Tag Archives: #DouglasHeikkinen

Episode 103 – Active Management in a Time of Decline – With Rocco Pellegrinelli



Rocco Pellegrinelli is the Founder and CEO of Trendrating, a Swiss company with proprietary and unique trend-capture and rating methodologies used in the asset management, wealth management, private banking, advisory, hedge funds, and family offices fields to maximize returns and to better control risks.

Doug and Rocco talked about the current state of the overall global markets and the historical trends that may tell us what to expect when deciding to invest.

They also discussed:

  • The combination of factors affecting market fluctuations
  • Why inflation is not just an American issue
  • How active management can help people navigate the current and upcoming cycles
  • The challenges that Rocco has experienced as an active manager over the last decade
  • Rocco’s advice to active managers about the opportunities that exist
  • The Trendrating model and what it says about recent market behavior

Resources: Trendrating 




Episode 102 – Automate Your Workflows and Save Time – With Adrian Johnstone



Adrian Johnstone is the Co-Founder and President of Practifi, a performance optimization platform purpose-built for the wealth management industry that empowers teams to automate workflows, create rich client records and access advanced analytics in a unified experience.

Doug and Adrian talked about his background that led to his path of co-founding Practifi and why he decided that the idea was worth the investment.

They also discussed:

  • The issues that may arise if advisors don’t automate their workflows
  • How advisors can manage all of their tasks to become more efficient and save time
  • How AI makes the optimization achievable
  • The business development app they created to automate firms’ growth activities
  • Tracking ROI being crucial and how the app helps with that
  • The profitability puzzle

Resources: Practifi


Episode 101 – Turning Compliance from a Barrier to an Asset – With Mac Bartine



Mac Bartine is the CEO of SmartRIA, which is a powerful, easy-to-use cloud-based software solution designed to meet the specialized needs of compliance consultants, investment advisors, and CCOs.

Doug and Mac talked about the SmartRIA platform and how advisors can take advantage of it to turn compliance to an asset. 

They also discussed:

  • What drove the idea for SmartRIA and why Mac wanted to pursue compliance solutions
  • The benefit of using SmartRIA and what it does for advisory firms
  • How advisors are starting to view compliance as an asset and not a barrier
  • What technology SmartRIA integrates with and getting approval on social media
  • The advantages of reporting client annual reviews and trading it on compliance software
  • Mac’s advice for those in the industry on navigating the accelerating rate of change

Resources: SmartRIA


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



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




Episode 99 – Moving Technology from the Why to the How – With Craig Ramsey



Craig Ramsey is the Chief Operating Officer at AdvisorEngine, a pioneer in digital wealth management technology that supercharges advisor growth with its powerful and intuitive digital platform.

Doug and Craig sat down at the T3 Advisor Conference and talked about how financial technology can get closer to the level of technology utilized in other industries. They also discussed:

  • What technology advisors are going to be able to implement for their clients
  • Why Craig chose to acquire Junxure and the challenges faced in the acquisition
  • Craig’s outlook on being acquired himself and how he views the results
  • The excitement for AdvisorEngine and the platform mentality
  • How they are helping advisors make their investors successful
  • Craig’s path to where he is now

Resources: AdvisorEngine


Episode 98 – Simplifying Income & Protection for Client Portfolios – With Rich Romano



Rich Romano is the CEO and Founder of FidX, a platform focused on growing business while bringing the value of guaranteed income and protection solutions to clients in the easiest way. 

Doug and Rich sat down at the Envestnet Advisor Summit and talked about how client portfolios can be simplified through a consistent experience. They also discuss

  • How advisors should think about annuities and incorporating them into their practice
  • How advisors can increase their control of the accumulation phase
  • Strategies clients should be offered to maximize their experience
  • The ways FidX increases turnover time to help with client’s needs quicker
  • How FidX provides a single investment service to help advisors add value to their clients’ experiences

Resources: FidX

 


Episode 96 – Maximize Your Clients’ Social Security Benefits – With Martha Shedden



Martha Shedden is the President and Co-Founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security and Analysts (NARSSA), a resource that provides education and resources to Social Security experts to help them  maximize their clients’ Social Security benefits. 

In today’s episode, Doug and Martha talk about the benefits of taking Social Security at the right age and how important this asset is to clients’ retirement plans. They also discuss:

  • Strategies for maximizing Social Security benefits
  • How NARSSA can help advisors better help clients understand planning their retirement
  • Retirement communication between financial advisors and individuals 
  • What makes NARSSA different from other retirement planning products

Resources:  NARSSA | SSA.gov – My Account




Episode 97 – The Attainability of a Digital Ecosystem – With Mike Scaplen & Gary Wiedman



Mike is the current SVP of Sales and Relationship Management and Gary is the President and Managing Principle of Axos Clearing. The company provides a broad range of services to FINRA members introducing broke- dealers and Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs).

In today’s episode, Doug, Mike and Gary talk about the tools Axos provides to its customers and how finding the right clearing firm is essential to empowering correspondents and growing their business. They also discuss

  • The attainability of a digital ecosystem that connects people to stable markets
  • The teamwork employees at Axos demonstrate to provide the best services to their customers
  • How Axos Clearing gives customers access to background information on brokers and investment advisors
  • How Axos Clearing positively differs other clearing services

Resources:  Axos Clearing

 




Episode 95 – The Power of Personalization for Financial Services – With Helen Yang



Helen is the CEO and founder of Andes Wealth Technologies, a resource that combines behavioral finance with risk analytics to empower financial advisors to differentiate, satisfy Reg BI, and deliver hyper-personalized service.

In today’s episode, Doug and Helen talk about the importance of carefully examining each step in a financial service process, starting from the very beginning. They also discuss

  • How risk tolerance has changed and become a more direct process
  • What financial advisors should do to approach behavioral finance and investor emotions
  • How Andes Wealth Technologies caters their research and tactics to offer personalization
  • What makes Andes Wealth Technologies different from other wealth management companies

Resources:  Andes Wealth Technologies


Episode 94 – The Impact of Technology on Personal Finance – With Dani Fava



Dani Fava is the Head of Strategic Development at Envestnet, a company whose mission is to empower advisors and financial service providers with innovative technology, solutions and intelligence to make financial wellness a reality for everyone.

Doug and Dani sat down at the Envestnet Advisor Summit and talked about the changing landscape of personal finance and the impact of technological growth. They also discuss

  • The challenges being faced by the changes in personal finance
  • How different generations spend differently
  • What personalization means to Dani
  • Why embedded finance deserves a focus
  • What role embedded finance plays in an intelligent financial life

Resources: Envestnet