Category: FinTech
The Winning Shot: Sports Wisdom in Wealth Tech (Ep. 13)

The Winning Shot: Sports Wisdom in Wealth Tech (Ep. 13)

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How does the high-stakes world of sports mirror the world of financial technology and asset management? 

Discover this and more in the latest episode of ‘In the Money,’ sponsored by Flyer Financial Technologies. Host Rusty Sommer welcomes Steve Lewczyk, the esteemed Managing Director for Business Development at Flyer. With an impressive three-decade career in financial technology and services, Steve discusses leveraging technology for competitive advantage and innovating for the future of finance.

Key Highlights:

  • From Veteran to Visionary: Steve shares his journey in finance, emphasizing his diverse experience and innovative tech approach
  • Parallel Playbooks: Explore the similarities between sports, particularly basketball, and finance, highlighting teamwork and strategy
  • Tech-Driven Transformation: Discover how technology, like Advent Software’s early solutions, revolutionized asset management
  • Overcoming Market Hurdles: Learn how adapting sports strategies can inform financial market navigation
  • AI: Uncover AI’s impactful role in finance, its applications, and the need for reliable data
  • Revolutionizing Trading: See how a unified tech system can boost trader efficiency
  • Embracing Change: Understand the necessity of adaptability and innovation in finance, with lessons from asset management and sports strategy
  • Plus, many more insights!

 

Connect with Steve Lewczyk:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

 

About Steve Lewczyk: 

Steve is a leader in buy side technology, wealth management systems, trading platforms, and data management solutions. With over 25 years experience at leading fin tech and securities firms, Steve has worked at Fidelity Investments, Advent Software (SSNC), Envestnet and co-founded Nirvana Solutions. Steve’s expertise is in building and scaling successful sales organizations.

In his role at Flyer, Steve is focused on buy side asset managers that require solutions that allow for integration, ease, scale and future proofing operations.

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Tech-Savvy Wealth Management: Adapting to Industry Changes (Ep. 12)

Tech-Savvy Wealth Management: Adapting to Industry Changes (Ep. 12)

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Can technology bridge the gap for smaller wealth management firms in a competitive market?

Join Rusty Sommer and special guest Chuck Fialla from Sovereign Financial in this insightful episode of ‘In the Money,’ where they explore the pivotal role of technology in transforming small and mid-sized wealth management firms. Understanding the role of portfolio management and trading technology / automation allowed his firm to serve more clients successfully. With his rich background in financial planning and asset management, Chuck details his journey from a humble beginning as a cold caller to leading the successful RIA, Sovereign Financial.

Key Highlights:

  • Journey to Success: Trace Chuck’s evolution in finance, from cold caller to an advocate for the RIA space, and his contributions to Investment News and Go RIA
  • Smaller Firms, Bigger Challenges: Dive into the specific challenges small to mid-sized firms face in asset and wealth management, including resource allocation and competition
  • Tech Alignment with Mission: Understand the importance of aligning technology with a firm’s core mission, including Chuck’s experiences and the value of setting clear goals
  • Data Management Excellence: Gain insights into the critical role of a ‘single source of truth’ for scaling businesses effectively in wealth management while leveraging the API economy and real time position stores
  • Customized Portfolio Design: Discover how Sovereign Financial uses portfolio management technology to create tailored portfolios for each client
  • From Manual to Tech-Driven: Explore the transition from traditional methods to advanced technological solutions to drive organic growth, and the challenges involved in this transformation
  • Building Lasting Relationships: Realize the importance of accurate data and nurturing relationships with clients and their families for future generations
  • And much more!

 

Connect with Charles “Chuck” Failla, CFP®:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

 

About Charles “Chuck” Failla, CFP®: 

Chuck understands the importance of working as a Fiduciary and uses those standards to oversees the financial planning and investment management work done at Sovereign Financial.

