The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors

Mindy Diamond Financial Advisor Recruiter and Consultant
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Launched in 2017 as Mindy Diamond on Independence, the show has taken on a broader perspective beyond the independent space to include topics, insights, and candid conversations around financial advisor transitions, growth, and an ever-changing industry landscape. Each episode is designed to offer objective guidance and actionable advice with some of the industry’s brightest movers and shakers.

  1. 6d ago

    True Alignment: Advising business owners on Wealth, Significance, and Value

    With Nick Hubert and Taylor Gentry—Founding Partners, Panoramic Capital Partners Jason Diamond speaks with Nick Hubert and Taylor Gentry of Panoramic Capital Partners about helping business owners align personal significance, wealth, and business value through a long-term advisory framework. In Summary Many advisors who work with business owners focus on managing wealth after it is created. Nick Hubert and Taylor Gentry argue that the greater opportunity is helping clients create, preserve, and align value long before a liquidity event occurs. In their conversation with Jason Diamond, the founders of Panoramic Capital Partners discuss how concepts borrowed from private equity – including accountability, reporting, capital allocation, and long-term planning – can help advisors become more valuable partners to entrepreneurs. The result is a different framework for advising business owners: one that places personal significance, personal wealth, and business value on equal footing and measures success over decades rather than by transactions. The Storyline Most business owners spend years aligning their companies around a mission, strategy, and long-term objective. Far fewer spend the same amount of time aligning their business, wealth, and personal lives around a common destination. Nick Hubert and Taylor Gentry believe that true alignment begins when business owners stop viewing those decisions separately. As founding partners of Panoramic Capital Partners, they have built a firm designed to engage earlier in the entrepreneurial journey. Their framework centers on helping business owners define a “north star” that balances three interconnected dimensions: personal significance, personal wealth, and business value. The conversation explores how that framework evolved from Taylor’s experience in private equity and Nick’s background in consulting and wealth management. Rather than viewing private equity solely as a source of capital or a transaction event, they examine what advisors can learn from the systems, reporting structures, and accountability mechanisms that private equity firms use to create value over time. Jason and his guests discuss why many business owners struggle to connect financial, operational, and personal objectives; how advisors can serve as a true personal CFO; and why alignment often matters more than maximizing the next transaction. The discussion also turns inward, examining how the same principles influence Panoramic’s own growth decisions, their views on acquisitions and private equity investment within RIAs, and what the industry must do to attract the next generation of advisory talent.   > Download a transcript of this episode… Listen and Learn Highlights for Advisors Why do many business-owner relationships begin too late? (13:10) Nick explains why focusing primarily on liquidity events can create misaligned incentives and why advisors may add greater value by engaging earlier in the wealth-creation process. What does Panoramic mean by a “north star” framework? (16:40) Taylor outlines the firm’s approach to aligning personal significance, personal wealth, and business value into a unified planning and decision-making framework. How can advisors apply private equity thinking without becoming private equity investors? (18:11) Taylor describes how institutional reporting, accountability, and value-creation systems can help business owners improve outcomes regardless of whether a transaction ever occurs. Why did one client walk away from a successful deal? (19:45) Nick shares the story of a business owner who discovered that selling the company would solve the wrong problem and why redefining success led to a better outcome. Is private equity misunderstood by many business owners? (26:26) The conversation explores how private equity often functions as a “black box” and why advisors can help clients evaluate opportunities more objectively. How does Panoramic structure its pricing to reduce conflicts of interest? (30:52) Nick discusses the firm’s effort to align compensation with client outcomes rather than asset gathering alone. Should RIAs pursue acquisitions and private equity capital? (32:20) Taylor and Nick explain how they evaluate growth opportunities through the same long-term framework they use with clients. What role will AI play in the future of advisory firms? (40:14) The discussion focuses on balancing efficiency gains and enhanced client experiences with the responsibility to protect client trust and security. Topics