Suzanne Siracuse interviews Vanessa Martinez, CEO and managing partner of Expressive Wealth, to explore how holistic financial planning and inclusive communication can transform the client experience. Vanessa shares her journey, rooted in the values instilled by her parents, who overcame educational limitations in war-torn Central America. This background shaped her commitment to empowering clients through education and comprehensive wealth management.

Vanessa also discusses the need for financial advisors to shift their strategies in the face of longer lifespans, emphasizing longevity risk as a critical factor in planning. She highlights the importance of understanding diverse and blended family dynamics, going beyond assumptions, and focusing on meaningful communication with clients.

Highlights from this episode include:
- The role of psychology in financial planning
- Why wealth management is not just about numbers, but about understanding clients' behaviors, motivations, and family structures
- Her fresh perspective on how advisors can build more impactful and sustainable practices by embracing diversity
- How advisors can better serve clients of the future by adapting to evolving trends and truly listening to their client's unique needs


Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:
 
LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse: https://bit.ly/4e8Zyt0 
Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse: https://x.com/suzsiracuse 
Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com


Connect With Vanessa Martinez:

Expressive Wealth: https://expressivewealth.com/ 
LinkedIn: Expressive Wealth: https://www.linkedin.com/company/expressive-wealth/ 
LinkedIn: Vanessa Martinez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-n-martinez/ 


About Our Guest:

With 15+ years of wealth management expertise, Vanessa is dedicated to aligning your financial goals with holistic well-being. Vanessa traveled abroad for her undergrad and earned her BBA in Guatemala, C.A. Returning to Chicago; she received her MBA in finance at North Park University while gaining insights from her time at JPMorgan Chase. Her commitment to comprehensive client wealth advisory led her to earn FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 certifications.

Longevity Risk and the Role of Psychology in Financial Planning with Vanessa Martinez

The use of testimonials creates a powerful opportunity to amplify the potential reach of positive experiences through word-of-mouth sharing to new audiences. For financial advisors, online reputation is becoming increasingly important as clients turn to digital channels for information. Understanding how to leverage testimonials effectively can be a game-changer for business growth.

In this episode of WealthStack, Shannon Rosic, Director of WealthStack Content & Solutions, chats with Andrew Johnson, CEO, and Co-founder of Testimonial IQ, about why financial advisors should care about Google reviews, the role of compliance in managing testimonials, and how to align online presence with real-world client relationships.

Shannon and Andrew discuss:

- Understanding testimonials vs. endorsements
- Overcoming the fear of feedback
- What advisors need to know about SEO
- Future trends in online reputation management and the role of AI in compliance

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrosic/
WealthStack website: https://informaconnect.com/wealthstack/ 
WealthManagement.com: https://www.wealthmanagement.com

Connect with Andrew Johnson:

LinkedIn: Andrew Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-johnson/ 
Testimonial IQ: https://www.testimonialiq.com/

About Our Guest:

An experienced FinTech entrepreneur, Andrew previously co-founded Datalign Advisory, an RIA referral platform where he serves as a board advisor. Before Datalign, he worked in management consulting with a focus on B2C marketing and in product/operations strategy with Meta (Facebook). Andrew served for five years in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, including two deployments on the world’s finest Destroyer, USS O’Kane. Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Virginia and his BS from Davidson College. He resides with his family in Denver, CO.

Harnessing the Power of Testimonials for Business Growth with Andrew Johnson of Testimonial IQ

Suzanne Siracuse engages in a conversation with George Nichols, CEO of the American College of Financial Services, to uncover strategies for success in financial advising. Nichols shares insights into significant areas for financial advisors, such as specialization, the future of retirement planning, and the importance of representation. 
 
Nichols explored how understanding the diverse needs of various communities is crucial for advisors to succeed in the future. He emphasized that financial advisors must adapt to the evolving landscape by focusing on expertise and representation.

