The COO Roundtable

Coldstream Wealth Managment

4.5 (20)
BUSINESS
UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Join host Matt Sonnen and a panel of COOs, as they share an open discussion about operational and technology best practices for the RIA industry, and shed a light on the tremendously important work COOs perform on a day-to-day basis.

FEB 3

Episode 83: Alli Jordan & Emily Wilcox

In this episode, Matt is joined by Alli Jordan, President at LibertyFi, and Emily Wilcox, COO at Practifi, for a discussion on how leading RIAs are using innovative technology, operational excellence, and smart leadership to drive scalable growth. LibertyFi empowers growth-oriented RIAs to drive revenue and scale with the Envestnet platform, enabling seamless outsourcing of reporting, billing, and trading. Using technology and defined processes in their own business, LibertyFi currently supports 23 RIAs managing approximately $21 billion in assets with just eight employees. Practifi offers a unified workspace for financial advisory firms, blending CRM, practice management, compliance, and marketing features to streamline workflows and deepen client relationships. Alli and Emily aren’t just consultants to RIAs navigating change; they are practitioners at the forefront of their own firms’ growth stories. Together, they join Matt to explore how RIAs can grow profitably and efficiently. Other key topics covered include: The importance of treating the components of your tech stack as an operational strategy, not just a technology choice Dos and Don’ts for creating a tech stack designed to fuel growth in 2026 How to lead successful change across your firm by focusing on your team’s “hearts and minds” Time management tips and how to escape the daily grind and focus on strategic growth The top attributes of an effective RIA COO

44 min
JAN 14

Episode 82: Hannah Koch & Joe Walker

In Episode 82, Matt sits down with two well-accomplished RIA operators: Hannah Koch, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Chicago-based Altair Advisers, and Joe Walker, COO of Bradley, Foster & Sargent (BFS), headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, with nine total office locations. Altair Advisers serves individuals, families, foundations, and endowments, offering investment management, financial planning, and client education. BFS provides investment management services to individuals, families, entrepreneurs, professionals, non-profits, and institutions. This episode dives deep into the real-world challenges and opportunities of RIA technology. Matt, Hannah, and Joe share candid insights on why successful tech implementation hinges as much on people and process as it does on the tools themselves. The conversation also covers: Why defining a specific business problem must come before choosing any technology solution The critical role of data governance and training before introducing AI across your firm Tips for approaching change management and setting your team up for long-term success The importance of seamless integration and data flow when designing your firm’s tech stack How focusing solely on the fiduciary duty can sometimes overshadow your people, and ways to become an employer of choice

42 min
12/03/2025

Episode 81: Jason Mirabella and Randy Lambert

Matt is joined by industry veterans Jason Mirabella and Randy Lambert for Episode 81. Jason returns for his second appearance, having first joined Episode 37 nearly four years ago. Randy, the former COO of Orion, brings decades of experience after spending 30 years building and scaling one of the industry's leading organizations. Now, Jason and Randy have teamed up at Intention.ly to launch a new operational consulting arm, specifically designed to tackle the unique operational and growth challenges faced by RIAs and the fintechs that serve them. Together, Matt, Jason, and Randy dive into topics including: The complexity of scale and why it’s important to “keep score” How growing firms can remain “quick and nimble” instead of becoming “bloated and slow” as they transition into enterprises The fundamental differences between a Director of Operations and a Chief Operating Officer, and how to determine which role your firm needs Why change is so hard for organizations to navigate, and how COOs can become true change agents Will AI replace the traditional CRM, or make it even more powerful? How the COO role is evolving and what to expect going forward

48 min
11/05/2025

Episode 80: Linda Bready

In this episode, Matt sits down with Linda Bready, a renowned operations consultant to RIAs and author of the new book, The Exit Equation – M&A Strategies, Tools, and Insights for Financial Advisors. What started as a guide for sellers preparing for mergers or acquisitions, Linda’s book reveals itself as a comprehensive blueprint for operational readiness. It’s packed with practical strategies that empower firms to run more profitably and efficiently, whether or not a sale is on the horizon. As Linda writes, “a well-run firm isn’t just easier to sell, it’s easier to grow, scale, and live with.” Linda’s expertise is extensive. She was a trailblazer in the field of RIA performance reporting during her 17 years running B-Ready Outsourcing Solutions, which she led until its acquisition by Envestnet in 2010. After serving in a leadership role at Envestnet for six years, Linda became Executive Vice President of Operations & Client Service at FolioDynamix―until, in a twist of fate, Envestnet acquired FolioDynamix in 2018. Today, Linda is back in the consulting sphere as the founder of CleverX Consulting, where she delivers fractional executive support and board-level insight to financial services firms and fintech innovators. During this far-reaching conversation, Matt and Linda discuss her new book and a wide range of RIA operations and technology topics, including: Why so many RIAs struggle with operational efficiencies The common pitfall: mistaking technology ownership with technology optimization Why now is the time for RIAs to focus on scalability and repeatability across their organizations The critical role of culture and why it’s so often overlooked in M&A transactions Strategies for effective change management Why not all AUM is created equal Overcoming the reluctance to document workflows and processes The power of client segmentation and why understanding the true cost to serve each client is more important than focusing solely on top-line revenue To learn more about how Linda works with advisors and operations professionals, please visit https://www.cleverxconsulting.com/ To purchase Linda’s amazing book, click here.

