Category Archives: IRIS Media Works

Episode 301 – Preparing Advisors for the AI Era at Future Proof Citywide with Chris Cherry

Advisorpedia, Finance, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice

Chris Cherry, Head of Partnerships at Future Proof, joins us to talk about Future Proof Citywide and how it expands on the Future Proof Festival model by moving into Miami Beach, allowing the event to grow beyond the Festival’s 5,000-person limit while keeping the same outdoor, relaxed, anti-conference feel. Citywide also introduces a rotating theme structure — Invest, Build, Grow, and Live — with AI as the central focus for 2025, reflecting how quickly it’s becoming part of industry conversations.

Chris highlights why Citywide delivers real ROI: the breakthrough meeting program, where attendees pre-select and schedule high-quality matches rather than relying on chance encounters. Those curated meetings have led to major client wins and even career-changing outcomes. New this year is a 20,000-square-foot AI Playground, expanded partner activations across Miami Beach, and returning experiences like the women’s lounge. Chris hopes attendees leave with confidence in using AI — and a clear sense that stepping into these conversations is no longer optional.

Resources: Future Proof

This episode is sponsored by Fidelity Investments. If you would like to learn more about Fidelity’s top performing mutual funds and ETFs for financial advisors, visit i.fidelity.com/topfunds.

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Episode 283 – Exploring the Future of ETFs and Autocallables with Matt Kaufman

Advisorpedia, Industry Innovators, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice

In this episode we sit down with Matt Kaufman, Global Head of ETFs at Calamos, to explore how the firm is translating decades of institutional expertise into modern ETF solutions. Kaufman shares insights from his 23-year career—from helping pioneer smart beta ETFs to creating defined outcome strategies—and how those experiences now fuel Calamos’ approach to options-based income strategies.

Kaufman breaks down CAIE, the Calamos Autocallable Income ETF, and how it’s opening new doors for income-focused investors. Built to simplify access to a complex $100 billion structured note market, CAIE offers a 14.5% average annualized coupon through laddered exposure to weekly issued Autocallables. Wrapped in a tax-efficient ETF structure, it gives advisors a powerful new tool for generating yield without relying on traditional equity or bond risk.

Resources: Calamos

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Episode 259 – The Financial Game Plan Every Athlete Needs with Frederick Blue

Advisorpedia, Finance, Industry Innovators, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice

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.

Resources: Wells Fargo

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Episode 100 – Achieving an Effective Marketing Strategy for Your Firm – With Susan Theder and Samantha Russell

Advisorpedia, Finance, Industry Innovators, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

At FMG Suite, Susan Theder acts as the Chief Marketing and Experience Officer and Samantha Russell acts as the Chief Evangelist. FMG Suite currently provides over 40,000 financial advisors and insurance agents with award-winning content and digital marketing tools to help them build their businesses, expand their influence, and strengthen relationships with customers.

Doug, Susan and Samantha addressed a grab bag of questions and scenarios Susan & Samantha are seeing in the marketplace today, and how they would recommend developing different marketing strategies for each. They provided their expert advice to three firms that hold widely common concerns.

Advice was aimed at:

  • A small advisory firm that wants to create content but lacks strategic digital marketing 
  • A firm focused on gaining creativity in their newsletters and articles
  • A solo advisor looking to capitalize on their video skills and thrive on social media channels

They also discussed:

  • Statistics on organic growth through digital marketing
  • The likelihood that wealthy individuals will share their advisor’s newsletters with others
  • The optimal length of videos to gain the most traction
  • Emergences in social media channels used by advisors

Resources: FMG Suite



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Episode 25 – Financial Advisors Can Find Freedom to Focus Through Outsourcing – with Barrett Ayers, Matt Sonnen and Rich DeSalvo

Finance, Industry Innovators, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , ,

The ups and downs of 2020 gave many advisors pause and forced them to really think about the core of their businesses: Who are our ideal clients? What services should we be offering to them? What should we be charging for those services? And what is the most profitable way we can deliver those services to our ideal clients? 

In this episode of Power Your Advice, Adhesion Wealth President, Barrett Ayers, discusses the ins and outs of outsourcing with Matt Sonnen of PFI Advisors and Rich DeSalvo of f3Logic, LLC.  These experts provide their insights on the trends that are driving financial advisors to outsource and how outsourcing can free up advisors to focus on those services that differentiate them.

  • How COVID-19 accelerated advisor acceptance of outsourcing
  • What types of outsourced solutions are gaining popularity 
  • Tips for determining if/when an outsourced provider is a good fit with your firm
  • How outsourcing can benefit your bottom line

Resources:  Adhesion Wealth | PFI Advisors | f3Logic, LLC

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Episode 24 – Success Begins With Listening Deeply to Your Clients – with Michael Scaplen

Finance, Industry Innovators, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

Michael Scaplen is the senior vice president of sales and relationship management at Axos Clearing, a full-service clearing firm and custodian serving introducing broker-dealer and registered investment advisors.

