Host Jason Pereira welcomes back CapIntel CEO James Rockwood to discuss the firm’s massive growth, now supporting over 20,000 advisors across North America. Rockwood explains how CapIntel moves beyond static PDFs by using interactive, cloud-based presentations to make complex investment products feel tangible for clients. The conversation dives into how the platform embeds compliance controls to prevent proposal errors, the impact of regulatory shifts like Reg BI, and how CapIntel is navigating its expansion into the competitive U.S. and Mexican markets.This episode is a must-listen for wealth management executives and advisors interested in how "hyper-personalization" and integrated compliance are redefining the modern investment proposal.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorCapIntelLinkedIn - James Rockwood’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira interviews Marla Sofer, Founder and CEO of Knomee, about her mission to bridge the "understanding gap" between wealth managers and their clients. Drawing on her leadership experience at JPMorgan, BlackRock, and Microsoft, Sofer explains how Knomee uses consumer-friendly "adventures" to capture a client’s true financial identity—defining what concepts like "security" actually mean to them. By turning this unique behavioural data into AI-synthesized insights, Knomee provides advisors with actionable conversation starters and next-best actions to deepen trust and accelerate conversions.This episode is a must-listen for advisors who want to move beyond generic financial planning and use behavioural intelligence to create more personalized, high-trust client relationships.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorKnomeeLinkedIn - Marla Sofer’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of FinTech Impact host Jason Pereira interviews Ryan Borer, CEO of Advisor CRM, about his mission to transform the CRM from a static database into an "action engine" for financial and insurance professionals. Inspired by his experience building proprietary tech for a TAMP, Borer explains how his platform avoids the rigid, breakable workflows of traditional systems by focusing on flexibility and data-driven signals. The conversation explores the shift toward a more open tech ecosystem—supported by Advisor CRM’s APIs—and introduces Trove, a new AI-driven opportunity intelligence tool designed to surface growth leads automatically.This episode is a must-listen for advisors frustrated by "clunky" CRM workflows and firm owners looking to stay ahead of the curve with AI-integrated client management.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorAdvisorCRMLinkedIn - Ryan Borer’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira interviews Brian Abatemarco, Head of Sales at Nexhelm AI, a platform launched in late 2025 to automate end-to-end financial workflows. Drawing on his 12 years as a CFP, Brian explains how Nexhelm connects existing tools—like CRMs, Outlook, and DocuSign—to execute complex tasks via simple prompts, ensuring advisors never "drop the ball" on client requests. The discussion covers the platform's ability to automate everything from onboarding to email filing, while touching on the broader challenges of scaling fintech and the vital role of CFP education in the AI era.This episode is a must-listen for forward-thinking advisors and operations leaders who are tired of manual data entry and want to see how "agentic AI" can finally bridge the gap between their disconnected software tools.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorNexhelm AILinkedIn - Brian Abatemarco’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira joins Nitrogen Wealth CEO Dan Zitting to discuss the company’s evolution from a niche risk-scoring tool into a comprehensive AI platform. Dan outlines how Nitrogen is leveraging a new agentic AI engine to automate the advisor meeting lifecycle, effectively shrinking hours of manual preparation into minutes. Beyond technical updates, the conversation dives into Nitrogen’s expanded suite—covering everything from portfolio research to tax education—and Dan’s vision for overcoming the data and compliance hurdles that currently slow down AI adoption in wealth management.This episode is a must-listen for financial advisors and RIA owners looking to reclaim their schedules through automation, as well as fintech enthusiasts interested in how legacy brands successfully navigate a total AI-centric pivot.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorNitrogen WealthLinkedIn - Dan Zitting’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Mike Wilson, CEO and co-founder of Hamachi, an AI governance layer for financial advisors that unifies data from systems like CRMs and portfolio platforms to power workflow “bots” such as a daily dossier and household brief. Wilson explains Hamachi’s origin, its compliance-first guardrails, and its strategy to embed via integrations and API rather than compete for the advisor desktop. They also discuss roadmap integrations and partners, including TaxStatus, FP Pathfinder, Financial’s client portal distribution, and potential research data sources like Morningstar and Zacks.Episode Highlights:00:00 Welcome to FinTech Impact + Meet Mike Wilson (Hamachi)00:30 What Hamachi Does: An AI ‘Governing Intelligence Layer’ for Advisors01:09 Origin Story: From Orion Alumni to Compliant Advisor AI02:52 From Email Add‑On to Guardrailed Chat: Early Product Evolution04:38 Real Advisor Workflows: Daily Dossier & Household Brief in Action08:58 Integration Roadmap: CRM, Portfolio Platforms, and Tax Data (TaxStatus)10:52 Where Hamachi Fits: Embedded AI, API Strategy, and Bot Marketplace14:25 What’s Next: Pathfinder Workflows, Client Portals, and Research Feeds23:28 Why Governance Matters: PII Redaction, Audit Trails, SEC/FINRA Compliance27:21 Rapid‑Fire Wrap‑Up: Industry Wish, Biggest Challenge, and What Excites Mike33:01 Closing Remarks, Call to Action, and Sponsor MessageResources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorHamachi.aiLinkedIn - Mike Wilson’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Kevin Akeroyd, CEO of Sovos, a leading tax compliance software company. Kevin shares the history and evolution of Sovos, its critical role in global tax compliance, and the company’s integration of AI and technology. He also discusses the challenges and future of tax compliance, including the impact of crypto reporting and e-invoicing mandates worldwide. This episode delves into how Sovos helps businesses seamlessly navigate complex tax landscapes and maintain compliance across various countries and tax laws.Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction to FinTech Impact00:29 Meet Kevin Akeroyd, CEO of Sovos01:26 The Evolution of Sovos03:27 Challenges and Integration05:18 Tax Compliance Complexity09:27 Mid-Market and Down-Market Strategies14:18 Global Tax Compliance Trends16:34 Crypto Reporting and Innovations21:40 AI and Future Prospects28:07 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsResources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorSovosLinkedIn - Kevin Akeroyd’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Gene Natali, CEO and founder of Troutwood, an online financial planning and engagement platform aimed at helping advisors and enterprises empower individuals financially. They discuss the inception of Troutwood, its goals, and the unique features that help bridge the gap between individuals and financial experts. The conversation also delves into the challenges of financial literacy and how Troutwood's platform is designed to address these issues at scale, ultimately aiming to narrow the wealth gap and ensure financial empowerment for all. If you're looking to enhance the way you manage your clients and offer greater value, especially at scale, this episode is a must-watch.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorTroutwoodLinkedIn - Gene Natali’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Khe Hy, founder of Latour AI. Khe shares his journey of starting Latour AI, a company that helps businesses integrate artificial intelligence into their workflows. They discuss how AI, particularly through vibe coding, can transform daily operations and strategize within companies, especially hedge funds and buy-side firms. Khe provides insights into the various stages of AI implementation, and the challenges and potentials of AI-driven solutions. They also explore practical tips for getting started with vibe coding and how leveraging AI can lead to innovative outcomes. Tune in to learn how to embrace AI to enhance efficiency and solve complex problems in your business.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLatour AILinkedIn - Khe Hy’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Gabe Caldwell, co-founder of Quin, an AI-driven advisor support tool designed to automate administrative tasks for financial advisors. Quin integrates with CRMs, emails, and calendars, leveraging AI to perform tasks like note-taking, scheduling, and data entry at a fraction of the cost of a human assistant. Gabe discusses the origins of Quin, its current capabilities, and potential future integrations. He emphasizes the importance of solving real, significant problems with AI, and how Quin's tailored automation offers substantial time savings for advisors. Tune in to learn how Quin can streamline your financial advisory workflow and enhance productivity.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorQuinLinkedIn -  Gabe Caldwell’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Ian Karnell, co-founder and CEO of Vast Advisor. Vast Advisor is a revolutionary AI-native client acquisition system built to drive organic growth for financial advisors. Ian shares the origins, development, and functionality of Vast Advisor, highlighting how it addresses the $8 billion spent annually by advisors on outdated growth tactics. The conversation dives into the complexities of merging AI with effective marketing strategies, emphasizing the role of compliance and real-time campaign optimization. Gain insights into the intersection of technology and wealth management, and discover how Vast Advisor is poised to reshape the industry.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorVast AdvisorLinkedIn - Ian Karnell’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Philip Sutter, CEO of Policy Stream, an innovative platform aimed at revolutionizing the life insurance application process for Canadian advisors. Philip discusses his journey in the insurance industry since 2014 and how the challenges faced during COVID-19 led to the creation of Policy Stream. They dive into the current inefficiencies in the insurance sales process and how Policy Stream aims to streamline needs analysis, quoting, application, and compliance for term life insurance. Key topics also include the development hurdles, the cautious engagement with insurance carriers, and the long-term vision for expanding the platform. Tune in to hear Philip's insights on improving productivity for advisors and enhancing the client experience in the insurance sector.Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPolicy StreamLinkedIn - Philip Setter’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira talks with Eden Ovadia, CEO of Finny, a platform designed to help financial advisors grow their businesses organically. Eden shares the origin story of Finny, highlighting how his background in tech and private equity led to the creation of a data-driven solution for prospecting growth. The discussion explores how Finny leverages big data and machine learning to identify potential prospects and detect client intent signals, enabling advisors to effectively match with their ideal clients. Eden also discusses the company's roadmap and the importance of helping advisors articulate their value propositions. This episode is a must-listen for financial advisors seeking to enhance client acquisition, share of wallet, and retention through advanced, data-driven strategies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Nick Babinsky, Chief Product Officer at Solutions by Text (SBT). They discuss how SBT empowers financial services companies to engage with consumers through SMS and other messaging protocols. The conversation covers SBT's history, the benefits of text-based communications, regulatory challenges, and the future of text messaging in the financial industry. Nick shares insights on high engagement metrics, compliance complexities, and the evolving technology landscape. Tune in to learn how text messaging is transforming consumer interactions in the financial sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join host Jason Pereira on 'FinTech Impact' as he discusses the foundational elements of AI, specifically data, with Anand Pandya, head of Financial Services for Hakkoda, an IBM company. In this episode, they dive deep into the evolution of data management, the challenges organizations face in maintaining high-quality data, and the importance of clean data for successful AI implementation. Learn about the history of data waves, the pivotal role of cloud platforms like Snowflake, and how big companies can avoid common pitfalls in the AI landscape. Don't miss this insightful conversation packed with expert insights and practical advice for the future of data in financial services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Mark Heynen, co-founder of Knapsack, an AI-powered platform designed to enhance financial advisory workflows. Mark shares insights on how Knapsack automates administrative tasks by integrating with various data sources and employing natural language agents. He discusses the platform's evolution from a private note-taking tool to a comprehensive agent-based system, capable of handling everything from simple email scheduling to complex tax planning. Mark also touches on the challenges faced in data compliance and the future of AI in financial services. Don't miss this deep dive into how AI is transforming the financial advisory landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Rajesh Jayaraman, founder and CEO of Flextract. Flextract is an innovative onboarding tool designed to help financial advisors streamline the client onboarding process by leveraging AI-powered data extraction. Rajesh discusses the origins of the company, the technology behind their product, and how it enhances both advisor efficiency and client experience. They delve into the challenges of managing disparate client data and the future roadmap for Flextract, including dynamic checklists and advanced report generation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of financial technology and client management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode of FinTech Impact, Jason interviews Antonio Zivanovic, the Founder and CEO of ElektraFi - an online platform that democratizes access to independent financial guidance for employees. Antonio shares the origin story of ElektraFi, its mission to provide cohesive financial insights and advice, and the innovative ways it supports individuals in managing their finances. Listen in as they discuss the importance of financial well-being, AI integration, and future plans for the platform. Ideal for business owners and employers interested in enhancing employee financial health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Daniel Yoo, the founder of FinMate AI, an AI-driven advisor meeting notation software. Daniel explains the origins of FinMate AI, stemming from his frustrations as a financial advisor with the note-taking process. He delves into the various challenges the company has faced, the hyper-competitive market, and how they plan to differentiate themselves by providing a custom, service-oriented approach rather than a purely scalable software solution. Daniel also shares his insights on the evolving landscape of AI in financial services and emphasizes the importance of realistic, honest conversations within the industry. Tune in to learn more about the future of AI in financial advising and how FinMate AI aims to stand out in a crowded field. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira talks with David Weinstein, CEO, and co-founder of KayOs, a company helping businesses become AI-native by structuring their data and operations. David shares how KayOs organizes both structured and unstructured data into contextual graphs to enhance AI and agent capabilities within organizations. They discuss the origins of KayOs, the challenges businesses face with data management, and the various tools and models used to make data actionable. The conversation also delves into the future of AI, its ethical implications, and how companies can adopt AI technologies without losing the human touch. Tune in to learn about the innovative approaches KayOs employs to turn business data chaos into order. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this milestone episode of FinTech Impact, Jason Pereira celebrates the 400th episode with special guest Julia Carreon. Julia, a respected executive with over 25 years of experience in financial services, discusses her impressive career and her stance on digital transformation within the industry. She highlights her notable achievements, including leading digital initiatives at Wells Fargo and Citibank. The discussion delves into the challenges of implementing AI and innovative technologies in traditional banking systems, the importance of execution, and the complexities of integrating new technologies in an industry hampered by outdated systems and organizational bureaucracy. Julia also shares her views on the pitfalls of the robo-advisor hype and the importance of proper onboarding processes. This episode offers a candid, in-depth look at what it takes to drive real change in financial services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira welcomes Matthew Halloran, co-founder of ProudMouth. ProudMouth has become a leading podcast platform for financial advisors, helping them develop and broadcast their voices. They recently introduced Influence Snapshot, a tool designed to identify marketing gaps and boost an advisor's influence. Matt and Jason delve into the importance of niche marketing, detailed content strategies, and the impact of consistent branding. They also explore how Influence Snapshot can provide key insights into areas such as audience targeting, brand credibility, and content synergy. Join them for an informative conversation on enhancing advisory practices through effective content marketing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Periera interviews Srikanth Narayan, CEO of Cache, and Wesley Gray, CEO of Alpha Architect and ETF Architect. The discussion centers around their collaborative effort to bring sophisticated financial solutions, specifically 351 and exchange funds, to a broader audience. They delve into the workings of Cache, a modern brokerage for concentrated stock positions, and Alpha Architect's focus on creating tax-efficient ETFs. This episode highlights the challenges of concentrated stock holdings and how these innovative financial products can help mitigate risk and promote diversification. Together, they emphasize the importance of financial education and transparency in making these solutions accessible to more investors. Tune in to learn how Cache is revolutionizing the financial landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Veer Gidwaney, CEO and founder of Ansel Health, a company providing innovative supplemental health insurance designed to cover 13,000 medical conditions with automatic claims processing. Veer explains the motivation behind starting Ansel Health, emphasizing the need to ease financial burdens caused by medical events thanks to high deductibles in traditional health plans. He details how Ansel Health differentiates itself from incumbents by offering a broader range of coverage and simplified, automated claims, leading to higher utilization and customer satisfaction. Veer also discusses the company's focus on delivering value to end users and the significant challenges faced in changing industry perspectives on health insurance. Employers and employees can learn how Ansel Health aims to create a hassle-free experience and potentially ease the burden on HR departments. Tune in to learn more about how Ansel Health is transforming supplemental health insurance in the US. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Anna Mouland, CEO and co-founder of Bequest, an innovative B2B SaaS platform designed to automate and streamline the administration of trust estates and powers of attorney. Anna explains how Bequest enhances efficiency for legal professionals with features like an advanced accounting module and automated intake processes. She shares the company's origins, discusses the challenges of estate adjudication, and highlights the importance of a comprehensive end-to-end solution in the legal tech space. Listen in to learn how Bequest is revolutionizing the tedious tasks involved in estate administration and making life easier for both professionals and clients. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Periera interviews Doug Ricket, founder and CEO of PayJoy. They discuss PayJoy's journey from financing smartphones to providing comprehensive credit solutions in emerging markets. Doug shares insights on utilizing technology to secure loans, the challenges of serving unbanked populations, and PayJoy's mission as a public benefit corporation to promote financial inclusion. The conversation also explores the use of predictive AI in credit scoring and the impact of regulatory frameworks on their lending operations. Learn how PayJoy is transforming access to financial tools and services across the globe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira sits down with Lacey Shrum, founder of Smart KX, to discuss how her innovative platform is transforming revenue management for Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs).Lacey shares her journey from law to fintech, the challenges advisors face with billing and compliance, and how Smart KX automates complex fee calculations, improves business intelligence, and streamlines compliance. Discover how RIAs can increase revenue, gain actionable insights, and operate more like businesses than practices.If you’re an RIA looking to optimize your billing cycle and grow your business, don’t miss this episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Andrew Jamison, co-founder and CEO of Extend. Extend is a platform that enhances traditional banking services by offering innovative payment processing and management tools specifically designed for emerging middle-market businesses. Andrew shares the origin story of Extend, how it collaborates with traditional banks, and the platform's focus on providing seamless and automated spend and expense management solutions. They discuss the challenges of integrating with traditional banking systems, the advantages of virtual cards, and the future of embedded finance in B2B transactions. If you're looking to streamline finance operations within your business, this episode is a must-watch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Russell Kroeger, CEO and founder of Trayecto. Trayecto is an online platform designed to assist advisors by providing in-depth tax information for clients with complex compensation models, such as equity compensation and self-employment. Russell shares the origins of Trayecto, the challenges faced by their target clients, and how Trayecto's innovative tools offer more precise tax projections and seamless financial planning. Discover how Trayecto integrates with financial planning and tax preparation tools, and Russell’s vision for the future of the company. Stay tuned for insights into the evolution of the financial planning profession and the energizing journey of building a pioneering FinTech solution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Daniel Alfi, CEO and co-founder of Fifr, a platform combining investing, financial wellness, personal money automation, and financial advice in one package. Daniel shares his journey from a financially strained college student to a financial wellness advocate, his career at Morgan Stanley and Iconic Capital, and the inception of Fifr. They discuss the evolution, execution, and user experience of Fifr, emphasizing its focus on high-income earners and tech workers. Daniel also elaborates on the platform's unique features, including proactive tax management and AI chat assistants, as well as his vision for the future. Tune in to learn how Fifr aims to democratize good financial habits and optimize client outcomes through innovation and technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Sam Kendree, President and Co-founder of Wealthfeed. Wealthfeed is a cutting-edge big data platform designed to help financial advisors find new business opportunities, retain clients, and save time identifying target clients. Sam discusses the origin of Wealthfeed, its development, and how the platform uses data to pinpoint life events that signal potential clients. The discussion includes practical advice on targeting prospects without appearing intrusive and the value of automated, compliant marketing. Tune in to learn how Wealthfeed leverages data to drive organic growth and add value to financial advisory practices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join host Jason Pereira as he converses with Divine, the visionary behind Notes Technology. This innovative platform empowers independent urban artists by providing them with direct access to capital, financial tools, and essential industry knowledge. Learn about the longstanding issues within the traditional music industry and how Notes Technology is levelling the playing field for artists. From financial literacy to AI-powered support, discover how this platform is transforming the careers of creatives. Don't miss this insightful episode on how to monetize artistic talents without the exploitative middlemen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Adam Famularo, CEO of Workfusion. They discuss Workfusion's innovative use of artificial intelligence to combat financial crimes, specifically anti-money laundering, and the development of AI agents for compliance in banks. Adam explains how machine learning models, developed in collaboration with multiple banks, are packaged into digital workers, now called AI agents, which significantly expedite processes such as transaction screening and KYC (Know Your Customer). They also dive into the concept of human-in-the-loop, the importance of purpose-built AI, and the transformation of traditional financial compliance roles through AI integration. This interview offers a deep dive into the future of fraud detection and compliance in the financial sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Alex Benke, Head of AI at Ridgeline—a cloud-based platform designed for investment management that covers front, middle, and back office functionalities. Alex dives into Ridgeline's inception, the all-in-one approach for asset managers, and how they're leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency. They also discuss the historical deficiencies in financial software, the conservative nature of asset managers in adopting new tech, and what's on the horizon for AI applications within Ridgeline. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to FinTech Impact! In this episode, your host Jason Pereira interviews Claude Mandy, Chief Evangelist at Symmetry Systems. Symmetry Systems specializes in securing enterprise data, by managing access points, and monitoring data flows. Claude shares the company's history, their unique approach to data security, and how they minimize attack vectors while optimizing data access. The discussion highlights the importance of viewing data both as an asset and a potential liability. Gain insights into how Symmetry's innovative solutions have led to substantial cost savings and improved security for large enterprises. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Julien Baneux, founder and CEO of RIA Growth Catalyst. Julien discusses the origins and mission of RIA Growth Catalyst, a data platform designed to facilitate M&A activities in the RIA space. They delve into the technology behind the platform, including the use of AI to interpret and analyze massive amounts of data for better decision-making in RIA acquisitions. The conversation also covers how the platform provides significant advantages to both buyers and sellers in the highly fragmented RIA market. Listeners will hear about the challenges, future plans, and the potential for AI to transform the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Robert DeChellis, CEO of Bonsai, a pioneering financial planning tool designed to bring institutional asset liability management (ALM) strategies to retail investors. Robert discusses how Bonsai helps advisors plan for client retirements by considering the entirety of a household's balance sheet, income statement, and asset allocation. He shares insights from his extensive 36-year career in financial advising and the motivations behind founding Bonsai during the global financial crisis. The conversation dives into the mechanics of ALM, the significance of risk-based products like annuities, and the challenges and opportunities in integrating investment and insurance solutions. Tune in to learn how Bonsai is making comprehensive retirement planning accessible to all investors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Adam Nash, CEO, and co-founder of daffy.org. Daffy.org is a pioneering online platform designed to simplify charitable giving through a modern donor-advised fund. Adam discusses the motivation behind creating Daffy, which was influenced by the technology innovations and community needs highlighted during the pandemic. He elaborates on the functionality and benefits of Daffy, including the ease of setting aside funds for charity in a tax-advantaged manner, and the platform's ability to handle various asset types, including crypto and private stock. Adam also highlights the challenges of building trust, educating potential users, and innovating in a staid industry. The episode concludes with discussions on Daffy's pricing model, competitive advantages, upcoming features, and the long-term mission of making charitable giving more accessible and consistent for everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira talks with Era Jain, co-founder and CEO of Zeplyn, about how her company is transforming the wealth management industry through AI-powered automation. Zeplyn aims to streamline the cumbersome and time-consuming tasks associated with client meetings for financial advisors, thereby allowing them to focus more on client relationships and growth activities. Jain shares the origin story of Zeplyn, their innovative approaches to integrating AI into financial workflows, and their vision for the future, including client and practice intelligence. The episode also touches on the challenges and successes of implementing AI in an industry that often relies on outdated technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Prashant Fuloria, CEO of Fundbox. They discuss how Fundbox is revolutionizing access to capital for small businesses by providing financing solutions embedded into existing workflows and digital tools. Prashant explains their approach to reducing friction in financing, the types of products they offer, and how they leverage data and AI for better underwriting decisions. They also explore Fundbox's growth strategies, including product expansion, partnerships with banks, and geographical expansion, and touch upon the challenges and future of small business financing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews John Wise, CEO and Chair of Communify Fincentric. John discusses the history and merger of Communify and Fincentric, highlighting their journey from data aggregation and visualization in the early 90s to becoming a significant platform that handles billions of data requests daily. They also delve into the challenges and strategies for managing vast amounts of data, the importance of trusted data sources, and the innovative use of deterministic AI in data storytelling and visualization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Richard Walker, CEO of Quik! Forms. The discussion covers the origins of Quik!, the challenges of automating form processes, and how the company has evolved over the past 23 years. Richard explains how Quik! simplifies data entry for financial advisors, significantly reducing manual work and improving efficiency. The episode dives into the complexities of developing a form automation system that can support a vast number of fields and forms, and highlights the technological advancements, particularly in AI, that Quik! is leveraging to further enhance their product. Richard also shares insights on the future of form automation and the challenges and rewards of operating in the space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Prera interviews Adam Scully-Power, Product Solutions Director at Nebo Wealth. Nebo Wealth is a platform focused on goals-based investing, empowering financial advisors to deliver personalized asset and portfolio allocations tailored to clients' unique goals and circumstances. Adam discusses the origins of Nebo Wealth, the limitations of traditional investment methods like target date funds and risk tolerance questionnaires, and how Nebo utilizes a more dynamic, forward-looking approach for portfolio optimization. He explains the importance of understanding client goals, incorporating a wide spectrum of inputs, and providing visual tools that clearly communicate financial progress. The conversation also highlights the platform's flexibility and superior performance in maximizing clients' financial success. Adam concludes by expressing his excitement about Nebo Wealth's innovative impact on the financial advising industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Mark Netjes, EVP of Enterprise Sales and Solutions at Advyzon. Advyzon offers an all-in-one technology platform designed to help financial advisors manage their practices efficiently. Mark discusses the origins of Advyzon, founded by Hailin Li in 2012 after his tenure at Morningstar, and the evolution of the platform from performance reporting and billing to a comprehensive suite including CRM, trading, rebalancing, client portals, document management, and outsourced investment solutions. The discussion highlights Advyzon's focus on integration, efficiency, and scalability, making it suitable for both small firms and large enterprises. They also touch on Advyzon's approach to modularity, integration with third-party software, and future developments in AI and other advanced features. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Matt Cerminaro, Chief Product Officer, and Michael Batnick, CEO of Exhibit A. Exhibit A is a charting and visualization tool for financial advisors that originated from the Riol Wealth Management team. This custom-branded platform simplifies complex data into clean, daily-updated visuals, making it easier for advisors to communicate with clients. Matt and Michael discuss the platform's origin, its development challenges, the importance of simplicity in financial charts, and their plans for ongoing innovation. The duo shares their commitment to improving client communications and their proactive approach in updating and improving their tool based on user feedback. Early feedback has been positive, highlighting the tool’s value in replacing or complementing the need for an in-house analyst. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast features an insightful discussion between host Jason Pereira and Jason Wenk, CEO of Altruist, a fintech company that is streamlining the custodian experience. They explore the origin of Altruist, how it came to fruition due to the inefficiencies faced in the financial advisory and custody space, and their journey in making the platform user-friendly and technologically advanced. Wenk details the importance of design thinking and maintaining operational efficiency while revolutionizing the existing financial systems. The conversation ends with Jason Wenk's enthusiasm about the potential of AI and other innovations in improving client outcomes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira welcomes Alison Susko of Asset-Map and Torie Happe of Holistiplan to discuss the concept and importance of community-based marketing within the advisor technology sector. Alison and Torie share their backgrounds in financial services technology and how they developed successful community marketing strategies to promote their companies. They emphasize the value of building relationships, grassroots education, and collaboration within the industry. Their approach highlights the necessity of personal connections and proactive communication in achieving business success and driving innovation within the financial planning space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Rodney Williams, co-founder and president of Solo Funds. The platform offers an innovative approach to peer-to-peer lending, targeting issues with payday loans and credit cards by creating a mutually beneficial system for those in need of capital. They discuss the origin of Solo Funds, the transparent and borrower-driven structure, and the community-centered approach that sets Solo apart. Rodney also shares success stories and highlights the challenges and advantages of building an impactful financial service. Don't miss this insightful conversation on reshaping the lending landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Jimmy Gill from Versoft Consulting about the intricacies of investment technology and data migrations. The conversation explores the challenges of integrating various investment technologies, outlining how Versoft Consulting assists in streamlining technology stacks for financial advisors. They delve into the complexities of data migration between portfolio management systems, highlighting the diverse issues encountered during such transitions and offering insights into best practices for successful conversions. The episode wraps up with discussions on how comprehensive solutions and problem-solving approaches can significantly alleviate operational inefficiencies within the finance industry.Episode Highlights:00:33: Jason thanks Jimmy Gill of Versoft Consulting for joining the podcast.00:35: Jimmy introduces Versoft Consulting, its mission, and services in the finance sector.01:20: Explanation of Versoft’s services, including portfolio management, data conversions, and consulting.01:29: Discussion on the origin and history of Versoft Consulting.03:34: The complexities involved in data migrations from one platform to another.04:26: Real-life story of migrating 30 years of transaction history.05:33: Issues firms encounter with portfolio management and accounting platforms.07:08: Best practices for conversion and timelines for migrating systems.12:08: Common pitfalls and considerations during platform migrations.14:12: Importance of data quality and the role of Versoft Consulting in migrations.16:49: Navigating trust issues with new technology platforms.19:20: Volume of data and time estimation challenges in migrations.21:51: Weird data anomalies and how Versoft confronts them during migrations.32:09: Jimmy’s passion for solving complex data problems in fintech.34:18: Conclusion and wrap-up of the episode, encouraging listeners to seek migration help from Versoft.Key Takeaways:Data migrations in the financial sector are fraught with challenges, requiring expert handling to ensure accuracy and efficiency.The industry suffers from a lack of standardized data formats, complicating technology integrations significantly.Having dedicated personnel or consultants focused entirely on technology transitions can prevent bottlenecks and delays.Effective communication and planning are crucial for maintaining timelines and minimizing disruptions during platform migrations.Firms often benefit significantly from adopting streamlined, automated processes for operational efficiencies.Tweetable Quotes:"Data migrations: not just shifting data, but overcoming challenges to ensure efficient financial operations.""In financial tech, the quirks and complexities are the puzzle pieces we love to solve.""Adopting new tech isn't just about the systems; it's about finding the right solutions for your firm."Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://versoftconsulting.com/team/jimmy-gill/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswgill/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira interviews Arnulf Hsu, CEO and Co-founder of GReminders. Arnold discusses the company's journey from being a client notification system to becoming an AI powered end-to-end meeting management platform tailored for financial advisors. The conversation dives into how GReminders focuses on automating the entire client meeting lifecycle through AI and intricate integrations with CRM systems. Arnold also highlights the significant time savings GReminders offers financial advisors and shares insights into the company's client-focused approach to software development and enhancements.Episode Highlights:00:08: Jason Pereira introduces the show and his guest, Arnulf Hsu of GReminders, explaining its role in meeting workflow management for financial advisors.00:30: Arnold thanks Jason for having him on the show.02:55: Arnold emphasizes the platform's use of workflow automation and AI to enhance the client meeting experience from start to finish.03:10: He shares GReminders' origin story, initially starting as a client notification system linked with Google Calendar.05:39: Arnold explains the process for financial advisors to easily schedule meetings with clients using GReminders' features.07:08: Discusses the successful development of various features based on client feedback and needs.09:19: Talks about the importance of having a smaller, fully integrated tech stack for financial advisors.10:50: Highlights the significant time savings reported by their customers and the positive impact on revenue.12:59: Arnold touches on the future directions GReminders might take, including AI assistants and enhanced client engagement.15:43: Jason concludes that the conversation was concise due to the clarity of GReminders' value proposition.18:30: Arnold expresses his passion for solving business problems and maintaining a rapid software development cycle.Key Takeaways:GReminders enhances productivity for financial advisors by automating the meeting lifecycle, integrating deeply with CRMs.The platform offers significant time savings, allowing advisors to focus more on meaningful tasks that drive revenue and client satisfaction.A strategic focus on vertical markets enables GReminders to tailor its offerings to the specific needs of financial advisors.The rapid iteration cycle in software development allows the company to quickly adapt and improve based on client feedback.Tweetable Quotes:"We're an AI-powered end-to-end meeting management platform built for financial advisors." - Arnulf Hsu"We believe a smaller tech stack that is more deeply integrated tends to be better." - Arnulf Hsu"Business problems are my thing; I understand them and can help solve them." - Arnulf HsuResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.greminders.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnulfhsu/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira interviews David Silverstein, Founder of Ned, a white label online platform aimed at enhancing lender transparency and cash flow visibility for small to medium-sized businesses. Silverstein discusses the origin of Ned, emphasizing transparency and trust between lenders and borrowers, and explains how Ned facilitates cash flow lending with real-time borrower insights. He further explores the challenges faced by conventional lending systems and how Ned addresses these by offering innovative solutions for lenders to design custom capital products, thereby enhancing their market share and efficiency. The conversation delves into the significance of real-time cash flow data, enabling better risk assessment and lending practices.Episode Highlights:00:08: Introduction to the podcast and David Silverstein, founder of Ned.00:27: David Silverstein expresses appreciation for being on the show.00:30: David gives an overview of Ned's platform capabilities and offerings.01:41: The origin story of Ned and how it was founded to resolve friction in business lending.03:03: Discussion on the challenges lenders face and how Ned solves these issues.04:10: Exploration of how typical lending infrastructure has been outdated.06:03: Jason highlights the archaic nature of traditional lending and the need for frequent cash flow assessments.10:01: David discusses how Ned facilitates better lender-borrower relationships.14:48: More insights into how Ned enables smarter, safer lending through better borrower data.17:16: David addresses Ned's impact on the acceleration of growth for lending companies.23:58: Future goals and innovations Ned is working toward.27:54: David’s wish for change in the company's operations or sector being in the area of change management.29:08: Discussion about pricing as one of the biggest challenges currently faced by Ned.30:21: The excitement behind Ned's mission and its impact on borrowers and lenders alike.32:19: Closing remarks and appreciation from Jason to David.Key Takeaways:Ned enhances lender-borrower relationships through a platform that prioritizes transparency and trust.Real-time cash flow data is crucial for modern lending, enabling better risk assessment and decision making.The platform reduces underwriting time and improves repayment consistency, fostering better business outcomes.Future innovations at Ned focus on utilizing borrower data to improve loan strategies and growth potential.Tweetable Quotes:"The relationship between a borrower and a lender is pretty darn intimate." - David Silverstein"The old way of underwriting a small business loan is misaligned with today's economy." - David Silverstein"Our DNA was built with revenue-based repayments, automating balance checks and transparency." - David Silverstein"It's all about the borrowers. It's all about intimate relationships and long-lasting relationships." - David SilversteinResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.nedhelps.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-silverstein-b904a27b/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira interviews Vickie Lewin, Chief Growth Officer of Amplify, to discuss their wealth tech platform designed to enhance the advisor and client experience. Vickie explains how Amplify was born within the RIA Ashton Thomas and highlights its evolution into a standalone technology platform aimed at addressing common challenges faced by advisors. Amplify's focus on reducing complexity, creating seamless workflows, and offering a comprehensive trade engine are discussed, alongside a dive into their future roadmap and technology enhancements. The episode concludes with insights on the importance of building platforms that resonate with industry needs.Episode Highlights:00:28: Vickie expresses gratitude for the introduction and humorously notes the accuracy.00:32: Jason asks Vickie to elaborate on Amplify's offerings.00:36: Vickie outlines Amplify's inception from an RIA seeking better tech solutions. 01:32: Discussion on the platform's features, trade engine, and model marketplace.02:42: The journey of Amplify from an internal tool to a marketable product.03:39: Amplify's separation from Ashton Thomas and its growth trajectory.04:26: Jason summarizes the typical entrepreneurial trajectory in wealth tech.05:08: Discussion on the importance of technology understanding advisor needs.05:27: Vickie talks about the user perspective benefits seen in the platform.05:58: Delving into Amplify's integrated and simplified tech stack approach.10:38: The importance of the client experience in Amplify's offerings.12:06: Overview of Amplify's operational and tech characteristics.18:50: Additional features like risk scoring and optimization strategies.21:12: Advisor feedback on the platform's intuitive design and partner support.22:28: Discussion around cost vs. total value offered by Amplify.24:08: Amplify's approach to incorporating client feedback into platform updates. 25:36: Vickie shares her desire for faster tech development in Fintech.27:14: Challenges faced during Amplify's separation process from Ashton Thomas.28:30: Vickie's enthusiasm for building and innovating within the tech space.Key Points:Amplify was created to provide a seamless and less complex solution for RIAs, starting from a frustration with existing tech tools.The platform leverages in-house trade engine capabilities to streamline processes and reduce dependency on multiple software systems.Amplify aims to balance advanced functionality with ease of use, focusing on both advisor and client experiences.Future updates on Amplify's platform will prioritize user feedback and continued enhancement of their robust model marketplace.Tweetable Quotes:"If you’ve gotta make this hard for somebody, make it hard for me, make it easy for my client." - Vickie Lewin"It’s fun to build, it’s fun to hire people, it’s fun to have an idea and be able to apply it quickly." - Vickie LewinResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://amplifyplatform.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickie-edwards-lewin/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Mark Friedenthal, Founder and CEO of Tolerisk, about the innovative risk profiling platform his company offers to financial advisors. Mark explains how Tolerisk differentiates itself by integrating financial data into client risk profiles, providing a more holistic understanding of both risk tolerance and capacity. He discusses the company's origins and challenges, highlighting the improvements Tolerisk has made over traditional methodologies like Monte Carlo simulations. The conversation underscores the importance of proper client profiling in risk assessment and the significant role Tolerisk plays in bridging investment management with financial planning.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction to the podcast episode and the guest, Mark Friedenthal, CEO of Tolerisk.01:04: Mark shares the origins of Tolerisk and the problems it aims to solve with client risk profiling.02:07: Development of a solution for profiling client tolerance that integrates with financial information.03:29: Discussion on the learning curve in managing a tech project and developing a solution tailored to clients.05:56: Overview of how traditional risk tolerance metrics work and introduction to Tolerisk’s novel approach.07:34: Explanation of using psychometric profiles to measure willingness to accept risk, and the limitations of other methods.14:08: Tolerisk evaluates the likelihood clients will run out of money alongside risk assessments.17:12: Explanation of Tolerisk’s improvements over traditional Monte Carlo simulations, using historical data effectively.21:03: Creating a tailored approach to help better engage clients and reduce compliance risk for advisors.22:08: Discussion of the benefits of proper risk assessment and client profiling in avoiding financial pitfalls.23:07: Importance of understanding the right level of risk for clients and ensuring decisions are bespoke.26:42: Difference between fiduciary advisory and suitability in terms of risk management. 28:01: Mark discusses the wish for democratization of technology access among advisors.Key Points:Tolerisk offers a sophisticated platform for integrating financial data into risk profiling, providing a more holistic approach to assessing client risk tolerance and capacity.Proper client risk profiling is crucial in financial advising, not only for better client outcomes but also for reducing compliance risks.Advisors need improved technology access to personalize client advice and strengthen corporate culture aligned with fiduciary duties.Tweetable Quotes:"Risk is a Goldilocks exercise; it needs to be just right for each client, right now." - Mark"Tolerisk bridges investment management and financial planning to ensure robust and tailored client outcomes." - Jason"A mathematical approach to risk profiling can enhance decision-making and inspire client confidence." - MarkResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.tolerisk.