Swift Chats in the Financial Services Industry

Impact Communications, Inc.
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Welcome to "Swift Chats" in the Financial Services Industry, a podcast brought to you by Impact Communications, where your hosts Marie Swift and Jonny Swift speak with interesting people in the financial services industry and the financial planning profession. Our podcast spotlights independent financial advisory firms, allied financial services institutions, and "fintech" companies that we think are adopting "Best Practices" in the industry. We also share our own tools and ideas aimed at helping independent financial advisors throughout the various conversations. Learn more at https://www.ImpactCommunications.org

  1. Agentic AI, GenAI, WealthTech Knowledge, T3, and more with John O'Connell

    JAN 13

    Agentic AI, GenAI, WealthTech Knowledge, T3, and more with John O'Connell

    John O'Connell of The Oasis Group and Marie Swift of Impact Communications dig into predictions for 2026 when it comes to AI and technology for wealth managers, investment advisors, and financial planners. They cover AI Meeting aids, Agentic AI, Brand Voice Guidelines and custom GPTs, prompt engineering, and so much more. John and Marie will both be at the 2026 T3 Technology Conference happening in New Orleans March 9-12, 2026. John will also be doing a live Agentic AI demonstration from the stage on Monday March 9 as a part of T3's AI University, a daylong experiential and engagement opportunity that will open your eyes to a wider array of AI and tech applications. John's BOGO, which runs until 11:59pm ET on January 31, 2026 + 2 other special discount codes are highlighted at the end of the conversation and can be found below. Learn more about John and his webinars, keynotes, CTO roundtables, AI Tech Map, white papers and more at www.TheOasisGrp.com. The Oasis Group's T3 Technology Conference discount codes: $50 off AI University day pass: T3OASISAIU50 $200 off a full conference ticket: T3OASIS26 Buy-One-Get-One offer for the full conference: T3OASIS26BOGO

    19 min
  2. Unpacking 45 Years of Financial Planning Evolution with Bob Veres

    12/09/2025

    Unpacking 45 Years of Financial Planning Evolution with Bob Veres

    In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with renowned industry commentator and author Bob Veres to explore his sweeping new book, "A Behind the Scenes History of Financial Planning and the Profession: My 45-Year Journey as an Insider." Veres shares how he went from knowing almost nothing about financial planning in the early 1980s to chronicling the evolution of the profession from sales-driven roots to a true fiduciary calling, including vivid stories from the early IAFP days, the rise of NAPFA, and the ongoing tug-of-war between product pushers and client-centric planners. The conversation traces the profession's major inflection points, the collapse of limited partnerships, the tech wreck, the Great Recession, and the COVID pandemic, and how each crisis exposed weaknesses, tested advisor–client relationships, and ultimately elevated the value of real planning over pure asset management. Veres also offers candid views on regulatory capture, the SEC's treatment of fee-only advisors, and why higher, self-imposed standards remain the true engine of professionalism and public trust in advice. He reveals the "secret formula" he has observed among the most enduringly successful advisors: a willingness to think, read, and continuously adapt early to new realities, from fee-only models to modern planning standards and emerging technologies, rather than waiting until change becomes a threat. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or newer to financial planning, this conversation delivers a rich mix of history, hard truths, and hopeful direction for anyone who cares about where the profession has been and where it needs to go next. Get the book and learn more about Bob Veres at www.BobVeres.com.

    29 min
  3. How Independent Advisors Can Stand Out in the Age of AI Search with Paul Gilbert and Shawna Ohm

    12/04/2025

    How Independent Advisors Can Stand Out in the Age of AI Search with Paul Gilbert and Shawna Ohm