As a Board Certified Financial Planning™ practitioner, Chuck understands that shepherding a client’s financial and retirement plan requires more than simply “picking investments”. Instead, he applies his experience as a CFP® professional to coordinate all aspects of a client’s financial picture: goals, investments, taxes, liabilities, and estate / legacy planning. By following this disciplined approach, he is able to ensure all aspects of a client’s financial and estate planning needs are properly coordinated and continuously monitored.

In addition to working with clients, Chuck is a regular speaker and commentator on financial topics and has been featured in Forbes, The New York Daily News, Reuters, CBS Market Watch and numerous other media outlets. Chuck is also committed to the financial planning community and advancing the cause of financial literacy. To that end, he currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association of Connecticut as the Chairperson of their Pro Bono / Public Outreach Committee. Chuck is also active in the National Financial Planning Association, American Mensa and other non-profits in the CT & NYC Metro area.

Chuck received his degree in Finance from The University of Connecticut and completed his coursework for the CFP® certification with The American College. He resides in North Stamford, CT with his wife, two children and their Black Lab and cats. In his spare time, Chuck enjoys all things outdoors — on the weekends you will find him with his family hiking, camping, skiing, boating or just enjoying the trees while grilling in the backyard.

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Innovation Unleashed: Wealth Tech’s New Era (Ep. 11)

Innovation Unleashed: Wealth Tech’s New Era (Ep. 11)

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Is technology fundamentally transforming the wealth tech industry?

Discover the groundbreaking insights with Rusty Sommer and special guest Verity Larsen from Versoft Consulting in a riveting episode of “In The Money,” presented by Flyer Financial Technologies. With over two decades in the field, Verity guides us through the evolving landscape of investment technology, cautioning against a one-size-fits-all approach. 

Are you ready for the change?

Key Highlights:

  • Dive into the complexities and wide-ranging impacts of the T+1 settlement shift on operations and client relationships
  • Learn vital strategies for integrating AI effectively in finance, emphasizing the critical role of precise data
  • Explore the increasingly crucial role of portfolio managers amidst rapid technological advancements
  • How secure is your data? Unravel the surprising privacy and security issues arising from AI tools in finance
  • Discover the increasingly important role of compliance officers in the safe implementation of AI
  • Find out why data management and CRM systems are now at the heart of client engagement for broker-dealers
  • And much more!

 

Resources:

Connect with Verity Larsen:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

 

About Verity Larsen: 

Verity is Versoft’s heart and soul. She co-founded the company in 2015 after spending 7.5 years as Team Lead and Senior Consultant at SS&C Advent. Prior to entering the consulting field, she worked as Assistant Director of Information Systems at a Portland-based asset management firm and has been in the investment management industry since 2000.

Verity graduated with an A.A.S. in Computer Information Systems from Portland Community College. She also spent 3 years on the Board of Directors for The Exchange Network (formerly Advent Users Group) serving as VP and President in her 2nd and 3rd years.

She’s committed to providing an exceptional consultative approach to every client and ensuring the work performed by the Versoft Team results in the highest level of customer satisfaction. Verity works to continue training and education throughout the Versoft team, passing on the knowledge she has gained being in this industry for so many years.  She also spends time building and maintaining relationships with vendors so the Versoft team can remain knowledgeable on technology platforms and tools, IT hosting, and data and outsourced service providers.

When she’s not doing CEO/Principal Consultant/Co-Founder things, Verity likes to spend time with family, including seven nieces and nephews and two great-nephews, in multiple states around the U.S. On rare occasions, she’ll hike around the Oregon Coast, Central Oregon, and other places throughout the Pacific Northwest.

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Integrating Options in High Net Worth Portfolios with Brett Kunshek (Ep. 10)

Integrating Options in High Net Worth Portfolios with Brett Kunshek (Ep. 10)

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Join Rusty Sommer from Flyer Financial Technologies and Brett Kunshek of Mariner Wealth Advisors in this episode as they dive into the nuanced world of options.  They cast away myths about its risks and highlight its potential, especially for high net worth clients. Discover how the wealthy use options as sophisticated financial instruments.

