The COO Roundtable

In the midst of volatile markets and a bustling tax season, Matt faced a unique challenge for Episode 75: he was unable to secure guests for the show. Rather than skipping an episode, he opted for a second monologue in a row, a format he typically reserves for special occasions. While he prefers to spotlight those leading operations at their firms, he chose a topic that resonates deeply with our listeners: leveraging technology to enhance the experiences of both teammates and clients. Drawing on insights from his recent panel at the RIA Edge Nashville conference, titled Crafting a Memorable Client Experience With WealthTech, and his latest article, Why AI Isn’t Your RIA’s Top Technology Priority, Matt delves into the current landscape of RIA technology. He provides a thoughtful analysis on how to construct a tech strategy that underscores your firm’s value proposition for your ideal clients. Additionally, he discusses Matt Beecher’s compelling article, The Tech You Use Doesn’t Matter, along with several of his own writings on RIA technology. Key Takeaways from the Episode: Clients expect advisors to use technology to manage their assets and enhance their relationships, not to provide DIY investment tools. The client experience should prioritize human interaction, augmented by technology, rather than replacing personal connection by placing technology in the hands of the client. Many RIAs fall into the trap of adopting new technology without fully understanding its impact ― an “Impact Filter” can help prevent “Shiny Object Syndrome.” Focus on core technologies that support daily operations (like CRM and portfolio management) and use satellite tools (such as AI analytics) as enhancements that align with firm goals. Many RIAs struggle with insufficient, misaligned, or excessive technology, making it essential to address foundational issues before tackling advanced solutions like AI. While AI offers exciting opportunities, it shouldn't take precedence over resolving core technology challenges. Ultimately, clients value personal support and confidence in their financial journeys more than the intricacies of an RIA’s tech stack. We hope you enjoy, share, and subscribe. Resources: Matt’s recent article can be found here: Why AI Isn’t Your RIA’s Top Technology Priority Matt Beecher’s article can be found here: The Tech You Use Doesn’t Matter Matt’s article High Tech vs. High Touch: What Are Clients Really Asking For? can be found here. Matt’s article RIAs That Excel at Technology Do Not Look Like Tech Firms can be found here. Matt’s article Identify Your Ideal Client Before You Determine Your Tech Stack can be found here. Matt’s article RIAs Are Struggling With Too Much Technology, Not Too Little can be found here.

Discover the transformative power of client segmentation for business growth. Learn why overextending services can harm larger clients and overall profitability. Uncover two common misconceptions around segmentation and explore practical methods to assess a firm's client cost structure. Gain insights on strategically allocating resources to enhance service quality and align offerings with client tiers. Finally, hear actionable steps for ensuring organizational capacity supports both client satisfaction and sustainable growth.

With Episode 73, Matt welcomes two thoughtful RIA operators to the podcast: Carrie King and Jay Tarno, CFP®.  Carrie is Partner, Chief Compliance Officer, Director of Trading, and a Wealth Advisor at Ullmann Wealth Partners, located in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.  Ullmann Wealth Partners was founded in 2002 and has grown from approximately $400 million in 2018 when Carrie joined, to about $1.1 billion today.  Jay is the Chief Operating Officer at Cornerstone Planning Group in Fairfield, New Jersey.  Cornerstone launched in 2020 with about $100 million of assets and today manages approximately $700 million for clients. Matt, Carrie, and Jay discuss the career paths that led them to where they are today (including Carrie’s time as a French restaurant owner!), as well as: The mindset they use for tackling each day to ensure they are as productive as possible Favorite books that have shaped their approach to their careers (Getting Things Done by David Allen and Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell) How their firms have used specialized client niches to propel their growth The hiring, onboarding, and training practices they use to set teammates up for success The importance of documenting their firms’ processes and how those documented processed can cut employee training time in half Specific tech initiatives their firms are focused on

We welcome Brittany Manning and Brian Habas for Episode 72!  Brittany is the Chief Operating Officer at MCF Advisors, with offices in Covington, Lexington, and Louisville, Kentucky.  The firm manages approximately $3.2 billion for both private clients and institutional clients and has 34 employees. Brian joined AlphaCore Wealth Advisory about six months ago as Chief Operating Officer. Alphacore is headquartered in La Jolla, CA, with additional offices in five other states. The firm manages around $3.5 billion and employes 49 team members. Britanny, Brian, and Matt discuss career paths for non-advisors in the wealth management industry, as well as: How they identify different skillsets across their team and ensure they have the right people in the right seats The importance of documented processes, especially at firms experiencing hyper-rapid growth The complexities of technology integration How each are approaching AI at their firms Strategies both guests have implemented to successfully lead change across their organizations

Matt was joined by Amy Flourry, Director of Operations of Rehmann Wealth, and Maria Millner, Partner and Head of Operations of Transcend Capital Advisors. Rehmann Wealth is headquartered in Lansing, MI, with additional offices in Ohio and Florida, and advises on approximately $4 billion across private client and retirement plan assets. Transcend Capital Advisors is headquartered in Madison, NJ, with additional office locations in Michigan and Florida, and works with approximately $3 billion in client assets and has 40 employees. Matt, Amy, and Maria have a deep conversation on the struggles of work/life balance in a hybrid environment, as well as: The need to feel uncomfortable sometimes by raising your hand for projects and career opportunities that may be out of your comfort zone The power of formal and informal mentorship, and how it benefits both the mentor and the mentee How to best navigate growth and determine the roles and responsibilities among team members Why teamwork makes the dream work! How both guests not only drive change, but survive in a rapidly changing work environment The mindset needed to find motivation and purpose in a sometimes underappreciated career in Operations

