Episodes

A conversation with Richard Saperstein, Managing Director/Principal/Chief Investment Officer, Treasury Partners Overview Richard Saperstein rose out of the financial crisis of ’08 to build the now $20B+ Treasury Partners. Richard reminisces about that journey, discusses his decision to affiliate with a then nascent Hightower Advisors, and shares more about Treasury Partners’ unique business model, the secret to the firm’s success and much more. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episo...

A conversation with Tom Sagissor, President, RBC Wealth Management–U.S. Overview So how did a bank out of Canada rise to the ranks in the US wealth management space? In this episode, we explore regional firm RBC Wealth Management–U.S. with President Tom Sagissor. Tom shares an insider’s perspective plus why their “Wall Street meets Main Street” culture is attracting some of the industry’s top advisor talent, and much more. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… About this episod...

A conversation with Richard Mullen, Founding Partner, CEO, Pallas Capital Advisors Some of the best stories we share on this show are from advisors who essentially grew up in the business. Those who started out in the brokerage firm training programs, taking advantage of all that the firm offered and making the most of it—and then some. Take, for example, our guest on this episode, Richard Mullen. Rich started out cold calling at Lehman Brothers and then moved onto a training program at Prude...

A Conversation with Tash Elwyn, President and CEO of Raymond James and Associates Advisors’ ever-increasing desire for greater agency in how they serve clients and grow their businesses has driven the growth of models and firms outside of the traditional wirehouse space—and spawned the popularity of regional firms like Raymond James. Because there was a time in years past when an advisor might otherwise have eschewed the thought of leaving one of the wirehouses – the biggest and best names in ...

A conversation with Louis Diamond. While this topic is specific to Merrill, it’s certainly not meant to be an indictment against the firm. It’s an example of the growing pains experienced at any of the larger bank-owned firms as they struggle to balance growth and revenue—while managing thousands of advisors and creating layers of guidance designed to serve many. For example, in an attempt to stave off increasing advisor attrition by addressing some of the frustrations expressed by their advis...

A conversation with Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO, Stifel Financial Corp. When we started this series some 4 years ago, we expected to share a handful of episodes that explored the independent space—hence the name Mindy Diamond on Independence. But we came to a realization: There was a far bigger story to tell. That is, one that was not focused solely on a model but instead on a mindset. An evolved state-of-mind amongst advisors who were eschewing the bureaucracy of the brokerage world they...

A conversation with Monish Verma, Managing Partner, Vardhan Wealth Management There are so many great things about this breakaway story that we had a difficult time trying to pinpoint that “one thing” that was unique and buzzworthy. But the reality is that Monish Verma’s break from UBS to independence doesn’t have one special thing that we can share with you. It has dozens. Monish describes what is an incredibly instructive journey, starting with the thought process when considering change, ...

A conversation with Greg Franks, Managing Partner, President and COO of Snowden Lane Partners 10 years ago, the thought of going independent was anathema to most advisors—and almost completely unheard of for a senior leader of a firm like Merrill Lynch. But to Greg Franks, the “bankifying” of Merrill – the firm that he served at for nearly 3 decades – was nothing short of “tragic.” In this episode, Greg talks about how initial optimism around the positives that Bank of America brought to the ...

A conversation with Tom Stadum, Managing Partner of Fjell Capital In spring of 2020, most advisors were in over their heads trying to figure out how they were going to guide clients in a world locked down by the pandemic. Tom Stadum was managing $150mm in assets at UBS at the time. And while he was juggling the same upheaval that others were, it was also a big wake-up call to him: The wealth management world was going through an evolution like no other—and the thoughts he had already been ente...

A conversation with Louis Diamond It’s a question that advisors often ask themselves when considering a move: “Should I go for the short-term windfall or bet on the long-term potential?” The merit of forgivable loans tied to recruiting is an ongoing debate in the wealth management industry. The decades-long convention for advisors considering change (especially those in the W-2 world) is to monetize the business by negotiating a lucrative transition bonus with competing organizations. Yet tho...

A conversation with Rob Sechan, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, NewEdge Wealth Everything starts with a vision. In the early stages, it might be an idea that forms as a result of an experience, and over time it becomes more tangible. An image that is molded, nurtured and translated until it becomes something real. It’s how many of the greatest business ideas have come to fruition. And very much how it came to pass for Rob Sechan and his partner Jeff Kobernick. Because while at UBS, Rob and...

A conversation with one of wealth management’s most influential thought leaders and the editor and publisher of Inside Information There are few in the financial services media that have the name recognition and clout of Bob Veres. And even less who are as smart—or as outspoken. Because for over four decades, Bob has been at the helm of journalism in the wealth management industry, having served as the editor of Financial Planning magazine; as a contributing editor to the Journal of Financial...

