FutureProof Advisor Podcast

Matt Reiner
  • 4.7 (13)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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The FutureProof Advisor is built to help financial advisors unlock their full potential—not just by growing their business, but by becoming the best version of themselves and their firms. Through deep industry insights, real-world strategies, and personal transformation, FutureProof Advisor is your path to doubling your business and building a legacy.

  1. The Cost of Certainty

    3D AGO

    The Cost of Certainty

    Providing certainty is what advisors are paid to do. Ironically, it’s also what often holds firms back. In this episode of The FutureProof Advisor, I explore the tension between being professionally risk‑averse for clients and needing to be adaptive inside our own businesses. I share a simple hallway story that reveals how quickly momentum can turn into inertia—and how our instinct to “not rock the boat” quietly makes change harder the longer we wait. Much of this resistance isn’t strategic—it’s human. Our brains are wired to avoid loss, seek safety, and stick with what feels familiar, especially when our income depends on getting things right. But that same wiring works against innovation. I break down why psychological safety—not technology or capital—is the real constraint, and why firms that create space for small, reversible experiments learn faster and build more resilience than those waiting for consensus or perfect certainty. Examples from companies like Google and leaders like Jeff Bezos reinforce a simple truth: learning happens through action, not agreement. Future‑proof firms don’t eliminate risk—they design for it. That means running “safe‑to‑fail” pilots, being willing to revisit sacred cows like pricing models, and using tools like pre‑mortems to think clearly about downside before it shows up. The firms that will thrive over the next decade aren’t the most confident—they’re the most curious. They keep learning, keep adjusting, and keep moving forward, even when the path isn’t perfectly clear.

    28 min
  2. The Advisor's Forgetting Curve

    JAN 29

    The Advisor's Forgetting Curve

    We like to believe we remember more than we actually do. In this episode of The FutureProof Advisor, I explore the uncomfortable reality of the forgetting curve—and why it quietly undermines even the best client relationships. Within hours, much of what we hear fades. Within days, most of it is gone. For advisors, that gap isn’t just a productivity issue—it’s a trust issue, especially when clients assume the details they shared still live clearly in our minds. The real challenge isn’t collecting information; it’s making sense of it. CRMs are great at storing data, but they weren’t designed to help us connect ideas, patterns, and insights across time. I talk about the difference between managing data and managing knowledge, and how tools like AI note‑taking and structured systems can reduce cognitive load without distancing us from the relationship. When information is organized around action—not just compliance—it becomes easier to spot what matters and respond with intention. Future‑proofing a firm doesn’t mean remembering everything. It means building systems that surface the right insights at the right moment. By accepting our human limits and pairing them with thoughtful processes and technology, we can stay present in conversations without constantly relearning our clients from scratch. The goal isn’t more information—it’s better continuity, deeper trust, and advice that feels personal because it actually is.

    27 min
  3. Velocity Over Volume

    JAN 21

    Velocity Over Volume

    The firms that will win going forward won’t be the ones who can handle the most clients—they’ll be the ones who can relieve uncertainty the fastest. In this conversation on The FutureProof Advisor, I explore the shift from thinking in terms of volume to thinking in terms of velocity. In a world where information is abundant and tools are accessible, the true differentiator isn’t how much advice you deliver, but how quickly you help clients feel confident and clear. One of the most underestimated costs in our industry is waiting. Even the most thoughtful, technically sound plan loses impact if a client is left sitting with unanswered questions or lingering anxiety. I unpack why speed has become a core component of trust, and how firms can rethink their operating models to tighten the gap between a client’s question and meaningful resolution. Drawing parallels from companies like Amazon, Domino’s, and FedEx, the lesson is clear: responsiveness isn’t about rushing—it’s about designing systems that move with intention. This episode challenges advisors to rethink how work actually flows through their firm. When you measure success by throughput instead of capacity, everything changes—from how teams are structured to how technology is deployed. The goal isn’t to do more; it’s to do what matters faster. Because in an environment defined by uncertainty, the advisor who reduces the weight clients carry—quickly and consistently—is the one who earns lasting trust.

    24 min
  4. Six AI Predictions for 2026 That Will Reshape Finance

    JAN 15

    Six AI Predictions for 2026 That Will Reshape Finance

    AI is no longer a side project. It’s becoming infrastructure—and that shift is redefining how firms grow, protect, and differentiate in real time. In this episode of The FutureProof Advisor, I break down six key developments shaping how AI will impact wealth management in 2026. From the rise of agentic AI and proactive digital workflows to the mounting security threats of shadow AI and the push toward edge computing, the message is clear: we’re moving past the experimentation phase. The firms that win will be the ones who embed AI into how they operate—not just what they offer. We explore how forward-thinking teams are documenting workflows, refactoring processes, and beginning to trust AI agents not just to analyze—but to act. We talk about what it means to shift from using AI as a tool to managing it as a teammate, and why this requires new leadership habits—not just new tech. And as regulatory pressure and client expectations tighten, AI’s value will hinge less on novelty and more on cost, clarity, and control. This isn’t about adopting every shiny platform. It’s about being deliberate: designing for security, training for oversight, and measuring ROI in weeks—not years. If you’re preparing your firm to thrive in the AI-powered future, this episode offers a roadmap for building intelligently, not reactively.

