Modern Financial Advisor

Why RIAs That Take Workflow Management Seriously Are Growing 33% Faster Than Their Peers

How I Built and Sold My FinTech Startup: Louis Retief of Hubly on The Modern Financial Advisor Podcast In this episode of the Modern Financial Advisor Podcast, host Mike Langford sits down with Louis Retief, co-founder of Hubly, for an in-depth conversation about his entrepreneurial journey in the wealth tech industry. Louis shares his experience of founding Hubly right out of college, the challenges and opportunities he encountered, and what it's like to have his company acquired by Docupace. They discuss the importance of efficiency and workflows for advisory firms, the role of operations managers in decision-making, and the ongoing consolidation in the wealth management tech space. Louis also provides insights into how Hubly and PreciseFP are working together post-acquisition and the long-term vision for integrated solutions in financial advisory firms. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in fintech, wealth management, and entrepreneurship. Don't miss it! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Hubly and Efficient Advisory Firms 00:52 Welcome to the Modern Financial Advisor Podcast 02:12 Louis Retief's Journey and Hubly's Origin 03:12 The Importance of Workflow Automation 17:13 Challenges and Solutions in Financial Advisory Firms 27:20 Understanding the Financial Advisory Market 33:27 Building for the Back Office 34:43 Lessons from Social Wear 36:38 Hubly's Strategic Pivot 37:43 Acquisition by Docupace 39:15 Research and Decision Making 47:00 Post-Acquisition Integration 49:17 Future Vision and Product Development 53:27 Entrepreneurial Insights and Challenges 56:12 Importance of Long-Term Thinking 58:37 Due Diligence in Tech Partnerships 01:02:12 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Financial Advisors Who Embrace New Business Models and Adopt AI Today Will Be The Last Ones Standing

In this episode of the Modern Financial Advisor Podcast, host Mike Langford engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Steve Lockshin, founder of AdvicePeriod and Vanilla Technologies. Steve shares insights on the shortcomings of the traditional AUM model, the rise of AI in financial advising, and the potential of technology to revolutionize the industry. They discuss estate planning, the importance of serving high net worth clients, and practical applications of AI and tokenization. Steve also opens up about his personal life, including his passion for wake surfing as a morning routine. Join us for a deep dive into the future of financial advising and what advisors should do to stay ahead. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote 01:20 Welcome to the Modern Financial Advisor Podcast 01:25 Guest Introduction: Steve Lockshin 03:00 Morning Routine: Wake Surfing 06:47 The Importance of Estate Planning 13:46 Vanilla: Revolutionizing Estate Planning 20:06 Challenges in the Financial Advisory Industry 26:58 The AUM Model: Pros and Cons 32:42 The Importance of Fee Negotiation 33:25 Client Scenarios and Advisor Conflicts 34:44 Structuring Advisory Fees 35:26 Fee Calculators and Transparency 36:46 Client Shopping Behavior 40:46 AI and Tokenization in Wealth Management 48:33 The Future of Financial Advisory 50:20 Advisors Adapting to Technological Changes 58:03 Final Thoughts and Advice for Advisors

How AI Will Power a New Era of Hyper Growth for Financial Advisors and Wealth Management Firms

Unlocking Scalable Growth for Financial Advisors with AI In this episode of the Modern Financial Advisor podcast, host Mike Langford is joined by Ian Karnell, who introduces his new company, VastAdvisor, and discusses how it aims to radically transform organic growth for financial advisors and wealth management enterprises. Ian delves into the power of AI in generating predictable, scalable lead generation systems and improving compliance for digital marketing. The episode covers the current state of digital marketing for financial advisors, the challenges, and the groundbreaking solutions VastAdvisor offers. Tune in to discover how AI can drive hyper-growth in the financial industry and make lead generation more efficient and effective. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to AUM Growth Strategies 00:54 Welcome to the Modern Financial Advisor Podcast 01:00 Introducing VastAdvisor and Its Promises 01:59 Subscribe and Connect with Us 02:29 Conversation with Ian Karnell Begins 03:59 The Evolution of Digital Marketing for Financial Advisors 06:56 Challenges and Opportunities in Lead Generation 14:02 The Role of AI in Modern Marketing 18:51 The Vision Behind VastAdvisor 27:26 How VastAdvisor Enterprise Works 30:51 Building Custom Audiences 31:14 Audience Targeting and Ad Builder 32:44 AI-Powered Compliance 33:57 IQ Dashboards and Reporting 35:01 Firm Growth Insights 35:36 Agentic Framework and Autopilot Mode 36:14 Challenges in Financial Marketing 40:10 Optimizing Ad Spend and Lead Generation 44:00 AI's Role in Advisor Growth 51:37 Next Generation Advisors and Clients 56:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Psychology of Prospecting: How VRGL Helps Advisors Win More Clients

