AFO|Wealth Management Forward

Rob and Rory sit down with the co-founder of Vanilla, David Hauser, as he enlightens our listeners about Vanilla’s innovative platform that simplifies estate planning for both advisors and clients. Over half of the population does not have an estate plan or will set in place, and often, the hardest part about estate planning is starting the conversation. David shares his insights on the two most significant problems the population faces surrounding estate planning. He goes on to explain how Vanilla’s platform is suited to demystify these troubles many clients face in order to guide them toward a future that will protect their loved ones. Vanilla’s tools not only facilitate the estate planning process but also contains an educational component so that clients can learn along with advisors. Additionally, he talks about advisors who can utilize attorneys to help answer questions and review documents. This podcast illustrates how estate planning does not need to be complex nor feared; all it takes is preparation and guidance, which David highlights in their platform’s latest update -- Vanilla 2.0. His insights even extend to strategies for achieving and sustaining optimal health. Learn more about estate planning and achieving a healthier lifestyle in this podcast!

Rob and Rory speak with the CEO and Founder of Diamond Wealth Strategies, Ronald Diamond. Diamond Wealth Strategies represents over 100 Single Family Offices ranging in size from $250 million to $30 billion in order to create a community within an industry that is poised to continue evolving in the near future. Currently, 25% of Family Offices do not make it to the 2nd generation, 10% for the 3rd, and 5% for the 4th! Ron describes in detail how the current Family Office model is flawed and provides key insights into how Family Offices can succeed in the future if the right approach is taken. With Family Offices anticipating to “chip away” at the market share dominated by Private Equity firms and Venture Capitalists, Ron emphasizes how trust and collaboration will be the gateway for a Family Office’s success going forward. Ron alludes to Technological Advancements, Impact Investing, Estate Planning and a Holistic Approach toward managing finances as being vital components to reinvigorate the Family Office Model, which will also serve as a guide for what to anticipate within the industry for years to come.

Rob and Rory sit down with Tobias Salinger who is the Senior Editor for Financial Planning, an interactive social media platform that reaches 460,000+ experienced professionals including independent financial planners, RIA’s, and investment advisors. Viewers receive analysis and breaking news, expert advice and opinion, and practical business-building advice. In this podcast Tobias covers a wide array of analysis within the financial marketplace including discussions on topics such as annuities serving as vehicles for retirement plans, the emergence of technology in finance, blockchain & cryptocurrency defining the future of financial services, as well as key strategies for accounting firms looking to implement holistic wealth management into their practice. The financial industry is changing rapidly and everyone needs to stay up-to-date. Tobias shares his insights with our listeners so that people are informed, educated, and well-equipped for understanding the fundamentals of everything finance. Whether you are an investor, a financial advisor, or just someone looking to learn more about the industry, you will not want to miss this episode.

Rob and Rory speak with the CEO and Founder of DPL Financial Partners, David Lau, where he emphasizes the importance of annuities to facilitate a new era of retirement planning. With a current database of 3,000 products, 40,000 writers, and 400,000 price points, DPL Financial Partners is the first and leading commission-free annuity and insurance platform for registered investment advisors and carriers. With interest rates at an all-time low and the bond market losing traction for funding retirement plans, David emphasizes how annuities can become a viable option for retirees. For this podcast, David highlights DPL’s ability to alleviate interest rate concerns when looking at fixed income as part of one’s portfolio. Based on the low-interest rate environment, using an annuity is a little more than 40% more efficient than fixed income in generating income today. David goes on to reveal key strategies for retirement planning in anticipation of the largest transferring of wealth in human history. Additionally, you will find topics on how annuities contribute to accountants improving their holistic wealth management strategy. Listen in on this podcast to learn more from David and our team!

Rob and Rory sit down with the Director of Research at Money Media, Loren Fox. Money Media is a unit of the Financial Times that produces online newsletters for professionals with an emphasis on the asset management industry. According to Charles Schwab, the RIA industry is booming and it is recorded to be a $5.7 trillion space. Loren alludes to multiple shifts within the industry that serve as the catalysts for this recent boom, which includes fee-based structures, expansion of services, and consolidation from outside investors and Private Equity firms. Loren also touches on the financial advisory industry shifting toward a more holistic approach. Investors he surveyed reported to spend, on average, half (or less) of their time on investment management where the remaining time is allocated for other areas such as Financial Planning, Taxes, and Estate Planning. He emphasizes the client-advisor relationship to be something that goes beyond just investments: the relationship should be valued over the returns. Within this podcast you will also find information on future trends within the RIA industry and the emergence of new asset classes that RIA’s need to be informed on. Don’t miss out!