Matt was joined by Jeremy Massullo of Concurrent and Dr. Jordan Hutchison of RFG Advisory for Episode 70.  Jeremy was Concurrent’s very first employee seven years ago, and currently serves as VP of Operations. The firm is headquartered in Tampa, FL, started as an OSJ on Raymond James’ platform, and currently has approximately $9.5 billion of client assets. Jordan serves as RFG’s Vice President of Technology and Operations. RFG Advisory is headquartered in Birmingham, AL, and manages approximately $5.5 billion with 65 employees. Matt, Jeremy, and Jordan tackle many operational topics that RIAs struggle with, including: What day-to-day services they have centralized for advisors How they both are approaching the hiring of new Operations staff The evaluation of technology vendors and the challenge of “shiny object syndrome” Steps they both take to ensure clean data is flowing across their tech stack How they have designed their CRMs to support their advisors’ organic growth goals Change Management techniques both have incorporated to limit the “change fatigue” felt by their firms’ advisors and staff

We are joined by Jina Yi of Wealth Architects and Victoria Latham of Parallel Financial and the Fiduciary Alliance for Episode 69. Jina has been with Wealth Architects, headquartered in Mountain View, CA, since 2007 and was appointed the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer in 2021. The firm employes 25 team members, managing close to $2 billion in assets under management for approximately 400 clients. Victoria is the Director of Operations for Parallel Financial, located in Greenville, South Carolina, and also the Chief Compliance Officer for Fiduciary Alliance, a roll-up of which Parallel Financial is one of 11 member firms under Fiduciary Alliance. Matt, Jina, and Victoria have a wide-ranging conversation covering their varied histories in the industry (including Victoria’s time as a police officer!), as well as: How they approach their to-do lists every morning Hiring and interviewing strategies to identify the right candidate for the right role Tips to ensure their firm’s culture remains intact as they add more and more employees The Technology and People challenges with integrating new tools into their tech stack How they leverage technology to tackle their Compliance responsibilities Suggestions for making the quarterly billing process more streamlined and consistent

Episode 68 could very well be the most impactful episode we have recorded. For five and a half years, The COO Roundtable has highlighted the incredible work COOs perform daily across the RIA industry. As such, we’ve tended to focus on the tactical elements of the job: How do you effect change at your organization? How do you approach technology or process implementations? How do you tackle your never-ending to-do list? In this episode, Matt focuses on the essential soft skills required for the COO role and interviews author Rachel Lebowitz about her research and new book, “Empowered COO – Eliminate Burnout, Resentment and Self Doubt as a Second-in Command.” After revealing his own past insecurities related to the role of COO, Matt asks Rachel to not only define the role of “Second-in-Command,” but to explain what about this unique position leads to burnout in so many cases (Rachel points out that the average COO engagement at a firm lasts about two and a half to five years).  During this far-reaching conversation, Matt and Rachel discuss: How a COO can easily lose themselves in the role if they aren’t intentional Why only 5.5% of the population is truly cut out to be an Empowered COO How the Visionary/Integrator relationship is so often a codependent one The similarities between an Empowered COO and a triage nurse What three soft skills must be mastered by successful COOs How Assertiveness, Decisiveness, and Discernment (ADD) are the backbone of an Empowered COO

With Episode 67, we are joined by Meghan Martin of Apella Wealth and Chrissy Lee of Merit Financial Advisors.  Meghan is the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer at Apella Wealth, headquartered in Hartford, CT.  The firm advises on approximately $4.35 billion and has 93 employees across 16 office locations.  Chrissy is the Chief Operating Officer at Merit Financial Advisors headquartered in Atlanta, GA. The firm manages approximately $12 billion of client assets and currently has close to 250 employees firmwide, with 48 locations around the United States. Matt, Meghan, and Chrissy focus their conversation on the operational aspects of mergers and acquisitions in the RIA space, but also hit on other topics near and dear to our listeners, including: Why RIAs should get into M&A in the first place How to articulate the value a buyer can offer an advisor looking to join Important messaging every advisor should address when getting clients excited about the transition Tips and suggestions for successfully transitioning employees during a merger How to examine the tech stack of the merging firm and slowly transition them to your tools and processes Why it is so vital to have a successful transition to point future merger partners to, so they feel comfortable joining your firm What one thing each guest wants our industry to understand about RIA operations

For Episode 66, we break the rules of a “roundtable” and have only one guest, Carolyn Armitage, joining Matt for a deep conversation around our industry’s continuing evolution of turning practices into businesses.  It was a real thrill for him to interview one of his most respected RIA leaders for this conversation.  As he states in the introduction, his Mount Rushmore of RIA practice management leaders consists of Mark Tibergien, Michael Kitces, and Carolyn Armitage.  You will see very quickly why he holds Carolyn in such high regard.  From her time heading up LPL’s enterprise business management consulting business, to acting as a “change management catalyst” as managing director at Echelon Partners, to running Thrivent Advisor Network, Carolyn has become an expert in strategic planning, organizational design, succession planning, and maximizing enterprise value.  She has now hung her own shingle and started Carolyn Armitage Consulting, where she acts as a CEO Whisperer – helping RIA owners better lead their people, form more precise strategic plans, drive change within their organizations, and create better enterprise value and succession solutions.  During this deep conversation, Matt and Carolyn discuss: The fact that the RIA industry is fragmented and in need of central leadership Whether or not there truly is a “Succession Planning Crisis” in our industry Why “We want more…” is not a complete strategic plan Advice for building high performance teams The pros and cons of relying on industry compensation reports How to use equity to retain your key employees A fantastic framework for successfully driving change within your organization And the most elusive question of them all: How to increase enterprise value