    In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Paul Gilbert, Marketing Manager at Myriad Advisor Solutions, a long-established, full-service business advisory firm, and Shawna Ohm, Founder of Content 151, a customized content and marketing solution for independent financial advisors, to discuss year-end insights for independent advisors navigating market volatility, AI trends, and business growth. The conversation explores practical steps such as crafting a one-page business plan, narrowing to ideal clients, and avoiding DIY pitfalls in branding, tech stacks, and compliance, while emphasizing the power of expert partners to scale efficiently.​​ Gilbert and Ohm also highlight that Myriad and Content 151 have partnered to launch a custom blog program tailored for independent financial advisors, delivering pieces of niche-focused, on-brand content from day one to fuel SEO, social media, and omnichannel marketing without the DIY overwhelm. This collaboration equips advisors transitioning to independence or scaling their practices with authentic pillar content that resonates with ideal clients, sidesteps AI pitfalls like copyright issues, and establishes a strong online presence ahead of generic canned material. Advisors can access the discounted starter package via www.Content151.com/Services/P/Starter-Blog or www.MyriadCBP.com, leveraging both firms' expertise in tech stacks, branding, and thought leadership to prioritize client advising over operational hassles. Myriad and Content 151 have also teamed up for a fireside chat on Wednesday, January 14th at 4 pm CT, exploring how modern search tools evaluate advisor content and why authentic insights matter more than ever. "Content Marketing in the Age of AI-Powered Search" will reveal how AI shapes advisor visibility and what helps firms stand out. You'll learn why authentic content builds trust and how advisors can strengthen their digital presence in 2026 and beyond. Learn more and register for the event at www.MyriadBlogStudio.com. Learn more about Paul Gilbert and Myriad Advisor Solutions at www.MyriadAS.com. Learn more about Shawna Ohm and Content 151 at www.Content151.com.

    38 min
  4. Enabling Deeper Client Connections Through AI-Driven Insights with Mark Heynen

    11/25/2025

    Enabling Deeper Client Connections Through AI-Driven Insights with Mark Heynen

    In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Mark Heynen, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Knapsack, an AI platform for financial advisors that automates meeting prep, note-taking, follow-ups, and CRM updates directly on-device, enabling compliance and workflow efficiency without compromising client data security, to discuss the evolving landscape of technology and productivity tools for financial advisors. Heynen shares how Knapsack positions itself as an "AI overlay," streamlining information flows for advisors by managing everything from CRM notes and meeting follow-ups to outreach emails, with a strong emphasis on privacy, compliance, and maintaining a human touch. He details how advisors can leverage Knapsack's "naps" (natural language agents), which enable users to automate and schedule tasks while still keeping them in control. The discussion also covers broader industry trends, such as the growing use of AI to synthesize complex information and the push to reduce digital clutter by consolidating workspace tabs. Heynen offers practical advice for advisors who feel overwhelmed by rapid technological changes, urging a thoughtful yet proactive approach to exploring new tools, always ensuring security standards are met. He also provides insights from his podcast, AI for Advisors, and discusses changes in user behavior, such as email management and the adoption of voice interfaces, hinting at a future where technology amplifies human connection and professional effectiveness rather than replacing them. Learn more about Mark Heynen and Knapsack at www.Knapsack.ai

    35 min
  5. Insurance Insights for Better Wealth Defense with Meaghan Dowd

    11/03/2025

    Insurance Insights for Better Wealth Defense with Meaghan Dowd

    In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Meaghan Dowd CAPI, CPRIA, PLCS, CLCS, Director of Insurance at Holistiplan, focusing on insurance planning and risk management for financial advisors, abut gaps in personal insurance coverage, such as issues with replacement cost, young drivers, and lifestyle factors like renovations or owning rental properties, that advisors often overlook when reviewing client needs.   Dowd explains how Holistiplan's risk management and insurance review tool goes beyond typical tax planning, offering a thorough needs analysis for any client, from renters to high-net-worth individuals. The software streamlines policy reviews, helping advisors identify gaps and ensure coverage aligns with lifestyle changes and asset growth. She also touches on common misconceptions about home valuation and replacement costs, emphasizing the importance of reviewing policies in light of actual rebuilding expenses rather than market or land value.   Drawing from her own broker experience, Dowd shares practical ways advisors can initiate insurance conversations, including using lifestyle questions and modular planning during client reviews. She also highlights her perspective on insurance as "wealth defense," underscoring how strategic insurance planning protects clients' financial plans from life's unexpected events.   Learn more about Meaghan Dowd and Holistiplan's Insurance Planning tool at www.Holistiplan.com/Platform/Insurance-Planning

    24 min
  6. Harnessing Technology and Analytics for Smarter Investing with Intervallum with Alan Thomson

    10/07/2025

    Harnessing Technology and Analytics for Smarter Investing with Intervallum with Alan Thomson