55 min
10/01/2025

Episode 79: Morgan Bell & Lisa Crafford

In Episode 79, Matt welcomes two long-time friends and industry experts: Lisa Crafford and Morgan Bell of Constellation Wealth Capital (“CWC”). CWC is a Chicago-based private equity firm founded in 2023 that specializes in making minority investments in growth-oriented wealth management firms across the United States. Lisa and Morgan first met at BNY Mellon Pershing, while consulting for RIAs. Today, Lisa serves as Managing Director, Head of Advisory, and Morgan leads technology consulting at CWC. Matt has long considered both Morgan and Lisa fellow “operations nerds,” and has enjoyed collaborating with them on content aimed at helping operations professionals run better firms. After sharing their career stories, the conversation dives into: The evolution of the COO role as the wealth management industry matures The need for leadership and next generation training in the industry, and how Lisa and Morgan addressed these needs – both historically and now at CWC Solving the complex puzzle of building a scalable, efficient, and integrated tech stack Where the COO is headed in the next five years Common mistakes firms make, and how to avoid them at your RIA Advice for first-time COOs and for RIAs hiring their first COO And, of course, a short tribute to Mark Tibergien’s immense impact on our industry The article, “The Importance of Strategy and How a COO Can Help” can be found here.

47 min
09/03/2025

Episode 78: Eric Stephenson & Shelly Kapoor

Episode 78 dives deep into a challenge many COOs contend with on a daily basis: mastering M&A integration. Matt hosts a dynamic discussion with two former COOs who have recently stepped into groundbreaking roles focused exclusively on business integration: Eric Stephenson and Shelly Kapoor. Eric is Managing Director of Integration and Optimization at Pathstone, a firm spanning 22 office locations, 800 employees, and managing over $100 billion of assets for clients. Shelly is a colleague of Matt’s at Coldstream, where she has taken on the new role of Manager of Business Integration. Coldstream now has approximately $13 billion of AUA, eight office locations, and more than 200 employees. Eric and Shelly explain how they leverage their varied experiences as COOs in their integration work, as well as: How their new roles extend beyond traditional M&A integration work Their firms’ unique philosophies and approach to M&A Why the human side of integration and change management remains the greatest challenge The critical role of technology in supporting seamless integration Essential advice for COOs considering or transitioning into dedicated integration roles The article, “Growing RIAs Must Focus on Process, Not Technology” can be found here.

38 min
08/06/2025

Episode 77: Brad Cox and Michael Walliser

Episode 77 finds Matt interviewing two seasoned RIA operators: Brad Cox and Michael Walliser, for an insightful conversation on growth, technology, and collaboration in the wealth management industry. Brad is COO, CCO, and Partner at Diversified Portfolios, Inc., based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The firm was founded in 1993 and has grown to approximately $1.8 billion of client assets, with a team of 19 employees. Michael serves as President and CCO at Condor Capital Wealth Management in Martinsville, New Jersey. Established in 1988, Condor Capital oversees about $2 billion for clients and employs 28 professionals. In this episode, Brad and Michael discuss their 32-year-old study group, the Council of Independent Financial Advisors (“CIFA”), as well as: How to structure your study group to ensure each member gains the most from it The processes at each of their firms that have needed to change as their firms have grown The pros and cons of building a “best-of-breed” technology stack vs. adopting an “all-in-one” solution Both guests’ approach to AI and how they have implemented it to enhance client service and streamline operations at their firms What cybersecurity tools and protocols both firms use to protect sensitive employee and client data To learn more about the Council of Independent Financial Advisors (“CIFA”), please visit: https://www.katiecalaguiconsulting.com/council-of-independent-financial-advisors

