Focused on the Future

Suzanne Siracuse
  • 5.0 (2)
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  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Focused on the Future provides keys to building a profitable, sustainable, and impactful business. Suzanne Siracuse is excited to be partnering with WealthManagement.com on a podcast that focuses on what successful firms need to embrace to ensure their growth and success to take their firms to that next level, through industry leaders and advisors.

  1. DEC 10

    Leading With Empathy and Financial Vision with Cary Carbonaro

    Many people want guidance that truly supports their goals, yet the way advice is delivered can shape how confident they feel. How do you create space for every voice at the table? How do you build a client experience that reflects communication, care and long-term thinking? In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Cary Carbonaro, CFP, MBA, author, fee-only financial advisor, and CFP Board ambassador, about her early industry realizations, her mission to elevate the experience for women clients, and her approach to building a practice with a clear purpose.  Cary explains how she built her firm from the ground up, why communication gaps still exist across the profession, and how empathy, education and emotional intelligence foster lasting relationships. She also discusses what advisors can do now to prepare for the great wealth transfer and better serve the clients who will soon lead it. Key points: How women were routinely left out of early client conversations and how this shaped Cary’s mission The importance of empathy, education and emotional intelligence with women clients Why the great wealth transfer demands changes in communication and client experience How Cary maintained trust through four practice transitions How media presence and clear messaging help advisors expand influence Resources: Listen to Focused on the Future on WealthManagement.com Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Apple Podcasts Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Spotify The Money Queen’s Guide: For Women Who Want to Build Wealth and Banish Fear by Cary Carbonaro Book: Women and Wealth: A Playbook to Empower Clients and Unlock Their Fortune by Cary Carbonaro Connect With Suzanne Siracuse: LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com Connect With Cary Carbonaro: LinkedIn: Cary Carbonaro Website: Cary Carbonaro LinkedIn: CFP Board  Website: CFP Board  About Our Guest: Cary Carbonaro, CFP, MBA, is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner Professional with over 25 years of experience in financial services. She is the Managing Wealth Advisor and Women and Wealth Ambassador at Ashton Thomas, where she leads a multimillion-dollar financial planning practice focused on empowering women. Cary is the bestselling author of The Money Queen’s Guide and Women and Wealth: A Playbook to Empower Clients and Unlock Their Fortune (Wiley 2025), which offers actionable strategies for better serving women in financial services. Through her writing, speaking, and advocacy, she is helping reshape the industry to better support its fastest-growing client segment. She has been honored as a CFP Board Ambassador for over a decade, named a “Women to Watch” by Investment News, and ranked six times among Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors. In 2024, Cary was appointed as the first female member of the NASDAQ Advisor Council, further cementing her leadership in the field. Before building her advisory practice, Cary held leadership roles at JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Lord Abbett Investment. Today, she is a respected industry voice and frequent media contributor, with appearances on dozens of TV stations.  Through her decades of experience, Cary remains a passionate champion for financial literacy, gender equity, and empowering women to take control of their financial futures.