    27 min
  5. The Missing Skill in Wealth Management: Conducting Your Strengths

    JAN 8

    The Missing Skill in Wealth Management: Conducting Your Strengths

    Solving the right problems in today’s advisory world isn’t about doing more—it’s about connecting the right pieces. In this episode of The FutureProof Advisor, I explore the idea that mindset, leverage, and innovation aren’t standalone skills—they’re strategic pillars that work best when orchestrated together. The firms making the biggest impact aren’t the ones checking boxes. They’re the ones that bring their resources, people, and thinking into alignment so they can respond in real time to complex challenges. This is where true adaptability lives—not in siloed initiatives or once-a-year planning, but in a culture of integration. I share lessons from firms across industries, from wealth management to creative giants like Pixar, who create breakthrough results by blending feedback, execution, and reflection into a continuous loop. Whether you're rolling out AI, rethinking client engagement, or scaling a team, the process works the same: align the pieces, learn as you go, and stay open to where the feedback leads you. The takeaway is clear: sustainable success doesn’t come from doing each thing well in isolation. It comes from knowing how those pieces interact—and leading in a way that allows your team to adjust, respond, and keep momentum without burning out. Integration isn’t a tactic—it’s the mindset that helps futureproof everything else.

    28 min

  6. 12/18/2025

    Scaling Smart: Productivity, AI, and the Modern RIA

    AI isn’t arriving—it’s already here. But the firms that will benefit most aren’t the ones chasing the next headline—they’re the ones learning to apply the technology with strategy and intention. In this episode of The FutureProof Advisor, I explore how the narrative around AI is shifting—from abstract potential to practical, day-to-day impact. Whether it’s the way firms handle cybersecurity, how clients interpret AI-generated advice, or why most companies fail to get ROI from their AI investments, the gap between promise and real performance is narrowing fast. The conversation focuses on how firms can move past experimentation and into transformation. That starts with rethinking workflows—not just adding tools to outdated systems. I share research on AI perception from the LEAP initiative, a breakdown of OpenAI’s new Atlas browser, and a lesson from cybersecurity that reinforces how these tools can either amplify risks or unlock resilience, depending on how you engage with them. The takeaway: true advantage comes not from the technology itself, but from how thoughtfully it’s embedded into your business. This episode is about moving beyond reaction. It’s a framework for wealth managers and firm leaders who want to navigate the AI landscape with clarity, not noise. Because in a space where everyone’s “trying AI,” the differentiators will be integration, trust, and execution.

    26 min
  7. Why Tools Alone Won't Fix Your Firm

    12/11/2025

    Why Tools Alone Won't Fix Your Firm

    Change isn’t what burns teams out—unfinished change is. In this episode of The FutureProof Advisor, I explore the hidden cost of half-executed initiatives and why innovation often fails not from lack of ambition, but from lack of closure. I share my own experience navigating a seemingly simple tech upgrade that revealed something deeper: the real fatigue wasn’t from adopting new tools, but from never fully retiring the old ones. We talk about why layering on new solutions without rethinking the underlying process creates confusion, not progress. True transformation starts by defining what your ideal firm looks like—before reaching for new software. I break down a simple framework for separating exploratory thinking from daily execution, and why protecting mental space for strategic reflection is just as important as implementing new systems. When change is treated as a mindset—not a checklist—it creates space for clarity, accountability, and forward motion. The firms that are built to last won’t be the ones that adopt the most tech—they’ll be the ones that finish what they start, retire what no longer serves, and design change with intention. Because innovation isn’t about adding more. It’s about making room for better.

    29 min
  8. The Soft Skills The Make Advisors Indispensable

    12/04/2025

    The Soft Skills The Make Advisors Indispensable

    We often think that losing a client is about performance—but more often, it’s about a disconnect we never noticed. In this episode of The FutureProof Advisor, I reflect on a client relationship that unraveled not because of returns or planning, but because we never went deep enough. I held onto the surface: the portfolio, the strategy, the metrics. What I missed was the fear, the doubt, and the emotional weight that performance talk was meant to cover up. As advisors, we’re trained to solve problems, but not always to sit in uncertainty. We default to measurable things because they feel safe. But real client retention doesn’t live in the measurable—it lives in how well we understand the person behind the plan. I talk about how emotional clarity often comes after technical success, and why clients may not ask for that deeper connection—but still expect to feel it. This episode is about earning the right to go deeper—not just through planning, but through presence. Because what keeps people isn’t a perfect portfolio. It’s the sense that someone sees them clearly, and is willing to ask the questions they’re still working through themselves.

    29 min
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About

The FutureProof Advisor is built to help financial advisors unlock their full potential—not just by growing their business, but by becoming the best version of themselves and their firms. Through deep industry insights, real-world strategies, and personal transformation, FutureProof Advisor is your path to doubling your business and building a legacy.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Reiner
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    FutureProof Advisor Podcast