41 min
05/21/2025

Episode 76: Tony Cox & Whitney Imeraj

We are excited to return to our traditional interview format for Episode 76, but this time with a twist! For the first time, we are interviewing an RIA who is actively searching for a Chief Operating Officer. In this episode, we delve into the responsibilities they envision for their new COO, once hired. Sage Mountain Advisors, founded in 2018 out of Goldman Sachs, has experienced remarkable growth. Starting with just six employees, the firm has expanded to 25 employees, managing approximately $5.5 billion for their clients. To date, the COO role has been filled by Whitney Imeraj, IACCP®, who also serves as the CCO and Partner of the firm. Whitney has shared many operational duties with Tony Cox, Co-Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer. In this episode, Whitney, Tony, and Matt discuss why Sage Mountain believes it is the right time to bring in a new COO, as well as: How they are conducting their COO search process The “Technology and Innovation” components of the new COO’s job How they hope the new COO will impact “Team Leadership and Culture Building” Where Whitney sees the candidate driving “Operational Leadership” What direction Tony sees the COO taking “Strategic Growth and Vision” The “Compliance and Risk Management” responsibilities the new role will encompass How Sage Mountain plans to engage in M&A, and the expected impact of the new COO on these goals Other key areas of the firm beyond Technology, HR, Business Administration, and M&A that the new COO will hopefully influence To apply for this role and/or to see what a comprehensive COO job description looks like, please see Sage Mountain Advisors’ job posting here. You can read Matt’s recent article, Smart Hiring for RIAs: Aligning Talent with Team Needs

38 min

TRAILER

Introducing The COO Roundtable Podcast

I am thrilled to announce the launch of The COO Roundtable, Powered by PFI Advisors; our latest endeavor in championing the role of operations professionals within the RIA industry. This podcast series will feature panel discussions with Chief Operating Officers at some of the country’s leading independent firms. We plan to highlight operational best practices and the benefits that professional management can bring to an RIA. Our inaugural guests will be the COOs most recently highlighted in PFI Advisors’ white paper, “Exploring the Benefits of Professional Management for RIAs – A Deeper Look into Chief Operating Officers:” Gary T. Bonner of Avalon Advisors, Jeff Fuhrman of Coastal Bridge Advisors, Michael Lee of LourdMurray, and Anthony Craun of Sand Hill Global Advisors. We view this podcast as a natural extension of our core mission here at PFI Advisors: To further evolve the RIA industry from a collection of practices to businesses, and to be a continued voice in validating the industry as a legitimate landing spot for billion-dollar teams and their clients. With the goal of shedding light on the tremendously important work COOs perform every day in the trenches, this podcast is a bit of a passion project of mine, as I have seen throughout my 20-year career in financial services that operations professionals are widely viewed as “cost centers” and not “revenue generators” within sales organizations. Industry luminaries such as Mark Tibergien, David Canter, and Philip Palaveev have been advocating for the professionalization of our industry for some time, and we intend to demonstrate that without leveraging a Chief Operating Officer, RIAs cannot achieve the organic or inorganic growth initiatives they set for themselves. We strongly believe that COOs are needed to free the owners of these organizations from the daily minutiae of running a business. As Jeff Fuhrman said during his interview for our recent white paper, “It’s the Chief Operating Officer’s duty to be in the wings, supporting the role of the advisor. Leave the management of the firm to the COO, and they will make sure advisors get what they need so they can do the most effective job for their clients.” We at PFI Advisors are declaring 2019 as the “Year of the COO” in the RIA Industry and aim to spend the year illuminating the hard work successful Chief Operating Officers bring to their respective firms through The COO Roundtable. Our featured COOs will discuss how they overcome challenges pertaining to the day-to-day administration of their firms; how they maintain a holistic view of their organization’s culture; how they drive workflow improvements; and how they navigate the human resources element of being a COO, all at once. We’ll also look to share their stories of hanging pictures on the walls, drilling holes in desks, and duct taping phone cables together, as no job is ever beneath a competent COO. Our goal is to help the industry realize the massive value Operations professionals...

12/11/2018

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5 min

4.5

out of 5

20 Ratings

Refreshing

04/23/2023

Glen-flowmo

I love getting new insight from our industry by someone who understands operations.
COO Roundtable

03/12/2019

The Collins Family

Deeply insightful podcast, knowledgeable host and relevant guests delving into the requirements for a smoothly operating RIA firm.

Join host Matt Sonnen and a panel of COOs, as they share an open discussion about operational and technology best practices for the RIA industry, and shed a light on the tremendously important work COOs perform on a day-to-day basis.

Creator

Coldstream Wealth Managment
Years Active

2018 - 2026
Episodes

84
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Coldstream Capital Management, Inc. d.b.a. Coldstream Wealth Management.
Show Website

The COO Roundtable