Douglas Eze shares essential strategies to protect your wealth during economic downturns. Learn how diversification, emergency funds, debt reduction, and calm investing can safeguard your finances when markets are volatile. Stay informed and prepared to turn challenges into opportunities for long-term financial success.

Douglas Eze Talks About How to Protect Your Wealth During Economic Downturns

ACP members come from a wide range of backgrounds. One of the benefits all members receive from ACP is a system and set of processes that enables ACP advisors to deliver a superior financial planning experience to clients. But where does that system come from? And what's the process for keeping the ACP system not just up to date, but on the cutting edge? Our guest, Fran Goldman, CFP®, MBA, Senior Wealth Advisor with Mercer Advisors, has played an instrumental role in shaping and advancing the toolkit and practices that empower ACP advisors. Uncover the collaborative process behind keeping the ACP system both current and forward-thinking, with insights from a leader dedicated to elevating the profession.

To learn more about the ACP, please visit www.ACPlanners.org. To learn more about Fran Goldman, please visit www.MercerAdvisors.com/Meet-Our-Team/Fran-Goldman

Ep. #29: Enhancements to the ACP System – Fran Goldman, CFP®, MBA

Decision paralysis is one of the biggest silent killers of RIA growth. With hundreds of tech tools, endless surveys and no clear roadmap, many firms freeze instead of scaling. The result? Wasted time, poor implementations and missed opportunities to run their practices like true businesses.

In this episode of The WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic sits down with James Cantwell, founder of WealthTech Select, to unpack why advisors struggle to make confident tech and growth decisions—and what it takes to move past the noise. James has spent nearly three decades across wealth management, asset management and technology, and he’s now building RIA Ascent to help firms find the clarity and direction they’ve been missing.

Shannon and James also discuss:

- Why decision paralysis is so common in advisor tech and strategy
- The Cheesecake Factory effect: too many choices, not enough clarity
- How benchmarking and data can serve as a compass for firm growth
- Why most tech dissatisfaction stems from poor implementation—not the tools
- The industry’s need for better connections between RIAs, vendors and consultants

Resources:

Listen to WealthStack on WealthManagement.com: https://bit.ly/4jZQmKi 
Subscribe and listen to WealthStack on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4cXKleN 
Subscribe and listen to WealthStack on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RJwMG0 

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 James Cantwell:
 
LinkedIn: James Cantwell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescantwell/ 
Website: WealthTech Select - https://www.wealthtechselect.com/ 
Website: RIA Ascent - http://riaascent.com 

About Our Guest:

Drawing from 25 years across investment management, banking, and WealthTech, James Cantwell brings a unique 360-degree perspective to digital transformation. His journey from GAMCO Asset Management and AST Trust (now Broadridge) to leading SS&C Advent's consulting practice revealed a critical insight: firms need a better way to evaluate and implement technology.

After guiding hundreds of RIAs and family offices through implementation challenges, he founded The Cantwell Advisory and WealthTech Select to revolutionize how firms assess and adopt wealth management solutions.

The WealthStack Podcast: Breaking Through Advisor Tech Paralysis with James Cantwell

We provide some proactive financial education amid rising inflation, declining advisor dialogue, and Fed concerns—advocating informed, anticipatory planning over reactive responses to evolving economic conditions.
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Inflation Rising: Why_Proactive_Financial_Planning_Is_Essential

A comprehensive view of U.S. housing and household finances (2013-2024). The National Home Price Trends report shows metro-area price movements: post-2008 recovery, pandemic surge, cool-down, and regional divergence in 2024 from supply/rate/local factors. Ray Dalio's warning argues real estate is more rate-sensitive than inflation-sensitive, facing risks from higher taxes and illiquidity, though housing scarcity provides some support. Real Wages and affordability data reveal real wages barely kept pace with inflation, challenging affordability despite nominal gains. Household debt evolution shows stress in credit cards and auto loans, particularly impacting first-time buyers.

Housing Headwinds Navigating the Real Estate Market's New Reality

Smart financial planning evolves with your life, but the fundamentals remain constant: budget wisely, save consistently, and manage risk effectively. Federal employees face unique opportunities with FERS pensions and TSP accounts that require specialized strategies. Whether you're optimizing taxes, planning your estate, or managing cash flow, the complexity of today's financial landscape makes professional guidance essential for maximizing your financial potential.