Covered Business-owner advisory models Personal significance, wealth, and value Entrepreneurial wealth creation Private equity frameworks Business value growth strategies Capital allocation decisions RIA business building Advisor compensation alignment Artificial intelligence in wealth management Next generation advisor talent Key Takeaways Many advisors focus on the liquidity event, while business owners often need guidance throughout the entire value-creation journey. The most effective business planning frameworks connect personal goals, financial objectives, and enterprise value rather than treating them separately. Private equity’s greatest contribution may not be capital itself, but the systems and accountability structures used to create long-term value. Business owners frequently pursue an exit when the underlying issue is a misaligned relationship with their business, rather than a desire to stop owning it. Advisor compensation models influence behavior, making alignment between pricing and client outcomes increasingly important. Growth through acquisitions can be valuable, but only when it supports a firm’s broader vision and long-term objectives. AI has the potential to improve advisor efficiency and client outcomes, but trust and security remain the non-negotiable constraints. https://youtu.be/_Fhic8CxtCs Quotable Moments “Growing businesses create value. The transaction is not the value creation event. The business itself is.” “The reality is that many entrepreneurs don’t want an exit. They want a different relationship with their business.” “Private equity is often treated like a black box. Most people don’t actually know what it is or how it works.” “The best thing I can do for my clients is still be in the seat 30 years from now.” FAQs How can advisors create more value for business-owner clients? Nick Hubert and Taylor Gentry argue that advisors can create greater value by engaging earlier in the entrepreneurial journey. Rather than focusing primarily on investments or eventual liquidity events, they discuss helping clients align business strategy, capital allocation, personal goals, and long-term wealth creation. How does Panoramic Capital Partners work with business owners differently from a traditional wealth management firm? Rather than focusing primarily on investments or eventual liquidity events, Panoramic seeks to partner with entrepreneurs throughout the business ownership journey. Their approach incorporates business strategy, value creation, capital allocation, and long-term planning alongside traditional wealth management services. What is the “North Star” framework discussed in the episode? The North Star framework serves as the foundation for Panoramic’s advisory process. It helps business owners define long-term objectives across their personal lives, financial goals, and businesses, creating a shared reference point for major decisions over time. How can advisors apply private equity principles without working in private equity? The discussion highlights how advisors can borrow many of the operational disciplines commonly used by private equity firms – including reporting systems, accountability structures, performance measurement, and strategic planning – to help clients create value regardless of whether a transaction ever takes place. Why do some business owners choose not to sell their companies? According to Nick and Taylor, many entrepreneurs discover that they do not actually want an exit. Instead, they want a different relationship with their business. In some cases, improving management systems, leadership structures, and operational accountability can achieve that goal without a sale. What are the advisors’ views on AI in wealth management? They see AI as a potentially powerful tool for improving efficiency and enhancing client deliverables, while emphasizing that client trust, data security, and responsible implementation remain more important than being first to adopt new technologies. Nick Hubert and Taylor Gentry argue that advisors can create greater value by engaging earlier in the entrepreneurial journey. Rather than focusing primarily on investments or eventual liquidity events, they discuss helping clients align business strategy, capital allocation, personal goals, and long-term wealth creation. Rather than focusing primarily on investments or eventual liquidity events, Panoramic seeks to partner with entrepreneurs throughout the business ownership journey. Their approach incorporates business strategy, value creation, capital allocation, and long-term planning alongside traditional wealth management services. The North Star framework serves as the foundation for Panoramic’s advisory process. It helps business owners define long-term objectives across their personal lives, financial goals, and businesses, creating a shared reference point for major decisions over time. The discussion highlights how advisors can borrow many of the operational disciplines commonly used by private equity firms – including reporting systems, accountability structures, performance measurement, and strategic planning – to help clients create value regardless of