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/friedenthal/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira interviews Miles Paschini, CEO of FV Bank, an innovative Fintech startup. The discussion revolves around FV Bank's mission to bridge traditional banking with cutting edge financial technologies like blockchain and FinTech solutions. Miles reflects on his journey in the payments industry and highlights FV Bank's efforts to cater to FinTech and blockchain companies by offering compliant and tech-forward banking services. The episode dives into the challenges of building a bank of the future and explores emerging trends like the growing importance of stable coins and real-time money movement.Episode Highlights:00:09: Jason Pereira introduces the podcast and guest Miles Paschini, CEO of FV Bank, highlighting its innovative approach to providing banking services for SMEs using blockchain.00:30: Miles explains the meaning of FV Bank, emphasizing their focus on combining traditional banking with Fintech and blockchain technologies.01:21: Jason inquires about the history and inception of FV Bank.01:21: Miles discusses his career trajectory and how it led to the founding of FV Bank, including past ventures and challenges faced with traditional banks.03:29: Miles details the unique approach of FV Bank, owning both the technology stack and banking charter, differentiating it from other challenger banks.04:32: Discussion on the complexity and fragmentation of the current banking technology landscape and FV Bank's approach to integrating advanced compliance.05:40: Addressing traditional banking inefficiencies and FV Bank's pursuit of improving money movement leveraging stable coins.08:23: Challenges of building a banking infrastructure that merges the best of prebuilt solutions and innovative technology for compliance and efficiency.09:30: Exploration into FV Bank's vertical integration strategy and its impact on customer offerings.12:18: FV Bank's focus on SMEs in the Fintech space and plans to expand their value proposition beyond this core market.18:10: Discussion on lowering technical barriers for businesses by integrating stable coins into traditional banking services.20:12: The importance of regulatory and compliance focus in supporting advanced transaction processes securely.Key Points:FV Bank bridges traditional banking systems with emerging Fintech and blockchain technologies to offer innovative banking solutions.The integration of stable coins is set to transform money movement, significantly reducing transaction times and enhancing global trade efficiency.Despite technological advancements, regulatory clarity remains a pivotal factor for scaling the blockchain and Fintech industries.Tweetable Quotes:"We're trying to build a bank that bridges the legacy system with Fintech and blockchain." - Miles Paschini"Stable coin offers a transformative avenue for real-time international transactions." - Miles Paschini"Regulatory clarity is the missing piece to truly unleash blockchain's potential in finance." - Miles PaschiniResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.fvbank.us/https://www.linkedin.com/in/milespaschini/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira interviews Helen Yang, Founder and CEO of Andes Risk, a financial technology company offering a next-generation risk assessment platform for financial advisors. The conversation highlights how the company employs behavioral finance to enhance investment strategies and provide personalized financial advice. Jason Pereira delves into the origins and implementation of Andes Risk, uncovering how it integrates into existing workflows to assess risk tolerance and behavioral biases. Helen emphasizes the importance of blending technology with psychological insights to improve investor outcomes and touches on the ongoing development in this space.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction to Helen Yang, founder and CEO of Andes Risk, and the purpose of the podcast conversation.00:31: Helen talks about Andes Risk and its focus on a risk and behavioral finance solution for advisors.00:52: Discussion transitions into the origin story of Andes Risk and Helen's passion for behavioral finance. 01:58: Exploring the integration of behavioral finance into risk assessment processes. 02:56: Helen describes different investor types and tailoring messages to them during market turmoil. 03:44: Examination of how Andes Risk integrates into existing advisory workflows and the value of embedding these tools.05:18: Explanation of how Andes Risk uses modular questionnaires to continuously assess and educate investors.07:14: Details about how Andes Risk provides a comprehensive investor profile report.08:12: Introduction of the Behavioral Risk Index, quantifying investor behavioral risks.09:10: Helen emphasizes the importance of behavioral awareness and learning for investors.10:45: Discussion on how advisors can demonstrate their value through behavioral coaching.13:49: Talking about how Andes Risk identifies behavioral biases in investors.18:29: Insight into the ongoing processes for managing and evolving risk assessments.21:07: Helen's views on the misconceptions in the industry and her ambition to standardize the methodologies.24:28: Helen’s aspirations for Andes Risk to become the industry standard.Key Points:Andes Risk aims to integrate behavioral finance into financial advising, offering a personalized approach to managing investment risks.The platform's modular questionnaires allow for an ongoing assessment of investor behavior, providing continuous insights and education.Behavioral risk indexes provide a quantifiable measure of an investor's behavior, aiding advisors in tailoring their coaching strategies.Helen Yang seeks to establish Andes Risk as an industry standard by correcting common misconceptions and providing better insights.Tweetable Quotes:"Andes Risk helps advisors manage investments by understanding investor behavior." - Helen Yang"We have solved the investment problem, now it’s time to solve the investor problem." - Helen Yang"Advisors wanted to demonstrate their value; behavioral coaching adds up to 200 bps." - Helen YangResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://andesrisk.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenyangcfa/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Jeff Marsden, Chief Product Officer at PureFacts, a leader in revenue management for financial advisory and investment management firms. They explore the complexities of revenue management, including regulatory challenges, individualized advisor fee structures, and data integration from multiple sources. The discussion also touches on the company’s strategic acquisitions, the integration of AI to enhance data quality and operational efficiency, and future industry trends like outcome based models in wealth management.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction by Jason Pereira about Jeff Marsden and PureFacts, focusing on complexities in revenue management.00:27: Jeff Marsden expresses his pleasure in being on the show.00:29: Jeff Marsden discusses the history of PureFacts and their global expansion.01:09: Jeff digs into the DNA and history of the company, emphasizing late 90s billing systems.02:54: Conversation about fee complexities, daily moving numbers, and regulatory influences.03:52: Discussion on regulations, data calculations, and advisor relationship complexities.04:54: Description of the comprehensive and customizable nature of PureFacts' platform.05:01: Details about the different advisors’ unique propositions and fee models.05:32: Jason Pereira highlights challenges in calculating fees for numerous advisors at broker dealers.06:56: Jeff outlines the significant data challenge in revenue calculations and client transparency.07:42: Discussion on regulatory disclosure issues such as CRM3 and its complexities.08:27: Jason asks about comprehensive revenue management; Jeff explains technical and business perspectives.09:24: Jeff outlines the technical flow from data integration to output for client statements.11:07: Jason inquires about merging multiple companies; Jeff explains the strategy behind acquisitions.13:20: Discussion on the benefits of acquisitions for existing customers and market expansion.15:04: Jeff talks about three years of AI integrations improving data management and client service.18:02: Jason commends the reduction of burdens through AI, easing enterprise-grade software onboarding.Key Points:Revenue management in financial services is complex, involving regulations and unique fee structures for advisors.PureFacts integrates AI to improve data accuracy, operational efficiency, and onboard processes for new clients.Strategic acquisitions have enabled PureFacts to enhance their service offerings and expand geographically.Tweetable Quote:"AI is fundamentally transforming how we sanitize data and optimize operations for maximum client value." - Jeff Marsden"The future of wealth management is an outcome-based model focusing on true client value." - Jeff Marsden"Merging knowledgeable companies has created a powerhouse in comprehensive revenue management." - Jeff MarsdenResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://purefacts.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmarsden/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jason Pereira interviews Sindhu Joseph, CEO, and Co-founder of CogniCor, an AI platform designed to transform the financial advisory industry. They discuss how CogniCor's AI co-pilot assists financial advisors by enhancing their productivity and enabling personalized client interactions. Sindhu shares the inspiration and technology behind CogniCor, emphasizing the platform's potential to democratize access to wealth. They also touch on AI's evolution beyond general AI and delve into CogniCor's multi-faceted capabilities that streamline advisors' workflows. The episode concludes with Sindhu's reflections on industry fragmentation and the company's mission to bridge wealth disparities.Episode Highlights:00:08: Introduction of Jason Pereira and the podcast episode featuring Sindhu Joseph, CEO of CogniCor.02:00: Discussion on the origin story of CogniCor and Sindhu's background in AI and finance.04:31: Overview of AI technology in CogniCor and its components, including machine learning and deductive reasoning.11:29: Explanation of CogniCor's practical applications for financial advisors, including personalization and workflow functionalities.16:14: Description of a typical day for a financial advisor using CogniCor's technology.19:27: Metrics on productivity gains and personalized client service achieved through CogniCor. 21:38: Future visions for CogniCor, focusing on integrating health data for comprehensive financial planning.23:04: Sindhu's wish for reduced data fragmentation in the industry.24:14: Challenges in educating the market about AI and promoting its adoption.25:13: Joseph's mission-driven excitement about CogniCor's potential impact on wealth democratization.26:19: Closing remarks and promotion for CogniCor and the podcast.Key Points:CogniCor is an AI-driven co-pilot designed to assist financial advisors by enhancing communication, task automation, and personalization.The platform leverages AI to streamline advisors' workflows, resulting in significant time savings and increased productivity daily.CogniCor aims to democratize wealth access by enabling financial advisors to extend their services to a broader audience.Sindhu believes that eliminating industry fragmentation through AI integration could significantly enhance operational efficiency.Future developments for CogniCor include incorporating health data to provide a comprehensive view of clients' financial and wellbeing profiles.Tweetable Quotes:"CogniCor is an attempt to democratize the access to wealth." - Sindhu Joseph"AI is more than gen AI; it's about creating intelligence artificially." - Sindhu Joseph"CogniCor provides a proactive co-pilot experience to financial advisors." - Sindhu Joseph"Today's financial advisors are really spoiled; I wish I had this tool." - Sindhu Joseph"Maintaining personalization at scale is one huge advantage AI brings to financial advising." - Sindhu JosephResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.cognicor.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sindhujoseph/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Jason Pereira talks with Kevin Knull, President of TaxStatus, about the innovations TaxStatus is bringing to the field through its seamless data integration with the IRS. Kevin discusses how the company sources taxpayer data, with the consent of the taxpayer, to help clients make well informed financial decisions. He highlights the broader applications and benefits including financial advising, loan origination, and identity verification. The episode also covers the importance of identity security and Kevin's vision for enhancing the quality of financial advice using comprehensive insights derived from IRS data.Episode Highlights:00:08: Jason Pereira welcomes Kevin Knull, president of TaxStatus, to discuss the role of his company in gathering IRS data to improve financial advising.01:23: Kevin talks about the foundation of TaxStatus, which was formed to address the challenges in obtaining taxpayer data from the IRS efficiently.04:41: Kevin Knull outlines the process of tying into the IRS, emphasizing the crucial step of obtaining taxpayer consent for data access.06:20: Kevin shares the extent of data pulled down from the IRS, offering a comprehensive picture of a taxpayer’s financial activities over the past decade.07:26: Jason expresses his amazement at the granular level of financial data available through TaxStatus.09:39: Kevin elaborates on various real-world use cases where this data proves beneficial, including lending, credit checks, financial advising, and more.12:42: Introduces the benefits of report generation that summarizes a taxpayer's financial data, facilitating better financial advice.15:06: Covers the importance of ongoing monitoring to prevent identity theft and fraudulent activities with real-time IRS updates.20:17: The discussion moves to the necessity of biometric authentication for addressing identity verification concerns in the financial landscape.Key Points:The consent-driven model of TaxStatus offers comprehensive access to IRS data, which can critically enhance financial advising and decision-making.Real-time monitoring by TaxStatus helps alert taxpayers and advisors about potential fraud and unexpected changes in tax records.Empowering financial professionals with complete data from the IRS facilitates more accurate and holistic tax and financial planning.The integration of biometric authentication may become essential in addressing modern identity security challenges in financial sectors.Tweetable Quotes:"Empowering decision-making with full transparency — that's the power of TaxStatus." – Kevin Knull"A treasure trove of financial insights is available at your fingertips with TaxStatus, guiding you to informed decisions." – Jason Pereira"Financial advisors should render advice on all available data, not just the easy-to-obtain." – Kevin Knull"Identity theft is an inevitability; vigilance and best practices are your best defence." – Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/knull/https://www.taxstatus.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jason Pereira interviews Chanddeep Madaan, the CEO and founder of Aya Care, a health spending account provider in Canada. The discussion focuses on Aya Care's mission to remove financial barriers for accessing health and wellness services. Madan explains how Aya Care uses technology to streamline the process, reducing the hassle of reimbursement, and enabling employees to utilize health spending accounts easily. They also explore the economic impact of traditional insurance versus the flexibility offered by Aya Care's solution.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction of the episode featuring Chanddeep Madaan, discussing his company Aya Care and its role in health spending account management.00:46: Chanddeep Madaan expresses gratitude for being invited to the podcast.00:51: Madan shares the inspiration and mission behind starting Aya Care, highlighting financial barriers in accessing health services in Canada.02:32: Jason Pereira aims to understand out-of-pocket expenses in existing health plans versus health spending accounts.02:49: A breakdown of out-of-pocket expenses, including dental, vision, and the non-coverage areas such as fertility and mental health services.06:32: Benefits of health spending accounts in Canada compared to similar models in the United States.07:31: Madan critiques bloat in healthcare administration costs and positions Aya Care as a cost-effective alternative.08:29: Pereira and Madan discuss the feasibility of Aya Care's solution being adopted by traditional insurance companies.09:17: Aya Care introduces Visa cards for direct health service payments, reducing financial strain on employees.11:58: Madan outlines different reimbursement experiences between traditional insurance, HSAs, and Aya Care's innovative solution.15:48: Pereira elaborates on employer attitudes and cost-control mechanisms in traditional vs. new-age health spending.21:54: Examination of the employee-centric approach fostering healthier and more productive workforces.25:10: Challenges and technological advancements in health spending account claims adjudication discussed.Key Points:Aya Care aims to innovate by removing friction in health spending account processes, contrasting traditional methods.There is an emphasis on using AI to streamline the claims adjudicating process, making it instant and cost effective.Madaan focuses on creating customizable spending accounts tailored for specific needs, such as mental health and fertility.Tweetable Quotes:"Removing financial barriers to access health and wellness is our mission." - Chanddeep Madaan"Imagine submitting a claim in an app and getting approved before you close it." - Jason Pereira"Our process is too seamless, but that’s what innovation is about." - Chanddeep Madaan"Aligning people towards a common mission has been challenging yet rewarding." - Chanddeep MadaanResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://ayacare.com/about-us/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmadaan/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jason Pereira interviews Ben Borodach, co-founder and CEO of April, a FinTech company focused on integrating tax calculations into financial apps to help users make smarter financial decisions. Ben discusses his entrepreneurial journey, challenges faced when building April, and the importance of simplifying tax processes for consumers. The conversation delves into how April's technology leverages data to create a more efficient and seamless tax filing experience. It also touches on the potential for positive disruption in the financial industry by embedding tax-related services in financial apps.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction to the podcast and guest Ben Borodach of April. 00:55: Ben discusses his background and the creation of April.01:46: His experience at Deloitte and the shift to financial tech.02:33: Ventures into finance, technology, and company incubations.03:25: The unbundling and re-bundling of financial services.04:12: Tax as a neglected yet critical financial record-keeping tool.04:53: Using tax data for better financial outcomes for consumers.05:39: Identifying and acting upon the opportunity in tax technology.06:26: Choosing technology as the path for building April.07:10: Challenges in turning tax law into accessible code.07:50: Creating a user-friendly tax engine.13:09: Initial reactions from financial institutions to April's concept.14:41: Addressing the question of core competencies in tax services. 16:05: Room for improvement in the tax filing user experience.17:41: April's better, faster, and cheaper approach to tax filing.19:19: Overview of the process and partner interactions with April.22:09: April's goal to embed in major financial interactions.23:40: Wish for improved technology partnership with the US government.24:23: The biggest challenge faced: building the tax engine.25:24: Excitement about contributing positively to the American economy.Key Points:Embedding tax services within financial apps can simplify tax processes and leverage financial data. A technology-first approach is crucial for creating scalable, efficient tax solutions.Partnering with financial institutions presents both an opportunity and a challenge for Fintech innovations.There is significant room for improvement in the tax filing experience, aiming for user-friendly, real-time processes.April is positioned to reshape financial interactions by making tax services a core component of financial apps.Tweetable Quotes:"Nobody was really doing a great job of everything altogether." - Ben Borodach"The tax code is more of an expression of our collective social fabric than just a taxation law." - Ben Borodach"Our incentives are aligned with delivering a great efficient tax experience." - Ben Borodach"We're part of the American story, contributing positively to its economy." - Ben BorodachResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/benborodach/https://www.getapril.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Yelena Shkolnik, Partner at Jump Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in fintechs at the Series A level. The conversation explores the firm's approach to investments, particularly how they evaluate companies transitioning from startup to a more established phase, focusing on consistent, repeatable revenue streams and team dynamics. They discuss the transition from founder-led sales to institutionalized processes and provide insights into market trends, product validation, and scaling strategies, all within the fintech sector.Episode Highlights:00:39: Yelena provides an overview of Jump Capital, noting their focus on Series A investments and their team distribution between Chicago and New York.02:30: Jason discusses Series A investments as a pivotal stage where a company must have a clear product-market fit.02:48: Yelena outlines what Jump Capital looks for in Series A companies, emphasizing revenue and team capabilities.04:29: The thematic investment perspective and the experience Jump Capital brings in understanding market trends are discussed.06:30: The concept of "consumerization" of enterprise services is explained, illustrating how enterprise buying mirrors consumer behavior.08:07: Jason and Yelena talk about the advantages of founder-led sales in the early stages and the evolution to professional sales processes. 10:05: Jason and Yelena discuss ensuring product-market fit and how VCs discern this at different stages of a company's lifecycle.16:18: Yelena describes the balance between taking customer feedback and innovating beyond customer requests.21:07: Yelena discusses exceptions for investing in earlier or later rounds, mentioning thematic alignment and potential strategic advantages. 26:03: Final advice is given on how startups can effectively approach VCs, with a focus on team dynamics and long-term vision.Key Points:Transitioning from founder-led sales to a structured sales process is essential as companies grow.Revenue diversification and customer base analysis are pivotal for investor confidence.The "consumerization" of enterprise tech shows a shift towards more user-friendly and organic adoption models.Venture capital firms value thematic investment perspectives and industry insights in potential investments.Tweetable Quotes:"At Series A, it's when it gets real; you've got to have figured something out to attract that kind of money." - Jason Pereira"We shine in helping companies scale right after they've found product-market fit." - Yelena Shkolnik"It's not just about sales cycles but understanding the buyer's journey and enterprise complexities." - Yelena Shkolnik"The consumerization of enterprise sales mirrors how we now give control to the buyer." - Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://jumpcap.com/team-members/yelena-shkolnik/https://www.linkedin.com/in/yelenashkolnik/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews John Connell, CEO and Co-founder of Focal, an AI-driven meeting notation software. They discuss Focal's mission to enhance client relationship management for financial advisors, emphasizing proactive AI solutions beyond simple note-taking. John shares insights on Focal’s development journey, the role of AI agents, and the niche they are carving in the wealth management and tech landscape. They also explore the importance of regulatory compliance and the challenges and opportunities faced in integrating AI into financial advisory workflows.Episode Highlights:00:11: Jason introduces the podcast and guest, John Connell of Focal.00:30: Jason discloses his advisory role in Focal.00:35: John appreciates Jason's insights into the product.00:42: Jason introduces John for a marketing pitch on Focal.04:25: Jason makes a humorous remark about his avatar existence.04:36: John concludes on Focal's mission and evolution since launching.04:49: Jason addresses competition and the value of industry-specific AI tools.06:49: Jason shares his impressions of John’s approach compared to other AI providers.08:15: Jason notes Focal's broader approach and understanding of advisor workflows.09:22: Discussion on leveraging Focal's data capture capabilities for actionable insights.10:49: John explains capturing data as foundational to Focal’s long-term vision.12:03: A deeper dive into AI agents and their potential for financial advisors.17:13: Exploration of surprises and unexpected paths in Focal’s journey.18:12: John acknowledges Focal’s success in identifying untapped opportunity spaces.19:15: Discussion on the broader implications of AI in the advisory industry.20:24: Insights into data management, security, and AI compliance challenges.22:11: Jason highlights the importance of architecting for compliance from the start.24:11: Conversation on the challenges and mindset necessary for industry disruption.Key Points:Focal aims to revolutionize advisor-client relationship management through AI-driven tools beyond basic note-taking.Despite many generic AI note-taking solutions, Focal’s industry-specific integrations and compliance give it an edge.Human validation remains essential as AI tools begin supporting advisor workflows with potential for complete automation.John’s leadership reflects a commitment to ethical AI deployment and addressing industry-specific regulatory challenges.Tweetable Quotes:"AI is not just about capturing data, but how you leverage it for actionable insights."- John"Proactive AI is redefining what an advisor can accomplish for their clients."- Jason"Trust but verify, especially when it comes to AI in financial workflows."- John"The real impact of AI is empowering the underdog to scale their capabilities."- JohnResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.meetwithfocal.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-l-connell-79a57424/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Tim Brackney, CEO of Springline Advisory, about their innovative approach to scaling mid-market advisory and accounting firms through the implementation of advanced technology and strategic acquisitions. The discussion covers SpringLine's inception, their private equity backing, and how they help firms transition from a localized operation to an enterprise-level structure, allowing them to focus more on their core competencies. Brackney also explains how the company's business model gives these firms a competitive edge in a large yet underserved market. The episode emphasizes the importance of maintaining the essence of the founding firm while leveraging technological advancements to facilitate organizational growth.Episode Highlights:00:10: Jason Pereira introduces Tim Brackney, CEO of Springline Advisory, discussing the company’s role in helping mid-market advisory firms scale through technology.00:37: Brackney gives an overview of Springline's history and goals.01:35: Discussion on the market opportunity and fragmentation in the accounting and advisory industry.02:28: Challenges faced by mid-market firms when scaling are explored.04:27: Discussion on when firms typically start conversations about joining SpringLine.04:57: Firms entering Springline already have some level of professional management.05:34: The complexities of scaling from mid-market to enterprise are discussed.06:42: Brackney elaborates on the timing of firm conversations with Springline.08:12: The criteria for choosing firms to join Springline are explained.08:43: Emojis in merging firms and handling transitions were discussed.10:48: Discussion on changes in firms’ growth ability post-acquisition.12:19: The venture-backed aspect of the business model is outlined.13:30: Conversation about structuring deals that include equity.14:34: Discussion on the tools and foundation set for Springline's success.15:34: Various stages of firm development and adaptation are discussed.16:29: The value of being an early adopter is outlined.16:59: Potential size and growth strategy for Springline are explored.18:53: Vision for long-term growth within the mid-market sector.21:31: Brackney voices a wish for more talent retention in the industry.Key Points:Springline Advisory is committed to helping mid-market firms scale effectively through technology and strategic acquisitions.The company focuses on maintaining strong client relationships while enabling firms to grow with the support of expert management and tech solutions.Springline’s unique approach offers a viable path for mid-market firms to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth.Tweetable Quotes:"Springline is about scale plus soul, allowing firms to grow without losing their identity.""Mid-market firms face unique challenges that require innovative solutions to overcome scaling barriers.""We are finding and keeping talent by making our firms an irresistible place to work."Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Tachat Igityan, Founder of Destream, a platform designed to help content creators monetize their work more efficiently. Tachat describes Destream as a fintech solution aimed at simplifying payment processes for creators, addressing issues associated with traditional payment systems like PayPal. The discussion covers various challenges faced by content creators in getting compensated fairly and promptly, alongsidethe complexities of compliance and risk management within financial systems. Tachat also shares his vision for Destream, including potential expansion into financial products such as loans for creators.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction from Jason Pereira and overview of Destream.00:26: Tachat Igityan discusses the purpose of Destream for content creators.00:53: Exploration of the complexities in payment systems like PayPal.01:02: Origin story of the company, identifying payment issues for creators.02:44: Problems with traditional payment methods and limitations of PayPal.03:10: Discussion on the insufficiencies of PayPal for creators.03:30: Importance and legitimacy of content creation as serious work.04:38: Personal anecdotes regarding PayPal's chargeback issues.07:14: The growing financial impact of the content creation market.08:09: Example of Cyprus YouTuber elected to European Parliament.12:39: Technical solutions and strategy for building a payment platform.14:41: Explanation of how Destream supports different payment methods.16:23: User experience and rapid transaction capability of Destream.17:05: Positive user feedback on Destream’s efficiency and support.20:35: Plans for growth, including loans for content creators.23:52: Tachat Igityan’s motivation and enjoyment in changing financial perspectives.Key Points:Destream offers an innovative fintech solution to help content creators receive global payments efficiently, addressing gaps left by traditional systems like PayPal.The platform encounters and resolves compliance challenges, leveraging its in-depth understanding of creators' needs and financial operations.Users appreciate the platform’s user-friendly interface and rapid transaction processes, highlighting the difference compared to traditional banking hurdles.The content creation industry is growing exponentially, with significant revenue potential, necessitating more flexible financial solutions.Tweetable Quotes:"Destream is more about fintech for creators, not about the streaming." -Tachat Igityan"Being known before, not after, is crucial for success in the new age of marketing." - Jason Pereira"Having a million users is better than having a million dollars for election campaigns." -Tachat Igityan"I like what I'm doing, and that's it. If I'm doing the right thing, others will eventually see it too." -Tachat IgityanResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://destream.net/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tigityan/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jason Pereira and Guy Anderson engage in a year-end review of the Fintech Impact podcast, covering insights and trends in financial technology over the past year . They discuss the evolving landscape of fintech solutions, AI integration, and challenges faced in areas such as open banking and data aggregation. Various guests and their contributions to sectors like estate planning, tax, and insurance were recalled, highlighting the innovative strides made bycompanies in these niches. The conversation also touches upon future predictions and aspirations for 2025 in fintech advancements.Episode Highlights:00:11: Introduction to the end-of-year recap and guest host Guy Anderson.00:29: Guy celebrates being part of the episode and appreciates the podcast's work.00:32: Jason and Guy plan to discuss the year’s achievements and developments.01:16: Elements and its evolution in financial diagnostics is highlighted.01:28: Jason shares insights on conversations with guests over the years.02:12: Jason and Guy discuss the importance of being open to repeat visitors.02:55: Discussion on AI struggles and successes in the financial sector .04:34: Guy highlights his favorite episodes and discusses letters of intent.05:42: Episode insights with behavioral finance and AI’s role in advisory.06:24: Real-world AI application scenarios are discussed by Jason and Guy.07:04: Guy asks about the top episode Jason favored over the past year .08:09: Reflecting on educational and engaging conversations with guests.09:26: Jason recounts memorable episodes and networking experiences.10:15: Discussing the roots and motivation of fintech entrepreneurs.10:59: Jason emphasizes the importance of understanding industry pain points.12:43: Addressing the open banking challenges and Canadian banking systems.15:53: Critique of Canadian banks' slow technology adoption.17:00: Jason talks about data aggregator difficulties and banking hurdles.20:18: Comparison of US and Canadian onboarding and innovation speeds.22:18: Discussion on the limitations of current bank technology advancements.24:39: Overview of a distinctive episode featuring facet wealth's business model.26:37: Assessing AI’s impact and misconceptions in the tech space.28:10: The future potential of AI in enhancing user experiences.30:53: Jason previews upcoming guests and episode themes for 2025.33:26: Jason's thoughts on transformative industry advancements.36:13: Reflections on open banking and standardizing industry data.37:02: Closing remarks and acknowledgments for the successful year.Tweetable Quotes:"Understanding the real problem is the key to creating impactful fintech solutions."- Jason Pereira"AI is not here to replace us; it's here to make us more human advisors."- Jason Pereira"Open banking remains a crawl over glass for our data rights in Canada."- Jason Pereira"In fintech, the longer the time goes, the more differently our businesses will operate."- Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Mike Conover, CEO and Co-founder of Brightwave, an AI-driven investment research platform. Mike discusses how Brightwave leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide insightful financial analysis by synthesizing data from multiple sources and uncovering patterns. The episode delves into the challenges of using AI for financial research, the advantages of Brightwave's approach, and the vision for the platform's future in the industry. Jason and Mike also explore the broader implications of generative AI in high-stakes domains like finance.Episode Highlights:00:09: Jason Pereira introduces the FinTech Impact podcast with guest Mike Conover, CEO of Brightwave, introducing the AI-driven research platform to the audience.00:34: Mike expresses his appreciation for being on the show, signalling the start of the conversation about Brightwave.00:36: Jason asks Mike to describe Brightwave, leading to a concise explanation of the platform's function in investment research.00:39: Mike explains Brightwave as an AI platform generating valuable financial analysis and insights.00:51: Jason praises Mike for delivering a concise elevator pitch about Brightwave, setting the tone for the interview.06:26: Mike credits his co-founder’s deep financial services experience and their team’s technical expertise in enhancing Brightwave’s performance.07:28: Jason observes differences in how teams approach AI solutions, pointing out the importance of addressing data reliability and network challenges.08:30: Mike agrees, suggesting that quality AI solutions require a practical, problem-solving mindset for successful deployment.09:16: Mike discusses Brightwave's focus on financial services, emphasizing accuracy as a key objective in their AI research platform.12:15: Jason and Mike discuss the behavior of systems trained to find and interpret complex patterns, particularly in financial domains.24:57: Mike reveals his wish for a more measured approach to AI technology amidst the current hype, focusing on genuine capabilities.25:40: Jason reflects on the early excitement about AI, predicting a period of adjustment to realistic use cases and applications.Key Points:Brightwave uses advanced AI to synthesize data, uncovering insightful financial analysis beyond conventional methods.Acknowledging AI's limitations is crucial for ensuring practical applications in high-stakes industries like finance.Despite the AI hype, its value lies in powerful data reasoning, not the creation of an all-knowing entity.Tweetable Quotes:"AI in finance isn't about creating a living god; it's about transforming how we reason over text."- Mike Conover"Synthesis, not just data gathering, is where Brightwave creates true value for financial analysts."- Mike Conover"Our challenge is showcasing AI's thought process, making it legible and valuable for users."- Mike ConoverResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.brightwave.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelconover/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira brings back Adam Holt, CEO and founder of Asset Map, to discuss the evolution of his company and the financial planning industry. They explore the development of Asset Map, a tool designed to simplify financial planning by visualizing complex financial data on a single page. The conversation touches on the importance of efficient client communication and how tech advancements like AI and digital tools can enhance clientrelationships and financial literacy. They also delve into the broader industry trends and challenges, and the shift towards more comprehensive and conversational financial planning.Episode Highlights:00:11: Introduction to the episode, featuring Adam Holt, discussing changes in Asset Map since 2019.00:51: The discussion on the tendency to lose conciseness, leading to interesting, albeit lengthy, conversations.04:24: Jason praises Asset Map for its simplicity and effective communication of financial information to clients.05:10: Adam stresses that Asset Map serves as a summary rather than a comprehensive financial plan.06:34: Understanding client priorities through effective and tailored financial conversations. 08:02: Adam discusses his background in GIS and how it influenced Asset Map's design for spatial financial visualization.11:48: The importance of engaging both spouses in financial planning dialogues for comprehensive understanding.14:28: Adam highlights how Asset Map facilitates digital intimacy and client engagement through conversational planning.17:07: The evolving role of financial advisors in integrating technology with personal client interaction and understanding.18:26: The industry's shift towards comprehensive financial planning with technological enhancements.19:02: Discussion on digital tools replacing transactional roles and enhancing advisory conversations.24:29: Asset Map's addition of legal document tracking to enhance comprehensive planning discussions.25:11: Asset Map's evolution in helping advisors prioritize financial events through interactive visual tools.Key Points:Asset Map is a tool designed to simplify financial planning by providing a visual summary of clients' financial lives.Efficient client communication and engagement are vital for successful financial planning. Technology, including AI, will commoditize basic financial calculations, emphasizing the value of human interaction in advisory roles.Comprehensive financial planning now requires understanding clients' personal priorities and integrating various financial aspects like tax and legal readiness.Tweetable Quotes:"Asset Map is known for being a household visualization tool used by financial professionals to organize financial inventory." - Adam Holt"There’s a genius and a brilliance to succinctness." - Jason Pereira"We finally have approval and permission to stop solving problems the same way we always have." - Adam HoltResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.asset-map.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadamholt/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast features an interview with Patrick Gauthier, CEO of Convera Holdings, who discusses the organization's innovative approaches in the financial technology sector, focusing on cross-border commercial payments. Gauthier highlights the transformation and modernization efforts at Convera post-its acquisition from Western Union, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities embedded in this transition. The conversation revolves around the use of cloud technology, AI, and a significant focus on rendering advanced payment solutions in several market segments. Additionally, the episode explores the strategic direction of thecompany, underlining the critical importance of cooperation with financial institutions and the adoption of real-time payment systems.Episode Highlights:00:10: Introduction to the podcast and guest Patrick Gauthier, CEO of Convera Holdings.00:29: Patrick Gauthier expresses gratitude for being on the show.00:34: Overview of Convera, a large cross-border commercial payment network.01:46: Explanation of Convera’s core business value and services offered.01:51: Historical context on how Convera Holdings was formed from Western Union assets.03:19: Efforts and challenges in transforming Convera post-acquisition.03:38: The complexities involved in separating from Western Union.05:04: Details on modernizing the company with cloud technologies.06:36: How the company is balancing current services with future innovations.08:28: Adaptation to cloud telephony for better client services.10:00: Advantages realized from adopting new technologies.13:16: Collaboration and competition dynamics within financial services.15:17: The segmentation strategy in targeting market segments.19:00: Technological advancements enabling better customer experiences.21:15: The wish for simplified global payment rail infrastructures.28:05: Major challenges faced during company extraction from Western Union.30:00: Motivations behind Patrick’s continued efforts in fintech innovation.32:01: Conclusion and podcast closing remarks.Key Points:Convera Holdings is leveraging cloud technology and AI to provide innovative cross-border payment solutions.The company has transitioned from Western Union into a separate entity, marking a significant milestone in its growth.Real-time payment systems are seen as a future transformative force in financial transactions.There is ongoing innovation in the fintech sector to enhance user experiences for commercial and consumer payments.Tweetable Quotes:"With the proper level of investments in modernization, we really see an opportunity to better serve our clients.""In many ways, I think there is a need to simplify some of the underlying infrastructure.""We have an opportunity to totally transform how services like ours are delivered."Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://convera.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/prxgauthier/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Jason interviews Rick Burgess, CEO of Forms Logic. They delve into the origin of Forms Logic, a platform designed to streamline data collection and form processing for financial advisors. Rick explains the challenges firms face with legacy systems and the inefficiencies that arise from inconsistent data management. They explore the potential improvements in client onboarding, data handling, and operational efficiency that Forms Logic aims to address. The conversation also touches on broader issues in financial services, such as the difficulties in achieving industry-wide data standardization and optimizing processes for better client experiences.Key Highlights:00:11: Introduction to the podcast and overview of Forms Logic's purpose in the financial advisory sector.00:53:Rick Burgess presents a concise elevator pitch for Forms Logic.01:37: Discussion on Forms Logic's origins and how it evolved from solving internal inefficiencies.02:21: Challenges in financial service onboarding due to diverse forms and data requirements.03:08: Complexities of designing adaptable systems for financial services.03:58: The issue of inconsistent data formats among different brokerage platforms.04:50: Historical stagnation in document digitization and the lack of true innovation in client servicing.05:35: Generating efficiencies in processes through improved data handling.07:28: Describing the challenges in uniformity among client onboarding processes.08:09: Impact of platform variances on acquisition strategies in financial firms.09:45: The importance of understanding data landscape for effective CRM transitions.11:26: Industry challenges in creating a universal dataset in financial services.12:12: Exploring innovation potential in form processing and data normalization.13:53: The transition from paper to digital in financial record keeping.14:41: Innovative client onboarding methods that reduce dependency on traditional e-signatures.16:09: Potential efficiencies through universal datasets and streamlined processes.18:08: Customizability of processes and the balance between standardization and individuality.18:57: The potential drawbacks of retaining inefficient big producing advisors.19:38: Leveraging data to evaluate advisor and employee efficiency.Key Points:Evaluating advisor and employee performance through data can uncover hidden inefficiencies and optimize operations.The financial sector needs to move beyond traditional document formats to embrace true digital transformation.Adopting better data management systems can streamline operations and enhance client experience.Tweetable Quotes:"We make forms not suck." - Rick Burgess"Optionality is painful and expensive." - Jason Pereira"Firms need to evolve into data companies to truly innovate." - Rick BurgessResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.formslogic.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsalive/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira delve into the world of alternative investments and digital transformation with Rafay Farooqui, the Chairman Founder and CEO of Subscribe. Subscribe is a platform designed to address challenges in establishing enterprise solutions for subscription document technology and management of alternative products. The discussion covers the historical context and inspiration behind the creation of Subscribe, its contribution to digital transformation in private markets, and the innovative strategies employed to streamline operations within this industry.Episode Highlights:00:10: Jason introduces the podcast, Fintech Impact, and Rafay, the CEO of Subscribe, which addresses challenges in alternative investments.01:23: Discussion on the origins of Subscribe, with Rafay's background at Goldman Sachs informing his insight into digital transformation.03:15: Explains the concept of democratization and the foundation of Subscribe to focus on infrastructure in the private markets.04:47: Jason leads into trivia about fractionalization of shares, explaining historical context linked to silver coins.10:26: Jason and Rafay discuss the complexity of standardizing investment information and the innovative capture of data via Subscribe passports.14:14: Mention of the end client experience, where they have a simplified interaction through a DocuSign signature.15:03: Jason discusses the transformative productivity gains seen by firms using Subscribe, resulting in significant resource and time savings.20:51: Insight into Rafay's extensive experience in the private market, highlighting the importance of understanding and defining problems accurately.27:00: The discussion touches on risk management and career preservation issues hindering progress in technological adoption.27:37: Rafay shares his drive to achieve a one-click Amazon-like model for private markets, describing it as a major challenge.28:58: Discussion wraps up with Jason emphasizing the value of Subscribe for US RIAs and broker dealers facing challenges with alternative investments.Key Points:Subscribe provides an end-to-end enterprise solution to manage alternative investments, addressing pre-trade, trade, and post-trade processes.The platform facilitates significant productivity gains by automating complex, traditionally manual processes.Standardization of investment information through Subscribe passports enhances scalability and reduces time expenditures.Tweetable Quotes:"In a world where we all summon taxis, watch movies, order groceries using a button, an amazon.com for the massive private markets industry doesn't exist."- Rafay"We're building the amazon.com of private markets because it's the everything store: any fund, any investor, everywhere in the world."- Rafay"The undeniable fact that an amazon.com equivalent doesn’t exist for such a large industry should wake everyone up in the morning to build it."- RafayResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://subscribeplatform.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira speaks with John O'Connell, CEO of the Oasis Group, about the current trends and challenges in the advisor technology sector, particularly focusing on the U.S. market. They explore topics such as technology integration, cybersecurity, the rise of AI, and the need for standardized tech stacks in financial advisory firms. John shares his experiences and insights while discussing the impact of technology on RIAs andthe future role of AI in enhancing efficiency and client service in the industry.Episode Highlights:00:11: Introduction to the 350th episode with guest John O'Connell, focusing on the advisor technology space.00:51: Introduction to Oasis Group's role in investment advisory technology.01:02: Explanation of Oasis Group's services, including technology assessments, cybersecurity, and data analytics.01:55: Discussing how Oasis Group acts as an outsourced CTO and consultant.02:31: Exploring trends in U.S. advisor technology for 2024, including private equity and tech stack standardization.03:47: The shift from individual tech stacks towards standardization for cost efficiency among RIAs.04:36: The impact of scaling and negotiating advantages in standardized technology stacks.05:52: How RIAs are leveraging tech stacks for better data management in acquisitions.06:29: Hosting M&A examples, understanding acquisition strategies at Oracle, and implementing these within finance.07:10: The dual front of competition: Companies aiming to unify or disrupt established advisors from below.13:47: The importance of aligning technology choices with business strategies and client identification.19:14: Understanding the nuances of integrations and common misconceptions.25:54: John emphasizes creating effective and engaging experiences for clients in the face of potentially daunting tech options.32:08: Guardrails in AI use to guarantee compliance and minimize risk, particularly regarding sensitive data.36:18: Evaluating AI functionality and its potential to reshape specific roles in financial services.Key Points:Integration and standardization of tech stacks are becoming crucial for financial advisory firms to manage costs and streamline data management.The industry is rife with opportunities for innovation, particularly in personalized client interactions, data analytics, and tech-assisted efficiency.Advisors must align their technology choices with their business strategies and ensure these tools genuinely enhance client relations and service quality.Tweetable Quotes:"Technology is a force multiplier; if you don't know where you're going, you'll just get nowhere faster.""Solve one problem really well, and people will buy it.""Pick where you want to land on that spectrum, and then just be happy with where that is at the moment."Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://theoasisgrp.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnokoconnell/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jason Pereira discusses with Gavin Nachbar, CEO and Co-founder of Column Tax, about how they are revolutionizing tax filing by embedding tax services within financial applications. Gavin explains the origins of Column Tax, its mission to simplify tax filing for Americans, and the innovative approach of using API integrations to streamline the process. The conversation also delves into the challenges of tax filing, particularly for self-employed individuals, and the potential future of real-time tax management and planning.Episode Highlights:00:10: Introduction of the podcast and guest Gavin Nachbar, CEO of Column T ax, discussing their mission to simplify tax filing.00:28: Gavin introduces Column T ax and its goal to make tax filing effortless in the US through app integration.01:03: Gavin shares the origin story of Column T ax and personal experiences with tax complexities.02:02: Discussing the motivation behind addressing tax problems for users and reducing complexity with tax APIs.03:08: Explanation of partnering with companies for embedding tax services within existing financial apps.04:16: Examples of Column T ax's partnerships and their benefits for mobile banking and self employment sectors.05:20: Discussion on the competitive landscape and the approach of being an API utility.06:15: Workflow examples for mobile banking and self-employed users integrating Column T ax services.06:59: Explanation of data integration steps and the challenges of establishing connections with data sources.09:23: Average filing time and how Column T ax helps in simplifying tax processes for users.11:07: Discussion on future aims of Column T ax for year-round tax optimization and planning.13:33: Real-time tax status check and planning for a comprehensive financial overview.14:09: Challenges around education and transparency in tax codes and deductions.17:23: Identifying eligibility and complexity in tax credit benefits as a challenge to address.19:07: Addressing the challenges in determining when a product is ready for market release.19:46: Highlighting the collaborative and motivated professional team as a key driving factor for success.Key Points:Column T ax aims to simplify tax filing by embedding tax services within existing financial apps, saving time and reducing complexity for users.The company's API-first approach allows financial institutions to integrate tax services seamlessly, enhancing user experience.There is a significant opportunity in providing real-time tax status and planning, especially for self employed individuals.The challenge of tax filing stems from the complexity of tax codes and the inefficiencies in data collection and management.Tweetable Quotes:"We're on a mission to make doing your taxes no longer a thing in the US.""We can endure the pain, chew the glass, and save others from it.""In today's world, tax filing should be API-first."Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.columntax.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavinnachbar/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Ryan Rosett, co-Founder and co-CEO of Credibly, a lending platform designed to facilitate small business loans ranging from $5,000 to $600,000. Ryan discusses the origins of Credibly and highlights their objective to address banking challenges faced by small businesses. He elaborates on the company's unique approach to assessing loan credibility, focusing on cash flow and customer service. The conversation further delves into Credibly's advances in technology, notably utilizing generative AI to enhance industry classification and loan processing efficiency.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction to the podcast and guest, Ryan Rosett, co-founder of Credibly.00:27: Ryan Rosett expresses appreciation for the invitation.00:29: Introduction of Credibly and its function as a FinTech lending platform.00:32: Overview of Credibly's mission and target market, detailing loan sizes and processing.01:20: Background on why the founders established Credibly and their approach to lending.04:40: How Credibly’s method alleviates small business concerns and hurdles.04:40: Ryan elaborates on the application and evaluation process at Credibly.05:32: Discussion of Credibly's lending evaluation factors beyond credit scores.06:19: Insight into Credibly's automated lending process and risk-based pricing.06:54: Value propositions of Credibly, including speed and ease of use.07:43: Details on Credibly’s transparency and rapid response throughout the lending procedure.08:19: Contrasting traditional banking processes with Credibly's streamlined model.11:27: Larger loan evaluations using tax returns and their impact on eligibility.12:47: Industry-specific customization in evaluating loan risk and profitability.13:38: Credibly's breadth in industry service, extending across 300 sectors. 14:18: Application of generative AI to better understand and classify industries.15:37: AI’s role in improving industry identification and operational efficiency.16:50: Plans for streamlined user experiences through digital transformation.17:52: Introduction of online checkout for faster loan approval and funding.Key Points:Credibly simplifies the lending process for small businesses, focusing on efficiency and customer experience. They emphasize cash flow rather than credit score as a deciding factor in loan approval, enhancing accessibility. The company's use of generative AI aims to improve industry identification for better financing offers. Credibly continually evolves its risk assessment models to refine the accuracy of loan approvals and pricing. Tweetable Quotes:"We're offering an easier way for small businesses to access credit." – Ryan Rosett"If you have a good business generating free cash flow, we're interested." – Ryan Rosett "The mantra here is: how do we say yes more often?" – Ryan Rosett Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rosett-262b642/https://www.credibly.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, Jason Pereira hosts Parker Ence, CEO and Co-Founder of Jump, a generative AI-based meeting transcription and note-taking service. They discuss the innovations in AI technology, particularly for financial advisors, and how Jump helps automate and assist in meeting preparations and follow-ups to make financial advisors' lives easier. Parker elaborates on the company's unique offerings, how they address the essential but cumbersome parts of financial advising, and the roadmap for the future of Jump.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction of Parker Ence and the concept of Jump, a generative AI-based meeting transcription service. 00:30: Parker Ence thanks Jason and shares excitement about joining the podcast, reflecting on their previous meeting. 00:39: Jason congratulates Parker for winning a tech showcase prize, leading into the focus on Jump.02:55: Discussing the extensive time taken by administrative tasks and how automation can aid advisors. 03:05: Jason and Parker discuss the origins of Jump, with Parker questioning the traditional time concept in AI progress.03:59: Insights into Jump’s development, initially aiming to ease note-transcription into CRM data updates.04:54: Parker shares advice from financial advisors in his circle, supporting the need for improved admin systems.05:36: Success with client testimonials and Jump's rapid growth since its launch, addressing broad industry needs.06:36: Delving into current solutions in the marketplace, the role of AI, and Jump’s unique contributions.07:32: Discussion about legacy technologies like dictation services and how AI marks an advancement beyond these.09:03: Jason acknowledges the efforts of companies like Zoom, admitting improvements in AI note technology.24:17: Testimonials and successful use cases, highlighting how Jump assists in remembering key details. 26:04: Future prospects and improvements planned for Jump, including AI agents and analytics expansion.Key Points:Jump integrates AI to significantly reduce the post-meeting administrative burden on financial advisors. By focusing on financial advisors, Jump customizes and enhances the effectiveness of customer engagement.Jump’s growth demonstrates a substantial demand for AI solutions in financial services to streamline workflows.Effective integration with existing tech infrastructures, including CRM systems, is crucial for success and adoption. Data protection and compliance are vital considerations for any AI-enabled financial service tool.Tweetable Quotes:"Nobody wakes up super excited for typing into Salesforce. That's why we focus on automation." - Parker Ence"The first AI tool you use might feel like magic, but it needs to be more than just summaries." - Jason Pereira"Data isn't stuck in models ready to leak out; it's about safe, effective AI orchestration." - Parker EnceResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/parkerence/https://jumpapp.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason interviews Ali Zahedi, CEO of Infinite Systems, about their comprehensive portfolio management software, Harmony, and its impact on the Canadian wealth management industry. Allie shares the origins of Infinite Systems, emphasizing the company's commitment to providing end to-end, integrated solutions for wealth managers and their move towards exploring inorganic growth opportunities through acquisitions. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of building a tech based solution from the ground up, the importance of team cohesion, and the company's future visions focusing on both enhancing existing services and exploring adjacent opportunities.Episode Highlights:00:10: Introduction to FinTech Impact and today's focus on Infinite Systems and their Harmony platform.00:29: Ali Zahedi expresses gratitude for being featured on the podcast.00:32: A brief overview of Infinite Systems is provided.00:52: The conversation shifts to the origins of Infinite Systems and the identification of industry needs.02:07: Allie elaborates on the end-to-end services and core components provided by Harmony.04:33: The challenges of building an all-encompassing system and the internal development strategy are discussed.05:49: In-house development history, the programming-centric approach, and the importance of system integration.07:11: Strategies to balance client-specific needs with universal features within the system.09:04: The implementation and onboarding process for new clients transitioning to the Harmony platform.10:40: Challenges in data migration and the value of custodial data in the onboarding process.13:41: Discussion on strategic market focus and the potential for exploring advisory services.Key Points:Infinite Systems has significantly impacted the Canadian wealth management industry with its end-to-end platform, Harmony.The company attributes its success to a strong, internally driven development approach and a commitment to comprehensive, integrated solutions.Future growth strategies include exploring inorganic opportunities through acquisitions and expanding into adjacent service areas.Client feedback emphasizes the platform's comprehensiveness and the superior quality of customer service offered by Infinite Systems.There's a strong belief in the potential for growth through greater risk-taking in the conservative Canadian financial industry.Tweetable Quotes:"Started 20 years ago, Infinite Systems focuses on providing foundational technology to wealth managers." - Ali Zahedi"Harmony was born out of a need for a fully integrated end-to-end portfolio management system." - Ali Zahedi"Our strength is programming, leading us to develop a comprehensive in-house solution." - Ali Zahedi"The biggest reward is our team. Working with best friends and turning visions into reality is the dream." - Ali ZahediResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.inf-systems.com/management-team/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahediali/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Michael Watson, head of Axos Advisor Services, on how Axos aims to revolutionize the traditional custodial and banking services for RIAs (Registered Investment Advisors). Axos, a digital bank established in 2000, evolved from a consumer-focused bank to a comprehensive provider offering commercial banking, securities business, and custodial services. The acquisition of E-Trade's custody business is highlighted as a strategic move to diversify and solidify Axos' position in the market. Watson details the company's commitment to providing high-touch, personalized services and the integration of digital banking solutions catering to RIAs and their clients, emphasizing the importance of service quality, efficiency, and not competing with advisors for clients.Episode Highlights: 00:09: Introduction to Axos Advisor Services and its aim to integrate custodian servicing with banking for RIAs.00:27: Michael Watson expresses his pleasure in joining the conversation and discussing Axos' services.00:34: Axos' journey from being one of the first digital banks founded in 2000 to expanding into commercial banking and securities by acquiring a clearing firm and eventually E-Trade's custody business.03:07: The evolution of Axos from its inception as Bank of Internet to a comprehensive digital and commercial banking provider.05:20: Watson emphasizes Axos' commitment to outstanding service, citing the differentiation in their approach to onboarding RIAs and providing personalized, efficient solutions.08:32: The conversation moves towards Axos' capability in providing digital workflows and eliminating operational inefficiencies through automation.13:55: Early feedback on Axos' integrated banking and brokerage services following their launch, highlighting the digital convergence for an improved client experience.16:33: The discussion includes the initial success of banking offerings since launch and the eagerness among RIAs to adopt these services.Key Takeaways: Axos Advisor Services aims to be a pivotal player in blending custodial services with banking for RIAs, leveraging its digital bank foundation to offer streamlined, efficient solutions.The acquisition of E-Trade's custody business illustrates Axos' strategic initiative to diversify and enhance their offerings in a competitive market.Commitment to service excellence and the integration of digital banking functionalities are central to Axos' strategy in fostering relationships with RIAs and their clients.Tweetable Quotes: "In a world where digital transformation defines success, Axos brings banking and custodial services into a new era for RIAs." - Michael Watson"Service excellence isn't just a goal; it's our commitment to every RIA we partner with." - Michael Watson"Advisors need banking solutions that understand and complement their unique offerings, not compete with them." - Michael WatsonResources Mentioned: Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-watson-33222a1/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Perra interviews Rahim Harji, CEO of Datasoft Group, a leading online digital effects and payment settlement platform. Harji discusses the origins of DataSoft Group, its flagship platform FX office, and how it facilitates financial transactions globally for small to medium businesses, easing the complex problem of managing money across borders. Additionally, he touches on the challenges and advancements in international payments, regulatory compliance, and the future direction of the company, including automation and integration efforts aimed at streamlining financial processes for businesses.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction to Rahim Harji, CEO of Datasoft Group, discussing the company’s role in facilitating global financial transactions.00:27: Rahim thanks the host for having him on the show.00:29: Rahim is asked to elaborate on DataSoft Soft and its services.01:27: Exploration into the origin story of DataSoft Group and how it came to be.02:44: Discussion on the common challenges small and medium businesses face with international payments and FX.04:40: How DataSoft Group helps mitigate issues around opaque exchange rates and associated fees.07:19: Overview of the full range of services provided by Datasoft Group.10:22: The productivity benefits clients experience by partnering with DataSoft Group.12:40: Strategies on how DataSoft Group reaches its customers without a traditional sales team.17:37: Rahim's wish for instilling more entrepreneurial spirit within the team.20:09: What excites Rahim about working at Datasoft Group and the fintech industry.Key Takeaways:DataSoft Group is at the forefront of easing the complexities of global financial transactions for small to medium sized businesses.The company’s flagship platform, FX office, helps in mitigating challenges related to international payments and foreign exchange, promoting efficiency through automation.A significant aspect of DataSoft Group's success lies in its ability to streamline regulatory compliance and enhance productivity, reducing the burden on businesses.The company’s ongoing focus on innovation and partnership reflects its commitment to solving contemporary financial challenges while advocating for digitization and strategic financial management.Tweetable Quotes:"We specialize in helping small medium businesses with moving money around the world, simplifying what is usually a complex process." - Rahim Harji"Our platform allows our financial services clients to be transparent, leveraging straight through processing." - Rahim Harji"We believe in power in partnerships; our success is a testament to the brilliant minds and dedication of our team." - Rahim HarjiResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.datasoft.global/about/company/who-we-are/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahimharji/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason welcomes Andrew Altfest of FP Alpha, an innovative platform at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and financial planning. Andrew discusses FP Alpha's mission to automate advanced planning for financial advisors, democratizing services previously available only to the wealthiest clients through specialized teams. The platform has evolved to offer a comprehensive suite of tools for advisors, including estate planning, tax scenario comparisons, and integration with other financial tech tools, aiming to make the planning process more efficient and effective. Jason and Andrew delve into the challenges and triumphs of developing and scaling FP Alpha and the broader implications of AI in enhancing the human aspect of financial planning.Episode Highlights:00:09: Introduction to the episode and guest, Andrew Altfest of FP Alpha, discussing the evolution of his platform in the AI space for financial advice.00:43: Andrew expresses his excitement to return to the show and discuss the advancements of FP Alpha since his last appearance.00:51: Andrew details the functionality of FP Alpha, emphasizing automation in advanced planning and the democratization of financial services once available only to the wealthiest.03:19: Andrew reflects on FP Alpha's journey from its concept to the present day, highlighting the addition of numerous first-of-its-kind features and the broadening of its service offering.05:02: Andrew discusses new features like estate snapshots and the platform's integration with various data sources to enhance the planning process.08:06: There's a deep dive into FP Alpha's offerings, including estate lab features, scenario comparisons, and tax planning tools which have been enhanced since 2021.11:32: Andrew articulates the benefits of integrating advanced planning into advisory services, emphasizing business growth, deeper client relationships, and succession planning.Key Takeaways FP Alpha leverages AI to democratize advanced financial planning, allowing advisors to serve high-net-worth clients more efficiently.The platform fills the gap left by traditional financial planning softwares by automating estate, tax, and insurance planning.Continuous innovation and integration with other financial technologies enhance FP Alpha's usability and comprehensiveness, making it a powerful tool for financial advisors.Tweetable Quotes "FP Alpha democratizes advanced financial planning with AI, opening doors to previously specialized services for a broader client base." - Andrew Altfest"With FP Alpha, advisors can now delve deeper into estate, tax, and insurance planning, areas often overlooked by traditional planning softwares." - Andrew Altfest"True innovation in FinTech, like FP Alpha, doesn't just improve existing tools; it creates new possibilities for advisors and their clients." - Andrew AltfestResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://fpalpha.com/about/https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-altfest-cfp/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira welcomes back Davyde Wachell, CEO and founder of Responsive AI, a company focused on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance advisor insight and productivity in the financial sector. They discuss the evolution of Responsive AI from its initial concept as a robo-advisory service to its current state offering a next best action ecosystem for financial advisors. The conversation also covers the broader implications of AI in finance, including the challenges of implementing AI solutions effectively and the potential for AI to transform client-advisor interactions for better financial decision making.Episode Highlights00:44: Davyde expresses gratitude for being invited back to the show.00:53: Davyde introduces Responsive AI and its flagship product, Prioritize, emphasizing its focus on advisor productivity and insight.01:34: The discussion dives into the history of Responsive AI, starting from its initial concept to its pivot towards serving advisors.03:39: Explanation of the "next best action" concept and its various implications in financial advising.05:00: Insight into the difficulties of implementing AI effectively within the financial sector and the necessity for streamlined data.07:10: Challenges of integrating complex AI solutions in an industry struggling with disparate and unstandardized data systems.08:17: How Responsive AI seeks to complement and enhance Salesforce implementations with focused AI applications in finance.10:23: Discussion about the real-world impact and efficacy of Responsive AI's solutions in improving business processes and advisor-client interactions.14:19: A critique of the current state of AI hype and the real challenges still facing its application in the financial sector.18:42: Davyde shares his perspective on the future development of AI and its implications for financial services.24:48: A wish for the industry to make faster and more honest decisions regarding technology and client service.Key Takeaways Consolidation and improved decision-making are key for financial services to leverage AI effectively. AI's potential in finance hinges on addressing data quality issues and focusing on enhancing advisor-client relationships.Implementing AI solutions like Responsive AI's can lead to significant improvements in productivity and decision-making for financial advisors.The future success of AI in finance requires a balanced approach that combines technology with human expertise and insight.Tweetable Quotes "AI in finance isn't just about the technology; it's about enabling smarter, faster decisions for advisors and their clients.” - Davyde"Data is the fuel of AI, but without proper refinement and focus, even the most advanced AI can't drive financial services forward.” – Davyde"The best AI implementations work as a centaur model –combining the strengths of human expertise with the power of artificial intelligence.” - DavydeResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/davyde//https://www.responsive.ai/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason interviews Brian McLaughlin, President of Orion Advisor Technologies, as he discusses the evolution of Orion and its impact on the FinTech space. Brian shares insights into the challenges of harmonizing technology and teams following acquisitions, and his personal mission to innovate within the industry. He emphasizes the significance of householding in financial planning and the potential of AI to revolutionize the field. Additionally, Brian highlights his aspiration to make financial services accessible to the middle class, underscoring technology's role in reducing delivery costs and improving service.Episode Highlights: 00:09: Introduction of Brian McLaughlin and his role at Orion Advisor Technologies, alongside his significant contributions to the advisor technology industry.00:32: Brian expresses excitement over finally connecting for the podcast episode, humorously acknowledging the previous push and pull.00:36: Discussion on the reciprocal podcast guest appearances between the speakers.00:47: An overview of Orion Advisor Technologies, emphasizing the company's breadth in providing end-to-end technology solutions for advisors.01:37: Mention of Orion’s status as a major player in the technology space for advisors and the episode's focus on technology over the TAM side.02:12: Brian shares his history in the industry, including the origin story of Redtail Technology and its growth over the years.04:53: The pivotal role of creating raving fans as a foundational mantra at Redtail, focusing on delivering exceptional service to both staff and clients.09:39: Discussion around the importance of integration in the software industry and Brian's approach to open collaboration.19:37: Insight into Orion's current focus on AI technologies, including the BFI tools and the transformative potential of AI in the industry.Key Takeaways:The significance of creating a company culture that prioritizes exceptional service can lead to long-term success and market dominance.Integration and collaboration within the FinTech sector are crucial for innovation and providing comprehensive solutions to advisors.Addressing the challenge of defining and harmonizing various aspects of a business, including company culture and technological integration, is key post acquisition.The potential of AI and machine learning to revolutionize the financial services industry, particularly in optimizing operational efficiencies and personalizing client services.Tweetable Quotes:"Creating raving fans is at the heart of our success – focusing on making both staff and clients exceptionally happy." - Brian McLaughlin"Integration is not just about technology; it's about people and companies working together towards a common vision." - Brian McLaughlin"AI has the potential to be a game-changer in financial services, enabling advisors to serve their clients like never before." - Brian McLaughlinResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://orion.com/thought-leader/brian-mclaughlinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/redtail/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason hosts Tanmai Sharma, the CEO and Founder of Collation.AI. The discussion revolves around how Collation.AI addresses the pervasive issue of data integration challenges within financial services through AI-driven solutions. By focusing on creating a centralized data warehouse and utilizing AI chatbots for workflow operations, Sharma shares insights on enhancing data utility and streamlining services in the sector. Episode Highlight:00:09: Jason introduces the episode and guest Tanmai Sharma, CEO and Founder of Collation.AI. Understanding the company's mission illuminates the episode's focus on solving data integration and workflow challenges in financial services through advanced AI technologies.04:29: Sharma underscores the flexibility and scalability of their solution compared to traditional methods, which often rely on manual data management. This part of the conversation emphasizes the efficiency and accuracy benefits of using AI and bots for data synchronization tasks.08:54: The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing data management and user interaction with Collation.AI's platform is discussed. Sharma elaborates on how AI aids in analyzing unstructured data and simplifying interactions through moderated conversations with a chatbot. 11:11: Discussing the future vision for Collation.AI and the broader Fintech sector, Sharma speculates on the move towards data standardization. This future direction promises to further streamline data handling across platforms, potentially revolutionizing how financial data is managed and utilized. 