In today’s episode, Doug speaks with Frederick Blue, Managing Director at Wells Fargo Wealth and Investment Management, about the financial challenges athletes face during and after their careers. With short earning windows and sudden wealth, many athletes struggle without proper planning. Fred emphasizes the importance of budgeting, working with qualified advisors, and using league and institutional resources to build a strong financial foundation early on.
He also unpacks the complexities of taxes, endorsements, and asset protection, especially as NIL deals reshape the financial landscape for college athletes. From managing inconsistent income streams to understanding state tax liabilities and insurance needs, Frederick highlights the critical role of a well-coordinated financial team. His core message: start early, stay disciplined, and protect your wealth—and your brand—for the long haul.
Today, Doug welcomes back Samantha Russell, Chief Evangelist at FMG, to talk about how advisors can turn market volatility into a marketing strength. Samantha stresses that during uncertain times, silence from advisors breeds anxiety. Instead, consistent, proactive communication builds trust and positions advisors as steady, reliable guides—like a pilot reassuring passengers during turbulence. She shares FMG’s five strategies: regular outreach, dedicated market pages, webinars, social media engagement, and family financial sessions.
Samantha emphasizes using visuals and video to make complex topics digestible and emotionally resonant. She urges advisors to title content using real client questions to boost relevance and attendance. From timely emails to interactive webinars and legacy planning tools, she outlines how FMG helps advisors deepen relationships and expand their reach—especially when clients need guidance the most.
In this episode, Doug speaks with Michael Scaplen, SVP and Head of Sales and Relationship Management at Axos Clearing. Michael shares how Axos has evolved from its legacy roots into a tech-forward clearing firm, anchored by Axos Complete—a fully integrated ecosystem that unifies banking, investing, and planning. With tools like the Professional Workstation and a real-time client portal, Axos is eliminating operational friction and enhancing the advisor-client experience.
Michael also highlights Axos’ use of AI, biometric logins, and Envestnet integrations to streamline workflows and deliver personalized service. With solutions like tax overlay, private wealth consulting, and Axos Elite Banking, the firm empowers advisors to deepen relationships and grow revenue. It’s a bold vision for the future of clearing—one built on digital-first infrastructure and end-to-end support.
In this episode, Doug welcomes Paisley Nardini, a portfolio manager and multi-asset strategist at Simplify. Paisley discusses the significance of diversifying portfolios, especially in times of market volatility and uncertainty, and highlights the innovative solutions Simplify offers, such as liquid alternatives, defined outcome strategies, and the use of derivatives.
Paisley delves into the importance of active management in achieving downside protection and the ongoing shift from a traditional 60/40 portfolio model to a 50-30-20 structure, and offers insights into how Simplify supports advisors through education and unique product offerings.
Today, Doug is joined by VanEck’s Fran Rodilosso, Head of Fixed Income ETF Portfolio Management, and Bill Sokol, Director of Product Management, to break down the opportunities in Collateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs) and why they’re gaining traction with investors. They explain how CLOs offer higher yields, low default rates, and floating-rate protection against interest rate volatility, making them a compelling addition to fixed income portfolios.
They also dive into CLO structures, key risks, and why active management is essential for optimizing returns. Learn how VanEck’s CLO ETFs, CLOI and CLOB, provide access to this growing asset class while managing risk. Tune in for expert insights on how advisors can integrate CLOs into diversified portfolios.
In this episode, Doug is joined by Courtney Tsai, Senior Manager of Charitable Strategies Group at DAFgiving360TM. They delve into the benefits of donor-advised funds (DAFs) and how DAFgiving360 simplifies and enhances charitable giving.
Courtney explains the structure and tax advantages of DAFs, the importance of donating non-cash assets like private business interests and real estate, and how DAFgiving360 supports advisors and donors through complex giving strategies. Courtney highlights that non-cash asset donations can offer substantial tax benefits, and emphasizes the need for professional guidance in these transactions.
If you’d like to learn more about working with DAFgiving360 and the benefits to both you and your clients, review their online resources or request more information.
A donor’s ability to claim itemized deductions is subject to a variety of limitations depending on the donor’s specific tax situation.
DAFgiving360TM does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult a qualified legal or tax advisor where such advice is necessary or appropriate.
Contributions made to DAFgiving360 are considered an irrevocable gift and are not refundable. Once contributed, DAFgiving360 has exclusive legal control over the contributed assets.
Contributions of certain real estate, private equity, or other illiquid assets may be accepted via a charitable intermediary, with proceeds transferred to a donor-advised fund (DAF) account upon liquidation. Call DAFgiving360 for more information at 800-746-6216.
DAFgiving360 is the name used for the combined programs and services of Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc., an independent nonprofit organization which has entered into service agreements with certain subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation. DAFgiving360 is a tax-exempt public charity as described in Sections 501(c)(3), 509(a)(1), and 170(b)(1) (A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Jeff Weniger is the Head of Equity Strategy at WisdomTree. WisdomTree works to create a better way to invest, offering a leading product range that offers access to an unparalleled selection of unique and smart exposures.