    32 min

  2. NOV 25

    Leading With Values, Growing With Intention with Julia Carlson

    Building a firm that reflects your values does not happen by accident. In this episode of Focused on the Future, host  Suzanne Siracuse talks with Julia Carlson, founder and CEO of Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group, about creating an inclusive culture, serving clients without traditional minimums and using technology to strengthen relationships. Julia also shares insights from her new book, Let’s Get You Fired, which helps entrepreneurs step back so their companies can grow. Julia also describes how she built Financial Freedom from the ground up, why she hires from her client base, how the Inspired Wealth program supports emerging investors, and how AI is reshaping client service and advisor training. Key takeaways: How Julia went from a 19-year-old bank teller to launching Financial Freedom Wealth Management at age 23 The way her own “misfit” experience sparked an inclusive, values-driven culture that hires from unexpected places How the Inspired Wealth program lets the firm serve people below traditional asset minimums while staying profitable through revenue-based design and focused coaching Why her upcoming book Let’s Get You Fired helps entrepreneurs step back, build strong teams, and grow values-based and valuable companies with a strong lens on generosity How JUMP AI, Salesforce and Microsoft Copilot are reshaping notetaking, prep, training and client experience while freeing advisors to focus on real conversations Resources: Listen to Focused on the Future on WealthManagement.com Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Apple Podcasts Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Spotify Listen to Julia on The Healthy Advisor Podcast with Diana Britton Connect With Suzanne Siracuse: LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com Connect With Julia Carlson: Website: Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group LinkedIn: Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group Website: Julia Carlson LinkedIn: Julia Carlson Books by Julia Carlson  About Our Guest: Julia Carlson is the Founder and CEO of Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group, LLC. She founded the firm at the turn of the century, and with its successes, she has become a thought leader in the financial industry. Julia is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, educator and expert on the investment landscape. She is recognized as being especially knowledgeable on topics relating to tax strategies for retirement and distribution planning, as well as exit planning for business owners. Julia has been identified as an InvestmentNews 2020 Women to Watch honoree. She was also recognized as one of Forbes’ 2018-2022 Top Women Wealth Advisors as well as a 2018-2021 Top Wealth Advisor Mom by Working Mother magazine and SHOOK Research. Furthermore, Julia provides her knowledge through a financial column in a local newspaper. She actively participates in her community as a Rotary member, Chamber of Commerce member and Vice President for the Pacific Communities Health District Foundation Board. Julia works from our office in the beautiful coastal community of Newport, Oregon, where she resides with her husband and their three children. Julia has been interviewed by Barron’s, Forbes, Financial Advisor Magazine, CIO Views, MSN, Reuters, InvestmentNews, USA Today, yahoo! Finance, TD Ameritrade Network and Nasdaq. Julia is an Investment Advisor Representative and Registered Principal with LPL Financial. She has her Series 24, 7, 63 and 66 Securities registrations held with LPL Financial, as well as her state Life and Health Insurance licenses.

    35 min

  3. NOV 5

    How Douglas and Heather Boneparth Combine Love, Money and Purpose

    Partnership in life and business takes communication, balance and understanding, and when money enters the mix, the stakes are even higher. In this episode of the Focused on The Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Douglas and Heather Boneparth, the husband-and-wife team behind Bone Fide Wealth, about how their personal and professional lives intersect, the inspiration behind their new book Money Together, and the lessons they’ve learned about partnership and purpose. Douglas and Heather share how real-life challenges shaped their firm’s people-first mission, why emotional awareness matters as much as financial planning, and how open communication can strengthen both relationships and client connections. Key takeaways: How Doug’s second-generation financial background shaped Bone Fide Wealth’s people-first philosophy Heather’s transition from corporate law to financial services and how her outsider perspective strengthens the firm How their experiences with debt, economic uncertainty and family life help them connect authentically with clients Insights from their new book Money Together on fairness, communication and partnership in financial relationships Practical advice for advisors on engaging both partners in client conversations and using digital platforms effectively Resources: Listen to Focused on the Future on WealthManagement.com Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Apple Podcasts Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Spotify Book: Money Together: How to Find Fairness in Your Relationship and Become an Unstoppable Financial Team Connect With Suzanne Siracuse: LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com Connect With Douglas & Heather Boneparth: Bone Fide Wealth Money Together LinkedIn: Bone Fide Wealth LinkedIn: Douglas Boneparth LinkedIn: Heather Boneparth About Douglas & Heather: Douglas Boneparth is the founder of Bone Fide Wealth, a wealth management firm in New York City. Recognized as one of the nation’s most influential financial advisors, Douglas serves on the advisory councils for CNBC and Investopedia. He has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and more. He is also a CFP Board Ambassador for New York. Douglas received his B.S. from the University of Florida and his M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business. When he’s not making jokes on the internet, he enjoys brewing coffee, though he can do both at the same time.  Heather Boneparth is used to wearing many hats. On her first maternity leave, she co-authored the couple’s first book on helping millennials achieve financial freedom. Since then, she has become a rising voice at the intersection of love, money, and family. She has written for CNBC, theSkimm, Insider, Scary Mommy, and more. As a lawyer, she spent more than a decade in the insurance industry before joining the family business as Bone Fide Wealth’s director of business and legal affairs. She received her B.S. from the University of Florida and her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.  Heather and Douglas met in college and consider themselves Gators for life. They now live in New Jersey with their two daughters.

