Episodes

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...

A conversation with Kurt Miscinski, President, Cerity Partners What do you get when you cross a successful wealth management executive with a New York billionaire? You get a spectacular $31B firm. For Kurt Miscinski, his meeting with New York-based billionaire and entrepreneur Howard Milstein could possibly be called serendipitous. Because at that time, Kurt was considering leaving his management role at Deutsche Bank and Howard was looking to make long-term strategic investments in the weal...

With Avy Stein, Founder and Co-Chairman of Cresset Advisors and clients have been the beneficiaries of a more than decade-long evolution—with changes impacting both the landscape as well as the mindsets of advisors and their clients. In this new world order, advisors have come to the realization that the status quo need not be something they settle for. And for their high net worth clients, they too have recognized that wanting more from their advisors and the firms they work for is a right th...

A conversation with Matt Kilgroe, President/CEO, Cyndeo Wealth Partners Most independent advisors start out by building strong practices in traditional firms. While plenty of them continue to build mega-businesses as employees, for some, there comes a point when the desire to do more for their clients is hindered by the limitations of their firms. It’s this combined force of pushes and pulls that often motivates an advisor to explore the potential that independence offers. And one of the prim...

A conversation with Louis Diamond One of the major motivations for advisors who choose independence is the desire to build an enterprise through recruitment of other advisors and the opportunity to participate in a frothy M&A marketplace. And even non-enterprise builders are drawn to the ability to selectively deepen their bench via recruitment plus having the ultimate flexibility over who they hire. But inorganic growth opportunities are not exclusive to independent firms. Although wirehouse...

A conversation with Andy Schwartz, CFP®, Principal, Bleakley Financial Group As a college student selling insurance, Andy Schwartz didn’t envision that someday he’d be at the helm of an $8B RIA—but he did know he was on to something. Growing up in a lower middle-class family in New Jersey who didn’t “have much” but worked hard for all that they did have, Andy learned early on that success isn’t necessarily about “where you go to college or where you grow up.” Andy went from selling just insur...