    50 min

  2. May 28

    The Advisor Transition Playbook: Inside Baseball on Due Diligence, the Move, and Everything In Between – Best of Replay

    A Special Industry Update with Jason Diamond and Mindy Diamond A replay of part one of a two-part series, Jason and Mindy Diamond unpack the real advisor transition playbook—from due diligence and culture fit to portability, enterprise value, and the evolving landscape of advisor choice. In Summary Why do advisors really consider changing firms or models—and what separates thoughtful due diligence from reactive decision-making? In a replay of the first of this special two-part Industry Update, Jason and Mindy Diamond unpack what actually drives advisor transitions, the misconceptions that derail decision-making, and the questions sophisticated teams should be asking long before they’re ready to act. The conversation also explores how the industry landscape has evolved around independence, portability, enterprise value, and advisor optionality—drawing context from Diamond’s role in the landmark OpenArc breakaway from Merrill and much more. The Storyline Most advisors assume transitions are primarily driven by recruiting economics. Jason Diamond and Mindy Diamond suggest that recruiting economics may get the headlines, but advisor transitions are usually driven by a far more layered set of considerations. What tends to happen instead is more gradual: a growing disconnect between how advisors want to serve clients and the constraints of the environment around them. Sometimes it’s bureaucracy. Sometimes it’s limitations around growth, marketing, technology, or flexibility. Sometimes it’s simply the realization that the industry landscape has evolved while their assumptions about it have not. This conversation examines what actually happens between the moment curiosity begins and the moment a move becomes real. Rather than treating transitions as transactional events, Jason and Mindy frame due diligence as a strategic process of self-assessment—clarifying what matters, identifying trade-offs, evaluating long-term optionality, and pressure-testing assumptions before making consequential decisions. The discussion also offers a rare look inside the mechanics of advisor movement itself: how teams evaluate culture, how portability is assessed, why some advisors choose ownership over upfront monetization, and what sophisticated client communication really looks like during a transition. The backdrop throughout the episode is Diamond’s role in facilitating the historic OpenArc breakaway from Merrill—a move that challenged longstanding assumptions about scale, independence, and what even the industry’s largest teams are now willing to reconsider. Topics Covered Advisor transition due diligence Wirehouse limitations and advisor frustration Independence versus traditional firm models Enterprise value and long-term ownership Advisor portability and client transition strategy Boutique and regional firm recruiting trends Culture evaluation during due diligence Reverse due diligence and evaluating firm stability Transition economics and recruiting deals The OpenArc Merrill breakaway story Advisor optionality and industry evolution How technology and AI are changing transitions   > Download a transcript of this episode… Listen and Learn Highlights for Advisors Why do advisors actually decide to leave firms? (06:20) Mindy explains why most transitions are driven less by economics and more—by mounting limitations around growth, flexibility, client service, and long-term alignment. What is the biggest mistake advisors make when beginning due diligence? (18:12) The conversation explores why many advisors evaluate firms before gaining clarity around what they truly want to improve—often creating confusion instead of insight. How should advisors evaluate culture beyond a firm’s sales pitch? (32:41) Jason and Mindy discuss the importance of speaking directly with advisors who have already made similar moves—and how to pressure-test what firms promise. When should transition economics matter most? (47:03) The episode breaks down the difference between short-term monetization and long-term enterprise value creation—and why many elite teams are increasingly prioritizing ownership and optionality. Why are more advisors reconsidering independence? (56:48) Using the OpenArc transition as context, the discussion explores how today’s independent landscape has evolved far beyond the traditional “build it yourself” model. How long does a real due diligence process take? (1:06:10) Jason and Mindy explain why thoughtful transitions often unfold over many months—and why some advisors remain in exploratory conversations for years before acting. How should advisors think about portability and client communication? (1:16:20) The conversation details how sophisticated teams assess portability risk—and why the client-facing rationale for a move matters more than recruiting economics. Have advisor transitions become easier over time? (1:24:12) Mindy explains how technology, legal infrastructure, and industry specialization have improved the process—while emphasizing that transitions still require risk tolerance, effort, and patience. Key Takeaways Most advisors do not move primarily because of recruiting deals. The larger driver is usually a growing disconnect between what they want to build and what their current environment allows. Due diligence tends to fail when advisors begin by evaluating firms before clarifying what they actually want for their business, clients, and long-term future. The industry landscape has evolved dramatically over the last decade, particularly around independent and supported-independent models, creating far more customization and optionality than many advisors realize. Transition economics matter — but sophisticated advisors increasingly view upfront monetization as only one component of a much larger enterprise value equation. The ability to articulate a compelling client-facing value proposition is one of the strongest tests of whether a transition opportunity is truly viable. Conversations with advisors who have already made similar moves remain one of the most valuable forms of real-world due diligence. Even the industry’s largest teams are reassessing assumptions around independence, ownership, control, and scalability. Quotable Moments “The biggest mistake advisors make is beginning due diligence before they’ve gotten clear about what they actually want.” “A recruiting deal can’t be the first thing you consider. But it would be foolish not to consider it at all.” “The landscape looks entirely different than it did five or ten years ago. If you haven’t gotten educated, you’re doing yourself a disservice.” “The real question is not whether you can move. It’s whether you can clearly explain to clients why the move makes their experience better.” FAQs Why do advisors typically begin exploring a move? In many cases, the process begins gradually. Advisors may still feel successful and reasonably satisfied, but start questioning whether their current environment fully supports how they want to grow, serve clients, or build long term. Often, curiosity precedes dissatisfaction. Is advisor movement mostly driven by recruiting deals? Not usually. While economics are an important consideration, the episode explains that most sophisticated advisors weigh a much broader set of factors, including flexibility, culture, client experience, growth limitations, ownership opportunities, and long-term enterprise value. How long does a typical due diligence process take? There is no universal timeline. Some advisors move relatively quickly once they decide change is necessary, while others spend months – or even years – getting educated and evaluating options before acting. For many teams, a thoughtful due diligence process unfolds over roughly six months. What is the biggest mistake advisors make during due diligence? The episode suggests the biggest mistake is evaluating firms before gaining clarity around personal and business priorities. Without understanding what they actually want to improve, advisors often become overwhelmed by options, recruiting pitches, and conflicting information. How can advisors really assess a firm’s culture? One of the most valuable approaches is speaking directly with advisors who have already made similar moves. Jason and Mindy discuss why real-world perspective – particularly from advisors with comparable client bases or business structures – is often far more revealing than formal presentations or recruiting materials. How should advisors think about independence versus traditional firms? The conversation frames the decision less as “right versus wrong” and more as a question of alignment. Some advisors prioritize ownership, control, and long-term enterprise value. Others value infrastructure, brand recognition, or operational support. The industry landscape has evolved enough that advisors now have far more flexibility to design around the trade-offs that matter most to them. In many cases, the process begins gradually. Advisors may still feel successful and reasonably satisfied, but start questioning whether their current environment fully supports how they want to grow, serve clients, or build long term. Often, curiosity precedes dissatisfaction. Not usually. While economics are an important consideration, the episode explains that most sophisticated advisors weigh a much broader set of factors, including flexibility, culture, client experience, growth limitations, ownership opportunities, and long-term enterprise value. There is no universal timeline. Some advisors move relatively quickly once they decide change is necessary, while others spend months – or even years – getting educated and evaluatin