Key focus points from their conversation include:

- The significance of specialization in financial planning for heightened success
- Insights into the future of retirement planning and its evolving demographics
- The role of inclusivity and representation in driving firm growth
- Strategies for addressing the upcoming retirement cliff within the industry

Resource: 

The Center for Special Needs | The American College of Financial Services: https://www.theamericancollege.edu/centers-of-excellence/center-for-special-need

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:
 
LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse: https://bit.ly/4e8Zyt0 
Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse: https://x.com/suzsiracuse 
Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com

Connect With George Nichols:

The American College: https://www.theamericancollege.edu/ 
LinkedIn: The American College: https://www.linkedin.com/school/the-american-college-cp/ 
LinkedIn: George Nichols: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-nichols-iii/

About Our Guest:

George Nichols III, CAP®, currently serves as the 10th president and CEO in the storied history of The American College of Financial Services. Nichols joined The College after a 17-year stint at New York Life, where he held principal roles in sales, P&L, strategic initiatives, and public policy. In 2007, Nichols was named to the company's executive management committee. He also served as executive vice president in the Office of Governmental Affairs.

Unlocking the Future of Financial Advising with George Nichols

TAMPs have evolved significantly since their inception in the 1980s, becoming essential tools for advisors seeking to enhance operational efficiency and client service. Initially, TAMPs were designed to simplify portfolio management by providing access to pre-selected investment models and third-party asset managers, allowing advisors to outsource the heavy lifting of investment management. Over time, as technology has advanced and client expectations have shifted, TAMPs have evolved to offer a wider array of services, including advanced portfolio customization, automated trading, and integrated compliance tools. The modern TAMPs now combine cutting-edge wealthtech solutions with multi-custodial capabilities, allowing advisors to serve a broader range of clients more effectively while keeping their focus on client engagement and growth.

In this episode, WealthStack Podcast host Shannon Rosic chats with Kyle Wiggs, CEO of UX Wealth Partners, about the evolving role of TAMPs in wealth management.

Shannon and Kyle also discuss:

- The evolution of TAMPs and the technology advancements driving growth
- How advisors can leverage TAMPs to manage regulatory, operational, and investment challenges more effectively
- The role of AI in enhancing decision-making and portfolio management
- How technology is redefining the client experience and helping advisors maintain control while outsourcing key functions

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrosic/
WealthStack website: https://informaconnect.com/wealthstack/ 
WealthManagement.com: https://www.wealthmanagement.com

Connect with Kyle Wiggs:

LinkedIn: Kyle Wiggs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylewiggs/ 
UX Wealth: https://www.uxwp.com/

About Our Guest:

As President & CEO, Kyle is responsible for leading UX Wealth Partners' team of dedicated industry experts. He focuses primarily on business strategy, organizational management, platform & product development, and distribution strategy. With nearly two decades of industry experience, Kyle has an intimate understanding of today’s advisors, the technologies needed to modernize their businesses, and the transformative investment tools that power the UX Wealth Partners platform.

The WealthStack Podcast: The TAMP Evolution: Tech Driving Wealth Management Forward with Kyle Wiggs

In the latest episode of Focused on the Future, Suzanne Siracuse sits down with Bryce Skaff of Dimensional Fund Advisors to explore his unique journey from aspiring marine biologist to a career in wealth management. Bryce offers an inside look at DFA’s investment philosophy, deeply rooted in academic research, and how the firm’s growth aligns with the rise of independent advisors. Drawing from DFA's extensive investor studies and advisor benchmarking research, Bryce shares his perspective on the evolving needs of today’s clients and the strategies advisors must embrace to thrive in a changing landscape. He delves into what separates top-performing firms from the rest, emphasizing keys to growth, scaling effectively, and meeting the demands of the future. Bryce and Suzanne also debate the future of smaller advisory firms, discussing whether solo advisors can still compete with larger firms expanding through mergers and acquisitions—or if the solo model is truly becoming a thing of the past.

This is a can’t miss episode.

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:
 
LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse: https://bit.ly/4e8Zyt0 
Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse: https://x.com/suzsiracuse 
Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com

Connect With Bryce Skaff:

Dimensional Fund Advisors: https://www.dimensional.com/ 
LinkedIn: Dimensional Fund Advisors: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimensional-fund-advisors/ 
LinkedIn: Bryce Skaff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-skaff-cfa-88877b3/

About Our Guest:

Bryce Skaff is Co-Head of the Global Client Group (GCG) and serves in a leadership role on several of the firm’s key strategic committees. He helps to shape the vision and oversee the management of the GCG, a global team of professionals committed to delivering an outstanding experience to advisors, intermediaries, and institutional investors around the world.