Rob and Rory sit down with Jon Mauney, the General Manager at Betterment For Advisors. From portfolio management to advising 401(k) plans, Betterment For Advisors has reinvented the experience of financial advisors who are looking to apply user-friendly technology in order to increase outreach and efficiency within their services. Jon acknowledges how technology has changed the landscape of the financial industry, but emphasizes the importance of embracing it. Jon shares his opinions on the presence of AI in finance, incorporating new asset classes in your portfolio, as well as the future of Fintech. Jon goes on to describe how Betterment's unique platform facilitates selecting and curating portfolios, allowing users to decide what services Betterment can help with, and most importantly… building a partnership. If you are interested in learning how to incorporate technology into your business or learn more about the Fintech industry, you do not want to miss this episode!

Rob and Rory speak with Blake Oliver CPA, the Director of Marketing at Jirav, which combines financial planning and analysis with the latest technology to bring customers effective solutions. Blake walks through changes that accounting firms have taken on in COVID-19 and what it means to fail to adapt. Next, with his expertise in Cloud Accounting, Blake comments on the future of AI and software in the accounting industry. We discuss the “The Silver Tsunami’’, the greatest transfer of wealth in history, and how to use Cloud Computing to assist with it. He also details his opinion on cryptocurrencies and the similarities of consumers within the cryptocurrency market, stock market, and Housing Bust of 2008. Blake walks through possible outcomes of the combination of blockchain and accounting. Then, he shares a few tips on how accounting firms can better market themselves and show the value they provide to clients. Blake has the top-ranked Accounting and Bookkeeping Podcast in the World. See Blake’s Twitter Here.

Rob and Rory speak with the CEO and co-founder of Trust & Will, Cody Barbo. Trust & Will has helped over 200,000 families start their estate plan using their online technology and have transformed the way families plan for their future through affordable and straightforward estate planning. Cody describes the motivation behind creating a modern, intuitive, and affordable solution as an alternative to high-priced attorneys and inefficient processes. He emphasizes the affordability and accessibility of their estate planning platform, which has a Turbo Tax type experience that can be completed in 30 to 45 min. He talks about the importance of having a Trust if you have a property so that it doesn’t fall into probate. We discuss how the world is becoming digital and how Cody has been leading the charge for legislation that allows digital signatures of Will’s, which has recently passed and adopted in a few states. Learn about the basics of estate planning: Trusts, Wills, Guardianship, and Health Care Directives. For Advisors, find out how you can utilize Trust & Will to offer your clients these value-added estate planning services. Whether you need to set up an estate plan for the first time or update an existing one, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Rory and Diane speak with Josh Hirt, a lead economist with the Investment Management Group at Vanguard, who develops Vanguard's understanding of Growth in the US Economy. Josh talks about the pandemic's impact on the economy and how this will evolve over time. He talks about today’s economy, some Optimism coming out of the Pandemic, as well as some comparisons to The Great Recession of 08', the Dot-com Bubble of 01’, and even the Inflationary period of the late 1960s, early 1970s. He covers many areas, including unemployment, the role the government needs to play in the markets to stabilize the situation we are in, the rise of prices in the housing market, and the shift in inflation and what that means for wages. He touches on the Vanguard Advisors Alpha Program and the importance of advisors transitioning to a more holistic approach in terms of wealth management and diversification. Lastly, we talk about the implications of Blockchain technology and Bitcoin. If you want to learn more about the US economy or the resourcefulness of a holistic approach to investing, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Rory and Diane speak with Josh Hirt, a lead economist with the Investment Management Group at Vanguard, who develops Vanguard's understanding of Growth in the US Economy. Josh talks about the pandemic's impact on the economy and how this will evolve over time. He talks about today’s economy, some Optimism coming out of the Pandemic, as well as some comparisons to The Great Recession of 08', the Dot-com Bubble of 01’, and even the Inflationary period of the late 1960s, early 1970s. He covers many areas, including unemployment, the role the government needs to play in the markets to stabilize the situation we are in, the rise of prices in the housing market, and the shift in inflation and what that means for wages. He touches on the Vanguard Advisors Alpha Program and the importance of advisors transitioning to a more holistic approach in terms of wealth management and diversification. Lastly, we talk about the implications of Blockchain technology and Bitcoin. If you want to learn more about the US economy or the resourcefulness of a holistic approach to investing, you won’t want to miss this episode.