The Fuse Show Orion Advisor Technology

This Week on The Fuse Show, Natalie and Brian are joined by Jason Pereira, Partner and Senior Financial Consultant at Woodgate Financial. Jason began his career in the financial industry in 1997, in the brokerage business, and has been with Woodgate Financial since 2007. Committed to the betterment of the industry, he volunteers with the Financial Planning Standards Council and mentors several entrepreneurs. In addition, he is also a Lecturer at the Schulich School of Business at York University where he teaches financial planning. He contributes regularly to the Globe & Mail's 'Financial Facelift' section and he hosts his own podcast on Financial Technology called 'Fintech Impact.' Lastly, he writes 'The Wisdom of Wealth Management' blog and is a prolific podcaster and public speaker.

Over the course of his career, he has received:

• Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
• CFA Charterholder (Chartered Financial Analyst)
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in both Canada & the US
• Registered Financial Planner (RFP) designation
• Trust & Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation
• Financial Management Advisor (FMA) designation
• Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM) certification
• The Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation
• Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI)

This Week on The Fuse Show, Natalie and Brian kick off the 2024 season with an interview of Dr. Daniel Crosby, Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion Advisor Solutions. Educated at Brigham Young and Emory Universities, Dr. Daniel Crosby is a psychologist and behavioral finance expert who helps organizations understand the intersection of mind and markets. Dr. Crosby's first book, Personal Benchmark: Integrating Behavioral Finance and Investment Management, was a New York Times bestseller. His second book, The Laws of Wealth, was named the best investment book of 2017 by the Axiom Business Book Awards and has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and German. His latest work, The Behavioral Investor, is an in-depth look at how sociology, psychology and neurology all impact investment decision-making. Daniel was named one of the “12 Thinkers to Watch” by Monster.com, a “Financial Blogger You Should Be Reading” by AARP and a member of InvestmentNews prestigious "40 Under 40". When he is not consulting around market psychology, Daniel enjoys independent films, fanatically following St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and spending time with his wife and three children.

Many people increasingly recognize the importance of understanding their taxes thoroughly, not merely as an annual obligation but as a strategic tool for shaping their financial future. While tax planning is not intended to replace the comprehensive financial plan, it is a strategic piece to empower advisors to optimize their financial plan and fiscal outcomes. 
In this episode, Ryan Donovan and George Svagera talk with Torie Happe, Head of Partnerships at Holistiplan, a tax planning software solution that helps financial planners drastically reduce the time it takes to provide tax planning for clients. With diverse work experience spanning multiple industries, Torie has extensive experience in the industry and is passionate about helping advisors leverage technology to provide better service to their clients.
Torie talks with George and Ryan about the future of financial planning and the role of tax planning in the overall planning process. Torie explains how Holistiplan empowers advisors and highlights the importance of tax planning in helping clients understand their taxes. She also emphasizes the need for advisors to choose technology strategically and not overwhelm themselves with too many options.

Key Takeaways

[01:27] - Torie's background and journey in the financial planning industry.

[08:02] - How Holistiplan empowers advisors in tax planning.

[11:18] - How Holistiplan's tax planning process simplifies advisors' lives.

[14:02] - Use cases of how tax planning adds value to advisors.

[19:01] - How Holistiplan complements other financial technology firms.

[20:03] - What advisors do wrong when it comes to technology.

[25:28] - How Holistiplan integrates with other fintech companies.

[31:07] - Torie's expectations for the coming year.


Quotes
[08:39] - "Tax planning is becoming really important for clients. They want to understand their taxes more, what they are paying for, why they are paying that, and what's going to happen with the following year." ~ Torie Happe
[10:29] - "Tax planning isn't going to replace your overall financial plan. It's just a tactical piece to add to that financial plan." ~ Torie Happe
[20:53] - "Advisors make huge mistakes when they feel they need to boil the ocean. Instead of looking inward and saying, 'This is my book of business, these are the clientele that I want to go after, and this is my goal at the end of the day, how does technology help me get there?' They are just like shiny new objects and pick every one item from each section. They pick too many." ~ Torie Happe