Secrets of Top-Performing Firms: Bryce Skaff on Driving Growth and Success in Wealth Management

The buy versus build debate continues to rage on in the wealth management industry. Many of the largest wealth managers and RIAs have already created great software and technology that others can purchase and fold into their existing businesses. But Farther actually turned to creating their own in-house proprietary platforms to achieve success in a data-driven way. 

Now, with $72 million in Series C funding, Farther plans to use this investment to further support advisors and enhance their platform. 

Shannon, Taylor, and Brad discuss:

- The importance of responsible scaling to maintain high service quality for clients and advisors
- Strategies behind their remote-first company model and the benefits it brought during the pandemic
- Why AI is a tool for scaling advisors’ time, not replacing their role in building trust with clients
- The importance of clean, unified data for optimizing client outcomes and advisor efficiency

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrosic/
WealthStack website: https://informaconnect.com/wealthstack/ 
WealthManagement.com: https://www.wealthmanagement.com

Connect with Taylor Matthews and Brad Genser:

LinkedIn: Taylor Matthews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylormatthews/ 
LinkedIn: Brad Genser: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bgenser/ 
Farther: https://www.farther.com/

About Our Guests:

Taylor Matthews leads Farther’s executive team and shapes the overarching strategy for the firm. Prior to founding Farther, Taylor was a member of the leadership team at ForUsAll, where he helped build the fintech retirement advisory firm from $25 million in assets under management to just under $1 billion in his two years there.

Taylor previously co-founded Essmart, a social enterprise distributing tech-for-development products in India, and was an investment banker and management consultant in his early career. He graduated from MIT Sloan with an MBA and Yale with degrees in philosophy and political science.

Brad Genser sets Farther's vision for using technology to deliver an elite wealth experience for clients. Prior to founding Farther, Brad worked at Goldman Sachs in New York – where he founded and led an AI team dedicated to Private Wealth, and was an advisor on a team that managed over $1 billion in assets for clients.

Brad received both an SM in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from MIT. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he is a two-time Iraq war combat veteran who was awarded two bronze stars.

How Farther’s Custom Tech Fuels Advisor Growth with Taylor Matthews and Brad Genser

Adventure racing—an off-road, navigation-based sport that fuses endurance, strategy, and teamwork—became a life-changing journey for Ryan VanGorder. What started as a casual comment while watching The Echo Challenge with friends transformed into a relentless pursuit of his physical and mental limits.

Since 1999, Ryan and his team have tackled grueling competitions that stretch from a few hours to several days, pushing themselves against nature and their own endurance. 

But Ryan’s path took a harrowing turn when a race led to a life-threatening medical emergency, landing him in a coma. Emerging from that experience, he embraced a fierce commitment to living fully, adopting a “YOLO” mindset that fuels both his life and his approach to business.

In this episode, WealthManagement.com Managing Editor Diana Britton sits down with Ryan VanGorder, CEO of Opto Investments, to share his story of survival, resilience, and how his brush with death reshaped his outlook on life and work.

Ryan discusses: 
- His introduction to adventure racing and the unique allure that hooked him
- Memorable moments from races across rugged landscapes
- The life-changing near-death experience during the Primal Quest race in Moab, Utah
- How adventure racing taught him valuable lessons for managing risk in business
- How adventure racing helped him find balance and meditation

Resources: 

Listen to other episodes of The Healthy Advisor: https://www.wealthmanagement.com/featured-series/transparency 
Lessons from over two decades of adventure racing:
https://insights.optoinvest.com/article/ryan-vangorder-lessons-from-over-two-decades-of-adventure-racing
 
Connect With Ryan VanGorder:

Opto Investments: https://www.optoinvest.com/ 
LinkedIn: Ryan VanGorder: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-v-6138ba1/ 
Email: ryan@optoinvest.com 

Connect With WealthManagement.com:

https://www.wealthmanagement.com/ 
Email: diana.britton@informa.com
LinkedIn: Diana Britton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-britton-8826b53/ 
LinkedIn: Informa: https://www.linkedin.com/company/informa/ 
LinkedIn: WealthManagement: https://bit.ly/WealthManagementLI

The Healthy Advisor: How Adventure Racing Shaped My Life and Business With Ryan VanGorder

Join host Suzanne Siracuse as she sits down with Lisa Crafford, Managing Director at Constellation Wealth Capital, to explore key strategies for building successful, future-ready wealth management firms.

