Swift Chats in the Financial Services Industry

In this Swift Chat episode, Marie Swift speaks with Jeff Coyle, Founder and CEO of Libretto, about how his wealthtech platform is transforming the financial planning landscape by utilizing a 'total wealth' approach to lifecycle planning and investing. Coyle explains how Libretto enables advisors to move beyond traditional tools like risk questionnaires and Monte Carlo simulations by offering a unified, holistic approach to wealth management. The conversation explores Libretto’s origins in serving ultra-affluent families and its mission to democratize advanced planning techniques for clients at all wealth levels. Coyle details how the platform integrates all aspects of a client’s financial life—including human capital, social security, real estate, and business interests—into a comprehensive strategy, using institutional-grade, liability-driven methodologies. The discussion also highlights Libretto’s scalability, its potential to drive organic growth for advisory firms, and the competitive advantages of delivering more robust, personalized client experiences in today’s market.

If there’s one thing that rings true year after year, it’s this: the T3 Technology Tools for Today Conference is the destination for discovering what’s shaping the future of financial advice. Held in Dallas this year, the 2025 T3 Conference buzzed with excitement, insight, and innovation, and we were there to capture it all on the Hot & Happening podcast series, recorded live at the bustling T3 Podcast Station. In this special three-part podcast, hosted by Derrick Kinney of Success for Advisors and guest host Jonny Swift of Impact Communications, listeners are treated to front-row access to the conversations that matter most in wealthtech today. From major fintech rollouts to forward-thinking advisor strategies, the series showcases interviews with some of the #T32025 attendees, including: Joel BruckensteinT3 Technology Tools for TodayAmy DeTollaAureus AdvantagePatrick ShaddowSyntax DataBrian EdelmanFCIRon KeuschInvestall GroupGerry MichaelSmartleafAdam Scully-PowerNebo WealthRobert LevittLevitt Capital Management Stay tuned for Part 2 with even more great conversations!

In this Swift Chat episode, Marie Swift speaks with Kevin Knull, CFP®, President of TaxStatus, a cutting-edge IRS account monitoring and tax data platform designed for financial professionals and the clients they serve, about how this innovative fintech solution is helping financial advisors enhance client services through seamless integration with IRS data. Knull shares how TaxStatus enables continuous monitoring of client activities, providing real-time notifications on new filings and offering advanced analysis capabilities that help advisors prevent tax fraud and improve the financial advice they provide. The conversation delves into how TaxStatus streamlines the client onboarding process by simplifying data collection and offering easy access to historical tax data. This not only enhances financial planning but also empowers advisors to make more strategic, data-driven decisions on behalf of their clients. Knull also shares how financial advisors can use TaxStatus as a tool for prospecting new clients by offering a unique value proposition rooted in tax efficiency and compliance monitoring. Looking ahead, Swift and Knull explore future developments, such as integrating AI capabilities to automate further and enhance the system’s functionality. Knull also outlines a trial process available to financial advisors, allowing them to experience firsthand the efficiencies and benefits of the platform. Learn more about Kevin Knull and TaxStatus at https://www.taxstatus.com

In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with John O'Connell, founder of The Oasis Group, a leading consultancy for the wealth management industry. Their leadership position includes identifying, reviewing, and discussing new technologies and capabilities for the wealth management industry. The Oasis Group offers award-winning consulting services, industry-leading research, and compelling on-demand training for wealth management firms and the service providers who serve the wealth management industry. Wealth management firms can unlock new levels of efficiency, personalization, and client engagement by adopting AI. John strongly recommends that firms begin to leverage AI to gain familiarity with its capabilities and concerns, to learn new skills like prompt engineering, and to clearly identify how they plan to leverage AI in projects. Leveraging AI now enables firms to discuss their compliance posture and to develop their AI policies. Check out this AI WealthTech Map, which can serve as a handy reference tool: The Oasis Group also recently launched a new research series called Vantage Point Peaks, which provides in-depth reports and competitive analysis on a range of service providers in the wealth management industry. The reports are designed to help wealth management firms become more informed buyers when breaking away or looking for new wealthtech solutions. The first study of the research series, available now, is the Vantage Point Peaks for Custodian Platforms, which focuses on the registered investment adviser and broker-dealer custodian market and is available to RIA and BD executives, as well as family offices and private wealth firms, interested in new custodian relationships. If you are going independent, looking to add another custodian, or just interested in the RIA ecosystem and how the various custodians compare and contrast, check out The Oasis Group research on custodians. As cybersecurity risks grow more complex and the SEC introduces additional cybersecurity regulations for financial services firms, it’s critical to ensure that financial advisorys teams are well equipped to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities while maintaining compliance. O'Connell, who is an industry veteran and cybersecurity expert, talks about the issues and refers people to his comprehensive course aimed at helping them gain an understanding of the evolving cybersecurity landscape in financial services, as well actionable strategies for protecting their financial advisory firm and their clients. Click here to learn more about the cybersecurity training course. Learn more about John O'Connell and his award-winning team at https://www.TheOasisGrp.com

In this Swift Chat conversation, Jonny Swift speaks with Alex Khassa, founder of Clients Blackbox, a marketing partner to some of the fastest-growing financial advisory and retirement planning firms in the USA, about transforming financial advisor marketing through precision-engineered video ads. Khassa explains his approach to helping advisors capture more clients by creating highly targeted, short video ads on Facebook and Instagram that replace the traditional, slower webinar funnels. By focusing on the "speed to lead" principle, his strategy significantly reduces lead loss, offering clients immediate access to educational content and fast-tracked appointments. This method enables rapid scaling, delivering a superior return on investment. He shares success stories of advisors who have grown their businesses through his system, including one client who closed a $13 million virtual deal. Khassa also highlights a new partner program for smaller advisors that allows them to leverage the systems of larger, successful advisors without creating their own video content or virtual sales process. Learn more about Alex Khassa and Clients Blackbox at www.ClientsBlackbox.com

In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Meir Statman, Professor of Finance at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, to discuss the field of behavioral finance. Renowned for his research, Meir Statman has recently authored a new book called "A Wealth of Well-Being: A Holistic Approach to Behavioral Finance," which offers profound insights into the psychological underpinnings of financial decisions and their broader implications for personal well-being. Statman delves into the core themes of the book, unraveling how our emotions and cognitive biases shape our financial behaviors in ways that often defy traditional economic theories. He also shares practical strategies for making more informed and rational financial choices, emphasizing the importance of understanding the human elements that drive our decisions. Whether you're a finance professional looking to enhance your understanding of behavioral economics or simply interested in the interplay between money and human behavior, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and thoughtful insights. Tune in to discover how to navigate the complex financial landscape with greater wisdom and clarity. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the leading voices in behavioral finance. A Wealth of Well-Being is available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers.

In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Derrick Kinney, Best-Selling Book Author, Keynote Speaker, and Host of the Good Money podcast, to unpack the secrets behind his success and the strategies that have helped countless individuals achieve financial freedom. He also shares advice for financial advisors who might be looking to emulate his success in building a multi-million dollar financial advisory business then selling it a few years ago to focus on what he calls "Derrick 2.0" wherein he now has more time to focus on coaching/mentoring other advisors, and addressing groups of financial advisors at hosted events. Kinney shares his personal journey, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his career and the lessons he learned along the way, emphasizing the crucial role of passion in achieving professional success. He also delves into the power of a positive mindset, its role in overcoming challenges, and the significance of building and nurturing strong partnerships. Throughout the conversation, Kinney offers practical advice on navigating the complexities of the financial world, from investment strategies to retirement planning -- and for building a highly successful financial advisory firm. Learn more about Derrick Kinney and his Success For Advisors program at SuccessForAdvisors.com

In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Jane Wollman Rusoff, Contributing Editor with ThinkAdvisor and a two-time AZBEE award winner from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. Jane's career journey is as diverse as it is fascinating. From delving into consumer electronics during the tech revolution to interviewing some of the biggest names in entertainment, Jane's experience spans multiple industries. She shares anecdotes from her interviews with iconic figures like Dustin Hoffman, John Bogle, Ray Charles, Steve Allen, and William Shatner, giving us a glimpse into their lives beyond the spotlight. Jane is also the founder of Family Star Productions, where she helps ordinary individuals create legacy profiles, capturing their memories, values, and philosophies for future generations. These private profiles serve as a timeless treasure, preserving the essence of a person's life story. Jane shares insights into her unique approach to profiling individuals, including those with cognitive challenges like Alzheimer's. She emphasizes the importance of capturing memories before they're lost and reveals the surprising depth of recollection even in advanced stages of dementia. You can learn more about Family Star Productions at www.FamilyStarProductions.com

​In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Steve Atkinson, Speaker, Leadership Coach, and Growth Expert with Admired Leadership. The conversation delves into the realm of leadership and its practical applications in the financial advisory world. Steve shares insights and anecdotes that shed light on what it means to be an effective leader. He emphasizes the idea that leadership is not merely a title or a position but rather a set of behaviors and choices that anyone can adopt. ​Throughout the discussion, Steve highlights the importance of credibility, feedback, and the creation of a team of leaders. He illustrates how admired leaders, identified through years of study, excel not only in achieving results but also in fostering strong relationships and followership. By focusing on character, competence, and the ability to give impactful feedback, advisors can enhance their leadership skills and ultimately make a positive impact on their clients and teams. Learn more at https://www.AdmiredLeadership.com