14:36: Sharma reflects on his professional journey and the evolution of Collation.AI. His insights provide a personal perspective on the challenges and opportunities in leveraging technology to solve complex data issues in the Fintech domain.Key Points:The integration of AI and bot technology in managing financial data can significantly reduce the complexity and enhance the efficiency of data workflows.Collaboration between technology providers and financial professionals is key to addressing the ongoing challenges of data integration, accuracy, and utilization. The journey of adapting advanced technologies in traditional sectors like finance underscores the importance of experience, knowledge, and continuous innovation in solving industry-wide problems.Tweetable Quotes:"It should be a criminal offense to have the data and not use it correctly." - Tanmai Sharma"We're not competing with anyone; our competitor is a human being. Our solution is in a very different zip code." - Tanmai Sharma "Every customer gets a separate data warehouse...it's easier, cheaper, faster, more reliable." - Tanmai SharmaMentioned Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tanmai-sharma-9b1777/https://collation.ai/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jason Pereira interviews Jim Sinai of Vanilla, an innovative platform changing how advisors and clients engage in estate planning. Vanilla simplifies the estate planning process, making it more accessible and meaningful by integrating technology to facilitate conversations around legacy and wealth distribution. The discussion covers Vanilla's origin, its impact on the advisory industry, and how it enhances client-advisor relationships through strategic estate planning.Episode Highlights:00:10: Jason introduces the episode and guest, Jim Sinai, the Chief Marketing Officer at Vanilla. Vanilla is spotlighted as a pioneering online estate advisory platform, aimed at fostering deeper connections between advisors and clients through estate planning.02:52: Jason reflects on the traditional shortcomings of estate planning in the advisory industry and how Vanilla fills this gap by creating a definitive value proposition for clients.06:28: Jim outlines the typical workflow for clients using Vanilla, illustrating how the platform empowers advisors to offer personalized and impactful estate planning experiences, from initial assessments to executing updated estate plans. 09:38: The destructive potential of poorly organized estates on family harmony is discussed, underscoring the value of thoughtful estate planning facilitated by Vanilla's platform. 11:31: Sinai details the "last mile" of estate planning with Vanilla, explaining how clients come to realize the discrepancies between their current estate plans and their intentions, leading to necessary adjustments or complete overhauls of their documents. 15:05: Jim highlights how Vanilla also serves as a bridge to engage the next generation in estate planning, addressing the common issue of heirs departing from their parents' advisors. 17:24: Jason wraps up the interview by exploring the broader aspirations within the industry and the challenges Vanilla faces in encouraging more advisors to prioritize estate planning in their practice.Key Points:Vanilla is pioneering a shift in estate advisory, focusing on the relationship and conversation between advisor and client rather than just the documents. Effective estate planning can significantly impact family harmony and legacy, addressing concerns beyond simple wealth distribution. The platform engages not only the current generation but also future heirs, ensuring a comprehensive approach to family wealth and legacy planning. Advisors using Vanilla report transformative experiences in client engagement, highlighting the platform's ability to visualize and simplify complex estate planning concepts.Tweetable Quotes:"Vanilla is changing the narrative around estate planning from documents to discussions." - Jim Sinai "Estate planning done right is about building relationships that go deeper than money." - Jim Sinai"Every family has a legacy. Vanilla helps define and protect it for generations." - Jim Sinai Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jimsinai/https://www.justvanilla.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of compliance and archiving with Larry Shumbres, CEO, and founder of Archive Intel. Archive Intel leverages AI to revolutionize the way businesses handle compliance, offering a singular platform to manage and mitigate risks effectively. We explore the challenges and opportunities in the sector, the role of AI in compliance, and how Archive Intel is setting new standards for efficiency and user experience.Episode Highlights:00:10 - Introduction to the podcast. Jason Pereira, the host, welcomes listeners to the show and introduces Larry Shumbres, CEO, and founder of Archive Intel. The discussion sets the stage for a deep dive into the significance of AI-powered compliance in the financial sector. 00:33 - Larry expresses gratitude for the opportunity to discuss Archive Intel on the podcast, highlighting the importance of sharing knowledge on compliance solutions. 00:35 - The inception story of Archive Intel. Larry narrates how conversations with investment advisors and broker dealers highlighted the need for a modern compliance archiving solution, leading to the establishment of Archive Intel. 01:42 - Archive Intel's value proposition. Larry outlines how the platform is designed to streamline the archiving of communications across emails, social media, and texting, using AI to drive efficiency and reduce compliance risks. 02:31 - Addressing the limitations of previous solutions. The conversation shifts to the problems with existing compliance archiving solutions, such as siloed products and the labor-intensive review process, setting the context for Archive Intel's integrated approach.05:24 - Focusing on the financial industry. Larry discusses the strategic decision to cater exclusively to the financial sector, improving user experience and efficiency by narrowing the platform's focus. 06:10 - Artificial Intelligence in Archive Intel. Larry dives into how AI is used to streamline processes, reduce false positives, and enhance the review process, underscoring the company's forward-thinking approach. 10:42 - Evolution of Archive Intel and AI models. Larry shares insights into the development journey of Archive Intel's AI capabilities, highlighting the iterative process of improvement. Key Points:The advent of AI in compliance represents a pivotal shift towards more efficient and less error-prone processes.Intel's use of AI to handle compliance tasks signals a significant advancement in the field.Specializing in a niche area, like the financial sector, allows for deeper understanding and better solutions for industry-specific challenges.Tweetable Quotes:"Building AI solutions is like teaching a child to walk or talk; it takes time and adjustment." - Larry"Let users communicate on their preferred channels and focus on effectively archiving those communications." - Larry "AI in compliance is not just about automation; it's about elevating the entire compliance process to new standards of efficiency and precision." - LarryResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/larryshumbres/https://archiveintel.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Aaron Schumm, Founder and CEO of Vestwell, a revolutionary platform designed to empower employee savings programs across America. Aaron shares insights into how Vestwell is reshaping savings through workplace and direct-to-individual programs, emphasizing tax-preferred savings vehicles. The conversation delves into the pain points that led to the creation of Vestwell, its innovative approach to simplifying savings, and the impact it hopes to have on the financial well-being of millions.Episode Highlights:00:25: Aaron discusses Vestwell as a backend powerhouse that enables savings programs such as 401k's and IRAs through channel partners, focusing on tax-preferred vehicles and emphasizing the importance of making savings accessible to all.02:08: Aaron talks about the organic growth of Vestwell to include a wide array of saving programs, driven by a desire to solve broader issues in the savings industry. This part of the discussion illuminates Vestwell's holistic approach in addressing savings needs beyond retirement. 04:15: Aaron elaborates on Vestwell's model of distribution through channel partners, particularly financial advisors, and how it aims to seamlessly integrate savings programs into existing financial ecosystems to enhance scalability and reach.08:23: Aaron paints a picture of the end-user journey, emphasizing the personalized and engaging digital interface that encourages participation and informed savings decisions.13:39: The conversation turns to the reception of Vestwell's platform among users and partners, highlighting the balance between innovation and the challenges of shifting away from legacy providers and systems. 18:18: Aaron shares his long-term vision for Vestwell, emphasizing the untapped potential in the savings space and the importance of collaborative efforts to drive meaningful change and financial wellness for millions.Key Takeaways:Vestwell aims to revolutionize the way savings programs are integrated and experienced in the workplace, addressing significant gaps in the market and making savings accessible to a broader audience.The company's growth and expansion signify a broader mission to tackle various facets of financial wellness, from retirement to education and healthcare savings. Overcoming legacy systems and redesigning the user experience were pivotal challenges that shaped Vestwell's trajectory, leading to an innovative platform that prioritizes simplicity and accessibility.Tweetable Quotes:"In our industry, simplifying complex processes is not just a luxury; it's a necessity. Vestwell aims to make savings straightforward and accessible for everyone." - Aaron Schumm"The journey from concept to execution in fintech is filled with unexpected challenges, but overcoming these obstacles paves the way for meaningful innovation." - Aaron Schumm "By focusing on the user experience, we're not just building a platform; we're fostering a culture of savings and financial wellness." - Aaron SchummResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronschumm/https://www.vestwell.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Doug Fritz, CEO and Founder of F2 Strategy. He delves into the complexities technology brings into the financial advisory and brokerage landscape and how F2 Strategy aids firms in navigating and harnessing technology for growth and efficiency. Doug shares insights from his wealth of experience in wealth management technology consultancy, emphasizing the role of data and client experience in the evolution of financial advisory services.Episode Highlights:00:09: Doug Fritz introduces F2 Strategy, a consultancy specializing in technology strategy for wealth management. With a focus on midsize RIAs, broker dealers, and family offices, F2 Strategy assists in navigating the technological landscape to forward business growth. Doug's background in international equities and executive tech roles underpins his expertise in delivering complex organizational technology solutions.02:01: The transition to consultancy was inspired by the need for a firm that truly understands the internal challenges of wealth management technology. By harnessing a team of industry veterans, F2 offers unparalleled insights into technology strategy and execution.04:01: Doug discusses the challenges of cultural change within organizations and how technology is an enabler, not a driver, of such shifts. The journey to integrating new technology is not just about adopting tools but about fostering a culture receptive to change.07:21: The typical engagement process with F2 involves a deep dive into understanding the client firm's core identity, aspirations, and crafting a tailor-made technology roadmap aimed at facilitating desired growth and transformations. 10:21: Data centralization and leveraging digital client experiences stand out as key trends driving firms to seek F2's expertise. Firms are increasingly aware of the importance of managing and utilizing data effectively to drive strategic decisions and refine client engagement. Key Points:Experience in the trenches of wealth management technology provides unparalleled insights into effective strategy development and implementation.Cultural adaptability and an ongoing cadence of technology evolution within firms are crucial for embracing and optimizing new solutions.Leveraging data and digital client experiences are forefront trends in the industry, with firms increasingly recognizing the strategic value of harnessing these elements for growth.Tweetable quotes:"In our industry, experience matters immensely. Having someone who truly understands the nuts and bolts of wealth management technology can be a game-changer for firms.""The journey toward digital transformation within firms goes beyond mere technology adoption; it's about cultural evolution and readiness for change." "Data is the new gold in wealth management. Firms that learn to centralize and harness their data effectively will lead the charge in innovation and client engagement."Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dougfritz/https://www.f2strategy.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Ferreira welcomes Haik Sahakyan, CEO of Arqa, to delve into the transformative capabilities of artificial intelligence in the financial advisory sector. They explore Arqa's innovative approach to extracting and utilizing data from static forms like PDFs, revolutionizing how financial advisors access and interpret vital information. This episode, recorded live at the Wealth Management Edge and Wealth Stack Conference, provides a deep dive into the future of financial technology. Episode Highlights:01:10: Saha shares his background with Adipar and discusses the widespread dissatisfaction with existing wealth tech platforms. His experience reveals the industry's dire need for better data accessibility, setting the foundation for Arqa's mission.02:22: The discussion reveals the major challenge in the investment industry is dealing with non-standard, unstructured data formats which hinder potential advancements. Saha illustrates Arqa's solution using generative AI to not only interpret static data but to enhance data accessibility in unprecedented ways.03:13: Jason inquires about the integration process for new Arqa users, shedding light on the seamless experience facilitated through existing system integrations. This ease of adoption underscores Arqa's potential to revolutionize data handling in financial advisory services.08:03: A specific use case is discussed, emphasizing the practical application of Arqa's technology in updating client records with information from PDFs. This example vividly illustrates the system's capability to streamline what has traditionally been a manual, error-prone process.10:16: Jason probes into the checks and balances within Arqa to ensure data accuracy, addressing potential skepticism about AI reliability. Saha's responses outline the robust validation mechanisms that secure user trust in the platform's output.20:08: Saha elaborates on his wish for the industry to embrace AI and generative technology more openly, reflecting on how this acceptance could lead to monumental shifts in operational efficiency and client service quality.Key Takeaways: The integration of AI in financial advisory services can significantly enhance data accessibility and interpretation, leading to better-informed decision-making processes.The adoption of AI technologies like Arqa can streamline operations, reduce manual errors, and unlock new levels of efficiency for financial advisors.There remains a need for wider acceptance and understanding of AI's potential within the wealth management industry to fully leverage these technological advancements.Tweetable Quotes:"Arqa's utilization of generative AI is revolutionizing how financial advisors interact with data." - Haik"By embracing AI, financial advisors can transform their approach to data analysis, enhancing both efficiency and client service quality." - HaikResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/haikgsahakyan/ https://arqatech.com/en/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Diana Cabrices, Founder of Diana Cabrices Consulting. Known as the chief hype woman of the Fintech industry in the US, Diana discusses her role in amplifying brands through creative marketing, storytelling, and brand evangelism. The episode provides insightful guidance on how Fintech companies can enhance their brand presence and connect with their audience more effectively.Episode Highlights:00:11: Jason introduces the podcast and guest Diana Cabrices, highlighting her unique role in the FinTech industry as a consultant focused on brand amplification and storytelling.00:37: Diana explains her work involves helping FinTech companies, wealth tech companies, and solutions providers for financial advisors to amplify their brand. She details her approach to creative marketing, storytelling, and brand evangelism, emphasizing the importance of presenting solutions in a dynamic and accessible manner.04:47: Jason queries Diana on what it looks like to collaborate with her, prompting a discussion on her methodology. Diana outlines the initial steps she takes when working with a new client, which include deep dives into the clients customer feedback, sales calls, and marketing materials.06:29: Diana highlights the value of real customer stories and testimony in making fintech solutions relatable. She explains how she employs social media, content creation, and public speaking engagements to elevate her clients' profiles.07:47: Diana recounts a specific instance where simplifying a client's value proposition into a relatable benefit significantly resonated with advisors, showcasing her ability to communicate complex solutions effectively.09:16: A considerable portion of Diana's work involves educating the market on the problems that her clients' technologies are addressing. This education-first approach helps in creating a movement around a product or service.11:37: Diana reflects on the challenges she faced in recognizing her potential and achieving self-belief. This part of the conversation delves into personal growth and the realization of one's ability to make a significant impact.Key Takeaways:Real, relatable customer stories are crucial in making technology solutions understandable and appealing to a broader audience.Education about the problems a technology solves is as critical as promoting the technology itself, creating a movement around the solution.Balance and health are essential for sustained success and impact, highlighting the need to prioritize well-being alongside professional ambitions.Tweetable Quotes:"In our industry, simplifying complex solutions into relatable benefits is key. It's about making technology accessible and understood." - Diana"Building a movement around a product or service requires educating the market not just about what it is, but the problem it solves." - Diana"Never underestimate the power of real customer stories. They make your solution not just seen but felt." - DianaResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dianacabrices/ https://dianacabrices.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason invites Manish Khatta, CEO of Potomac Fund Management, for an in-depth conversation. Unlike the usual Fintech discussions, this episode sheds light on the unique experience of solving technology challenges from within. Manish shares his journey of developing custom tech solutions, navigating partnerships, and the trade-offs inherent in taking control of one's technological landscape. Episode Highlights:00:10: Jason Pereira introduces the show and guest Manish Khatta, CEO of Potomac Fund Management, setting the stage for a discussion about the uncommon path of solving one's own technology challenges in the asset management space. Manish's role at Potomac as a catalyst for technological innovation will be explored, highlighting how it diverges from the standard FinTech discourse.01:39: The conversation pivots to Potomac's multi-faceted business model, exploring its structure as a third-party money manager, an in-house TAMP offering, and a provider of mutual funds. This part illuminates the complexities and challenges inherent in operating across different distribution channels and the strategic nuances of each.05:23: A candid discussion on the lessons learned from initially mistaking development direction and talent. Manish shares the pitfalls of early software development strategies, emphasizing the financial and operational glass ceilings encountered when outsourcing to ostensibly cost-effective development teams overseas. 08:06: The conversation then moves to Guardrails, Potomac's initial venture into custom software development. This part is particularly noteworthy as it sheds light on the iterative approach to technology development, emphasizing the role of feedback and adaptations in refining a tool tailored for financial advisors. 15:11: The conversation circles back to the pragmatic aspects of deploying new tech, focusing on the necessity of a minimal viable product (MVP) strategy. This pragmatic approach to software deployment highlights the business acumen required to balance ambition with executable, incrementally valuable deliverables. 24:06: The dialogue concludes with Manish expressing hope for greater unity and less divisiveness within the industry. His wish for a more collaborative environment and respect for diverse business models and practices speaks to broader themes of professional respect and sectoral progress. Key Takeaways:Innovation within financial technology can come from necessity and internal challenges rather than external solutions.Building on existing platforms via APIs can serve as a powerful strategy for businesses seeking customized tools without starting from zero. Offering proprietary technology as an added value to existing services can strengthen business relationships and foster more engaging user experiences.Tweetable Quotes:"Transforming tech challenges into in-house solutions has set us on a unique path of innovation." - Manish"Learning from the limitations of outsourced solutions propelled us towards taking control of our tech destiny." - ManishResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://potomacfund.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/manish-khatta/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Rick Scruggs, the CEO and founder of Financial Designs. The dialogue primarily explores how successful advisors can scale their practices by not only enriching their value proposition to clients but also integrating technology to enhance the delivery of their services. Rick's vast experience of over 40 years in servicing family business owners and professionals provides listeners with a blend of wisdom, practical strategies, and a vision for the future of financial advising.Episode Highlights:00:11: Jason Pereira welcomes Rick Scruggs and gives an overview of Rick's extensive experience in the financial sector, particularly in serving family business owners and professionals. This sets the stage for a discussion on scaling advisory practices through valuable propositions and technological advancements.02:33: Rick highlights the universal truth of mortality and the significance of financial planning and goal-setting to secure a prosperous future for oneself and their dependents.07:57: The dialogue touches on the importance of having a strategic business plan and annual reports from advisors to align key employees with the business owner's vision and goals.13:35: The conversation shifts towards the role of technology in Rick's business. He shares his philosophy on using technology as a tool to provide solid, reliable information that can be shared with a client's entire advisory team.16:45: Rick outlines the structure of his team and describes the collaborative nature of his business model, highlighting the importance of teamwork in providing comprehensive services to clients.18:13: A specific technology tool, Value Compass, is discussed as an example of how technology can help business owners understand the valuation of their business and identify areas for improvement.22:38: Looking towards the future, Rick shares his vision for leveraging technology like AI and digital communication tools to grow his business and serve more family business owners across the country.27:36: The episode wraps up with Rick expressing what motivates him, focusing on seeing his clients achieve their dreams and impacting their lives positively.Key Takeaways:The power of mentorship and asking the right questions can significantly influence personal and professional growth. Effective financial planning and goal-setting are crucial for securing a prosperous future, acknowledging the inevitability of mortality.Rick Scruggs' approach to integrating technology with a client centred, collaborative business model provides a blueprint for future-forward financial advising.Tweetable Quotes:"We're all here for a short visit on the blue planet. Make a conscious choice on how you're going to live it." - Rick"Nobody wants a drill; they want a one-eighth inch hole. That's how we have to apply technology." - Rick"Teams win games, but a strong defence wins championships. Apply both to your business strategy." - RickResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.financialdesigns.com/ https://www.rickscruggs.