Episodes

How can financial advisors embrace generative AI? Today on The Flexible Advisor, Laura Gregg and David Partain welcome Darren Tedesco, President of Advisor360°, to explore generative AI’s impact on the financial services industry. They talk about how most advisors see AI as an opportunity, not a threat, with the potential to serve more clients efficiently. However, data quality and compliance are significant concerns. Darren highlights AI’s current use in client communication and process automa...

Understanding the variety of healthcare plans available to consumers, the nuances of cost and coverage, and Medicare’s inexplicable geographic variations, is no small feat. Yet, when it comes to estimating healthcare expenses, advisors have had few, if any, solutions at their disposal. In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with Christine Simone, CEO of Caribou Wealth, about the challenge of integrating healthcare costs into a holistic financial plan as well as new resources and su...

Amid the Great Wealth Transfer, advisors are seeing a paradigm shift in the way clients are approaching their wealth and legacy strategies. In the second of a two-part series with Nikè Anani, Director of Next Generation for Northern Trust Wealth Management, The Flexible Advisor podcast looks at some ways in which advisors can help satisfy the objectives of a new, Rising Generation. Nikè discusses: Incorporating the values and the aspirations of both the grantor and the recipients in wealth tra...

The emerging generation of adults — particularly family business owners — are grappling with challenges and responsibilities their parents did not. In this episode, Laura Gregg speaks with Nikè Anani, Director of Next Generation at Northern Trust Wealth Management. Based on personal experience running her own enterprising family office and finding her joy and purpose in consulting with rising gen people like herself. Nike identifies strategies you can use to help empower these clients for owners...

How generative AI could transform your practice. In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with John Prendergast, co- founder and CEO of Blueleaf. John puts the strengths (and shortcomings) of generative AI into context for advisors – and suggests how this “lazy intern” should be managed. John discusses: ● What generative AI is, how it evolved, and what it’s capable of ● Some concerns and potential risks associated with generative AI in financial services ● Why advisors need to learn...

Helping clients address multiple objectives can be fraught with any number of misconceptions, ingrained assumptions, and fears. Laura Gregg and David Partain talked with Sarah Newcomb, Ph.D., founder of The Thrive Financial Empowerment Center, to talk about balancing the desire to finance children’s higher education with the need to work toward a secure retirement. Leaning into core tenets of behavioral investing, Sarah helps to clarify some of the psychological hurdles parents face in this situ...

Many advisors have yet to move beyond a vague idea of what a succession plan might look like, let alone formalizing one. While the concept of succession should be considered in every stage of your business, it becomes critical in the later stages. In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with Linda Willis, founder and CEO of Career Management Advisors Consulting (CMA) about the importance of succession planning and how to start the process. Linda discusses key considerations, timefra...

As The Flexible Advisor marks its 100th episode, content marketing strategist Matt Halloran joins hosts Laura Gregg and David Partain to discuss the podcast’s genesis, evolving scope, and most impactful topics. Originally focusing on proprietary research, The Flexible Advisor has become a dynamic forum exploring multiple aspects of many topics concerning financial advisors and planners In this episode, Laura, David, and Matt discuss: How The Flexible Advisor has come to be one of the top podc...

Limited access and chronic under-saving continue to leave many Americans ill-equipped for retirement. New legislation may have a meaningful impact in getting more people access and saving in workplace sponsored retirement plans. In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain are joined by Lee Freitag, former practice lead of the Retirement Solutions Group at Northern Trust Asset Management to discuss how Secure Act 2.0 stands to benefit individuals as well as small plan sponsors and administrat...

Creating a distinct personal brand may be the most important (and underestimated) thing you can do to attract ideal clients and enhance your practice. In this podcast episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain invite Susan Danzig, a certified business development coach, to discuss how your brand can help clients and prospects understand who you are and what you can provide. Susan discusses: The value of establishing a market niche in today’s environment How personal and corporate branding can wo...

We know that internal biases form specific client personas which, in turn, shape a person’s approach to making financial decisions. Financial professionals can use those biases as a “nudge” rather than an obstacle to build more productive client relationships. In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Patrick Fagan, Chief Scientific Officer at Capuchin Behavioral Science, about using clients’ underlying biases to your advantage. Patrick discusses: How and why we all use cognit...

The rapid expansion of social media and artificial intelligence within the financial services space holds undeniable implications for the advisor/client dynamic – particularly when it comes to young investors. Ryan George, Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, shares insights from his firm’s recent white paper — Five Ways to Capitalize on the Changing Attitudes of American Investors. Laura Gregg talks with Ryan about the needs, approaches, and attitudes of younger investors in today’s environmen...