On this episode of the Modern Financial Advisor Podcast, Mike Langford welcomes Kyle Zasky, the new CEO of VRGL, for his first-ever podcast appearance. The two dive deep into why so many advisors struggle with client acquisition and how VRGL’s proposal and analytics platform is designed to change that. Kyle shares candid insights on the emotional hurdles advisors and prospects face, the importance of establishing trust quickly, and why tools that demonstrate value before conversion are the future of advisor growth. They also explore: Why most advisors are stuck in a comfort zone that limits growthThe “organ rejection” risk for new CEOs and how Kyle overcame itHow AI is both exciting and anxiety-inducing for advisorsWhy great advisors are part portfolio strategist, part therapist Whether you’re an advisor looking to sharpen your edge or a wealth management exec planning for scalable growth, this conversation delivers actionable perspective on what it takes to thrive in the modern RIA landscape. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:19 Guest Introduction: Kyle Zasky 01:52 The Human Element in Financial Advice 03:27 Kyle's Journey to CEO of VRGL 08:20 Building Trust and Rapport 14:15 VRGL's Role in Client Acquisition 24:53 The Psychology of Financial Advising 30:55 Psychology of Financial Advisors 31:56 Addressing the Shortage of Financial Advisors 32:38 Reaching Younger Demographics 33:06 Expanding Financial Services Downstream 36:07 The Role of AI in Financial Advisory 38:50 The Importance of Human Touch in Financial Advisory 40:55 Building a Sustainable Financial Advisory Career 50:02 Navigating the FinTech Landscape 55:24 Future of Financial Advisory 01:00:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Redefining Advisor Growth: Dan Zitting on Eliminating Friction and Building Client Confidence

Join Mike Langford in this eye-opening episode of the Modern Financial Advisor Podcast as he chats with Dan Zitting, CEO of Nitrogen Wealth, formerly Riskalyze. They discuss the evolving landscape of financial advising, emphasizing the importance of a strong digital presence, the role of AI in enhancing advisor-client interactions, and actionable strategies to tackle slow organic growth in the industry. Dan offers fresh perspectives from his software and tech background, sharing insights on reducing advisor friction, leveraging AI for better client meetings, and the necessity of adapting sales motions for younger generations. Key Themes: The strategy behind Riskalyze’s rebrand to NitrogenUsing Net Promoter Score (NPS) to measure advisor successWhy risk tolerance is more than just age-based assumptionsHow AI and agentic workflows are transforming client meetingsRethinking referrals, sales motion, and digital trust building Don’t miss this engaging conversation on how modern advisors can deliver clarity, confidence, and scalable growth in an ever-evolving landscape. Chapters: 00:00 Understanding Modern Sales Motion 00:43 Introduction to the Podcast 02:14 Conversation with Dan Zitting Begins 03:13 Rebranding from Riskalyze to Nitrogen 06:10 Challenges and Opportunities in Wealth Management 15:48 The Importance of Digital Presence 22:32 Adapting to Changing Client Behaviors 30:53 Injecting Value into Client Conversations 31:47 Understanding Client Risk and Confidence 33:14 The Importance of Advisor-Client Relationships 36:11 Engaging the Next Generation of Clients 38:59 Realistic Risk Communication 48:35 AI and the Future of Financial Advising 53:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts