Power Your Advice

Bryan Sajjadi, a Capital Market Strategist at Fidelity Investments, shares how Fidelity’s privately owned structure and long-term orientation influence the way investment decisions are made. He outlines how the firm’s global research platform—spanning equities, fixed income, sectors, and quantitative analysis—is designed to challenge assumptions, share perspectives, and provide a fuller picture of risk and opportunity across market cycles. Rather than relying on a single style or viewpoint, Sajjadi emphasizes the value of combining multiple disciplines to navigate changing market environments. Sajjadi also discusses how Fidelity blends fundamental research with quantitative tools and emerging technologies to support portfolio decisions and risk awareness. He points to collaboration across asset classes, access to private markets, and long-standing company relationships as inputs that inform—not dictate—investment outcomes. Looking ahead, he frames the market outlook in practical terms, highlighting the need for selectivity, diversification, and flexibility as economic conditions evolve and dispersion across assets increases. Resources: Portfolio Construction | Fidelity Institutional Disclosures: Not FDIC Insured. May Lose Value. No Bank Guarantee. Not NCUA or NCUSIF insured. May lose value. No credit union guarantee. Unless otherwise expressly disclosed to you in writing, the information provided in this material is for educational purposes only. Any viewpoints expressed by Fidelity are not intended to be used as a primary basis for your investment decisions and are based on facts and circumstances at the point in time they are made and are not particular to you. Accordingly, nothing in this material constitutes impartial investment advice or advice in a fiduciary capacity, as defined or under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, both as amended. Fidelity and its representatives may have a conflict of interest in the products or services mentioned in this material because they have a financial interest in the products or services and may receive compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection with the management, distribution, and/or servicing of these products or services, including Fidelity funds, certain third-party funds and products, and certain investment services. Before making any investment decisions, you should take into account all of the particular facts and circumstances of your or your client’s individual situation and reach out to an investment professional, if applicable Information provided is general in nature. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice. Fidelity does not provide legal or tax advice. Views expressed are as of the date indicated, based on the information available at that time, and may change based on market and other conditions. Unless otherwise noted, the opinions provided are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Fidelity Investments or its affiliates. Fidelity does not assume any duty to update any of the information. Fidelity Investments is an independent company, unaffiliated with IRIS Media Works, LLC. There is no form of legal partnership, agency affiliation, or similar relationship between IRIS Media Works, LLC. and Fidelity Investments, nor is such a relationship created or implied by the information herein. Fidelity Investments has not been involved with the preparation of the content supplied by IRIS Media Works, LLC. and does not guarantee, or assume any responsibility for, its content. Stock markets, especially foreign markets, are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. Although the funds seek to beat the index, this is not guaranteed, and these funds may trail the index. Foreign securities are subject to interest rate, currency exchange rate, economic, and political risks. In...

Ryan Frederick, founder of Here.life, explains why “place planning” is an increasingly important—but often overlooked—factor in long-term wellbeing and financial outcomes. He argues that where people live has a profound impact on health, relationships, purpose, and spending, yet these decisions are often made reactively or reduced to housing or financial decisions. By viewing place through … Continue reading Episode 306 – The Importance of Place in Longevity Planning with Ryan Frederick →

Rob Arnott, Founder and Chairman of Research Affiliates, breaks down what he sees in today’s markets—from bubble-like pricing in some AI leaders to the behavioral traps that push investors toward the latest market fads. He emphasizes that advisors can add real value by countering the pull of popular narratives before they shape decisions. Arnott also … Continue reading Episode 305 – The Opportunities Investors Are Overlooking with Rob Arnott →

Carly Brooks, Senior Vice President of Advanced Sales at Crump Life Insurance Services, outlines how the firm is elevating advanced planning from a technical resource into a true strategic partnership for financial professionals. She highlights Crump’s scale and depth of expertise, and how that support helps advisors guide clearer, more confident conversations around protection, retirement, … Continue reading Episode 304 – Navigating Today’s Complex Planning Environment with Carly Brooks →

Wes Crill, Senior Client Solutions Director and a Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors, joins Doug to break down the biggest myths around “volatility-proofing” portfolios. He explains that reducing volatility always comes with trade-offs — most often in expected return — and that many investors underestimate how much is already achievable with traditional tools like … Continue reading Episode 303 – Volatility Isn’t the Enemy: A Smarter Way to Manage Risk with Wes Crill →

Matt Kaufman, Global Head of ETFs at Calamos, returns with big news: CAIE has earned two major industry honors—the SRP Americas Most Innovative Product Award and Structured Product Intelligence’s Deal of the Year—rare recognition for an ETF in a category traditionally dominated by structured notes. Kaufman says the awards validate the core idea behind CAIE: … Continue reading Episode 302 – Inside Calamos’ Award-Winning Autocallable ETF Strategy with Matt Kaufman →

Chris Cherry, Head of Partnerships at Future Proof, joins us to talk about Future Proof Citywide and how it expands on the Future Proof Festival model by moving into Miami Beach, allowing the event to grow beyond the Festival’s 5,000-person limit while keeping the same outdoor, relaxed, anti-conference feel. Citywide also introduces a rotating theme … Continue reading Episode 301 – Preparing Advisors for the AI Era at Future Proof Citywide with Chris Cherry →

