There are specific actions that leaders must take if they’re serious about driving diversity, equity, and inclusion in their organization.

Shundrawn Thomas, former President of Northern Trust Asset Management recently spoke with Laura Gregg and David Partain about the role of leaders in DE&I. He also talked about his recent open letter – Breaking the Silence – in which he shares some of the experiences he has encountered as an African-American man in the hopes of giving a voice to the silent pain that many of our collective colleagues, friends and neighbors are currently experiencing.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The importance of leading with compassion and authentic words
• Ideas for finding diverse talent for your advisory firm
• The significance of understanding unconscious bias
• How equity is often far different than equality
• And more!

Tune in now for actionable ways to support diversity, equity and inclusion in your organization.

Resources: 

FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Advisor Teams and Diversity Research | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain | Shundrawn Thomas on LinkedIn | Northern Trust Asset Management

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Charitable giving is on the minds of many people, now more than ever.

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain are joined by Elena Pullen-Venema, the Director of Gift Planning at the Community Foundation of Snohomish County (Greater Seattle Area). Elena explains the foundation’s growing commitment to Racial Equity and how grants during the Coronavirus pandemic are being focused on supporting communities of color. She also describes how some foundations are partnering with advisors as they continue to manage clients’ charitable investments.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How foundations can help you connect your clients to charities supporting racial equity and Covid-19 relief.
• Options for wealth managers to maintain management of charitable investments
• How community foundations can help with complex charitable gift structures
• Misconceptions about the people and families that create donor-advised funds
• And more!

Discover why building relationships with your local community foundations can help you better serve your clients!

Resources:

FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain | The Community Foundation of Snohomish County | Elena Pullen-Venema on LinkedIn | Association of African American Financial Advisors | FlexShares Diversity Research

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The worldwide protests calling for racial justice and equity have been a wake-up call for us all and the lack of diversity in the wealth management space has been noted for years.

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain are joined by Connie Lindsey, formerly the Executive Vice President and head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Northern Trust, who has since retired. In this must-listen conversation, Connie talks about the importance of better educating people on the important difference between equality and equity and what leaders can do to provide support and drive change.

She comments on the statistics from a recent study on investor and advisor views on building diverse wealth management teams.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Actions for leaders to support employees and clients
• The critical difference between equality and equity
• The importance of shared experiences between advisors and clients
• How to be an ally to the Black community
• And more!

Listen now to learn how you can promote inclusion, diversity, and equity in your daily life and firm.

FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain | Connie Lindsey on LinkedIn | Diversity Research

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How should you advise clients who are going into a fight, flight, or freeze response to the market volatility?

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain are joined by Dr. Sarah Newcomb, director of behavioral science at Morningstar. Sarah discusses how financial advisors can have productive conversations with clients to keep them on track. She reveals different emotional reactions that come to light during a crisis and ways for advisors to support their clients.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The emotional impact a crisis has on investment decisions
• How fears can translate into fight, flight, or freeze responses 
• The conversations advisors should have with clients to keep them on track
• And more!

Listen now and learn how to help your clients stay focused on their long-term goals. 

FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain | Morningstar Behavioral Insights 

NTAC:3NS-20

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Doctors are experiencing financial uncertainty right now just like everyone else, despite their increased workload on the frontlines.

In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain are joined by Lauren Oschman of Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors. Lauren talks about how she is adding value to doctors on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis and helping surgeons as they are sidelined from elective surgeries.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What impact COVID-19 has on different types of medical doctors
• Compensation issues arising for doctors
• The stark difference between the what’s happening in the markets vs. in hospitals
• Why over-communication with clients is critial
• And more!

Tune in now to learn how doctors are being impacted during COVID-19.

Information from our guest: Investment advisory services offered through Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, and Vestia Advisors, LLC. 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.

FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain | Vestia Wealth Advisors

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This podcast conversation was recorded on April 29 and the data and material cited were as of that time.  

Navigating this health crisis and the financial volatility that goes along with it is like drinking from a fire hose.  FlexShares is working hard to deliver a variety of resources for advisors under the banner of Stronger Every Day including 15-minute bite-size podcasts to give you some quick ideas around helping clients – and your business through this uncertain time. In this episode, Laura and David talk about the importance of proactive communication.

In this episode, Laura speaks with Erick Noensie, a Senior Healthcare Analyst from Northern Trust about the progression of Coronavirus. Erick provides interesting information: 

• A comparison of Coronavirus to other health outbreaks in the past
• He provides an estimated requirements and potential timelines of containment
• His views on potential treatments and vaccines

Tune in now to learn practical ways to keep yourself top of mind for clients!  

Resources:

FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds | Contact Laura Gregg | Contact David Partain

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