Category Archives: Uncategorized

Episode 240 – The Role of Model Portfolios in Modern Advisory Practices with Ryan Krystopowicz



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.

Ryan Krystopowicz is the Director of Client Solutions at WisdomTree. In this episode, Ryan reveals how leveraging model portfolios can save time, enhance client satisfaction, and improve advisory efficiency

Also discussed:

  • Ryan Krystopowicz shares his journey from stock picking to joining WisdomTree and his passion for ETFs and model portfolios.
  • The misconceptions about stock picking, emphasizing the inefficiency for advisors compared to using model-based approaches.
  • Ryan highlights research showing that clients value expertise and often prefer advisors who leverage third-party models.
  • WisdomTree’s Portfolio Solutions platform, featuring portfolio consultations, CIO-managed models, and custom models for advisors.
  • Insights from portfolio evaluations, including issues with overconcentration and inefficiencies in equity and fixed-income allocations.
  • The benefits of using models for time savings, client satisfaction, and retention are emphasized, supported by research on advisor practices and client preferences.

Resources: WisdomTree

 

Investors and their advisors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the funds included in any Model Portfolio carefully before investing. This and other information can be obtained in the Fund’s prospectus or, if available, the summary prospectus by visiting wisdomtree.com/investments for WisdomTree Funds. Visit the applicable third-party website for non-WisdomTree funds. Please read the prospectus or, if available, the summary prospectus carefully before you invest. WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any content or other materials made available by other ETF sponsors.

There are risks associated with investing, including possible loss of principal.

For Retail Investors: WisdomTree’s Model Portfolios are not intended to constitute investment advice or investment recommendations from WisdomTree. Your investment adviser may or may not implement WisdomTree’s Model Portfolios in your account. The performance of your account may differ from the performance shown for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to: Your investment adviser, and not WisdomTree, is responsible for implementing trades in the accounts; differences in market conditions; client-imposed investment restrictions; the timing of client investments and withdrawals; fees payable; and/or other factors. WisdomTree is not responsible for determining the suitability or appropriateness of a strategy based on WisdomTree’s Model Portfolios. WisdomTree does not have investment discretion and does not place trade orders for your account. This material has been created by WisdomTree and the information included herein has not been verified by your investment adviser and may differ from information provided by your investment adviser. WisdomTree does not undertake to provide impartial investment advice or give advice in a fiduciary capacity. Further, WisdomTree receives revenue in the form of advisory fees for our exchange traded funds and management fees for our collective investment trusts.

For Financial Advisors: WisdomTree Model Portfolio Information is designed to be used by financial advisors solely as an educational resource, along with other potential resources advisors may consider, in providing services to their end clients. WisdomTree Model Portfolios and any related content are intended for informational use only and are not intended to provide investment or financial planning advice by WisdomTree. WisdomTree Model Portfolio information should not be considered or relied upon as investment advice or as a recommendation from WisdomTree, including regarding the use or suitability of any WisdomTree Model Portfolio.

Neither WisdomTree, Inc., nor its affiliates, nor Foreside Fund Services, LLC, nor its affiliates provide tax advice. All references to tax matters or information provided in this material are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered tax advice and cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties. Investors seeking tax advice should consult an independent tax advisor.

References to CIO (Chief Investment Officer), “CIO-Managed”, “Shared CIO” are meant as general references to WisdomTree Model Portfolio subscriptions, consultation regarding WisdomTree Model Portfolios, and WisdomTree Model Portfolios that may be customized to firm-specific objectives or unique firm-specific investment needs (“custom model portfolios”), and WisdomTree is not acting in an investment advisory, fiduciary or quasi-fiduciary capacity in connection therewith. Such material, and any assistance provided as described herein, including portfolio construction, WisdomTree Model Portfolios, custom model portfolios, asset allocation stress testing, assessments, discussions, output or other assistance (whether by WisdomTree personnel or digital tools) are (i) for information only and are not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, accounting, investment or financial planning advice, (ii) not personalized investment advice or an investment recommendation from WisdomTree, and (iii) intended for use only be financial professional, with other information, as a resource to help build a portfolio or as an input in the development of investment advice for its own clients. Such financial professionals are responsible for making their own independent judgment as to how to use such information.

WisdomTree Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC


Episode 239 – Fidelity’s Portfolio Construction Tips to Navigate Today’s Market with Mayank Goradia



Mayank Goradia is the Senior Vice President and Head of Integrated Portfolio Construction Delivery 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.

This episode covers the evolving role of portfolio construction and how Fidelity supports advisors with innovative and traditional products to meet their PC needs.