    37 min

  4. OCT 22

    Culture, Collaboration and Career Change with Cerity Partners’ Claire O’Keefe

    What happens when a schoolteacher from Ireland follows her curiosity halfway across the world and ends up helping shape one of the nation’s largest wealth management firms? In this episode of the Focused on the Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Claire O’Keefe, partner and head of partner development at Cerity Partners, about her unconventional journey from education to wealth management and the people-first culture that drives firm growth. Claire shares insights on career transitions, cultural alignment in mergers and acquisitions, the importance of organic growth and how investing in people powers the future of wealth management. Claire discusses: How her travels from Ireland to the U.S. led to a career in wealth management The key trends shaping M&A decisions for RIAs, from succession planning to client experience Why cultural alignment and shared values determine successful partnerships How top-performing firms prioritize training, development, and broad ownership structures Her perspective on the future of small and solo firms in a rapidly evolving, AI-driven industry Resources: Listen to Focused on the Future on WealthManagement.com Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Apple Podcasts Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Spotify Connect With Suzanne Siracuse: LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com Connect With Claire O’Keefe: Website: Cerity Partners LinkedIn: Cerity Partners LinkedIn: Claire O’Keefe About Our Guest: Claire O’Keefe serves as Partner, Head of Partner Development, and member of the Leadership Team at Cerity Partners. She has a deep appreciation for the unique fabric of our firm which she regularly refers to as her “forever home”. Central to Claire’s philosophy is human connection. As Head of Partner Development, she is passionate about building relationships with both current and prospective partners and colleagues who are excited by the vision of our firm, share our cultural values, and are committed to serving the best interests of clients, colleagues, and the communities in which we operate. She believes that authenticity, empathy, active listening, high emotional intelligence, and genuine curiosity, form the bedrock of effective communication and trusted relationships. In her words, “The magic of our partnership is our people.” Cerity Partners is more than just a firm; it’s a community. A community where everyone’s voice counts, where an entrepreneurial spirit thrives, and where decisions prioritize our clients, free from external pressures. Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Claire served as Chief Operating Officer and client advisor for two wealth management firms. In these roles, Claire’s responsibilities included strategic planning, client and colleague development, and client advisory for affluent individuals, business owners, executives, and nonprofit organizations.

    30 min

  5. OCT 8

    Corporate Citizenship in Action

    In this episode of Focused on The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Pammi Bhullar, senior director of corporate citizenship at Edelman Financial Engines, about how the firm integrates purpose into its culture and client impact. Pammi shares her career journey across multiple sectors and why she chose Edelman to align her passion for helping others with financial planning. She explains how corporate citizenship at Edelman combines inclusion, philanthropy, and environmental responsibility, supported by data-driven insights and community engagement. The “We Aspire” program, which develops the next generation of financial planners, is also highlighted, as is the grassroots “Dollar Cents” financial literacy initiative, which now serves youth, parents, and veterans. Pammi also discusses how storytelling and vulnerability around mental health create stronger workplace communities and lasting change. Resources: Listen to Focused on the Future on WealthManagement.com Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Apple Podcasts Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Spotify Connect With Suzanne Siracuse: LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com Connect With Pammi Bhullar: Edelman Financial Engines LinkedIn: Edelman Financial Engines LinkedIn: Pammi Bhullar  About Our Guest: Pammi Bhullar leads Corporate Citizenship at Edelman Financial Engines, inclusive of an award-winning Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy, charitable giving, and volunteerism. Throughout Pammi’s career, she has focused on elevating the voices around her, embedding authenticity and care into corporate cultures, and building community and bridges among people from different backgrounds. Previously at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Pammi partnered with businesses globally on advancing DE&I best practices and managed and led the growth of early talent leadership development programs. Her experience spans the nonprofit space as well. After obtaining her MBA at Boston University, Pammi led the global nonprofit consulting program called ChangeTheWorld at the University of Maryland. In her free time, Pammi enjoys going on adventures with her husband and kids, including train excursions, museums, and building obstacle courses. Pammi gets her energy from new experiences, travel, fresh air, and dancing with all her heart.