    47 min

  3. May 21

    Why AI Matters Now: Filling the Estate Planning Gap with Wealth.com

    With Rafael Loureiro, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Wealth.com Rafael Loureiro on why estate planning is shifting from a static legal exercise to an AI-powered, advisor-led planning process. In Summary Estate planning has traditionally operated outside the core advisor workflow—handled through attorneys, revisited infrequently, and often disconnected from the broader client relationship. Louis speaks with Rafael Loureiro, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth.com, about how AI is beginning to change that model. The conversation explores how advisors can use tools like Ester to surface planning gaps, stay ahead of client changes, and deliver a more continuous planning experience. For advisors, the broader implication is strategic: as investment management becomes increasingly commoditized, integrated planning and ongoing coordination may become a far more meaningful differentiator. The Storyline Most advisors already discuss estate planning with clients. The challenge is what happens next. In many cases, the process still moves outside the advisor relationship: clients are referred to an attorney, documents are created, and the estate plan becomes something revisited only after a major life event or liquidity event forces an update. Louis and Rafael explore why that structure is starting to break down. Rafael’s own estate planning experience following the sale of Emailage to LexisNexis exposed how fragmented the process could feel, even for highly engaged clients working with sophisticated advisors. That experience ultimately became the foundation for Wealth.com and its AI-powered planning platform, Ester. The discussion focuses less on AI as a headline topic and more on how it changes advisor workflow in practice—from document interpretation and planning summaries to surfacing next actions and helping advisors stay proactively engaged as client circumstances evolve. For advisors thinking about the future of planning, the conversation raises a larger question: if financial planning itself becomes increasingly standardized, where does the next layer of differentiation come from? Topics Covered Continuous estate planning AI-powered advisor workflows com and Ester Advisor-led estate planning Family office-style client service Trust and estate attorney collaboration Estate planning for mass affluent clients AI agents in wealth management Dynasty Financial Partners integration Advisor differentiation beyond investment management > Download a transcript of this episode… Listen and Learn Highlights for Advisors Why did Rafael decide to build Wealth.com? (06:04) Rafael explains how his own estate planning experience after a liquidity event exposed major disconnects between advisors, attorneys, and clients. Why did Wealth.com choose an advisor-led model instead of direct-to-consumer? (14:28) The platform was designed around the belief that advisors (not marketing campaigns) are best positioned to initiate estate planning conversations with clients. What does “continuous estate planning” actually mean? (20:13) Rafael describes a system where client life changes, tax events, and asset activity can trigger proactive advisor engagement rather than periodic document reviews. How does Ester move beyond document summarization? (32:30) The platform now identifies planning opportunities, prepares tasks and reports, and increasingly helps advisors automate portions of the planning workflow. Why are enterprise firms and large banks adopting platforms like Wealth.com? (24:57) Many firms were already producing estate planning summaries manually for ultra-high-net-worth clients. AI allows those capabilities to scale much more efficiently. How should advisors think about the role of trust and estate attorneys going forward? (26:50) Rafael argues that AI enhances – not replaces – the attorney relationship by improving efficiency and reserving more sophisticated matters for specialized legal expertise. What may differentiate advisory firms as planning becomes more commoditized? (38:02) The discussion points toward responsiveness, coordination, personalization, and deeper client integration as the next major competitive layer for advisors. Key Takeaways Rafael believes estate planning is shifting from a one-time legal exercise to a continuous planning process supported by AI and advisor engagement. Wealth.com was intentionally built as an advisor-first platform rather than a direct-to-consumer business. Ester’s AI capabilities now extend beyond summarization into identifying planning gaps, surfacing opportunities, and preparing advisor workflows. Many firms are using estate planning as a way to deepen relationships and expand into more family-office-style service models. AI may allow advisors to serve more clients while maintaining a higher level of personalization and responsiveness. Trust and estate attorneys remain critical for complex situations, but AI can improve efficiency and help clients arrive better prepared. Advisors who fail to expand beyond investment management risk competing in an increasingly commoditized landscape. https://youtu.be/BDI6XbEz_4E Quotable Moments “When AI moves from simply organizing information to helping drive decisions, estate planning stops being a periodic task.” “Investment management is becoming table stakes. Financial planning is becoming table stakes.” “Why does it have to be that way? Now with AI, why can we not have continuous estate planning?” “It is the intangibles.” “My goal is to empower the advisor.” Related Resources Human Intelligence in the Age of AI: Why Recruiters Still Matter Artificial intelligence can analyze firms and deals. It can’t replace the insight and advocacy that help advisors make the right move. The Future of Prospecting: How AI Is Powering the Next Era of Advisor Growth FINNY Co-Founder Eden Ovadia shares how AI is transforming advisor prospecting: automating outreach, matching advisors with ideal clients, and freeing time for deeper human connection. A forward-looking conversation on what growth will look like in the next era of wealth management. Rafael Loureiro Co-Founder and CEO Rafael Loureiro is a technology entrepreneur and product-focused executive with more than 20 years of experience across startups, growth-stage companies, and Fortune 500 organizations. He is Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth.com, a leading estate and tax planning platform powered by proprietary AI and purpose-built for financial institutions. Under his leadership, Wealth.com has expanded into a comprehensive planning platform, embedding deterministic AI to deliver precise, auditable outcomes across estate and tax workflows. Prior to founding Wealth.com, Rafael served as Chief Technology Officer at Emailage, a global fraud prevention SaaS company acquired by RELX in 2020. He is a member of the Forbes Finance Council and has been recognized across the industry, including CEO of the Year honors and Forbes’ Top AI Founders to Watch. Originally from France and raised in Brazil, Rafael now resides with his family in the Phoenix metro area. NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. View the transcript of this episode… Why AI Matters Now: Filling the Estate Planning Gap with Wealth.com A conversation with Louis Diamond and Rafael Loureiro, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Wealth.com. Louis Diamond: Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for financial advisors. Today’s episode is Why AI Matters Now: Filling the Estate Planning Gap with Wealth.com. It’s a conversation with Rafael Loureiro, the firm’s Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer. I’m Louis Diamond and this is the Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors. Mindy Diamond: At Diamond Consultants, we help elite advisors identify the right environment for their businesses to thrive, whether that’s at a wire house, boutique, or independent firm. With nearly three decades of experience, we’ve guided thousands of advisors and represented more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in assets transitioned, and each year, one in four advisors managing a billion dollars or more who change firms are our clients. Our process is education driven and based on building relationships, starting as your strategic partner well before you’re even thinking of a move. To schedule a confidential conversation, call us at 908-879-1002. Wondering why advisors change firms and where they’re headed? Are transition deals going up or down? Those very questions and more inspired us to create our annual Advisor Transition Report. It’s the award-winning data-driven resource designed for advisors that connects the dots between the motivations around movement and the firm’s appetite for top talent. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make smart decisions. Download your copy at diamond-consultants.com/transitionreport. Louis Diamond: In the wealth management world, estate planning has largely lived in a separate lane. It’s a topic advisors may raise with clients then hand off to an attorney and eventually a set of documents come back, filed away, rarely revisited, and often disconnected from the rest of the planning process. That structure has been in place for a long time and for the most part, it’s gotten unquestioned, but when you step back, it creates a gap between what do clients expect from their advisor and what actually gets delivered when it comes to estate planning. Rafael Loureiro, co-founder and CEO of Wealth.com, ran straight into the gap after a planning event of his own which should have been a coordinated process, felt fragmented, manual, and surprisingly opaque. And likewise, I recall