    In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Alan Thomson, Founder and Chief Architect of Intervallum Technologies, which specializes in innovative investment solutions, particularly through their flagship product, the CrestCast™ Macro-Aware US Factor Rotation Index, to discuss insights on the future of portfolio management, focusing on access, personalization, tax optimization, and systematic approaches that adapt to real-time macro risk. Thomson introduces CrestCast™, Intervallum's flagship innovation, representing the next evolution of investing – Passive 3.0 – which combines macro regime awareness with disciplined factor rotation to help advisors manage risk, enhance returns, and improve client outcomes. Throughout the conversation, he explains how CrestCast™ acts like a financial Doppler radar, identifying market conditions to adjust portfolios dynamically rather than relying on static strategies. Thomson discusses the challenges investors face with market drawdowns and narrative risk and how a rules-based, adaptive approach can help advisors and clients stay the course with confidence. The conversation also explores the broader evolution of fiduciary management, the role of technology and advanced analytics in investment strategy, and the upcoming availability of CrestCast™ through direct indexing and FMA platforms. Learn more about Alan Thomson and Intervallum Technologies at www.IntervallumTech.com

    26 min
  7. How Technology is Shaping Wealth Management with Michael Rose

    09/23/2025

    How Technology is Shaping Wealth Management with Michael Rose

    In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Michael Rose, CFP®, MST, Director of Wealth Management Research at Cerulli Associates, a leading global research, consulting, and analytics firm specializing in asset management, wealth management, and financial services, to discuss Cerulli's 117-page 2025 study on U.S. wealth management technology, zeroing in on how digital tools are transforming the independent advisory space and service delivery for both clients and advisors. Rose dives deep into the evolving landscape of wealth management technology and its impact on financial advisors and shares insights from Cerulli's extensive research, discussing how the rise of independent advisory channels is reshaping advisor technology needs. He explains the increasing responsibility advisors have in building and managing their own tech stacks outside of traditional broker-dealer infrastructures, while also dealing with the growing expectations investors have for personalized and comprehensive financial planning, which pressure advisors to do more with stable fees, making technology and productivity critical themes. Rose emphasizes practical solutions, such as all-in-one technology platforms, and the pivotal role of educational conferences, like the T3 Technology Conference, in helping advisors keep pace and build competitive tech stacks. The conversation strikes a balance between excitement about AI-driven innovation and recognition of the ongoing challenges advisors face in maximizing technology's benefits to deliver better client outcomes, providing a nuanced perspective on the opportunities and hurdles in technology adoption within the wealth management industry today. Learn more about Michael Rose, CFP®, MST, and Cerulli Associates at www.Cerulli.com

    22 min
  8. Empowering Advisors to Solve Estate Planning Pain Points with Matt Morris

    09/16/2025

    Empowering Advisors to Solve Estate Planning Pain Points with Matt Morris

    In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Matt Morris, CEO and co-founder of EncorEstate Plans, a comprehensive, customizable estate planning and trust funding platform that empowers financial advisors to efficiently create, update, and fund estate plans for their clients, all backed by expert legal review and support—without requiring a subscription or direct-to-consumer access, for an in-depth conversation on how financial advisors can fundamentally elevate their client relationships through proactive, advisor-led estate planning. Drawing from personal experience, Morris shares how the lack of an estate plan caused turmoil for his own family, which inspired the creation of Encore's streamlined platform. He explains how Encore allows advisors to easily review, update, and fund estate plans – without crossing into legal practice – supported by attorney and paralegal review for every document. The conversation also explores how estate planning becomes a true differentiator for advisory firms, sparks referrals, and leads to more meaningful client discussions about legacy, family, and values. Morris shares insights on how Encore's pay-as-you-go model lowers barriers for advisors and why this approach is quickly becoming an essential offering for growth-minded firms looking for ways to become the "trusted primary advisor" by solving a real pain point for today's clients. Learn more about EncorEstate Plans at www.EncorEstatePlans.com

    45 min
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About

Welcome to "Swift Chats" in the Financial Services Industry, a podcast brought to you by Impact Communications, where your hosts Marie Swift and Jonny Swift speak with interesting people in the financial services industry and the financial planning profession. Our podcast spotlights independent financial advisory firms, allied financial services institutions, and "fintech" companies that we think are adopting "Best Practices" in the industry. We also share our own tools and ideas aimed at helping independent financial advisors throughout the various conversations. Learn more at https://www.ImpactCommunications.org

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