Today, Doug and Jeff discuss how WisdomTree’s investment strategies can help investors navigate market volatility in 2025. He highlights the firm’s two key funds—WisdomTree U.S. Value Fund (WTV) and WisdomTree U.S. Quality Growth Fund (QGRW)—and explains how combining value and growth strategies can create a well-diversified, risk-balanced portfolio.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund before investing. For a prospectus or, if available, the summary prospectus containing this and other important information about the fund, call 866.909.9473 or visit WisdomTree.com/investments. Read the prospectus or, if available, the summary prospectus carefully before investing.
You cannot invest directly in an index.
For definition of terms used in this discussion, please see the WisdomTree Glossary.
There are risks involved with investing, including the possible loss of principal.
WTV Risk Information: Funds focusing their investments on certain sectors increase their vulnerability to any single economic or regulatory development. This may result in greater share price volatility. While the Fund is actively managed, the Fund’s investment process is expected to be heavily dependent on quantitative models and the models may not perform as intended. Please read the Fund’s prospectus for specific details regarding the Fund’s risk profile.
QGRW Risk Information: Growth stocks, as a group, may be out of favor with the market and underperform value stocks or the overall equity market. Growth stocks are generally more sensitive to market movements than other types of stocks. The Fund is non-diversified, as a result, changes in the market value of a single security could cause greater fluctuations in the value of Fund shares than would occur in a diversified fund. The Fund invests in the securities included in, or representative of, its Index regardless of their investment merit. The Fund does not attempt to outperform its Index or take defensive positions in declining markets and the Index may not perform as intended. Please read the Fund’s prospectus for specific details regarding the Fund’s risk profile.
To learn more about WTV & QGRW’s performance, holding, and other details, please visit WTV Fund page or QGRW Fund page.
WisdomTree Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, in the U.S
Jason Ozur is the CEO of Lido Advisors, a firm dedicated to providing clients with advanced wealth management and comprehensive, holistic financial services.
Today, Jason shares how the firm skyrocketed from $19B to $30B AUM, emphasizing a client-first approach, strategic M&A, and culture-driven growth. He also discusses expansion plans, AI’s impact on efficiency, and the challenges of scaling while maintaining top-tier service.
In this episode, we have with us Samantha Russell, the Chief Evangelist at FMG Suite. Doug and Samantha unpacked FMG’s 2025 Marketing Guide to explore how financial advisors can turn this year’s challenges into opportunities. From optimizing your website to growing your network, we share the strategies to elevate your marketing game.
Ryan McKee is the Senior Vice President and Head of Emerging Product Specialists at Fidelity Investments.
Fidelity provides a wide range of investment and wealth management services, striving to strengthen the financial well-being of their customers and deliver better outcomes for the clients and businesses.
In this episode, the focus is product innovation and solutions for financial advisors—from active ETFs to new approaches in portfolio customization.
Topics also discussed:
The rapid growth of active ETFs and alternatives, emphasizing their role in aligning with client needs and offering active management within a tax-efficient structure.
Emerging tools like custom SMAs and direct indexing are enabling highly personalized portfolios, with adoption growing and assets projected to reach $1 trillion by 2027.
FinTech innovations such as unified managed accounts (UMAs), simplifying portfolio management by integrating various investment types, boosting scalability for financial advisors.
How technology is making traditionally inaccessible investment options like semi-liquid and illiquid alternatives more manageable, driving greater adoption and usability.
Fidelity supports advisors with specialized teams and resources to integrate these innovative solutions, offering portfolio guidance through platforms like i.fidelity.com/portfolio.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk, including risk of loss.
Unless otherwise expressly disclosed to you in writing, the information provided in this material is for educational purposes only. Any viewpoints expressed by Fidelity are not intended to be used as a primary basis for your investment decisions and are based on facts and circumstances at the point in time they are made and are not particular to you. Accordingly, nothing in this material constitutes impartial investment advice or advice in a fiduciary capacity, as defined or under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, both as amended. Fidelity and its representatives may have a conflict of interest in the products or services mentioned in this material because they have a financial interest in the products or services and may receive compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection with the management, distribution, and/or servicing of these products or services, including Fidelity funds, certain third-party funds and products, and certain investment services. Before making any investment decisions, you should take into account all of the particular facts and circumstances of your or your client’s individual situation and reach out to an investment professional, if applicable.
Information provided in this document is for informational and educational purposes only. To the extent any investment information in this material is deemed to be a recommendation, it is not meant to be impartial investment advice or advice in a fiduciary capacity and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for you or your client’s investment decisions. Fidelity and its representatives may have a conflict of interest in the products or services mentioned in this material because they have a financial interest in them, and receive compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection with the management, distribution, and/or servicing of these products or services, including Fidelity funds, certain third-party funds and products, and certain investment services.
Views expressed are through 2/3/2025 and do not necessarily represent the views of Fidelity. Views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and Fidelity disclaims any responsibility to update such views.
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