    47 min

  4. May 14

    Short-Term Hard, Long-Term Easy: Ex-Edward Jones Advisor on Building Beyond $1B

    With Ricky Smith—Founder & Managing Partner, Inspired Wealth Planning Overview Jason Diamond speaks with Ricky Smith of Inspired Wealth Planning about leaving Edward Jones after 30 years, evaluating 12 firms, and building an independent business that grew to $1.25B in assets under care in less than three years. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. Watch… https://youtu.be/cobAfEl0_To About this episode… What happens when you stop thinking like a renter and start thinking like an owner? Not just in theory, but in how you run your business, make decisions, and show up for clients. For Ricky Smith, that question didn’t come at the beginning of his career. It came 30 years later, after building a highly successful practice at Edward Jones and beginning to see the business through a different lens. Today, Ricky is the founder and managing partner of Inspired Wealth Planning, the independent firm he built with Kestra Private Wealth Services. Since launching in March 2023, the firm has grown to over $1.25B in assets under its care across seven locations. What makes this story interesting isn’t just the move—it’s how intentional it was. Ricky didn’t rush into independence. He spent a year evaluating 12 different firms and paths, clarifying what mattered most, and ultimately making a decision based on people and alignment, not just economics. Ricky shares his journey with Jason Diamond, including: His approach to due diligence—and why he dove deeper into the weeds before he was satisfied with his next steps. Reconsidering the wirehouse model—and why he felt independence was the best path forward. The “ownership mindset”—and how that drives his values and processes. The early phase of independence—and why it’s less about growth and more about getting the structure right. Growing by 50%—and what “breakthroughs” he had in less than three years. Ricky offers the perspective that making the leap to independence may be “short-term hard,” but you’re working toward building a business that’s designed to be “long-term easy.” And there’s another broader idea worth paying attention to: Most advisors don’t lack options; they hesitate to act on them. Listen in for sage advice from an advisor who has lived in the wirehouse world and is now independent—and has realized the value of ownership. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources Diamond Consultants Edward Jones Advisor Transition Report 2025 This “firm-focused report” seeks to look under the hood at movement to and from Edward Jones from January to June of 2025. The Cost of Clarity: What Advisors Stand to Gain and Lose When Their Firm Shows Its Hand When firms become explicit about who and what they value, it’s time for advisors to read those signals and respond. The Advisor Transition Playbook: The Latest on Due Diligence, the Move, and Everything In Between – Part 2 Jason and Mindy Diamond revisit the transition playbook, this time focused on how advisor priorities are shifting. From AI and enterprise value to stability and flexibility, they unpack what’s changing in due diligence and what it means for advisors evaluating their next move. Ricky Smith Managing Partner   Ricky Smith is the founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Wealth Planning. Inspired Wealth Planning is group of like minded veteran financial advisors who serve their clients and local communities across Georgia and now even Ohio. Before founding Inspired, Ricky worked as a financial advisor for 39 years. Primarily as an employee of a nationwide financial firm. Wanting to have more control over the outcomes for clients, his team and his own career, he left the employee model to join an independent firm – Kestra Private Wealth Services. After opening the Kestra based office, other advisors inquired about joining Inspired. Within the first 36 months, Inspired grew to 7 locations, 10 advisors, 14 support staff and over $1.2 billion in assets under care. In February 2026, Inspired was selected as the Outstanding Business of the Year for Kestra Financial (the parent company of Kestra Private Wealth). This was the first time that any firm from Kestra Private Wealth had ever been selected for that award. In early April the firm was on the cover of Advisor Hub magazine and in mid-April, Ricky was selected for the Forbes/Shook Best in State Wealth Advisors for the state of Georgia. An Honor that he has received 3 times in the past 5 years. Ricky lives in Cordele Georgia with his wife, Patti and their tuxedo cat Oreo. They have a daughter, Brooke, who lives in Maryland. Ricky has been a loyal member and participant with the local Chamber of Commerce for 42 years, serving as chairman in 1999. He and Patti are long-time members of Cordele First Church and supporters of the local chapter of Celebrate Recovery.