    26 min

  6. SEP 24

    From Advising Clients to Assisting Communities: The Ripple Effect of Advice

    In this episode of Focused on The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Michael Brady, founder and president of Generosity Wealth Management, about how he built a firm dedicated to aligning wealth with purpose and possibility. Michael shares how his early mentors shaped his people-first approach to advising, and the client story that inspired him to create a values-driven practice centered on generosity. He also opens up about his personal adoption journey, explaining how it influenced his decision to serve families navigating adoption and foster care planning. The conversation expands to Michael’s humanitarian work in Ukraine, where he helps support orphans through camps and trauma care, demonstrating the ripple effect of financial advice. He also discusses how AI tools enhance efficiency in his practice while allowing him to stay fully present with clients. Resources: Listen to Focused on the Future on WealthManagement.com Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Apple Podcasts Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Spotify Connect With Suzanne Siracuse: LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com Connect With Michael Brady: Website: Generosity Wealth Management LinkedIn: Generosity Wealth Management LinkedIn: Michael Brady  About Our Guest: Michael Brady is the founder of Generosity Wealth Management, where he blends decades of financial expertise with a people-first approach to help clients live meaningful, abundant lives. With over 30 years in the finance industry, Michael has earned a reputation for delivering clear, actionable strategies that simplify complex financial decisions and provide lasting peace of mind. Michael partners with individuals and families to create tailored, tax-efficient investment plans that not only secure their financial futures but also reflect their unique values and aspirations. His mission is rooted in empowering clients to focus on what matters most while he manages the financial details. Drawing on a robust leadership background, including roles in brokerage services and hedge fund management, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge to every client relationship. At Generosity Wealth Management, he is dedicated to creating a culture of trust, empowerment, and integrity that extends beyond financial success to making a positive impact in the community. With a focus on excellence and joyful service, Michael helps clients align their wealth with their purpose, turning financial clarity into a tool for living fully and giving generously.

