Risk Management – In the Money

AI and Financial Advisors: Why 2025 Will Be a Turning Point with John O’Connell (Ep. 26)

By In the Money | May 28, 2025

How is Artificial Intelligence reshaping the wealth management industry?

In this episode, Rusty Sommer sits down with John O’Connell, CEO and Founder of The OASIS Group, at the bustling Market Council Summit in Las Vegas. Together, they explore how AI is rapidly transforming the way advisors serve clients, from streamlining workflows to enhancing personalization at scale. Their conversation highlights both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into financial services, while emphasizing the continued importance of human expertise in the process.

Rusty and John discuss:

(01:56) The rise of AI and its prevalence in conferences today
(03:34) How note-taking tech is gaining traction in wealth management
(04:40) The evolving AI wealth tech map with over 80 firms and growing
(07:57)Enhancing the client experience with AI and the importance of having humans in the loop
(14:13) The future of financial advice aided by AI and its potential to increase productivity

Connect with John O’Connell:

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

About our Guest:

John O’Connell has more than 30 years of leadership experience in both emerging businesses and mature, established organizations. He started his career designing and developing financial applications at Merrill Lynch and KPMG Peat Marwick. He was a member of the team for an IPO, sale of a firm, and packaging 2 other firms for sale. He held North American leadership positions at Oracle for over 8 years. He was the president of a FinTech firm and held C-level customer-facing roles at two global, publicly traded companies.

John is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for The Oasis Group. A firm specializing in helping wealth management and technology firms to solve their most complex challenges. The Oasis Group helps firms with technology selection and implementation, sales processes and strategy, and processes to attract, sell, propose, onboard, and service new clients.

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

By In the Money | January 10, 2024

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:

Wesley Bray: Tradenews.com

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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