A conversation with Terry Cook of Parcion Private Wealth, Lori Siegel of Centrix Wealth Partners and Michael Henley of Brandywine Oak Private Wealth [video_embed embed_style=”default” url=”https://youtu.be/vtxVi5LPtUE” border=”0″ width=”100%” animation=”left-to-right” animation_delay=”2″ class=””] Podcast link available below… After more than 130 episodes of the show, one of the most common responses we’ve received from listeners is that they want to learn more—particularly when it comes to int...

A conversation with Anders Jones, CEO and Co-Founder, Facet Wealth If there’s one thing that the pandemic taught us it’s this: Many clients are OK with not having face-to-face interactions with their advisors. In fact, there are a few firms that are providing proof of concept that the remote model works—and does so very well. And it took a 30-something CEO from Silicon Valley to make us pay more attention. Because when the pandemic hit, his firm already had a working model in which clients in...

A conversation with Dan Johnson, President & CEO, Birchcreek Wealth Management There’s real value to building teams in wealth management firms. For clients and the business overall, there’s strength in numbers—where the merging of talent offers the potential of greater operational efficiencies and growth. Plus, teams provide a built-in succession plan—keeping the business in-house should any of the advisors on the team desire to retire. Yet many of these teams were formed not by the intentio...

A conversation with Paul Saganey, Founder and President of Integrated Partners Most of the biggest “breakaway-turned-independent-business-owner” stories shared on this show are about gaining more control—both over the growth of the business and the ability to act as true fiduciaries. It certainly was a motivation behind Paul Saganey’s 2016 decision to leave Lincoln Financial and build a multi-custodial hybrid RIA firm with LPL Financial. At that time, most would say he was already pretty succ...

With Gerry Goldberg, CEO and co-Founder, GYL Financial Synergies Some of the most successful businesses are born from concepts designed not in a boardroom or corner office on an expensive whiteboard, but instead in more austere environments. That is, with just a pen and some paper. Because it’s the ideas, goals and the vision to achieve them that matters most—not how or where they are developed. Our guest in this episode, Gerry Goldberg, can attest to that. Because he and partner John Yolles...

With Louis Diamond When it comes to building a strong business, there is nothing better than a great partnership. Like a happy marriage, it provides the perfect environment for synergy, with added capacity and expertise, a path for succession and enhances the overall success for the advisors. And clients are the beneficiaries of all of the above. Yet like with any business, the shared mindset the advisors started out with years ago may not be the same today. It’s most often that these differ...

With Ryan DeVore, Partner, Director and Global Head of Private Wealth Management, William Blair The control and flexibility of independence is certainly an attractive proposition, but for many advisors, the idea of going “independent” can feel like a bridge too far. And ultimately, they prefer to retain the support and scaffolding that a bigger firm can provide. That’s where firms in the boutique space have found their sweet spot—answering the call of these advisors with a best-of-all-worlds m...

A conversation with Robert Harris, Senior Wealth Advisor, Avidian Wealth Solutions Many top teams are built on synergistic dynamics—where one advisor’s talents are complemented by another’s. These partnerships can provide the shared expertise that results in better service for clients and greater success for the business overall. But, like any relationship, there often comes a point where partners may find themselves on different pages. And it’s particularly common when considering the future ...

A conversation with Bryan Garris, Managing Partner, TriaGen Wealth Management There’s a trend that’s been on the rise and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon: The drive toward independence led by the successors of multi-generational teams. Because as senior partners get closer to making the decision of whether or not to sign onto their firms’ retire-in-place programs, next gen leaders are in the background looking at options that could provide a better future with greater freedom and control ...

A conversation with Louis Diamond Every advisor and business owner are looking for new ways to expand their reach and achieve greater growth. For Mindy Diamond, it was nearly 2 decades ago that she discovered a powerful “growth engine” by accident. And it’s been such a gamechanger for her firm, that she’s eager to discuss key concepts and experiences that advisors and business owners alike can easily adapt to reach their constituents. Because as Mindy shares in this episode with Louis Diamon...

With Brett Gilliland, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Visionary Wealth Advisors The theme of “incongruence” weaves through many of the stories shared by advisors who’ve changed firms or models. Because it becomes difficult – if not impossible – to serve clients and grow your business when there’s a misalignment between your goals and those of your firm. As a Managing Director at Northwestern Mutual, Brett Gilliland found that the lack of alignment could not be more apparent—nor more limitin...

A conversation with Lori Van Dusen, Founder and CEO, LVW Advisors It’s interesting how many advisors we talk with share how they’ve “grown up” in the business. Some had family members who were brokers, while others had “financial mentors” who provided formative knowledge and real-world experience. For Lori Van Dusen it was the latter. Her interest in the markets and all things financial was gleaned from her grandfather, a role model who unknowingly set in motion what would become an extraordi...