    32 min

  7. SEP 10

    Breadwinner Women, Gen Z and Succession with Bridget Venus Grimes

    When your career path zigzags from Wall Street to pastry kitchens and back to finance, you pick up lessons most playbooks miss. In this episode of the Focused on the Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Bridget Venus Grimes, CFP, founder and president of WealthChoice and co‑founder of Equita Financial Network, about centering a firm on breadwinner women, elevating Gen Z through a Rising Professionals program and crafting succession plans that reflect a founder’s values. Bridget shares how personal experience shaped her niche and why community and retention remain pivotal for women advisors. Key Points: Her unconventional journey from trader to pastry chef to planner, and how life events led her to serve breadwinner women Building a niche around women attorneys, then expanding to women in tech, executives, and business owners, who are often the primary earners at home Launching WealthChoice to align work with impact after pay disparity and advancement barriers at a prior firm The Rising Professionals program that meets Gen Z where they are, with fee‑for‑service guidance on 401(k)s, budgeting and first goals Equita’s curated succession planning approach to each founder’s vision, values and client continuity Resources: Listen to Focused on the Future on WealthManagement.com Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Apple Podcasts Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Spotify Connect With Suzanne Siracuse: LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com Connect With Bridget Venus Grimes: LinkedIn: Bridget Venus Grimes Website: Equita Financial Network LinkedIn: Equita Financial Network Website: WealthChoice LLC LinkedIn: WealthChoice LLC About Our Guest: Bridget Venus Grimes, CFP is President of WealthChoice, a wealth management firm for women executives, and Co-founder of the SEC registered investment advisor Equita Financial Network, a community of women-led financial planning firms. Bridget began her career in 1987, trading stocks for private hedge funds in New York City, before pursuing her passion of financial planning for women. Bridget believes in empowering women to take confident steps toward a better life. She authored the best-selling book Corner Office Choices: The Executive Woman’s Guide to Financial Freedom and has written countless articles for major US media channels. Her commitment to women’s financial education extends not only to women professionals but also to fellow financial planners. She has spoken at major industry conferences and co-hosted the Financial Planning Association’s Women’s Knowledge Circle. Bridget splits her time between Arizona and California and enjoys boating, golf, entertaining, anything French, and, most of all, cooking. She holds a B.A degree in German language and literature and a minor in Art History from Mount Holyoke College.

    34 min

  8. AUG 13

    The Power of Evolution: Building a Purpose-Driven Firm with Liz Miller

    In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Liz Miller, founder and president of Summit Place Financial Advisors and current chair of the CFP Board, about how she’s built a purpose-driven firm that prioritizes clarity, culture, and continuous evolution. Liz shares her journey from institutional portfolio management to launching a boutique firm focused on multigenerational families, and why personal connection became central to her definition of impact. She also reveals how a marketing mindset and persona-based messaging help attract the right clients. From community service to professional development and the growing role of artificial intelligence, Liz emphasizes the importance of staying flexible and always evolving to meet client and team needs in a changing profession. Resources: Listen to Focused on the Future on WealthManagement.com Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Apple Podcasts Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Spotify Connect With Suzanne Siracuse: LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com Connect With Liz Miller: Website: Summit Place Financial Advisors LinkedIn: Summit Place Financial Advisors LinkedIn: Liz Miller Email: liz.miller@summitplacefinancial.com   About Our Guest: Liz Miller, CFP® CFA®, is the founder and President of Summit Place Financial Advisors, LLC, an independent SEC-registered advisor, offering personalized investment management and financial consulting to elite families and individuals. Previously, Liz was a principal owner of the investment manager, Trevor Stewart Burton & Jacobsen Inc., in NYC. In addition to managing portfolios and client relationships, she led the firm’s equity research activities and stock selection of the investment committee. Liz started her career as a mergers & acquisitions analyst for The First Boston Corporation. She went on to become a portfolio manager for Oppenheimer Mutual Funds. In 2008, she founded Summit Place Financial Advisors, LLC to focus on the complex financial needs of today’s multi-generational families. Liz has been a leader in the development of wealth management. She led the first Private Wealth Management committee at the CFA Society of NY, where she was honored with a Volunteer of the Year award, and later served on the Board of Directors. Liz also served on the Wealth Management task force for CFA Institute, contributing to the initial curriculum on wealth management for CFA candidates. Liz is the author of “Clutter-Free Wealth: A Goal-oriented Guide to Gaining Control of your Affluence” and is a member of the editorial advisory board for Trusts and Estates Magazine. Liz received a B.S in economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. from Columbia University. Liz is the proud mother of grown twin daughters, and she and her husband reside in New York City.

    33 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Focused on the Future provides keys to building a profitable, sustainable, and impactful business. Suzanne Siracuse is excited to be partnering with WealthManagement.com on a podcast that focuses on what successful firms need to embrace to ensure their growth and success to take their firms to that next level, through industry leaders and advisors.

Information

  • Creator
    Suzanne Siracuse
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2023 Focused on the Future
  • Show Website
    Focused on the Future

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