Topics also discussed:

  • Mayank shares his journey from accounting and finance to his current role at Fidelity, where he works on portfolio construction and supports advisors.
  • How Fidelity aids advisors with three main aspects: portfolio construction principles, institutional-quality tools, and consulting for personalized investment strategies.
  • Rising industry challenges, like geopolitical tensions and shifting market cycles, which have made portfolio construction more essential for advisors.
  • Mayank outlines Fidelity’s advisor personas (outsourcers, engineers, and customizers) and the tailored tools Fidelity offers, such as model portfolios, ETF options, and custom models to meet their specific needs.
  • Recent trends, including a shift to equities, increased alternative assets, and the growing use of ETFs, as well as the benefits of Fidelity’s tools for benchmarking, personalization, and consistent alignment with clients’ goals.

 

Hear more from Mayank as the host of the Next Great Portfolio: The search for the next great portfolio: A 6-part video series (fidelity.com)

Click to learn more about Fidelity Portfolio Quick Check

Resources: Fidelity Investments

 

Fidelity Investments is an independent company, unaffiliated with Advisorpedia.

Fidelity Investments is a registered trademark of FMR LLC.

Fidelity Investments® provides investment products through Fidelity Distributors Company LLC; clearing, custody, or other brokerage services through National Financial Services LLC or Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Members NYSE, SIPC; and institutional advisory services through Fidelity Institutional Wealth Adviser LLC.


Episode 237 – Global Fiduciary Leaders with Elizabeth Fernando



Host Chris Battaglia interviews Elizabeth Fernando, CIO of NEST. The two discuss the history and growth of NEST, which was established in 2010 to address the lack of workplace pensions and the need for affordable retirement savings.

The podcast was recorded ahead of the Global Fiduciary Symposium which took place from November 11th to 14th in Tokyo, Japan.

Key Notes:

  • NEST was created following the 2008 Pensions Act which introduced auto-enrollment to ensure every employer in the UK offers a workplace pension.
  • The organization now manages over £43 billion in assets and serves more than 13 million members, including workers from the gig economy and self-employed individuals.
  • The podcast explores the possibility of introducing compulsory pension contributions, like Australia’s superannuation system, but notes the UK’s more cautious approach to enrollment.
  • NEST uses a sophisticated governance structure with multiple layers of oversight to ensure effective decision-making and stakeholder involvement.
  • The organization focuses on long-term growth in private markets, aligning with asset managers who share similar goals, avoiding large buyouts, and steering clear of performance fees.
  • Elizabeth also discusses NEST’s approach to impact investing, prioritizing responsible, sustainable investments that avoid harmful sectors and reflects on the lessons NEST can learn from global pension systems, particularly in Japan.

Episode 236 – Global Fiduciary Leaders with Professor Takatoshi Ito



On this episode of Power Your Advice, our host, Chris Battaglia, interviews Professor Takatoshi Ito from Columbia University about the future of Japan’s asset management business. The two cover recent monetary policy changes and initiatives to attract foreign investors, strengthen corporate governance, and build a more globally connected financial hub. 

The podcast comes ahead of Professor Ito’s keynote speech at the Global Fiduciary Symposium on November 12th in Tokyo, Japan. 

Topics also discussed:

  • Professor Takatoshi Ito discusses Japan’s recent interest rate changes and their impact on the yen-dollar exchange rate.
  • Japan’s “Asset Management Nation” initiative aims to shift household savings from low-yield deposits to diverse global investments.
  • Japan is striving to attract foreign asset managers to Tokyo, enhancing its status as a financial hub.
  • Reforms in corporate governance have improved Japanese equity performance, drawing increased global investor interest.
  • Japan’s “Emerging Manager Program” (EMP) seeks to develop a more independent, innovative asset management industry.
  • The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) faces challenges in meeting its target allocation to alternative assets, remaining at only 2%.
  • Professor Ito emphasizes the need for transparency in ESG and impact investing, ensuring clear goals for returns and social impact.

Episode 234 – The Blueprint for Tomorrow’s Investors with Bob Santella



This episode dives into how BetaNXT’s new CEO, Bob Santella, is revolutionizing wealth management with cutting-edge data integration, personalization, and innovative tech solutions.

 

Topics also discussed:

  • Bob discusses his plans to drive innovation at BetaNXT, aiming to help clients grow their businesses by expanding product offerings and integrating advanced technology.
  • He highlights BetaNXT’s new DataXChange initiative with Snowflake, designed to unify data across platforms and enhance security in wealth management.
  • Major challenges in the wealth management industry, such as data modernization, the rise of AI, and evolving investor needs.
  • The conversation explores BetaNXT’s approach to personalization, allowing clients to customize and manage wealth data for a more tailored experience.
  • Looking to the future, Bob anticipates that AI, new investment options, and modular cloud platforms will significantly impact wealth management trends in the coming years.