Drawing on her deep experience working with financial advisors, Lisa offers valuable insights into the power of mentorship, strategic growth approaches, and fostering a strong community. She also sheds light on the pivotal role of technology in positioning firms for sustained growth and resilience in an evolving industry.

Gain insight and practical tips to advance your firm as this episode highlights:

- Lisa’s three main pillars for firm growth - strategic planning, investment in people, and leveraging technology
- Ways advisors can connect with clients and niche segments to build relationships
- The benefits of technology and the challenges faced due to regulatory restrictions
- How to build financial literacy with younger generations

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:
 
LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse: https://bit.ly/4e8Zyt0 
Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse: https://x.com/suzsiracuse 
Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com

Connect With Lisa Crafford:

https://constellationwealthcapital.com/ 
LinkedIn: Constellation Wealth Capital: https://www.linkedin.com/company/constellationwealthccapital/ 
LinkedIn: Lisa Crafford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacrafford/

Building Resilient Firms: Lisa Crafford on Growth, Talent, Tech and Client Connection

With over 62% of wealth management firms acknowledging that AI will significantly transform operations, it’s becoming imperative to adopt AI responsibly while ensuring data integrity, regulatory compliance and robust cybersecurity.

Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack content and solutions, chats with Alec Crawford, the founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, about how this firm is revolutionizing AI security and how the platform is working to solve challenges presented by AI.

Alec and Shannon also discuss:

- How AI will become the “command center” for firms
- The operational benefits of AI
- Key aspects of regulatory compliance and future considerations
- Actionable insights on mitigating cybersecurity threats using AI

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrosic/
WealthStack website: https://informaconnect.com/wealthstack/ 
WealthManagement.com: https://www.wealthmanagement.com

Connect with Alec Crawford:

LinkedIn: Alec Crawford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleccrawford/ 
AI Risk: https://www.aicrisk.com/

About Our Guest:

Alec Crawford is the Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc., a leader in AI safety, security and compliance. The company created the first AI governance, risk, compliance, and cybersecurity management software platform (AI GRCC), a new category of software. Their customers range from small businesses to large financial institutions.

Alec is an AI and risk management thought leader, writing his weekly publication, STAY Sustainable, and diving deep into sustainability, technology, artificial intelligence, and other related topics, and also hosts a related podcast interviewing high-profile guests in these areas. He is a frequent conference chair and speaker.

The WealthStack Podcast: The Future of AI Security with Alec Crawford

Technology is no longer just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for scaling and improving client outcomes. With increasing demands on advisors, platforms like Schwab are working to simplify, integrate and anticipate the next wave of innovation to help advisors thrive in an evolving landscape.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, Shannon Rosic, director of WealthStack content and solutions at Informa Connect, is joined by Alison Dooher, head of digital advisor services at Charles Schwab, for a live discussion at the recent Schwab IMPACT conference in San Francisco. The conversation dives deep into the future of wealthtech, addressing how Schwab is evolving its digital ecosystem to meet the growing needs of financial advisors. With an emphasis on simplifying tools, improving integrations and leveraging AI, Schwab’s strategy focuses on empowering advisors to streamline operations and enhance the client experience.

Key takeaways include:

- Why less might be more when it comes to tech stacks
- What Schwab learned from the TD Ameritrade integration 
- Why Schwab is enhancing the quality of integrations
- How AI will empower advisors to focus more on meaningful client relationships rather than replace them

Connect with Shannon Rosic:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrosic/
WealthStack website: https://informaconnect.com/wealthstack/ 
WealthManagement.com: https://www.wealthmanagement.com

Connect with Alison Dooher:

LinkedIn: Alison Dooher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonpdooher/ 
Charles Schwab: https://www.aboutschwab.com/

About Our Guest:

Alison Dooher is a member of the Advisor Services Leadership Team and has spent two decades working with and in the service of registered investment advisors.

She currently leads Digital Advisor Solutions, which oversees technology platforms that help the RIAs that custody assets with Schwab serve their clients and increase the scale and efficiency of their business. Dooher and her team play a central role in advancing the custody, trading and support services Schwab provides to independent investment advisors.

New tracks tagged #FinancialAdvisors,