Listen to this special conference compilation podcast episode recorded live in the T3 Podcast Station, powered by LPL Financial, at the 2024 T3 Technology Tools for Today Advisor Conference - which also celebrated the event's 20th anniversary. Host Marie Swift chats with conference speakers, industry thought leaders, and advisors about what's hot and happening at #T32024. From intriguing presentations on the main stage to all the fintech on display in the exhibit hall - and all the celebrations in between - hear the biggest takeaways and insights from: Dan SkilesAltruistJamie HopkinsBryn Mawr TrustLaura GarfieldIdea DecanterDominic TullyPowderErkko EtulaBrooklyn Investment GroupHaik SahakyanARQAMatt KadnarNebo WealthVamshi YamsaniAssetSprout

Listen to this special conference compilation podcast episode recorded live in the T3 Podcast Station, powered by LPL Financial, at the 2024 T3 Technology Tools for Today Advisor Conference - which also celebrated the event's 20th anniversary. Host Marie Swift chats with conference speakers, industry thought leaders, and advisors about what's hot and happening at #T32024. From intriguing presentations on the main stage to all the fintech on display in the exhibit hall - and all the celebrations in between - hear the biggest takeaways and insights from: T3 Technology Tools for TodayChristine CherryAdvisor CircleJohn RajesLPL FinancialChristophe GauthronKwantiPatricia JennerjohnFocused Finances, LLCJohn MackowiakAdvyzonJim SinaiVanillaJen FergusonXLR8

In this special episode of "Hot and Happening at T3 2024", recorded live at the 2024 T3 Technology Tools for Today conference, Marie Swift leads an insightful conversation with Gary Carrai, CFA, Executive Vice President of Advisor Business Strategy at LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer serving independent financial advisors and financial institutions - providing technology, research, clearing and compliance services, and practice management programs to advisors looking to create and grow thriving practices. The discussion delves into the dynamic landscape of wealth management technology, with Gary providing valuable insights into the industry's evolution and the innovative solutions being developed at LPL Financial. Gary emphasizes the pivotal role of data in driving actionable insights and enhancing advisor-client interactions. He underscores LPL's advisor-centric approach, commitment to innovation, and focus on delivering comprehensive data analytics capabilities, coupled with proactive notifications to empower advisors in making informed decisions. Tune in to discover how LPL Financial is at the forefront of driving innovation to empower advisors and enhance client outcomes.

In this Swift Chat, Marie Swifts speaks with Tony D'Amico, Founder and Managing Partner of Fidato Wealth, an award-winning SEC Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) based in Ohio, about the journey of building an admirable firm that stands out as the RIA of choice for both clients and talented professionals. ​ From the challenges faced in attracting the right talent to the evolution of the firm's culture and processes, Tony provides valuable nuggets of wisdom for those navigating the complexities of the financial services industry. Discover the milestones, the focus on comprehensive wealth management, and the commitment to servant leadership that set Fidato Wealth apart in this illuminating discussion. Learn more about Tony and Fidato Wealth at https://www.FidatoWealth.com

In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Luis Rosa, Emlen Miles-Mattingly, and Shawn Tydlaska, three of the four co-founders of the BLX Internship Program, a premier initiative dedicated to fostering diversity in the financial planning profession, specifically for aspiring Black and Latinx financial planners. The trio expresses a genuine desire to make the financial planning industry more inclusive in response to the civil unrest following George Floyd's murder. Through partnerships with organizations like the National Association of Personal Financial Planners (NAPFA) and sponsors like the Charles Schwab Foundation, the program has successfully provided opportunities for underrepresented groups, establishing a fresh pipeline of diverse talent for financial planning firms. The conversation touches on the transformative impact on both interns and firms, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, community, and the value derived from fostering diversity in the financial services industry. BLX’s application window for firms to get involved and host an intern in summer 2024 closes on December 31st, 2023. Don’t miss your chance to not only help the financial industry truly reflect the world we live in, but tap into BLX’s pipeline of top-quality interns. Learn more and apply at blxinternship.org/

In this Swift Chat, host Marie Swift speaks with Siddhartha Oza and Rohit Agarwal, the co-Founders and co-CEOs behind Sora Finance, whose mission is to optimize debt costs for everyone by empowering advisors in actively managing clients' liabilities. The Sora platform, driven by an AI component, addresses the historical oversight of managing debt, providing advisors with the right data and tools to optimize clients' financial well-being. The trio discusses the complexities of managing liabilities, the untapped potential of debt optimization, and the pivotal role financial advisors play in reshaping the landscape of wealth management. Learn more about Siddhartha, Rohit, and Sora Finance at https://www.sorafinance.com