Why pay a financial advisor for services available on a host of digital platforms? Today’s clients expect more from a paid financial professional than a diversified investment portfolio. They appreciate advice, but they expect a plan. In this episode, Laura Gregg speaks with Chazz Logue, Regional Director and Business Development Team Lead of Advice and Financial Planning at MassMutual, about the trends pushing advisors toward full-service planning models. Chazz discusses: What is driving adv...

The new generation of investors includes a growing and influential population: childless/child-free clients. They present a distinctly unique set of priorities, objectives, concerns, and expectations. In this episode, Pamela Lucina, President of the Northern Trust Institute and Head of Trust and Advisory Practice, talks with Laura Gregg and David Partain about this demographic, and why advisors should recognize and rethink some long-standing biases and assumptions. Pamela discusses: How uncon...

Clients who feel engaged in the planning process are more likely to have a positive experience. But how do you better engage clients in the process? In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Brad Connors, CEO of iWealth. Brad talks about iWealth’s proprietary software, FDC Plan on Purpose, which helps advisors demonstrate their value and elevate the client experience through client meetings that begin with visualization rather than investment portfolio reviews. Brad discusses: ...

It’s not just you. Most advisors face the same challenge. Your client base is broadening and diversifying. You need to provide more sophisticated, more personalized solutions but where do you find the right resources? In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Lacy Garcia, Founder and CEO of Willow, an award-winning financial technology and guidance platform. Her mission: To equip advisors with practical resources to engage with women and an overall rapidly changing wealth demogr...

Building a practice from scratch after years in a large-team environment may not be easy, but it can be immensely rewarding. In this episode, we invited Kaysian Gordon, Founder and Wealth Advisor at Kaysi Gordon Financial Planning, to talk about how she came to that decision, and the lessons she has learned that can benefit any advisor no matter what their career plan. Kaysian discusses: Her professional journey leading up to her decision to step out on her own. How she integrated her person...

It’s True: GRIT can be a game-changer. In this episode, Austin Hatch – a motivational speaker, athlete, and remarkable survivor—shares his inspiring journey and lessons that can help others respond to unexpected circumstances. Tune in for Austin’s powerful story and learn how the G.R.I.T. framework can help managers adapt to today’s challenges. Austin discusses: Helping others as a driving motivation How the G.R.I.T. framework can help managers in the current economic market The power and i...

What has changed in the advisor landscape? What are advisors doing differently? In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain talk with Michelle Lynn, Global Head of Data Science and Insights at Bloomberg Media Organization about the research she leads on the state of the advisor landscape. Michelle explains why Bloomberg supports this long-running study and discusses highlights from its findings and what it means for advisors. Michelle discusses: The genesis and focus of Bloomberg research ...

Are you familiar with the SEC’s 206(4) proposal? Will you be compliant? In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain are joined by Paul Binnion of Hanlon Investment Management to consider the intent and potential impact of the proposal. If you outsource certain investment functions or have been evaluating third-party service providers, join us to learn more. Paul discusses: Core aspects of the proposed rule, and how it may affect financial advisors How advisors’ due diligence responsibili...

How can your favorite pastime — running, cooking, travel… whatever — boost your performance, increase job satisfaction, build a stronger team culture? In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with Regina Huber, the CEO and founder of Transform Your Performance, about the powerful connection between our hobbies and our professional lives. Regina discusses: Her personal experience of integrating her passion into her career How the lessons and skills derived from passionate pursuits ca...

Just as people look online to check a restaurant or service provider before making a reservation or appointment, prospects and referrals are probably vetting you (among others) to determine whether to contact you. Who are they seeing? In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain dive into the world of digital marketing and personal branding with April Rudin, founder and president of the Rudin Group. April shares four tips to make your digital presence more interesting and effective. April disc...

What are your clients not telling you? What could you do differently to earn greater trust? In this episode, Laura Gregg talks with Barnaby Riedel, one of the architects of FlexShares’ behavioral study on growing wallet share. The findings provide a sensible groundwork to build more productive and mutually rewarding client relationships. Barnaby discusses: His firm, RDCL, and its work in the financial industry Why most research on growing wallet share falls short The five client personas adviso...

Provide good numbers and exceptional service and you’ll have a satisfied client. Create a personal connection, and you may be surprised at the results. In this episode, Laura Gregg and David Partain speak with financial advisor Brendan Frazier, founder of Wired Planning and host of The Human Side of Money podcast. Brendan offers three simple steps to help you exceed mere ‘satisfaction’ in your client relationships. Brendan discusses: Why customer satisfaction is no longer enough A new 80/20 rul...