    43 min

  5. May 7

    A President’s Perspective: Inside an $8B Boutique Firm’s Evolution

    With Leah Sciabarrasi—President/Managing Partner, Wealth Advisor, Crestwood Advisors Overview Jason Diamond speaks with Leah Sciabarrasi of Crestwood Advisors on building an $8B firm from inception, including how her role evolved, how leadership alignment shapes scale, and how sustained growth is achieved without disrupting the client experience. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. Watch… https://youtu.be/DhYu0AYJUcY About this episode… There’s a point in this business when success creates a new set of decisions. You can keep building a great practice—serving clients well, growing steadily, and keeping things relatively simple. Or you can make the shift to building an enterprise, where everything changes: how you manage people, create structure, stay aligned, and think about the long term. And once you go down that path, there’s no hiding the gaps. In this episode, Leah Sciabarrasi, President and Managing Partner at Crestwood Advisors, recognizes that full well. Leah has been at Crestwood since day one—joining the firm at inception in 2003 and helping grow it from three people and zero assets to over $8B today. Beyond the firm’s extraordinary growth, the real story is how deliberately that growth was achieved and how closely it’s been tied to the client experience along the way. Because Crestwood didn’t grow through a single moment or a series of big moves. It’s been a steady evolution, growing client by client, integrating new capabilities, and investing ahead of where the business was at any given point in time. And all of it anchored in a simple idea: grow in a way that the client doesn’t feel it. In this conversation, Leah shares what it really looks like to build beyond a practice into an enterprise, including: The evolution of her role—and how she transitioned from doing the work to designing the environment where the work happens. Key decisions and inflection points—and how they specifically relate to their growth. Their Focus Financial partnership—and how that allows them to embrace the “boutique-at-scale” model. Alignment at the leadership level—and why it’s critical, particularly as complexity increases. Scaling without compromise—and how culture, structure, partnership, and private equity are vital to ensuring continuity in the client experience. It’s a story designed for advisors and business owners alike—and it demonstrates that, at a certain size, growth isn’t just about getting bigger, but about building something that can sustain it. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources Intentional Growth: How Top Advisors Build Businesses That Last Strong markets can drive growth, but durable wealth management businesses are built with intention. Jason Diamond outlines five practices top advisors use to create scalable firms designed to last. The Best of the Best: 10 Ways Top Advisors Are Growing Their Businesses A “Top 10” list of firm-level innovations and grassroots methodologies from some of the most successful advisors, teams, and firm in the business. Listen in to spark ideas designed to drive greater growth. Wealth Management Landscape at a Glance The wealth management industry offers more options than ever, making it challenging to identify and compare the various models. We created an “at a glance” continuum infographic—to help you navigate the different models and understand how their features stack up. Leah R. Sciabarrasi, CFP® President/Managing Partner, Wealth Manager Leah helped form Crestwood at its inception in 2003 and is a Wealth Manager and President/Managing Partner. Leah has been working with individuals and families to define and implement their strategies around wealth for over 20 years.  She manages the Wealth Management team at Crestwood Advisors and, as President/Managing Partner, helps guide & implement strategic planning initiatives for the firm. Leah has a BA from Brandeis University, is a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner with experience in comprehensive financial planning for high-net-worth clients and has been named multiple times to Boston Magazines “Five Star Wealth Managers”*. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the Boston Estate Planning Council, The Boston Club, the Executive Council of the Ellevate Network and regularly serves on industry panels.  Leah previously served as Co-Chair of the Professional Advisory Council for The Boston Foundation and has been involved for many years with EMPath, formerly serving as Chair of the Board.  Additionally, she currently serves as a Board Member for PSC Partners Seeking a Cure and concurrently engages in extensive patient advocacy work. Leah resides in Andover, MA with her husband and three children.