We welcome back Samantha Russell, Chief Evangelist at FMG, to break down the marketing shifts defining 2025 and how advisors can carry them into 2026. Samantha says AI has transformed both how content is made and how it’s found—shifting SEO into AEO, or answer engine optimization. Firms that structure Q&A content with schema, gather reviews, … Continue reading Episode 300 – AI, AEO, and the Future of Advisor Marketing with Samantha Russell →

Kevin Flanagan, Head of Fixed Income Strategy at WisdomTree, joins us to discuss how advisors can navigate uncertainty as the Fed manages policy in a “flying blind” environment. He explains why Treasury Floating Rate Notes remain a cornerstone even in a rate-cut cycle, how defining the true neutral rate will shape future decisions, and why concerns … Continue reading Episode 299 – Fixed Income Clarity in an Uncertain Fed Cycle with Kevin Flanagan →

Alex Khaasa, Founder and CEO of Clients Blackbox, joins us to discuss how financial advisors can grow more efficiently by shifting from demand capture to demand generation. He explains why traditional tactics—like buying leads or relying solely on referrals—limit scalability, and how educational marketing funnels help advisors connect with prospects earlier in their decision journey. … Continue reading Episode 298 – Demand Generation That Actually Works for Advisors with Alex Khaasa →

Today we welcome back Fred Kaynor, Managing Director at DAFgiving360™. Fred explains how donor-advised funds have become an effective way for individuals and families to maximize their charitable giving, making the process simple, tax-smart, and impactful. Since inception, DAFgiving360 donors have granted more than $44 billion to over 280,000 organizations, including a record $8.9 billion last year … Continue reading Episode 297 – Maximizing Charitable Impact Through Donor-Advised Funds with Fred Kaynor →

Mike Foy, Managing Director and Head of Wealth Intelligence at J.D. Power, shares insights from the 2025 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study. The research highlights a critical industry crossroads: investor demand for professional advice continues to rise, even as many seasoned advisors near retirement. Foy discusses the urgent need to attract younger and more diverse … Continue reading Episode 296 – J.D. Power 2025: Succession, Satisfaction, and the Future of Human Advice with Mike Foy →

Matt Schiffman, founder of totumai, joins us to share how the platform is reshaping advisor-client communication. By combining personality science with artificial intelligence, totumai helps advisors move beyond demographic labels and understand how each client truly thinks, decides, and connects. Instead of one-size-fits-all messaging, advisors can tailor communication to fit personality, building trust, strengthening relationships, … Continue reading Episode 295 – Cracking the Personality Code: AI for Better Client Relationships with Matt Schiffman →

Greg Banasz, Chief Marketing Officer at Steward Partners, shares how he brings the firm’s brand to life while empowering more than 200 independent advisors to express their individuality. Instead of a one-size-fits-all playbook, he offers a flexible “spice rack” of strategies—helping advisors mix and match tools that best support their goals in branding, communication, and … Continue reading Episode 294 – Modern Tools, Human Stories: Marketing That Truly Connects with Greg Banasz →

Ryan George, Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, joins us to discuss how back-office innovation is helping advisors scale smarter. He shares his personal journey to Docupace and how the firm has grown into a 23-year-old leader in streamlining advisor operations, from account opening and compliance to compensation management and advisor transitions. He also highlights the … Continue reading Episode 293 – The Back-Office Advantage: Innovation That Elevates Advice with Ryan George →

Jeremy Schwartz, Global CIO, and Sam Rines, Macro Strategist for Modern Portfolios at WisdomTree, join us to explore how today’s shifting geopolitical landscape is shaping new global investment strategies. Sam explains how Europe’s renewed focus on defense and infrastructure—driven by NATO spending commitments—is creating long-term momentum across industries. He highlights companies like Saab, Leonardo, and … Continue reading Episode 292 – Navigating Global Change: Strategy, Infrastructure, and Opportunity with Jeremy Schwartz and Sam Rines →

Jason Bottenfield, Managing Partner at Park Cities Group within Steward Partners, joins us to share the story of his unique path from professional baseball to wealth management. He reflects on how the discipline and resilience he developed as an athlete helped him navigate the early challenges of breaking into the industry—without connections or a finance … Continue reading Episode 291 – From the Mound to the Market: Building a Business With Purpose with Jason Bottenfield →

Dan Bjerke, President of Digital Wealth at InvestCloud, joins us to discuss how the firm is tackling one of wealth management’s biggest pain points — fragmented technology and siloed data. With 35 years in financial services technology, Dan explains how disconnected systems drain advisor productivity and weaken client experiences. He outlines InvestCloud’s approach to unifying … Continue reading Episode 290 – Breaking the Swivel Chair Cycle: Smarter Tech for Advisors with Dan Bjerke →

Susan McKenna, CEO of eMoney Advisor, joins us to discuss the company’s evolution as it marks its 25th anniversary. She shares her path from tech-focused marketing leader to CEO, and how eMoney has stayed true to its planning-first mission while adapting to changing market needs. Susan reflects on its unique culture, dedication to client service, … Continue reading Episode 289 – The Advisor–Client Connection in a Digital Age with Susan McKenna →

We sit down with James Sahagian, Managing Partner at Ramapo Wealth Advisors within Steward Partners, to explore his path from an early fascination with financial markets to leading a client-focused, team-based practice. He highlights Steward’s responsive culture and commitment to innovation, which have expanded his team’s capabilities through educational seminars, digital platforms, and a holistic … Continue reading Episode 288 – How Technology and Teamwork Elevate Client Service with James Sahagian →