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-scruggs-clu-chfc-c-k-p%C2%AE-5257a729/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason interviews Jason Early, the founder and CEO of RISR. Their discussion revolves around how RISR is innovating the way financial advisors interact with and provide value to business owners, aiming to maximize the potential of their businesses. They delve into the challenges and solutions in advising business owners on understanding and leveraging their business value effectively.Episode Highlights: 00:11: Jason welcomes listeners and introduces Jason Early, founder, and CEO of RISR. He highlights RISR's focus on helping financial advisors provide comprehensive advice to business owners, emphasizing the importance of understanding the business's value.01:21: Early shares the inspiration behind RISR, rooted in the staggering demographics of private company ownership transitioning in the coming years. He emphasizes the need for better tools and technology to serve business owners effectively, addressing a crucial market demand.03:47: The conversation shifts to the importance of data aggregation and analysis. RISR helps advisors pull together disparate data sources to provide holistic insights into business owners' situations, moving beyond mere valuations to understand the full picture of business health and potential.08:00: The tech-driven approach of RISR in aggregating business data and providing actionable insights is discussed. This includes highlighting the ease with which business owners can onboard and continually benefit from the platform's insights.11:29: Early discusses the support RISR provides to financial advisors, enabling them to confidently enter conversations about business strategy and planning, even in areas outside their immediate expertise.16:08: RISR's ability to track and update business valuation and risk factors in real-time offers businesses and advisors a dynamic tool for monitoring progress and identifying areas for improvement.Key Takeaways:RISR is breaking new ground by equipping financial advisors with the tools needed to comprehensively serve business owners, focusing not just on current value but on strategizing for future growth and stability.The integration of diverse data sources into a cohesive and insightful dashboard empowers advisors to offer nuanced, impactful advice that addresses the specific needs and goals of business owners.Financial advisors are encouraged to adopt a proactive, in-depth approach to business owner advisory, supporting clients through all stages of business lifecycle and transition planning.Tweetable Quotes:"Bridging the gap between financial advisors and business owners requires more than just intent; it requires innovative tools and technology." - Jason Early"Understanding the true value of a business goes beyond numbers; it's about realizing potential and strategizing for the future." - Jason Pereira"Advisors, by embracing technology like RISR, can transform the advice they provide to business owners, making a tangible impact on business growth and succession planning." - Jason Early Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-early-a2379429/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful episode of Fintech Impact, Jason engages with Brian Portnoy and Andrew Smith Lewis, pioneers behind Lydia, a groundbreaking venture that marries behavioral finance and artificial intelligence. This dialogue explores how Lydia is set to revolutionize the way financial advisors interact with clients, making the advisory process more human through technology.Episode Highlights:00:47: Andrew takes the lead to describe Lydia's vision. He portrays Lydia as an empathetic AI collaborator, designed to improve advisors' interactions with clients for better outcomes. He emphasizes the project's humanistic approach, highlighting the ambition to use technology not as a replacement but as an enhancer of human capabilities. This vision challenges conventional fears about technology undermining human roles.04:12: Both Brian and Andrew narrate their personal and professional journeys, leading up to their collaboration on Lydia. Their stories emphasize the value of cross-disciplinary insights in creating solutions that address complex challenges, like enhancing the advisory process with AI.18:24: The discussion about Lydia's technological backbone emphasizes its unique approach of remembering and learning from interactions with advisors. This personalized touch demonstrates how AI can be tailored to add value to professional growth and client relationships.24:41: Toward the end, the conversation pivots to the broader implications of Lydia and similar technologies on the industry. Jason Pereira and his guests contemplate the future of financial advising amid rapid technological advancements, highlighting the potential for transformative change in how advisors connect with and support their clients.Key Takeaways:Lydia represents a significant leap forward in integrating behavioral science and AI to enrich financial advisory services. The technology aims to deepen the advisor-client relationship, making advisory processes more intuitive and empathetic.The collaboration between experts in behavioral finance and AI underscores the potential of interdisciplinary approaches in tackling industry challenges. By focusing on the human aspects of financial advising, Lydia aims to enhance the quality of advice and client outcomes.The development of Lydia emphasizes the importance of personalized learning and growth for financial advisors. Through AI, advisors can gain nuanced insights into their practices, evolving their approach to meet client needs effectively.Tweetable Quotes: "Lydia is about amplifying human brilliance, not replacing it with technology." - Andrew"Understanding your clients goes beyond the financial; it's about human connections." - Brian"In the era of AI, embracing technology to enhance our humanity is not just possible; it's necessary." - AndrewResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brianportnoy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aslives/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason interviews Chris, the Managing Director of Taiko Advisor. Taiko Advisor, powered by its parent company Taiber Kosmala and Associates, leverages institutional research and technology to offer bespoke investment solutions through an OCIO (Outsourced Chief Investment Officer) model. The conversation delves into the establishment of Taiko, its value proposition for financial advisors, and the nuanced details of operating a tech-enabled OCIO in today's financial environment.Episode Highlights:00:10: Jason introduces the episode and welcomes Chris from Taiko Advisor, setting the stage for a conversation about how Taiko combines traditional investment consulting with modern technology to create customized investment platforms for financial advisors.03:41: Delving deeper, Jason probes into the partnership dynamics between Taiko and investment managers, exploring how Taiko sources managers through an institutional lens, and the due diligence involved in these partnerships to ensure clients receive competitive pricing and access to unique investment opportunities.05:35: The narrative progresses to how Taiko implements these tailor-made investment programs. Chris outlines how strategies are built out within the advisors' systems and how Taiko's unique portal facilitates direct communication and trading requests between advisors and Taiko's back-office team.07:07: Transitioning to the technology and discovery phase, Chris emphasizes the importance of understanding each advisory firm's unique setup and needs, discussing how Taiko customizes its services to align with clients' existing technologies and processes.09:48: The conversation wraps up with insights on the ongoing support Taiko provides, including quarterly investment committee meetings that offer in-depth reviews of model portfolios, manager performance, and relevant market observations.12:56: Looking to the future, Chris speaks about Taiko's plans to expand its offerings, particularly within the alternative investment space, leveraging the team's institutional experience to source compelling private equity, credit, and real assets opportunities.Key Takeaways Taiko Advisor offers a unique value proposition for financial advisors by providing institutional-grade investment consulting combined with scalable technological solutions.The OCIO model enables advisors to outsource complex investment decisions, allowing them to focus on client relationships and business growth.Continuous innovation, particularly in the realm of alternative investments, reflects Taiko's commitment to addressing evolving market demands and advisor needs.Tweetable Quotes:"Leveraging institutional heritage with innovative technology allows us to serve advisors in a scalable format." - Chris"Our aim is to empower advisors to grow their business and serve their clients better." - Chris"Introducing scale to your business doesn't mean losing personalization." - ChrisResources Mentioned: Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cahorvath/https://www.taikoadvisor.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason talks to Tom Rieman, CEO and founding partner of Practice Intel. Practice Intel is a platform that leverages a data-driven approach to aid advisors in understanding and expanding the organic growth of their businesses. Through detailed insights into their operational effectiveness and the impact of their advisory relationships, the platform aims to illuminate pathways for improvement and scaling. The conversation delves into the origins of Practice Intel, the role of data in refining advisory services, and how advisors can leverage these insights for substantial growth.Episode Highlights: 00:08: Jason Pereira shares an overview of Practice Intel's mission to enhance advisory growth through data analytics. Tom Rieman expresses enthusiasm about the platform's capabilities and its genesis from a realization of the industry's commoditized nature and the power of data in distinguishing exceptional advisors.02:32: Tom highlights the transformative potential of bringing industry-level research to the individual practice level, allowing advisors to measure and improve upon key advice attributes as perceived by their clients. This marked a departure from general industry insights to actionable, practice-specific data.05:47: The dialogue examines the relationship between advisor perceptions of their service quality and client-reported experiences. This gap often reveals areas for significant improvement, illustrating the platform's role in helping advisors close the divide between expectation and reality.11:12: The conversation turns to the implementation and feedback process for advisors using Practice Intel. Tom shares anecdotes of advisors' realizations and actions following insights gathered from the platform, showcasing the tangible effects of data-driven improvements on advisory practices.21:03: Tom expresses optimism about the potential to shift a significant portion of the industry toward delivering on the full promise of advisory services through data-driven insights, emphasizing the transformative impact this would have on clients and the profession as a whole.Key Takeaways:The transition from industry-level insights to actionable, practice-specific data can significantly enhance the effectiveness and growth of financial advisory services.Comprehensive advice, deep understanding of client values and goals, and trust form the foundation of high-value advisory relationships that encourage client advocacy and loyalty.Real-time feedback and dynamic insights into the advisory process empower advisors to iterate and improve their services continuously, aligning more closely with client needs and expectations.Tweetable Quotes: "Understanding the gap between how advisors perceive their service and the actual client experience can unlock transformative growth opportunities." - Tom"The power of data is in its ability to prompt reflection, action, and improvement in the most critical aspects of financial advisory." - Tom"Elevating the financial advice profession is not just about enhancing advisor success; it's about fundamentally improving client lives and outcomes." - JasonResources Mentioned: Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-rieman/https://pracintel.com/home  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira welcomes Ryan VanGorder, CEO of Opto Investments, to delve into how Opto Investments revolutionizes private market investments through technology. Throughout their discussion, they explore the challenges of information fracturing in the private markets and how Opto aims to bridge that gap for the wealth management community.Episode Highlights:00:11: Jason Pereira introduces the episode, highlighting the focus on Opto Investments, a tech-driven solution aiming to streamline the fragmented private market landscape. This introduction sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of how technology can enhance wealth management.00:29: Ryan VanGorder shares Opto Investments' mission to integrate private markets into modern wealth management more seamlessly. He emphasizes the company's partnership-driven model, which includes holistic portfolio construction, intuitive workflows, and customized solutions tailored to advisors' needs and their clients.01:21: The conversation turns to the origin of Opto Investments, conceptualized by tech entrepreneur Joe Lonsdale. Ryan details how the vision for Opto was to create a tech-centric platform for private investments that prioritizes alignment with client interests, unveiling the strong foundation and ambitious $45 million Series A funding that propelled the company forward.02:27: Ryan elaborates on the inherent challenges within private markets, including the opaqueness and accessibility barriers. He outlines Opto's three-pillar strategy to address these issues: alignment of interests, exclusive access to untapped opportunities, and tech-driven efficiency, aiming to demystify the private markets for advisors and their clients.04:37: This segment dives deeper into each of Opto's foundational pillars. The discussion covers how co-investing establishes trust, the importance of exclusivity in accessing alpha, and the significant role of technology in simplifying the investment process, from portfolio construction to post-trade management.09:14: Ryan details the technological advancements Opto implements to streamline the cumbersome processes traditionally associated with private market investments. From pre-trade analysis to tax reporting, Opto seeks to replicate the ease of public market transactions for private market investments.Key Takeaways:Opto Investments' technology-driven approach is designed to make private market investments more accessible and efficient for wealth managers and their clients, emphasizing the need for alignment, exclusive access, and operational efficiency.Co-investing not only builds trust with advisors but also demonstrates Opto's commitment to their investment choices, setting a foundation of shared interests and objectives.The future of Opto Investments lies in enhancing its platform to facilitate even smoother transitions and interactions within the private markets, promising a significant shift towards greater transparency and efficiency.Tweetable Quotes:"Bringing technology to investors and advisors to confidently invest in private markets eliminates the opaqueness and magnifies opportunities." - Ryan VanGorder."Our mission is to reshape how wealth management perceives private markets, offering technology as the bridge to simplify the complexities." - Ryan VanGorder."The heart of Opto Investments lies in solving inefficiencies within the private market space, paving the way for clear, accessible investment pathways." - Ryan VanGorder.Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.optoinvest.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason interviews Gary Fooks, CEO and Co-Founder of 8Twelve Mortgages. They dive deep into how 8Twelve Mortgages is revolutionizing the mortgage broker industry by enhancing the collaboration experience among advisors, mortgage brokers, and consumers through digital reinvention. This discussion sheds light on the motivations behind the creation of 8Twelve Mortgages and how it's setting new standards for efficiency and customer satisfaction in the mortgage space.Episode Highlights00:50: Gary delves into the inception story of 8Twelve Mortgages, painting a picture of a mortgage brokerage envisioned as a one-stop digital shop. He draws comparisons to Amazon's disruption in retail, aiming to mirror such efficiency within the mortgage sector. This innovative ambition underlines 8Twelve's foundational goal: to streamline and modernize the often cumbersome process of mortgage transactions for all parties involved.01:45: Gary outlines his methodology for revolutionizing the mortgage process, stressing the importance of direct involvement and the incremental introduction of efficiencies. By engaging directly with families and optimizing each step of the mortgage process, 8Twelve has significantly enhanced the speed and effectiveness of their service, a testament to their commitment to innovation and customer care.04:16: Gary explains how 8Twelve leverages technology to overcome the inefficiency and manual nature of traditional mortgage brokering. By automating and streamlining the process, 8Twelve not only improves the client experience but also empowers brokers to handle transactions more efficiently, choosing to grow their business or achieve better work-life balance.05:02: In this segment, Gary talks about the integration of financial advisors in the mortgage process, ensuring they remain informed and involved throughout their client's journey. This collaborative approach underscores the importance of maintaining the advisor-client trust continuum and aligning mortgage solutions with the client's broader financial objectives.06:27: Gary and Jason discuss the tangible impact of 8Twelve's innovations on the mortgage process, particularly how they reduce the time and effort involved. Gary's insights reveal how technology not only accelerates transactions but also enhances the quality of service provided to both consumers and advisors.Key Takeaways8Twelve Mortgages is pioneering a digital reinvention in the mortgage brokerage space, emphasizing efficiency, transparency, and improved collaboration.By integrating technology into every step of the mortgage process, 8Twelve has significantly reduced transaction times and enhanced the consumer and advisor experience.The future of mortgage brokerage lies in holistic, technology-driven solutions that proactively manage and optimize clients' financial goals and outcomes.Tweetable Quotes"In our quest to disrupt the mortgage industry, we've embraced technology at every step, proving that efficiency and clarity are not just possible; they're essential." - Gary Fooks"8Twelve Mortgages isn't just changing the game; we're redefining how stakeholders experience the mortgage process, from initiation to completion." - Gary FooksResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://8twelve.mortgage/https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyfooksmortgages/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason welcomes Jeff Coyle, CEO of Libretto, a platform designed to revolutionize financial planning by incorporating a comprehensive view of a client's total asset picture. They dive deep into how Libretto's innovative approach, which includes human capital and off-book assets, aims to meticulously craft financial plans that ensure more accurate, personalized, and future-proof financial strategies. Jeff shares insights into the methodology behind Libretto, its foundational principles, and the transformative impact it seeks to achieve in the wealth management landscape.Episode Highlights: 00:11: Jason introduces the episode and guest Jeff Coyle from Libretto, setting the stage for a deep dive into how the platform aims to revolutionize financial planning by considering a comprehensive asset picture for clients.03:17: Libretto's comprehensive financial structure management is explained in detail. Jeff delves into how Libretto includes various elements like mortgages, pensions, and even future earnings in its analysis to provide a fully rounded financial plan.05:05: Discussion shifts to the challenges and innovations involved in capturing a complete financial picture of clients, including off-balance-sheet items that significantly influence wealth management strategies.06:09: Jeff discusses the importance of understanding a client's entire financial structure, not just their portfolio, to effectively manage risk and tailor investment strategies that are truly reflective of a client’s needs and goals.08:32: The practical application of Libretto's methodology in client interactions and the benefits of a holistic view are examined. Jeff shares how this approach not only benefits clients by providing tailored advice but also positions advisors as more insightful and comprehensive in their planning.09:47: The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities in educating the industry and clients about adopting new, more comprehensive planning methodologies.11:43: Jason and Jeff discuss the outputs of the Libretto process, emphasizing how the platform facilitates informed decision-making and strategic planning for both advisors and clients.13:22: The future of financial planning and the potential industry-wide adoption of methodologies like those pioneered by Libretto are contemplated.14:21: The dialogue continues to unpack the nuances and potentials of Libretto’s method, delving into examples, theorizing future impacts, and sharing aspirations for the platform and financial planning norms.Key Takeaways Incorporating a holistic view of a client's financial life, beyond just their investment portfolio, can significantly enhance the tailored advice and strategic planning provided by financial advisors.Understanding and including human capital, off-book assets, liabilities, and future resources like pensions and social security benefits can lead to more robust and personalized investment strategies.Educating both clients and the industry on the benefits of this comprehensive approach is crucial for its wider adoption and for revolutionizing standard financial planning practices.Tweetable Quotes "Make every client feel like they're worth a hundred million." - Jeff Coyle"A financial plan should be as unique as the individual it serves, considering every possible aspect of their financial life." - Jeff Coyle"Adopting new methodologies for financial planning not only benefits clients but distinctly positions advisors in the market." - Jason PereiraResources Mentioned: Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://libretto.io/https://www.crunchbase.com/person/jeffery-coyle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira welcomes Ritik Malhotra, Co-Founder and CEO of Savvy Wealth, to discuss the intricacies of their digital platform designed to empower financial advisors. They dive into the platform's capabilities, its origin story, and the pressing challenges it aims to solve in the financial advisory landscape, enhancing both the advisor's efficiency and the client experience.Episode Highlights:00:11: Jason introduces Ritik Malhotra and Savvy Wealth, a platform revolutionizing how financial advisors manage and grow their practice by automating non-client facing tasks and implementing modern technological solutions.01:11: Ritik shares the journey from experiencing personal financial advisory needs to the inception of Savvy Wealth, driven by his dissatisfaction with traditional advisory services and a vision to enhance the industry through technology.02:12:Through his personal quest for a financial advisor, Ritik discovered the significance of the advisor-client relationship and the value advisors bring in navigating complex financial decisions, which shaped the philosophy behind Savvy Wealth.03:51: The realization of widespread advisor frustrations with existing technological and operational constraints led Ritik to envision Savvy Wealth as a comprehensive solution catering to the modern demands of both advisors and their clients.04:51: Ritik describes the unique approach of developing both the advisory business and the technological platform concurrently, underlining the innovative strategy that sets Savvy Wealth apart.05:06: The initial focus on improving the onboarding process revealed the broader potential for technology to significantly enhance advisor efficiency and the overall client experience.07:23: Exploring the pivotal role of technology in reshaping the advisory landscape, Ritik discusses the development of a comprehensive, integrated platform designed to streamline operations and elevate service delivery.07:50: Ritik details the seamless, automated, and enriched client journey facilitated by Savvy Wealth, from discovery and onboarding to ongoing maintenance and interaction through an intuitive client dashboard.10:43: Advisors praise the efficiency gains and enhanced client relationships made possible by the Savvy Wealth platform, highlighting the transformative impact on their practice.Key Points:Savvy Wealth's platform is a testament to the powerful role of technology in augmenting the capabilities of financial advisors, enabling them to focus more on client relationships and strategic advisory roles.The platform eschews traditional, manual processes in favour of automation and integration, ensuring a smooth, streamlined experience for both advisors and their clients.The development of Savvy Wealth underscores the importance of listening to industry needs and working closely with advisors to create solutions that address real, pressing challenges in the financial advisory landscape.Tweetable Quotes "Excited to do this and share how we're transforming the advisory landscape." - Ritik Malhotra"Making something people want, seeing it solve real problems for advisors, that's what excites me." - Ritik Malhotra"Efficiency isn't just a buzzword; it's the heart of what Savvy Wealth brings to financial advisors." - Jason PereiraResources Mentioned Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ritikmalhotra/https://www.savvywealth.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira welcomes back Corey Westphal, from Mobile Assistant. Having first appeared on the show in August 2019, Corey discusses the evolution of Mobile Assistant since his last interview, focusing on its adaptation for the future. Together, they delve into how Mobile Assistant has innovated dictation services for financial advisors, enhancing data accuracy and integration with client relationship management (CRM) systems.Episode Highlights:00:10: Jason Pereira opens the episode by welcoming listeners to Fintech Impact and introduces his guest, Corey Westphal, highlighting his return to discuss the progress of Mobile Assistant since their last conversation in 2019. They touch on the significant changes in the world and industry since then.00:59: Detailing the core functionality of Mobile Assistant, Corey describes how the service simplifies documentation for financial advisors through a template-driven dictation process, emphasizing the human aspect of their U.S.