Comprehensive Financial Planning More Than Just Investments

If you're a federal employee wondering why your cost-of-living adjustments never seem enough, or a parent watching college costs outpace your 529 gains, this episode connects the dots. We're dissecting M2—the Federal Reserve's $22 trillion measure of readily available money that includes everything from your checking account to your emergency fund.
But here's what most financial education gets wrong: they treat M2 like abstract economic theory when it's actually the financial radar system you need for practical decisions. Should you adjust your TSP allocation? How does money supply growth affect your family's purchasing power over the next decade? Why do business owners need to factor M2 trends into cash flow planning?
With M2 currently growing at approximately 4% annually after unprecedented expansion during 2020-2022 Trading EconomicsTradingView, understanding this indicator isn't optional—it's strategic intelligence for anyone building long-term wealth. We'll break down how M2 expansion affects everything from your government salary's real value to optimal asset allocation for high earners navigating inflation.
No economic jargon, no theoretical fluff. Just practical insights that help you make smarter money moves with the financial future you're actually building

Guiding Your Path. Building Your Future.

Money in Motion What M2 Tells Us About Your Financial Future_8343876DH_SEP27

As artificial intelligence becomes table stakes, RIAs and enterprises alike are experimenting with tools to streamline workflows, improve client experiences and scale smarter. But while many firms are testing isolated tools, the real opportunity lies in weaving AI into the very DNA of a business, transforming it from a tech experiment into a strategic advantage. 

In this episode of the WealthStack Podcast, host Shannon Rosic speaks with John Bunch, CEO of Allworth Financial, to explore how one of the industry’s rapidly growing RIAs is pushing AI beyond pilot programs. With more than 40 active initiatives and an internal AI Council guiding adoption, Allworth is proving that the future of advice isn't just about efficiency, it’s about strategy, culture and client impact.

John discusses:

- Why Allworth launched 40+ projects
- How AI can elevate client relationships 
- The role of the AI Council in driving adoption and ROI
- His “fail fast, fix it or ditch it” approach to innovation and automation beyond AI
- What it takes to align business strategy and tech strategy in practice

Resources:

Listen to WealthStack on WealthManagement.com: https://bit.ly/4jZQmKi 
Subscribe and listen to WealthStack on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4cXKleN 
Subscribe and listen to WealthStack on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RJwMG0 

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 John Bunch:

Allworth Financial: https://allworthfinancial.com/ 
LinkedIn: Allworth Financial: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allworth 
LinkedIn: John Bunch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-bunch-6613144 

About Our Guest:

John Bunch is the Chief Executive Officer at Allworth Financial. Universally recognized within the wealth management industry, he has accumulated an extensive 30-year history of successfully leading and expanding award-winning organizations that serve both retail and institutional clients.

Before coming to Allworth, John spent over three years as the Chief Financial Services Director at Evelyn Partners (formerly Tilney Smith & Williamson), a leading integrated wealth management and professional services firm headquartered in the United Kingdom. Prior to that, he was the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Edelman Financial Engines - where he oversaw 130 branch offices - and the Chief Executive Officer of The Mutual Fund Store. Before that, he held several key institutional sector leadership positions, including Executive Vice President at TD Ameritrade and Divisional Senior Vice President at Charles Schwab & Co.

The WealthStack Podcast: The Strategy Behind Allworth’s 40+ AI Initiatives

Trusted financial consultant Afsar Ebrahim, Executive Director at Kick Advisory, provides expert guidance in business transformation, financial planning, and corporate strategy. His advisory services focus on driving growth, profitability, and resilience.

Afsar Ebrahim – Executive Director, Kick Advisory  Financial Consultant

At KICK Advisory Services, we provide professional Investment Advisory Services tailored to help individuals and businesses achieve sustainable financial growth. With a focus on strategic planning, risk management, and wealth optimization, our team ensures your investments are aligned with your goals and deliver long-term value.
Visit us:- https://www.kickadvisory.com/ 


Investment Advisory Services

KICK Advisory Services (“KICK’’) was founded in July 2020 by a team with an aggressive passion to drive corporate finance solutions in an era of unprecedented changes and volatility. At a time where businesses are faced with severe uncertainties, cash flow issues and are struggling to understand the dynamics of the changing world, we at KICK believe that sailing through the changing winds with a clear guide and focus will smoothen your business journey while giving you the cutting edge in competition to thrive in the new normal.

Douglas Eze is a well-known wealth strategist, author, speaker, and financial coach. He helps people and families create generational wealth through smart planning, legacy-building, and wise investments. His goal is to guide others toward long-term financial freedom and success.

In Practical Wisdom from ACP Financial Advisors, host Ken Robinson, CFP®, talks with Certified ACP advisors as they share their stories of how they became successful, fee-only, comprehensive financial advisors. Through these conversations, Practical Wisdom reveals the strategies, tips, and tools these advisors employed to get where they are today. Practical Wisdom also explores the common denominator among all of these advisors—the ACP methodology.

I am the founding partner of KICK Advisory Services. I have over a quarter century of experience in Corporate Restructuring, Litigation Support, Mergers & Acquisitions, Strategy and Financial Consulting and Fund Raising to clients across a wide spectrum of industries both locally and internationally.

New tracks tagged #FinancialPlanning