clients without children
  • And more 

Resources: 

Connect With Pamela Lucina:

Connect With  Laura Gregg: 

Connect With  David Partain: 

About Our Guest:

Pamela Lucina is the President of The Northern Trust Institute, Chief Fiduciary Officer and Trust & Advisory Practice Executive. She leads a national team of trust and estate professionals to help clients achieve their goals through the use of world-class tools and techniques, with an eye toward the human element of wealth and family dynamics. She is a recognized leader and speaker within the trust and estate legal community and a strong advocate for women in the industry.

EP 92: The Financial Coach Can Use A Coach – With Lacy Garcia of Willow

EP 92: The Financial Coach Can Use A Coach – With Lacy Garcia of Willow

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 advisors with practical resources to engage with women and an overall rapidly changing wealth demographic.

Lacy discusses: 

  • The New Majority investor and their growing wealth ownership
  • How advisors can address the unique needs of their changing client base
  • Tactical solutions that can be put in place quickly 
  • How coaching from Willow can help advisors create a meaningful client experience 
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Lacy Garcia:

Connect With Laura Gregg: 

Connect With David Partain: 

About Our Guest:

Lacy Garcia is the founder and CEO of Willow. Willow is an award-winning financial technology and guidance platform that helps financial institutions better engage and serve women and the new majority of investors. Lacy and Willow have been featured on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Wealth Management, and more. Most recently, Lacy has appeared on the Today Show on NBC to help explain some important financial concepts and applications.

Ep 90: Overcoming Adversity: GRIT As A Game Changer  — With Austin Hatch

Ep 90: Overcoming Adversity: GRIT As A Game Changer  — With Austin Hatch

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 others as a driving motivation 
  • How the G.R.I.T. framework can help managers in the current economic market
  • The power and importance of leading by example 
  • More insights and lessons from Austin’s experiences

Resources: 

Connect With Austin Hatch:

Connect With  Laura Gregg: 

Connect With  David Partain: 

About Our Guest:

Austin Hatch survived two plane crashes that claimed the lives of his entire immediate family. He suffered severe injuries that nearly took his life. When Austin woke from a 2-month-long coma, he had to re-learn basic life skills. The road to recovery was tough, but he found a way to push forward and fulfill his dream of joining the University of Michigan basketball team. Austin is now a motivational speaker with a poignant message about G.R.I.T. and how we can all thrive in the midst of adversity.

Ep 88: How SEC rule 206(4) could change your business model — With Paul Binnion

Ep 88: How SEC rule 206(4) could change your business model — With Paul Binnion

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: 

  • Core aspects of the proposed rule, and how it may affect financial advisors
  • How advisors’ due diligence responsibilities may be affected
  • What to consider when selecting a third-party solutions provider
  • Why deeper client relationships will likely become even more important
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Paul Binnion:

Connect With  Laura Gregg: 

Connect With  David Partain: 

About Our Guest:

Paul Binnion is the Chief Revenue Officer at Hanlon Investment Management. Paul is responsible for leading the overall direction of the firm’s distribution strategy while overseeing the sales, key accounts, and marketing teams in their efforts to build collaborative partnerships with successful financial advisors. Paul has more than 30 years of experience developing best practices with financial partners and specializes in building and motivating teams to help deliver successful outcomes to financial advisors and their clients.

Ep 76: Are Advisors Missing the Forest for the Trees? – Kiley Miller on Sustainable Investing

Ep 76: Are Advisors Missing the Forest for the Trees? – Kiley Miller on Sustainable Investing

As sustainable investing grows in popularity, so do the misconceptions about its framework.

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Kiley Miller, Director of ESG Investment Solutions at Envestnet.

Kiley is a passionate leader in the ESG investment space. She shares how she is working to help advisors better understand underlying value of ESG information, its various applications, and what it brings to an advisory practice.  

Kiley discusses: 

  • The differences between ESG aware and ESG focus 
  • How the industry falls short in helping advisors appreciate sustainable investing
  • Simple answers to common objections
  • The value proposition sustainable investing brings to an advisory practice. 
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Kelly Miller:

Connect With  Laura Gregg: 

Connect With  David Partain: 

About Our Guest:

Kiley leads ESG product development and ESG product management for PMC’s suite of investment products and service offerings. This includes PMC’s ESG focused managed portfolios and ESG due diligence within manager research. Kiley also oversees ESG and impact data relationships and strategic development of ESG and impact reporting initiatives. Prior to joining PMC in 2019, Kiley was a senior client advisor at Sustainalytics, an ESG research, ratings and analytics firm. There she supported U.S. asset managers to integrate ESG research into the investment process. Kiley also previously worked at the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment. Kiley holds an MS in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. She also holds a BS in Environmental Sustainability with a double minor in Business and Environmental Economics & Law from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Kiley is a CFA Level III Candidate.

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

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

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!

Resources: FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Laura Gregg | David Partain | Lauren Oschman | Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors | Episode 18: Serving Medical Professionals During COVID-19 – With Lauren Oschman

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.

Ep 33: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic and Beyond – With Corey Hoffstein

Ep 33: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic and Beyond – With Corey Hoffstein

During uncertain times, it’s critical that advisors remind and reinforce the value that they are providing to their clients.

In this episode, Laura Gregg welcomes Corey Hoffstein, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Newfound Research, a quantitative asset manager offering a suite of separately managed accounts and mutual funds to advisor firms and institutional investors. Corey talks about how Newfound chose to lead with empathy when reaching out to their advisor clients during the pandemic. Communication is not one-size-fits-all – especially in trying times. He also shares the resources that Newfound has provided to advisors to help them through difficult client conversations.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • How empathy can deepen client relationships
  • Customizing communications to meet advisors preferences
  • The reasons advisors choose to work with external money managers
  • How to keep your clients focused on their long-term plan.
  • And more!

Listen now and discover the lessons financial advisors have learned during this pandemic that will help strengthen them today and tomorrow!

Resources: FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Laura Gregg | Corey Hoffstein | Newfound Research

Ep 28: Standing Out Among Advisors — with Devin Ekberg

Ep 28: Standing Out Among Advisors — with Devin Ekberg

In a crowded financial advisory space, how can you stand out?

To answer this question, Laura Gregg and David Partain welcome Devin Ekberg, chief learning officer and managing director of content development at Investments & Wealth Institute. 

Listen to hear about the research that the Investments & Wealth Institute conducted with Cerulli Associates on three key trends shaping the financial advice industry and testing advisors’ abilities to grow and drive practice profitability. 

In this episode, you will learn:

  • How to navigate in an increasingly fiduciary environment.
  • Ideas for maximizing human capital
  • The impact of an exceptional client experience
  • And more!

Tune in now to learn what steps you can take today to set yourself apart as a financial advisor!

Resources: FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain  | Contact Devin Ekberg | Investments & Wealth InstituteInvestments & Wealth Institute Research Reports