    37 min

  6. Apr 30

    The Advisor Transition Playbook: The Latest on Due Diligence, the Move, and Everything In Between – Part 2

    A Special Industry Update, With Jason Diamond and Mindy Diamond Overview Jason and Mindy Diamond revisit the transition playbook, this time focused on how advisor priorities are shifting. From AI and enterprise value to stability and flexibility, they unpack what’s changing in due diligence and what it means for advisors evaluating their next move.  Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. Watch… https://youtu.be/WZbUZJZK1yc About this episode… There’s been a noticeable shift in how advisors approach decisions about their business. Not necessarily in whether they’re exploring change, but in what they focus on when they do. A previous conversation, called The Advisor Transition Playbook, covered the mechanics of a move: how due diligence works, what a transition actually entails, and how to think through the process. What’s become more apparent since then is that the inputs to that process are evolving. While the traditional drivers remain, additional considerations – some of which didn’t even exist a few months ago – have been layered on top. Things like: Artificial intelligence or AI—and not just as a tool, but as a differentiator that advisors are starting to diligence more seriously. Enterprise value—showing up in conversations even for advisors who don’t technically “own” their business but are thinking more critically about what they’re building over time. Stability, ownership, and flexibility—what happens to the firm itself, and whether advisors retain the ability to adapt again if circumstances change. In this episode with Mindy Diamond, she and Jason explore what they’re seeing in real-world conversations. They unpack the newer triggers of advisor movement and the impact on how decisions are being made today. It’s a deeper dive into what advisors should know about due diligence and transitions, with actionable advice on areas to cover and steps to take for an effective, efficient process in the new world order. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources The Advisor Transition Playbook: Inside Baseball on Due Diligence, the Move, and Everything In Between From due diligence to culture fit, client communication to deal evaluation, there’s far more to moving than meets the eye in this special Industry Update. Conducting a Strategic Due Diligence Process: 10 Practical Tips for Financial Advisors We’ve compiled these 10 tips to serve as a practical guide to navigating the process with efficiency. The 4th Annual Advisor Transition Report A data-driven look at where advisors are moving, why they’re making changes, and what it means for your business in 2026.

    49 min

  7. Apr 23

    From Serving Entrepreneurs to Becoming One: A $2B UBS Breakaway Story

    With Ben Domingue, Founder & Managing Partner of Family Office Partners Overview Louis Diamond speaks with Ben Domingue, Founder of Family Office Partners, on his move from UBS PWM to independence—why control became essential, and how building his own firm reshaped how he serves entrepreneurial clients. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. Watch… https://youtu.be/OQHKoj_n8Y8 About this episode… Many advisors build impressive businesses within large firms—serving entrepreneurs by helping them navigate liquidity events, capital decisions, and growth strategies. But they’re still operating within someone else’s structure. And over time, a gap can develop between what you’re advising clients to do… and what you can actually execute yourself. For Ben Domingue, that gap became a turning point. After more than two decades at UBS Private Wealth Management, where he built a $2B ultra-high-net-worth practice, Ben became increasingly aware of the tension between the advice he was giving and the constraints of the platform he was operating within. So he decided to leave and build Family Office Partners alongside Elevation Point—not to replicate what he had, but to design something different. A firm where he could “eat his own home cooking” and operate with the same level of control and flexibility his entrepreneurial clients expect. In this episode with host Louis Diamond, Ben shares what that shift really looks like, including: The decision to leave UBS—and why he wanted to not replicate what he had, but to design something different. The lessons learned in serving entrepreneurs—and how that transformed his own mindset and business practices. The limitations at UBS—and its impact on how advice was delivered, and solutions were sourced. The reality of “getting bigger”—and why it wasn’t about scale for its own sake, but about building the capabilities his clients actually need. Choosing Elevation Point—and why they were the right partner for their independent firm. This conversation offers a clear look at what changes when an advisor moves from producer to owner—and how that shift can reshape growth, service, and long-term strategy. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources The Elevation of Independence: Jim Dickson on Building Real Enterprise Value Louis Diamond speaks with the founder and CEO of Elevation Point about building a next-generation independent platform focused on ownership, minority capital, data strategy, and scalable, durable advisory firms. Intentional Growth: How Top Advisors Build Businesses That Last Strong markets can drive growth, but durable wealth management businesses are built with intention. Jason Diamond outlines five practices top advisors use to create scalable firms designed to last. Diamond Consultants UBS Advisor Transition Report 2025 This “firm-focused report” seeks to look under the hood at movement to and from UBS from January to June of 2025. Benjamin T. Domingue Founder | Managing Partner Ben is a Founder & Managing Partner of Family Office Partners, an independent multi-family office that works with founders, entrepreneurs, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth families. With over 25 years of experience, he has guided clients with a range of complex needs while working closely with several members of their firm for more than two decades. Prior to founding Family Office Partners, Ben spent 20+ years at UBS — including 11 years in its Private Wealth division where he served as Managing Director and was among the firm’s Chairman’s Club advisors. He advised some of UBS’s largest, most complex client relationships, specializing in private‐company ownership and significant liquidity transactions.¹ While there, he founded the Exit Planning & Wealth Consulting Group, coordinating with internal and external resources to address the complex needs of families and businesses, supporting over 40 transactions. Ben also frequently spoke on topics related to family wealth and the intricacies of private company transitions to other advisors and industry groups. His experience reinforced the view that solutions are rarely contained within a single institution, which led him and his partners to pursue a more collaborative, open-architecture business model focused on identifying the right resources, regardless of their origin, to best serve clients. Family Office Partners was built on that insight. For Ben, the firm embodies a model built around an expansive matrix of specialists who have the experience of addressing real-world challenges faced by founders, entrepreneurs, and families, especially those navigating the complexity of private company ownership. What makes this work most rewarding for him is the significant learning he has gained from the clients themselves, leaders, innovators, and stewards of generational success. And for Ben, the most humbling aspect has been their desire not only to achieve their own goals but to contribute to the success of the firm and other families in similar positions. Ben is married to Dana and has two children, Abby and Luke, both students at Louisiana State University. My commitment to clients goes beyond managing wealth; it’s about partnering on critical family and business decisions that shape legacies for generations. I strive to cultivate deeply personal trust, built on over two decades of shared experience and collaborative problem-solving.