Key points covered in the episode:

  • How wealth advisors are redefining their approach to derivatives
  • Why option strategies are the new buzz in today’s turbulent market
  • How to integrate technology that maximizes options strategies
  • Discover who stands to gain the most from options-based strategies
  • The art and science of asset managers striking that golden balance
  • The secret sauce behind captivating today’s informed clients and attracting fresh ones
  • Unveiling how options can uplift your cash flow, fortify assets, and supercharge returns
  • And more – take a peek inside!

Connect with Brett Kunshek:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Brett Kunshek: 

Brett Kunshek, CFA, leads the Options and Structured Notes division at Mariner Wealth Advisors. Before Mariner, he was at the helm of 440 Investment Group, a firm specialized in option investments, which Mariner later acquired. Brett has a history in risk management from his time at Protiviti and holds degrees from Pittsburg State University and the University of Kansas. He’s also an active member of both the CFA Institute and the Kansas City Society of Financial Analysts, blending hands-on practice with theoretical knowledge in finance.

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Unlocking the Power of APIs: Building Scalable Ecosystems in Wealth and Asset Management with Randy Prager (Ep. 9)

Unlocking the Power of APIs: Building Scalable Ecosystems in Wealth and Asset Management with Randy Prager (Ep. 9)

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In this episode of In The Money podcast, we are joined by the CTO of Flyer Financial, Randy Prager.  Join us as we dive into the API economy and learn how APIs are transforming the wealth tech sector, along with how forward-thinking firms are leveraging APIs to build their own specialized ecosystem within the wealth and asset management industries.

Flyer Financial Technologies, known for the FinTech solutions that you love and use every day, has embraced an API-based approach that allows them to extend their multi-million dollar investments in trading networks, order management systems (OMS), and allocation platforms to a broader audience. Taking an API approach allows firms of all sizes to tap into Flyer’s expertise. Once tapped in, you focus on what you do best while leveraging the connectivity and trading capabilities provided by Flyer’s APIs.

Listen in as Rusty and Randy discuss:

  • Helping advisors and asset managers understand how technology is transforming the wealth tech sector
  • How firms are implementing APIs to customize their client journey 
  • How to leverage technology for faster, smarter investment decisions
  • Security and Compliance:  Security, data protection and regulatory compliance are essential considerations in API design and deployment. Flyer ensures that its APIs are designed and implemented in a way that is fully compliant with regulatory standards
  • Why APIs allow you to focus on your strengths while leveraging Flyer’s expertise
  • How the utilization of APIs has exceeded expectations and provided value to customers and partners
  • And more!

Connect with Randy Prager:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Guest: 

Randy Prager has spent his career delivering technology solutions to the financial services market, specifically in capital markets and trading. Before Flyer, Randy led software development and technology teams at both startup and big companies, including JPMorgan, MarketXT and Bloomberg. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, he holds a double major in Economics and Electrical & Computer Engineering.

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Defying Conventions: A Closer Look at DeFi with Lex Sokolin (Ep. 8)

Defying Conventions: A Closer Look at DeFi with Lex Sokolin (Ep. 8)

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DeFi (Decentralized Finance) has gained much popularity over the past couple of years in FinTech discussions relating to cryptocurrency. 

Recent statistics suggest that over 70% of advisors suspect their clients are dabbling in crypto without engaging them in the process. In the wealth management world, is there possibly a disconnect between advisors and what their clients want? Where does DeFi fit into the crypto realm? 

In this episode we have Lex Sokolin, the Global Fintech Co-Head at ConsenSys to dissect the term DeFi and explain its impact on Cryptoeconomics. He gives us a closer look at the benefits, opportunities, and concerns within the crypto space.

Lex discusses:

  • What is DeFi?
  • Blockchain and its impact on the financial services industry
  • What is the web3 economy?
  • The factors that led to a recent crisis in the crypto market 
  • And More!

Resources:

Connect with Flyer FT:

Connect with Lex Sokolin:

About Lex Sokolin: 

Lex is a futurist and entrepreneur working on the next generation of financial services. He is the Global Fintech Co-Head at ConsenSys, a blockchain technology company building the infrastructure, applications, and practices that enable a decentralized world. Lex focuses on emerging digital assets, public and private enterprise blockchain solutions, and decentralized finance and autonomous organizations.

Previously, Lex was the Global Director of Fintech Strategy at Autonomous Research (acquired by AllianceBernstein), an equity research firm serving institutional investors, where he covered artificial intelligence, blockchain, neobanks, digital lenders, roboadvisors, payments, insurtech, and mixed reality. Before Autonomous, Lex was COO at AdvisorEngine, a digital wealth management technology platform, and CEO of NestEgg Wealth, a roboadvisor that partnered with financial advisors. Before NestEgg, Lex held roles in investment management and banking at Barclays, Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank. He earned a JD/MBA from Columbia University and a B.A. in Economics and Law from Amherst College.

Lex is a contributor of thought leadership to the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Bloomberg, FT, Reuters, American Banker, ThinkAdvisor, and Investment News, among others. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences such as Money2020, LendIt, Schwab Impact, In|Vest, T3 Enterprise Edition, and Consensus. His writing is publicly available at https://lex.substack.com.

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The Future of TAMPs with Morningstar’s Daniel Needham (Ep. 7)

The Future of TAMPs with Morningstar’s Daniel Needham (Ep. 7)

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From giving time back to advisors, to reaping the benefits of outsourcing, there’s no denying the advantages of a TAMP. As the industry’s gold standard for data and research, not to mention 2022’s top TAMP of the year, the team at Morningstar’s Wealth Management Solutions knows a thing or two about building a wealth management platform.

In this week’s episode, Daniel Needham, president of Wealth Management Solutions, joins Shannon Rosic to discuss TAMP trends. Daniel shares some of Morningstar’s data, research, and insights with listeners so they can build investment solutions for their clients.

Daniel discusses:

  • The biggest threats to the TAMP industry 
  • The latest trends in TAMPs and wealth management platforms 
  • Why Morningstar chose to invest in the Wealth Management Solutions group
  • Rolling out Morningstar Direct Indexing 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Daniel Needham:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

About our Guest: 

Daniel Needham, CFA, is the president of Morningstar’s Wealth Management Solutions. After the recent acquisition, he also oversees the U.K. and international business of Praemium and their core products, which were re-branded to Morningstar Wealth Platform and Wealthcraft, a Morningstar company.

Prior to his current role, Needham served as president and global chief investment officer since 2015 for Morningstar’s Investment Management group. In 2013, Needham stepped into the global chief investment officer role for the Investment Management group, and he also assumed responsibility for Morningstar’s investment management operations in Europe. Previously, Needham was chief investment officer and managing director for Investment Management in Asia-Pacific.

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The Future of Wealth and Investment Management with Chip Roame (Ep. 6)

The Future of Wealth and Investment Management with Chip Roame (Ep. 6)

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What does the future of wealth and investment management look like?

In this episode Chip Roame, Founder and Managing Partner of Tiburon Strategic Partners and the Tiburon CEO Summits, breaks down the top five trends he’s following in the wealth and investment management industry.

Chip also shares insight into whether these trends are here to stay, and how they should ultimately inform advisors when it comes to growing their business.

Chip discusses:

  • The five trends in the investment and wealth management industry
  • How Tiburon Strategic Partners conducts their research
  • Why advisors should focus on Gen Xers as the most prominent investors of the future
  • How advisors can consider other segments in their business if they want long-term growth
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Guest:

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

About our Guest: 

Chip Roame is the Founder & Managing Partner of Tiburon Strategic Advisors and the Tiburon CEO Summits, and a leading strategic advisor to CEOs, other senior executives, & boards of directors in the wealth & investment management (and WealthTech) markets. Prior to forming Tiburon in 1998, Mr. Roame served in similar capacities, first as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, and later as a business strategist at The Charles Schwab Corporation.