​In this Swift Chat, Marie Swift sits down with Sam X Renick, the visionary behind Sammy Rabbit's Money School, a financial literacy program for children ages 2-10 years old. Listen to discover the inspiration behind Sammy Rabbit's Money School, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to instilling essential money habits in children. Sam shares some secrets to making financial literacy engaging by integrating money ideas into fun and exciting topics. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or financial advisor, you'll find resources and strategies to implement financial education easily and efficiently in your community. These events create media buzz and brand-building opportunities for advisors in their local communities. Sam and Impact are partnering with two special offers for Advisors: Sammy Rabbit Money SchoolSammy and Santa’s Advice These opportunities are for financial advisors and include premium memberships, virtual experiences, marketing materials, and co-branding opportunities. Don't miss this enlightening episode that's all about empowering the next generation with smart money skills. Learn more about Sam X Renick and Sammy Rabbit at www.SammyRabbit.com

In this unique Swift Chat, recorded live in the Social/Digital Hub at the 2023 Morningstar Investment Conference (MICUS) in Chicago, honorary “Hubster” Shawna Ohm of Content 151 flips the script as she interviews Marie Swift and Jonny Swift of Impact Communications. The trio shares some of their marketing and PR insights in relation to some of the hot topic items at MICUS 2023 like AI. They share how firms both large and small can integrate AI in their marketing efforts to help create content, generate leads, and even help with client retention. Marie and Jonny also share some actionable takeaways for firms looking to up their PR and marketing game. Learn more about Shawna Ohm and Content 151 here: www.Content151.com Find more great content from the Social/Digital Hub here: www.SocialDigitalHub.com

In this Swift Chat, Marie Swift of Impact Communications, Inc. speaks with Daniel Satchkov, Co-Founder and President of RiXtrema, a pioneer in developing innovative tools for financial advisors using machine learning (AI) and data science. Daniel dives into RiXtrema's two groundbreaking AI-driven productivity tools: AdvisorAI™ and 401kAI™. 401kAI is a tool for advisors to use as they court and seek to win the business of plan sponsors. It contains detailed data on 850,000 retirement plans, with full information on all current laws, regulations, and legal cases, and is integrated with compliance tools. 401kAI can summarize dozens of plans with one click, help write custom emails for the plan, and create effective calling pitches for a plan. AdvisorAI is a tool for advisors to improve productivity with portfolio analysis and creation of custom emails and calling pitches. The tool summarizes all aspects of portfolio risk in one click, creates custom emails for each lead, learns in detail about each lead’s financial situation, knows services the advisor can offer to get a meeting, and is integrated with their compliance tools. Learn more about Daniel, RiXtrema, 401kAI™, and AdvisorAI™ at RiXtrema.com

​In this Swift Chat, Marie Swift of Impact Communications, Inc. speaks with Michael Lecours, CFP®, Co-Founder of fpPathfinder, a company that helps financial advisors become more efficient, innovative and systematized by quickly solving planning problems and questions from clients using fpPathfinder's checklists and flowcharts. Michael shares the journey that led him to develop this unique concept of using checklists and flowcharts to drive impactful conversations and uncover planning opportunities, born out of a desire to streamline complex financial discussions. Michael also shares an upcoming webinar discussing the Master List of Goals, developed in collaboration with Morningstar researchers, that revolutionizes client-advisor interactions. Learn more and register for webinar here: Expanding Opportunities: Mastering Client Goal Setting for Financial Success [September 26, 2023 at 1:00 pm CT] ​ Learn more about Michael and fpPathfinder at www.fpPathfinder.com

In this special episode of Swift Chats, taped live at the #MICUS Podcast Stage, Hosts Jonny Swift and Marie Swift recap highlights and insights from the 2023 Morningstar Investment Conference with Mary Beth Franklin, Contributing Columnist at InvestmentNews and Laura Carstensen, Director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. The group discusses the challenges and opportunities for financial advisors in the evolving landscape of retirement income planning, the importance of holistic financial planning, engaging the next generation in financial conversations, and finding a sense of purpose in later life. Dr. Carstensen emphasizes the significance of adapting to an era of increased life expectancy, while Mary Beth Franklin discusses the challenges and responsibilities faced by financial advisors in helping clients navigate financial decisions in retirement. Find more great content from the 2023 Social/Digital Hub at the Morningstar Investment Conference at: https://www.socialdigitalhub.com/