    55 min

  8. Apr 16

    Next Gen Success: A Masterclass in Building Trust and Credibility in a $7B Multi-Family Office

    With Wen Nottebohm—Managing Director, Wealth Advisor at Cresset Overview Wen Nottebohm of Cresset joins Mindy Diamond to share the next gen perspective: how advisors can design their own growth path, earn credibility among UHNW clients, the value of mentors, the influence of AI, and much more. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. Watch… https://youtu.be/jmtqqBQ9C80 About this episode… There’s a fairly well-defined career path for most financial advisors. You spend the early years learning the business, supporting senior advisors, and gradually taking on more responsibility. When it comes to ultra-high net worth clients, that timeline tends to stretch even longer, given the complexity and expectations that come with those relationships. But the path isn’t always linear. And in some cases, it moves faster than people expect—especially when the focus shifts from simply accumulating experience to developing real expertise and “a seat at the table” early on. That’s part of what makes Wen Nottebohm’s perspective so compelling. Wen is part of the Atlanta team at Cresset, a $230B+ multi-family office. The team manages roughly $7B in assets, and Wen herself is advising on $1.6B for UHNW families and entrepreneurs. What stands out is not just the scale, but how early in her career Wen stepped into that level of responsibility—and what it actually required to make that work. In this conversation with Mindy Diamond, Wen offers a very real look at the next gen perspective, including: The wirehouse environment—and what made it a successful training ground. The value of a mentor—and how working with Justin Berman helped her move to the next level. Building a book to over $1B—and how she did so in a much shorter timeline than many of her peers. Earning credibility—and what it really takes to build a business and client trust with less of a track record. Working with a sophisticated client base—and how to manage expectations and identify what they really value. The benefit of a firm like Cresset—and how the more personalized culture and boutique feel creates a foundation for growth. The influence of AI—and how it’s both changing the dynamic and raising the level of the advisor-client conversation. This episode is a masterclass for next gen and seasoned advisors alike, identifying what it really takes to build a billion-dollar business in a rapidly changing environment and questioning whether the traditional timeline for building an advisory practice is being rewritten in real time. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources Finding the Shortest Path to Excellence Can Be a Game Changer for Advisors Doing everything you can to deliver better service, drive growth, and achieve your goals faster can result in extraordinary benefits. The 4th Annual Advisor Transition Report A data-driven look at where advisors are moving, why they’re making changes, and what it means for your business in 2026. Life After Goldman Sachs: A Story of Extraordinary Success Ex-Goldman Sachs advisor Justin Berman shares how he found the courage to leave the Goldman imprimatur, brave Garden Leave, and build the $3B Berman Capital Advisors. Wen Nottebohm Managing Director and Wealth Advisor Wen Nottebohm is a Managing Director, Wealth Advisor at Cresset. She works with clients to help protect and grow their legacy in order to have a bigger impact on what is most important to them. Wen was named to the 2024 Barron’s Top 100 Independent Advisors, 2025 Barron’s Top Independent Financial Advisors, 2025 Barron’s Top Financial Advisors By State, 2025 Barron’s Top Women Financial Advisors, 2025 Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State, 2025 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, 2025 Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-In-State, and 2025 Forbes America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors lists. Prior to Cresset, Wen worked as a Wealth Advisor for Berman Capital Advisors, and before that was with AQR Capital Management, where she was a Client Strategies and Portfolio Solutions Analyst. Wen started out her career in the Private Wealth Management division at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, where she specialized in risk and discretionary account management for the firm’s ultra-high-net-worth clients. Wen graduated from MIT with Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Management Science. She also holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation in 2019. Wen and her husband live in Atlanta with their son and daughter. She serves on the Board of the YWCA of Greater Atlanta and is involved with the Atlanta Regional Commission Global Advisory Panel, the MIT Alumni Association, the Wharton Club of Atlanta, and the Young Women Leadership Forum. Wen is also a member of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2016.

    48 min
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About

Launched in 2017 as Mindy Diamond on Independence, the show has taken on a broader perspective beyond the independent space to include topics, insights, and candid conversations around financial advisor transitions, growth, and an ever-changing industry landscape. Each episode is designed to offer objective guidance and actionable advice with some of the industry’s brightest movers and shakers.

Information

  • Creator
    Mindy Diamond Financial Advisor Recruiter and Consultant
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2026 Diamond Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors

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