Mr. Roame has responsibility for all of Tiburon’s advisory, research, service, & marketing activities which keeps him on the leading edge of strategic initiatives in the industry’s fastest-growing businesses – registered investment companies (mutual funds & exchange traded funds (ETFs)), direct indexing, managed account programs, hedge funds & liquid alternatives, cryptocurrencies (digital assets), structured products, sustainable investing (ESG), financial, tax, & estate planning, annuities & life insurance, discount & online brokerage, online advice firms (robo advisors), traditional financial advisor channels, break-away brokers, the independent advisor markets, wealth management marketing & LeadGen, wealth management technology & turnkey asset management programs (TAMPs), and wealth manager succession planning & acquisitions.

Mr. Roame has been the host and keynote speaker at the semi-annual Tiburon CEO Summits since their inception in 2001, the key speaker at Tiburon’s weekly Tiburon Webinars, and is the author of over 3,000 Tiburon Written Research topics & profiles.



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Beyond Stock Picking: Market Trends & Asset Allocation Strategies With Gina Sanchez (Ep. 5)

Beyond Stock Picking: Market Trends & Asset Allocation Strategies With Gina Sanchez (Ep. 5)

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It’s certainly an interesting time to talk about the stock market, with inflation, the war in Ukraine, and the aftermath of a pandemic. Having a sound strategy for asset allocation and portfolio management has become more important than ever. 

In this week’s release of In the Money Podcast, Shannon Rosic is joined by Gina Sanchez, CEO of Chantico Global, LLC, regular contributor on CNBC, and Chief Market Strategist for Lido Advisors. Gina and Shannon talk about what it takes to have a successful approach to asset allocation, and why you should stay the course despite market volatility.

Gina shares:

  • Advice for handling market volatility
  • The story behind the name Chantico Global
  • Her approach to asset allocation and reducing errors
  • The advanced strategies investors need when dealing with various types of portfolios and assets
  • The light at the end of the tunnel in spite of recession and inflation
  • And more!

Resources: 

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Gina Sanchez:

About Gina Sanchez:

Gina Sanchez is the Chief Executive Officer of Chantico Global, LLC and Chief Market Strategist for Lido Advisors.

Chantico Global was spun out of Roubini Global Economics in 2013. Ms. Sanchez was the Director of Equity and Asset Allocation for Roubini Global Economics. Currently, Chantico Global collaborates with Oxford Economics, the world’s largest economics consultancy. Ms. Sanchez also currently serves as a Trustee of the Los Angeles County Employee Retirement Association. Ms. Sanchez also serves as Chief Market Strategist for Lido Advisors, a $5.4 billion national investment advisor based in Los Angeles.

She also worked in emerging markets research at JPMorgan in New York. She is frequently quoted in the media and was a recipient of Institutional Investor’s 2009 Foundations and Endowments Rising Stars Award.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University and a master’s in international policy studies from Stanford University.



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Making a Case for an API-Connected Ecosystem with Craig Iskowitz (Ep.4)

Making a Case for an API-Connected Ecosystem with Craig Iskowitz (Ep.4)

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APIs (Application Programming Interface) have improved the workflow of businesses in many industries by bridging the gap between different software and allowing them to communicate with each other. When it comes to the wealth management industry, accurate, timely, and seamless data exchange is table stakes. So, what does an API-enabled future look like?

In this episode, Craig Iskowitz, CEO and founder of Ezra Group, discusses:

  • What is an API
  • How APIs have transformed the wealth management industry
  • Why it is important to have more transparent and well-designed APIs
  • How to ensure platform security while using APIs
  • Things to consider when evaluating a vendor’s API stack
  • And more!

Resources:


Connect with Shannon Rosic:

Connect with Craig Iskowitz:

About Our Guest:

Craig Iskowitz is a business and technology strategy consultant who is a recognized expert on fee-based advisory platforms and wealth management technology. He is the CEO and founder of Ezra Group, a strategy consulting firm providing technology and business advice to banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, and private equity and fintech firms.

In addition to providing customized solutions to the wealth management industry, Craig publishes WTToday, a blog offering the latest insight on technology for wealth, asset, and investment management professionals.

Craig is also the host of the Wealth Tech Today podcast, where he discusses, dissects, and debates the latest news and trends in wealth management technology.



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