 

Resources: 

BetaNXT


Episode 233 – Aligning the Tax Strategy to the Investor with Josh Freeman and James Costabile



Today we’re joined by the team at iCapital, a company dedicated to powering the world’s alternative investment marketplace.

We welcome Josh Freeman, Vice President of Research and Due Diligence, and James Costabile, Managing Director and Head of Alternatives Distribution.

In this episode, we explore tax-efficient strategies to help investors and advisors navigate year-end planning and manage capital gains more effectively.

Topics discussed:

  • Tax-efficient strategies for investors, focusing on year-end planning, managing capital gains, and using tools like 1031 exchanges and Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ).
  • iCapital connects asset managers, issuers, and wealth managers to offer alternative investments such as structured products and annuities, supporting advisors with research and expertise.
  • Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) offer a 1031 alternative, providing passive real estate investment opportunities and reducing property management burdens for investors.
  • The 721 UPREIT allows investors to exchange DST ownership for REIT units, maintaining 1031 benefits but limiting further exchanges, making it ideal for long-term passive exposure.
  • Advisors should tailor strategies to client preferences: active owners may prefer traditional 1031s, passive owners may opt for DSTs, and passive investors could benefit from the 721 UPREIT.
  • QOZ funds provide tax deferral and potential tax-free gains after 10 years.

 

To learn more about the potential tax benefits of 1031 Exchanges and Opportunity Zones, iCapital is hosting a CE-credited webinar with Ares and Griffin Capital Wednesday, October 30th from 4-5pm ET. Register here: https://learn.icapital.com/tax-strategies-webinar

 

Resources: iCapital


Episode 232 – Guiding Advisors Toward New Summits with Jim Dickson



Jim Dickson is the Founding Partner and CEO of Elevation Point. Elevation Point partners with financial advisors and independent RIAs, offering strategic guidance and resources to accelerate business growth.

In this podcast, Jim and Doug discuss Elevation Point and their unique approach as an accelerator rather than an aggregator in the wealth management industry.

 

Topics also discussed:

  • Elevation Point’s offerings of minority stake partnerships to help advisors and RIAs grow without selling their entire business.
  • Their acquisition of Mount Yale Capital Group enables them to provide operational, compliance, and investment services, scaling faster by integrating established systems.
  • How they serve breakaway advisors seeking independence and RIAs who want to focus more on clients by offloading operational burdens.
  • Elevation Point differentiating itself as an accelerator, offering tools, technology, and services without forcing firms to change their successful models.
  • Future plans including more acquisitions and expanding exclusive investment opportunities through their Alt 62 platform.

 

Resources: 

Elevation Point


Episode 231 – Kingswood’s Billion-Dollar Partnership with Eudaimonia with Mike Nessim, Jaime Golden, & John Goodson



Kingswood U.S. recently announced the successful partnership of the Nashville, Tennessee-based Eudaimonia Partners and Eudaimonia Advisors (Collectively known as “Eudaimonia”). 

Additionally, it entered a strategic alliance with Eudaimonia Asset Management, a turnkey asset management-based RIA. The three RIAs under the Eudaimonia Group collectively represent more than $1 billion in total client assets. 

To discuss this new partnership, we welcome, Mike Nessim, CEO and Managing Partner of Kingswood U.S., Jaime Golden, President of Acquisitions at Kingswood U.S., and John Goodson, Founder & Partner of Eudaimonia.

 

Points also covered:

  • The partnership representing over a billion dollars in client assets, marking a significant milestone in Kingswood’s growth strategy to scale up its RIA.
  • How the acquisition is larger and more complex than Kingswood’s previous ones, facilitated by established relationships and a shared advisory culture.
  • The partnership aligning both firms’ values and focusing on supporting financial advisors, making it an ideal fit for Kingswood’s growth strategy.
  • Eudaimonia’s turnkey asset management platform (TAMP) and how it provides holistic wealth management services, enhancing advisor offerings.
  • Both firms seeing Nashville as a key growth market, with plans to leverage their partnership for continued expansion across the Southeast and beyond.

 

Resources: 

Kingswood U.S.

Eudaimonia Group

 


Episode 230 – Maximizing Returns in a New Rate Environment with Kevin Flanagan



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.

Kevin Flanagan is the Head of Fixed Income Strategy at WisdomTree, joining us to share expert insights on the shifting yield curve, Federal Reserve rate strategies, and actionable tips for managing fixed-income portfolios in today’s evolving market.