Links 

Torie Happe on LinkedIn

Torie Happe on Twitter

Holistiplan

LPL Financial

AXA

Nitrogen Wealth

Flyer Financial Technologies

Onramp Invest

eMoney Advisor

MoneyGuidePro

Asset-Map

Michael Kitces

Alison Susko


Connect with Us

Meet Ryan Donovan and George Svagera

Check Out All of Orion's Podcasts

Power Your Growth with Orion


3312-OAT-12/15/2023

The wealth management industry is at an exciting crossroads, where technology and innovation are reshaping the way advisors serve their clients. By embracing these changes and leveraging technology to its full potential, advisors can deliver a more personalized and comprehensive wealth management experience, ultimately driving better client outcomes.
In this episode, George and Ryan talk with Noreen Beaman, Head of Leadership Development and Executive Coach at East Bay Merchant Partners as well as Vice Chair Board of Directors at Orion Advisor Solutions. In her role, Noreen leads the coaching and consulting division of East Bay Merchant Partners to develop their leadership and help their executives accelerate the personal growth necessary to unlock new levels of possibility, performance, and success.
A seasoned executive with a proven track record of building and scaling successful organizations from the ground up, Noreen shares her perspective on the history of Orion and its future as the year comes to a close. She also shares her experience in building one of the largest asset management firms in the country and provides insights into the evolving landscape of wealth management and the role of technology in shaping the future of the industry.

Key Takeaways

[03:28] - Noreen's professional background and role at Orion.

[07:46] - Why Noreen wants to learn organizational, coaching, and consulting skills.

[09:04] - The purpose of Noreen's coaching and consulting business.

[14:50] - The differences between broker-dealers and RIAs.

[16:49] - Noreen's thoughts on the traditional fee-based advisory model.

[20:47] - What Noreen thinks makes a great financial advisor.

[23:36] - The importance of optionality for independent business owners.

[25:32] - The role of technology in helping advisors financially.

[31:33] - How technology can improve engagement and productivity.

[34:45] - Reflection on the benefits of the Orion and Brinker partnership.

[37:21] - An introduction to Natalie Wolfsen, the new CEO of Orion.


Quotes
[11:06] - "Financial advice in today's world has never been more important. It's always been important, but it's much more complicated, especially as people don't have pension plans anymore." ~ Noreen Beaman
[16:17] - "Having as many ways to serve your clients, the end consumer, being that end investor, is the best way to deliver a holistic wealth management experience." ~ Noreen Beaman
[30:26] - "Technology doesn't disrupt things as unhappy clients do. At the very end of the day, it's about how you are putting together a service offering that fits with what the investor is looking for." ~ Noreen Beaman

Links 

Brinker Capital Investments

Orion Advisor Solutions

East Bay Merchant Partners

Money Management Institute

Envestnet Institute

Saint Peters University

Commonwealth Financial Network

AssetMark


Redtail Technology

Jud Mackrill


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Meet Ryan Donovan and George Svagera

Check Out All of Orion's Podcasts

Power Your Growth with Orion


3083-OAT-11/10/2023

In an environment where market fluctuations have become the norm rather than the exception, investors and financial advisors are constantly seeking strategies that offer both stability and the potential for long-term growth. But with a seemingly endless array of investment options, people can feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to make better decisions with their money. Navigating these possibilities is not merely about making investments. It's about making informed, disciplined decisions aligned with your financial goals.
In this episode, George and Ryan are joined by Cullen Roche, Chief Investment Officer at Discipline Funds. Cullen's primary areas of expertise include global macro portfolio construction, quantitative risk management, monetary economics, financial accounting, and behavioral finance. He founded Discipline Funds to help investors access low-fee, diversified portfolios that help them stay the course and meet their financial goals. Cullen is also the author of the book, Pragmatic Capitalism: What Every Investor Needs to Know About Money and Finance.
Having developed a framework for understanding the world of investing and financial planning from an operational reality perspective, Cullen talks to Ryan and George about defined duration investing and how investors and advisors build discipline-based portfolios. He discusses the importance of understanding the time horizons of investments and the role of behavioral finance in client conversations. Colin also explains the true nature of investing and the role of savings and income generation in building wealth.

Key Takeaways

[01:11] - Cullen's favorite albums and music preferences.

[06:00] - Cullen's philosophy on investing and asset allocation.