In this episode of Power Your Advice, Doug Heikkinen and Michael talk about the importance of being technologically nimble and delivering seamless, outstanding customer service in today’s environment. They also discuss the pillars of Axos’ business model and how it can empower advisors to better serve their clients.

You will also learn:

  • Why the pillars of Axos’ business are unique in the financial services industry.
  • Why Axos is committed to being light and nimble in its approach to technology, and how that benefits advisors.
  • How Axos puts the advisor first in everything they do, and how that, in turn, helps advisors deliver a better experience to their clients.

Resources: Axos Clearing

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Episode 23 – Sustainable and Impact Investing is Not a Charity – With Peter Krull

Finance, Industry Innovators, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , ,

Peter Krull is the Founder, CEO and Director of Investments at Earth Equity Advisors. He focuses on creating and managing Earth Equity’s sustainable, responsible and impact investment portfolios as well as writing thought leadership pieces and sharing the responsible investing story.

In today’s episode of Power Your Advice, Pete and Doug Heikkinen discuss the state of sustainable, responsible and impact investing in the financial services community today. Is everyone who says they do it really doing it? How can you tell the difference? They also discuss:

  • The screening process for a green stage portfolio
  • How sustainable portfolio returns compare to portfolios that don’t take sustainable or impact investing into account
  • How divesting from fossil fuel holdings can help with risk management inside a portfolio
  • Why Pete believes that you can trace breadcrumbs from an investment to saving the world for our kids
  • Why Pete thinks advisors should be on the green wave for their clients

RESOURCES: Earth Equity Advisors

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Episode 22 – Hedging Against Volatility With Precious Metals- with Christopher Blasi

Finance, Industry Innovators, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

Chris Blasi is the President of Neptune Global Holdings, LLC, a precious metals dealer and creator of the PMC Ounce, a precious metals composite which combines the four major metals into one investment product that offers the properties of an ETF, but with one key differentiator – the investor actually owns the metals, and at any time, can convert the PMC Ounces they own to take physical delivery of the metals.

In this episode of Power Your Advice, Mike and Doug Heikkinen discuss precious metals – what they are and how they can help diversify client portfolios. 

  • Overview of the precious metals asset class, how it works, and the precious metals within it
  • Overview of the PMC Ounce – how it works, and how advisors can take advantage of it
  • How can advisors talk about the PMC Ounce, and precious metals in general, with their clients
  • How and why Neptune Global has grown and thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic

Resources:  Neptune Global Holdings, LLC | PMC Ounce

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Episode 21 – What Financial Advisors Should Know About Mergers & Acquisitions Today – with Barrett Ayers, Stan Gregor and David DeVoe

Finance, Industry Innovators, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , ,

After a couple of months of slowdown, Mergers & Acquisitions (“M&A”) are happening at record levels across the industry. As financial advisors think about ways to grow their business, they may want to consider M&A as one way to achieve benefits of scale, new levels of efficiency within their business, and unlock access to the power of a broader platform. 

In this episode of Power Your Advice, Adhesion Wealth President, Barrett Ayers, once again takes the reins and leads a fascinating discussion with M&A gurus Stan Gregor of Summit Financial and David DeVoe of DeVoe & Company about how this year has affected Mergers & Acquisitions across the industry.  They also provide insight for advisors on both sides of the equation – how sellers can make their firms attractive for acquisition, and what buyers should take into consideration when evaluating target companies.

  • What factors are driving M&A activity this year?
  • What are some of the most important valuation factors?
  • Beyond the financials, what else should an aggregator look for when evaluating companies?
  • When should an RIA look internally vs. externally?
  • Insight as to what RIA M&A may look like in 2021 and beyond.

Resources:  Adhesion Wealth | Summit Financial | DeVoe & Company

 

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Episode 20 – Investment Banking Can Enhance Financial Advisors’ Value Propositions- with Michael Nessim

Finance, Industry Innovators, IRIS Media Works, Power Your Advice, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

Michael Nessim is the President of Kingswood U.S. and the CEO of Benchmark Advisory Services, LLC. He has been in the financial services industry for more than 24 years and had been involved with investment banking for the last 20 years.

In this episode of Power Your Advice, Mike and Doug Heikkinen discuss investment banking – what it is and why financial advisors should consider including it in their client portfolios. They also talk about how Kingswood can help advisors provide access to this important and differentiating solution for their clients.

  • What does ‘investment banking” mean to advisors and their clients
  • How does Mike feel investment banking drives the economy
  • How can adding investment banking help strengthen advisors’ value propositions
  • The types of risks associated with investment banking and how can they be offset

Resources:  Kingswood U.S.

 

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