Also discussed:

  • The phenomenon of an inverted yield curve and its recent movement back to positive territory.
  • How different segments of the yield curve respond to market expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts and the complexities in yield curve movements.
  • The concept of “money in motion,” describing how investors are adjusting their portfolios in response to a new rate regime, particularly by moving from shorter-term to intermediate-term bonds.
  • WisdomTree’s “barbell strategy,” blending short-term floating-rate notes with longer-term investment-grade bonds to navigate the current rate environment and generate yield.
  • The re-emergence of fixed income as a key portfolio component, given the higher yield levels compared to the past decade, offering investors more traditional opportunities in bond markets.
  • Risks that could disrupt the Federal Reserve’s current rate path.

Resources: WisdomTree

 

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.

Yield curve: Graphical Depiction of interest rates on government bonds, with the current yield on the vertical axis and the years to maturity on the horizontal axis.

Consumer Price Index (CPI): A measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food and medical care. The CPI is calculated by taking price changes for each item in the predetermined basket of goods and averaging them; the goods are weighted according to their importance. Changes in CPI are used to assess price changes associated with the cost of living.

There are risks involved with investing, including the possible loss of principal.

USFR risk information: Securities with floating rates can be less sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with fixed interest rates, but may decline in value. Fixed income securities will normally decline in value as interest rates rise.  The value of an investment in the Fund may change quickly and without warning in response to issuer or counterparty defaults and changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio investments. Due to the investment strategy of this Fund it may make higher capital gain distributions than other ETFs.  Please read the Fund’s prospectus for specific details regarding the Fund’s risk profile.

AGGY risk information: Fixed income investments are subject to interest rate risk; their value will normally decline as interest rates rise. Fixed income investments are also subject to credit risk, the risk that the issuer of a bond will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. Investing in mortgage- and asset-backed securities involves interest rate, credit, valuation, extension and liquidity risks and the risk that payments on the underlying assets are delayed, prepaid, subordinated or defaulted on. Due to the investment strategy of the Fund, it may make higher capital gain distributions than other ETFs. Please read the Fund’s prospectus for specific details regarding the Fund’s risk profile.

MTGP risk information: Fixed income investments are subject to interest rate risk; their value will normally decline as interest rates rise. In addition, when interest rates fall income may decline. Fixed income investments are also subject to credit risk, the risk that the issuer of an investment will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that investment to decline. Investing in mortgage- and asset-backed securities involves interest rate, credit, valuation, extension and liquidity risks and the risk that payments on the underlying assets are delayed, prepaid, subordinated or defaulted on. Liquidity risk may result from the lack of an active market, reduced number and capacity of traditional market participants to make a market in fixed income securities, and may be magnified in a rising interest rate environment and/or with respect to particular types of securities, such as securitized credit securities. Non-agency and other securitized debt are subject to heightened risks as compared to agency-backed securities.  High yield or “junk” bonds have lower credit ratings and involve a greater risk to principal. Derivative investments can be volatile and these investments may be less liquid than other securities, and more sensitive to the effects of varied economic conditions. Unlike typical exchange-traded funds, the Fund is actively managed using proprietary investment strategies and processes and there can be no guarantee that these strategies and processes will be successful or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.  Due to the investment strategy of the Fund, it may make higher capital gain distributions than other ETFs. Please read the Fund’s prospectus for specific details regarding the Fund’s risk profile.

Holdings are subject to change. Please visit WisdomTree.com/investments for latest holdings.

WisdomTree Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, in the U.S.


Episode 229 – What’s Driving Record Highs for HNWIs? with Elias Ghanem



Elias Ghanem is the Global Head of Capgemini Research Institute for Financial Services. Capgemini is a global partner in business and technology transformation, helping organizations accelerate their digital and sustainable transitions for tangible impact on both enterprises and society.

In this podcast, we explore the record-breaking growth of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and the factors contributing to this increase, as outlined in Capgemini’s World Wealth Report.

 

Also discussed:

  • Global trends in wealth accumulation, with North America, particularly the U.S., leading the charge, followed by APAC and Europe.
  • The major shift in asset allocation occurred in 2023, with HNWIs holding unprecedented levels of cash and shifting toward fixed income and real estate as markets stabilize in 2024.
  • The growing competition wealth management firms face from family offices, especially in serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) with over $30 million in investable assets.
  • The crucial role behavioral finance plays in addressing biases that impact HNWIs’ investment decisions.
  • The evolving needs of UHNWIs.
  • Collaboration between banks and family offices being essential, with banks needing to invest in technology to offer personalized and holistic services to remain competitive.

 

Resources: 

Capgemini