[07:00] - A common misconception about investing.

[10:39] - How Cullen manages the most crucial aspect of investing.

[13:22] - How the concept of duration applies to bonds.

[15:26] - What break-even means to investors.

[16:24] - Practical application of duration in financial planning.

[23:39] - How Discipline Funds customizes portfolios.

[26:36] - How Cullen implements Defined Duration Investing in his firm.

[30:53] - How investors can incorporate Defined Duration Investing in their portfolios.

[35:46] - Life insurance as a defined duration instrument.

[39:29] - The importance of technology in portfolio management.

[42:24] - Cullen's outlook for the trends likely to occur in 2024.

[45:14] - How to learn more about Cullen Roche and Discipline Funds.


Quotes
[09:22] - "The stock market and the financial market are not a place where you get rich. You're going to get rich generally from building your own skills and generating an income from that. And then the stock and bond markets are where you can diversify and protect your wealth from things like inflation and instability and whatnot." ~ Cullen Roche
[16:00] - "The stock market should be best thought of as a multi-decade instrument. It is inherently a long-term instrument." ~ Cullen Roche
[46:08] - "We are helping people better understand the world for what it is so they can build better financial plans and better portfolios to help them achieve their financial goals." ~ Cullen Roche

Links 

Cullen Roche on LinkedIn

Cullen Roche on Twitter

Discipline Funds

Cosmo's Factory

Outkast


Stankonia 

Life After Death

Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot

John Bogle

Defined Duration Investing

Discipline Alerts


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Meet Ryan Donovan and George Svagera

Check Out All of Orion's Podcasts

Power Your Growth with Orion


2953-OAT-10/27/2023

Compliance is a strategy that guides firms toward sustainable success. It paves the way for advisors to cultivate trust, inspiring confidence that their recommendations, strategies, and decisions are rooted in ethical practices and adherence to established norms. With increasing regulatory scrutiny and the potential for significant penalties, advisors and firms have to prioritize compliance to protect their clients and businesses.
In this episode, Ryan and George talk with Jeffrey Lang, Investment Management Attorney and Shareholder at Stark & Stark. Jeffrey has over 25 years of regulatory and compliance experience, including SEC, FINRA, and global corporate compliance expertise. He has served as Chief Compliance Officer with large institutional and start-up registered investment advisers. Jeffrey concentrates his practice on all facets of Investment Adviser and Broker-Dealer compliance, managed accounts, oversight of business practices and supervision, and risk assessments.
With extensive experience in successfully navigating clients through regulatory examinations and internal audits, Jeffrey talks with Ryan and George about the changes and trends in the regulatory space, how advisors can best safeguard their firms for the future, and how to build a culture of compliance in a wealth advisory firm. 

Key Takeaways

[03:34] - The reasons for the increase in SEC penalties.

[07:50] - Update about the SEC's examinations.

[08:38] - Compliance issues with text communications.

[11:23] - What a culture of compliance is all about.

[13:09] - What Jeffrey considers to be a basic compliance program.

[15:53] - Use of technology in compliance and regulatory obligations.

[19:21] - Potential regulatory requirements for mutual funds, ETFs, and cash balances.

[24:32] - How technology can help advisors fulfill regulatory obligations.

[28:49] - Jeffrey's advice to advisors regarding compliance.


Quotes
[13:56] - "One of the things the SEC is very focused on, and I think this is also foundational, is when I onboard somebody, both the initial and ongoing stages of that relationship, am I investing them in a manner that is consistent with the information they've given me?" ~ Jeffrey Lang
[24:46] - "Technology can help advisors fulfill their regulatory obligations in a variety of ways, from employee compliance to portfolio management to firm documents. And I certainly see, among my client base, greater and greater adoption." ~ Jeffrey Lang
[29:11] - "In today's environment, you want to be proactive rather than reactive. So that's a combination of having the right technology and working with the right third parties or firms to help you." ~ Jeffrey Lang

Links 

Jeffrey Lang on LinkedIn

Stark & Stark


Connect with Us

Meet Ryan Donovan and George Svagera

Check Out All of Orion's Podcasts

Power Your Growth with Orion


2358-OAT-8/25/2023