-based transcription service and the high accuracy of their notes.02:34: Reflecting on 2019, Corey speaks about the growth of their company and how their remote workforce setup fortified them against the operational challenges presented by global lockdowns, allowing them to focus on innovation.06:56: The introduction of the Assistant Template Manager (ATM) allowed organizations to standardize dictation processes by creating and distributing templates across teams, enhancing the consistency and efficiency of data capture.11:30: Addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, Corey emphasizes the importance of starting with accurate data as a "source of truth" for AI tools to be truly effective and reliable.18:05: Looking forward, Corey shares his vision for how Mobile Assistant's structured data capture can streamline financial advisors' workflows, from improving client interactions to automating documentation processes.26:00: Corey identifies the challenge of technology adoption among financial advisors and shares how Mobile Assistant is addressing this with shorter, more engaging onboarding videos to ease users into adopting dictation technology in their daily routines.28:24: Corey shares what excites him most about his work - the positive impact it has on his employees and the opportunity to provide valuable, fulfilling careers within his company, underscoring the personal satisfaction he derives from his role and the company's growth.Key Points:Accurate data is the cornerstone of effective technology application in the financial industry, particularly with the advent of AI tools.The introduction of features like dictation templates and the Assistant Template Manager emphasizes Mobile Assistant's focus on improving ease of use and standardization in data capture, leading to more efficient and consistent documentation practices among financial advisors.The future of Mobile Assistant and similar technologies lies in further automating and integrating financial documentation processes, potentially revolutionizing how advisors interact with clients and manage data.Tweetable Quotes: "Accuracy is not a nice-to-have, it's a requirement. And that's what Mobile Assistant excels at." - Corey"We're living in a TikTok world, and no one wants to watch a half-hour training. Making onboarding quick and engaging is key to technology adoption." - Corey"Our mission is to be the source of truth when it comes to client meeting interaction data." - CoreyResources Mentioned: Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mobileassistantceo/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason interviews Ryan Eisenman, Co-founder and CEO of Arch, a revolutionary platform designed to streamline the handling of alternative investments for advisors and their back offices. Throughout the conversation, they delve deep into the challenges of managing investments in the private markets, how Arch addresses these issues by aggregating and digitizing investment data, and the broader implications for both investors and advisors.Episode Highlight:00:33: Ryan Eisenman briefly appreciates being a part of the podcast, leading to a deeper conversation about the genesis of Arch. The discussion lays the foundation, revealing how the pain points of investing in private markets drove the creation of Arch as a digital solution to aggregate and interpret diverse investment documents into a seamless, unified platform.05:20: Demonstrating the operational aspect of Arch, Ryan elaborates on how the platform gathers, digitizes, and structures data, ensuring a single source of truth for investment information. This process fundamentally transforms PDFs into actionable insights, directly contributing to more informed investment decisions.09:40: Addressing the expansion of Arch database, Ryan articulates how new client onboarding serves as a gateway to enriching the platform's investment information repository, thereby streamlining the process for future clients and enhancing the comprehensiveness of Arch service.10:28: The operational mechanics of onboarding new investments on Arch are laid out, benchmarking the efficiency and scalability of the platform in accommodating a diverse range of private equity positions and alternative investments within a structured timeline.12:15: The discussion shifts to capturing the reception from advisors and the inherent value proposition Arch introduces to the marketplace, addressing historical challenges in initial client acquisition and emphasizing the transformational impact on both advisors' operational capabilities and client experiences.15:09: The episode concludes with a forward-looking perspective, where Ryan shares his vision for Arch to evolve into a comprehensive operational framework for managing alternative investments, emphasizing the long-term goal of broadening access to alternative investments for a wider demographic of investors.Key Points:The integration of technology in managing alternative investments can significantly alleviate the administrative burdens for both advisors and investors, centralizing and digitizing data for enhanced decision-making.Establishing partnerships and gaining acceptance from vendors and asset managers is crucial for innovative platforms like Arch to scale and streamline the investment management process in the private market sector.By focusing on automating the retrieval and structuring of investment data, Arch aims to not only improve the investment management experience but also increase accessibility to alternative investments for a broader audience. Tweetable Quotes:"By simplifying the complex, we make alternative investments more accessible and manageable." - Ryan Eisenman"Transforming customer pain points into empowering experiences drives our innovation at Arch." - Ryan EisenmanResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-eisenman-21811246/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira interviews Tina Powell, Partner and Chief of Community at Intention.ly, and introduces the Advisor Brand Builder tool. Designed to assist financial advisors in crafting their brand identity efficiently and effectively, the tool promises to revolutionize the branding process for financial professionals. Through their discussion, Tina Powell sheds light on the significance of strong branding in the financial services industry, the innovative approach of Advisor Brand Builder, and offers invaluable insights into leveraging technology for branding. Episode Highlights:00:31: Tina Powell expresses her enthusiasm for being a part of the podcast and her recent encounter with Jason at T3. This initial interaction highlights Tina's vibrant presence in the financial industry and hints at the valuable insights she's poised to share on branding strategies.02:25: Tina delves into the common misconception equating brand with a logo and elaborates on the complexity of branding, including messaging, positioning statements, and the emotional connection brands forge with their audience. This explanation is crucial for understanding the comprehensive services offered by Advisor Brand Builder. 03:31: By discussing the technology behind Advisor Brand Builder, Tina highlights how it combines AI with a human touch to tailor branding solutions for financial advisors. This fusion aims to address the unique challenges in financial advisory branding with both efficiency and personalization. 05:20: The conversation shifts towards the technical workings and user experience of Advisor Brand Builder. Tina explains the step-by-step process advisors undergo in creating their brand through the tool, demystifying the technology and showcasing its accessibility. 09:17: Tina stresses the importance of integrating advisors origin stories, values, and unique differentiators into their branding strategy. This segment illuminates Advisor Brand Builders capacity to capture and convey the deeper narratives that distinguish financial advisors. 24:15: The final segments offer a comprehensive list of deliverables provided by Advisor Brand Builder, including visual elements, messaging, website copy, and more. Tina elaborates on how these components converge to form a cohesive brand identity tailored to each advisor’s vision and values. Key Points:Branding in financial advisory is about more than just a logo; it encompasses messaging, values, and an emotional connection with the audience.Advisor Brand Builder leverages a combination of AI and professional insight to offer personalized and effective brand development, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with traditional methods. The tool’s intuitive design and comprehensive questionnaire ensure that each advisor’s unique story and values are at the forefront of their brand identity, reinforcing the importance of authenticity in marketing.Tweetable Quotes:"A brand is more than a logo; it's an emotional connection and perception people have about you." - Tina Powell"With Advisor Brand Builder, transforming branding from months and thousands of dollars to days and cost-effective solutions is now a reality." - Tina Powell"Human stories and values are the heartbeat of your brand. Let them speak through your branding." - Tina Powell Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's Facebook LinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Woodgate.com – Sponsor LinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapowell/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira welcomes Madalyn Armijo, Co-founder and COO of Dispatch, a revolutionary platform designed to seamlessly integrate multiple financial advisory systems. This discussion delves into the platform's inception, its mission to eliminate redundant data entry, and its broader impact on the financial advisory landscape. The conversation offers insightful perspectives on the future of fintech and the challenges of modernizing financial advisory services. Episode Highlights: 01:04: Madalyn Armijo shares the origin story of Dispatch, highlighting the collective realizations among the co-founders regarding the persistent data management challenges faced by financial advisors. This moment of insight led to the conception of Dispatch, aimed at addressing these issues comprehensively and efficiently.04:08: Madalyn characterizes Dispatch as a foundational utility within the wealth tech ecosystem, akin to a public utility, facilitating seamless data orchestration without requiring advisors to manage the intricacies of system-by-system integration. 04:56: The discussion narrows down to the specific type of data Dispatch handles client information”and how it overcomes the inherent complexity and variability of such data across different platforms through sophisticated normalization and translation techniques. 06:11: The flexibility and customization offered by Dispatch are elaborated upon, demonstrating how the platform can adapt to a range of utilization scenarios, from advisor-led data entry to client-driven information input, thereby streamlining the onboarding process. 10:46: Madalyn explains how Dispatch extends beyond mere data integration to facilitate smoother account opening processes, reducing the burden on advisors and enhancing the client onboarding experience through digital solutions that obscure the complexities of dealing with multiple custodians.15:52: Looking towards the future, Madalyn envisions expanding Dispatch's capabilities horizontally across the financial services sector, suggesting a broader application of the platform's integration and data management solutions beyond the advisory space. 18:24: The concluding segment invites reflection on the challenges and aspirations associated with developing and scaling Dispatch, emphasizing the critical role of talent acquisition and the unwavering passion of the team for innovating within the fintech industry. Key Points:Dispatch aims to transform the financial advisory landscape by enabling seamless integration of disparate systems, thereby addressing the perennial issue of manual data entry and error management. The platform’s focus on client data and its capacity to normalize and translate this information across various systems highlight a novel approach to tackling the complexities of data management in wealth tech. Flexibility and customization are central to Dispatch’s value proposition, offering tailored solutions that accommodate diverse operational needs and preferences among financial advisors.Tweetable Quotes:"In our industry, simplifying data integration is not just a convenience, it's a game changer." - Madalyn "Dispatch is like a public utility for financial data, laying the groundwork for a more efficient and error-free advisory process." - Madalyn "A delightful user experience in fintech is not just a nice-to-have; it's essential to driving adoption and satisfaction." - Madalyn Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's Facebook LinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Woodgate.com – Sponsor LinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/madalyn-armijo/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Jonathan Faerman, founder of Investium, a revolutionary platform that facilitates co-investing in real estate by connecting like-minded individuals. They dive into the platform's origins, its functionalities, and the value it offers to its users, illustrating how technology is transforming the way we approach real estate investment.Episode Highlights:00:26: Jonathan shares the concept behind Invest, emphasizing its role as a networking site where users can connect based on shared investment objectives and preferences. He details the platform's user-friendly setup process, highlighting its emphasis on compatibility and ease of use.02:16: Jonathan touches on the struggles of finding investment partners and how these experiences seeded the idea for Invest. His emphasis on leveraging online connections for real estate partnerships underscores the innovative approach of the platform.03:21: Here, Jonathan elaborates on the user journey within Invest, from account creation to matching with potential co-investors. His description provides insights into the platform's security measures and the user verification process, reinforcing its credibility.05:17: This segment delves into the diverse user base of Invest, ranging from individual investors to more experienced ones looking for substantial projects. Jonathan's analysis of user demographics reveals the platform's broad appeal.09:01: Jonathan outlines his vision for Invest's future, focusing on expanding services and user base to maximize value and reach within the real estate investment community.09:50: Feedback from users is shared, emphasizing positive responses, especially regarding the platform's security features and its ability to connect people with unexplored co-investment opportunities.11:05: Jonathan expresses a wish to simplify the real estate investment process further, identifying the complexities and barriers that currently deter potential investors.11:41: The conversation shifts to challenges faced in scaling Invest, stressing the importance of effective communication and outreach to potential users.12:10: Highlighting what motivates him, Jonathan shares the excitement derived from user feedback and the joy of designing and implementing new features on the platform.12:47: Jason concludes the interview, thanking Jonathan for his insights and outlining the episode's closure.Key Points:Invest seeks to streamline the co-investment process in real estate, facilitating connections between like-minded individuals through a tailored matchmaking approach.The platform emphasizes security and user verification, ensuring a trusted environment for investment discussions and collaborations.By focusing on user feedback and the incorporation of new functionalities, Invest is poised for growth, aiming to expand its services and user base further.Tweetable Quotes: "If you can meet a life partner online, why can't you meet a business partner online?" - Jonathan"Investing in real estate requires a big team. We're looking to facilitate that collaboration within our platform." - Jonathan"Our main goal is to remove barriers in the real estate industry, making investment opportunities more accessible to everyone." - JonathanResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-faerman/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Emmanuel Daniel, the founder of TAB Global, to discuss his groundbreaking book "The Great Transition." This book explores the seismic shifts happening within the banking sector, propelled by the advent of digital technologies and open banking, reshaping the landscape for both consumers and financial institutions. Together, they unpack the essence of banking transformation and what it signifies for the future. Episode Highlights:00:10: Jason introduces the episode with guest Emmanuel Daniel, who is set to discuss the transformation of the banking industry, as outlined in his book, "The Great Transition." The introduction sets the stage for a conversation aimed at decoupling the current and future states of banking, touching upon the evolution towards a more digital, open model that empowers customers and challenges traditional banking paradigms. 00:35: Emmanuel Daniel expresses gratitude for being on the program, preparing listeners for an insightful discussion on the radical shifts within the banking sector and the overarching themes of his book.01:55: Emmanuel continues to unfold the narrative of banking transformation, highlighting the fundamental shift from physical banking paradigms to a digital era where direct transactions and personalized finance are becoming the norm. This segment bridges historical context with current technological innovations, illustrating a future where banking is no longer constrained by traditional infrastructures. 03:03: The discussion shifts towards the convergence of decentralized finance with traditional banking, underscoring the forthcoming challenges and opportunities. Emmanuel discusses how central banks are preparing for a digital transformation, signifying a groundbreaking shift in how financial services are rendered and consumed. 04:13: Jason acknowledges the depth of Emmanuel's insights, proposing to dissect specific transformative trends and their implications on the banking industry further. This moment offers a brief reflection on the broad spectrum of changes discussed. Key Points:The transformation of banking is not merely about adopting new technologies but involves a fundamental shift towards personalized finance, challenging traditional banking models.Decentralized finance and digital currencies are catalyzing a major shift in banking operations, customer interactions, and regulatory frameworks.For banks to remain relevant, they must embrace open banking, prioritize customer-centric products, and navigate the complex regulatory landscape with innovative solutions. Tweetable Quotes:"In our industry, transformation has many faces but one core: the shift towards personalized, decentralized finance." - Emmanuel Daniel"Banking is at a crossroads, facing the digital revolution head-on. The future belongs to those who embrace change." - Emmanuel Daniel"Regulations frame the game, but innovation changes the rules. Banks must navigate this landscape with foresight and agility." - Emmanuel Daniel Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's Facebook LinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Woodgate.com – Sponsor LinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-daniel-5764482  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Rohit Agarwal, Co-CEO of SORA Finance. They delve into the revolutionary platform SORA Finance, which empowers advisors to effectively manage and discuss clients' debt and debt restructuring. The episode offers a deep dive into the functionalities, challenges, and the significant impact of SORA Finance in optimizing the liabilities side of clients' balance sheets. Episode Highlights: 01:26: Rohit delves into the intricacies of how SORA Finance operates, including data aggregation, analytic capabilities, and an ecosystem of lending partners. He explains the platform's unique value proposition in providing actionable alerts and insights to advisors, thereby allowing proactive debt management strategies.02:13: The origin story of SORA Finance is shared, tracing back to the identification of a significant pain point in the market excess interest paid by Americans due to unoptimized debt. This foundation story illustrates the vision and motivation behind SORA Finance.03:00: Discussion on the pressures advisors face to justify their fees and the realization that managing liabilities could serve as a differentiator in the market. This insight led to pivoting SORA Finance's focus towards serving financial advisors directly.04:36: Jason and Rohit touch on the design philosophy behind SORA Finance, emphasizing the importance of user experience and the platform's pivot towards a model that serves advisors directly. The segment reveals strategic decisions that shaped the platform's development.06:05: The challenges and opportunities in integrating liability management into advisors' practices are explored, along with how SORA Finance addresses these through innovative technology and strategic partnerships.07:06: The conversation shifts towards the impact of SORA Finance on advisors' practices, including enhancing client relationships through proactive debt management and providing competitive loan options through a vast lending ecosystem.08:03: Rohit explains the technical capabilities of SORA Finance in aggregating comprehensive loan data, thereby enabling informed advisory decisions and actions. This segment sheds light on the technological backbone of SORA Finance.Key Points: SORA Finance is transforming how advisors handle the liabilities side of client balance sheets by providing a robust platform for data aggregation, analytics, and access to a wide network of lending partners.The platform originated from identifying a gap in the market where Americans were paying excess interest due to unoptimized debt structures.Feedback from advisors has been instrumental in evolving SORA Finance into a must-have tool, emphasizing the importance of managing liabilities as part of comprehensive financial planning.Tweetable Quotes: "In our journey with SORA Finance, we've seen first-hand how critical managing liabilities is, not just for the financial health of clients but as a service differentiator for advisors." - Rohit Agarwal"By focusing on liabilities with the same rigor as assets, we're not just adjusting a balance sheet; we're redefining the value of financial advice." - Jason Pereira"Transforming debt management from an overlooked aspect to a core component of financial planning is at the heart of SORA Finance's mission." - Rohit AgarwalResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira engages Whit Lanier, CEO and Co-founder of Amplify Reviews, in a conversation about how financial advisors can harness the power of online reviews to enhance their visibility and attract more clients. Lanier delves into the transformative SEC marketing rule changes and shares his insights on the impact of positive client testimonials in the financial industry, drawing parallels from his previous experiences in healthcare. This episode is a treasure trove for advisors seeking to leverage digital platforms for growth. Episode Highlights:00:09: Jason introduces the episode's focus on Amplify Reviews, a pivotal tool for financial advisors aiming to elevate their business through structured client reviews. Whit Lanier shares his enthusiasm for discussing the subject, setting the stage for a deep dive into the transformative potential of online reviews in the financial sector. 00:57: Lanier explains the significant impact of the SEC marketing rule changes, highlighting the newfound ability for financial advisors to use testimonials in their marketing efforts. He emphasizes the universal application of online reviews across industries and suggests that the financial industry is no exception, marking a pivotal shift towards enhanced online presence for advisors. 01:51: Lanier recounts the journey to creating Amplify Reviews, drawing on his experience from a successful healthcare technology startup. He discusses how his team leveraged patient experience data to boost hospitals' online ratings and foresees a similar impactful adoption of online reviews in the financial sector. 05:27: Lanier addresses the complexities and regulatory nuances of using Google reviews for financial advisors, discussing the potential strategic and regulatory pitfalls compared to a more controlled platform like Amplify Reviews. 07:12: Lanier elaborates on the compliance-friendly features of Amplify Reviews, ensuring advisors can confidently manage and publish client testimonials without fear of contravening SEC regulations. 09:54: Although still early in its adoption within the financial industry, Lanier shares optimistic projections for Amplify Reviews based on analogies from healthcare, emphasizing the conversion lift potential from having published online reviews. 13:28: Lanier reflects on the positive feedback from early users and identifies messaging and value proposition as areas for improvement to fast-track adoption among financial advisors. Key Points:The SEC marketing rule changes present a golden opportunity for financial advisors to use client testimonials effectively, aligning the financial industry with broader online review practices.Amplify Reviews offers a structured, compliant platform for financial advisors to manage client feedback, ensuring positive initial impressions and ongoing reputation management. The adoption of online reviews is seen as inevitable in the financial industry, driven by consumer demand for transparency and authenticity. Tweetable Quotes:"Online reviews will become a common part of the financial advisor experience." - Whit Lanier"Embracing online reviews early on can win advisors a disproportionate amount of business." - Whit Lanier"The messaging and value proposition around online reviews are critical to accelerating adoption in the financial sector." - Whit Lanier Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's Facebook LinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Woodgate.com – Sponsor LinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitlanier/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira speaks with Mark Gilbert, Co-founder and CEO of Zocks Communications. Zocks Communications introduces an artificial intelligence-driven meeting assistant designed specifically for financial advisors. Throughout the discussion, Gilbert delves into the origins of Zocks, its innovative approach to capturing and structuring meeting-based data, and the broader implications of AI in enhancing advisor-client interactions.Episode Highlights:00:09: Jason Pereira introduces Mark Gilbert and discusses Zocks Communications, an AI-driven platform created to assist financial advisors by capturing crucial information from meetings. Gilbert shares his excitement about the project, painting a picture of a semantic-rich platform that swiftly organizes and presents meeting data, simplifying follow-up processes for advisors.00:56: Mark Gilbert shares the backstory of Zocks Communications, sparked by his experiences at Twilio and the emerging demand to mine actionable data from client communications. With a grin, he acknowledges the accidental yet timely intersection with the rise of large language models (LLMs), emphasizing the goal of creating a secure, privacy-focused tool that excels in extracting meaningful data from conversations.03:10: Diving deeper, Gilbert discusses how Zocks stands apart from general-purpose note-taking applications by targeting financial advisors' specific needs - identifying and structuring data on assets, goals, and client profiles. This strategic focus allows Zocks to generate actionable insights, streamline follow-up communications, and enhance relationship management through tailored data extraction.05:18: Gilbert elaborates on how Zocks goes beyond note-taking by employing the structured data to support various advisor workflows, including client communication and regulatory compliance. He portrays a vision where advisors spend less time on data entry and more on insightful advisory, thanks to Zocks' backend sophistication and its potential for CRM, planning, and task management system integrations.Key Points:Zocks Communications introduces an innovative AI-driven platform tailored to address the unique data capture and analysis needs of financial advisors, enhancing the efficiency of meeting follow-ups.The platform distinguishes itself by focusing on specific data points relevant to the financial industry, offering a more personalized and actionable output compared to general-purpose note-taking tools.Strategic integrations with CRM and planning systems are on the horizon, poised to further streamline advisory workflows and enable more meaningful advisor-client interactions.Tweetable Quotes:"Zocks Communications: Simplifying adviser follow-ups with AI-driven precision." - Mark Gilbert"At the intersection of technology and finance, Zocks pave the way for next-gen financial advising." - Jason Pereira"Embracing AI in financial advisory not only streamlines operations but enhances client relationships." - Mark GilbertResource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast EditingZocks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Matt, the CEO of EncorEstate Plans. EncorEstate Plans is an advisor-led tool designed to assist clients in creating and implementing their estate plans seamlessly within one comprehensive system. The platform enables financial advisors to guide clients through the process of developing personalized estate plans, providing a streamlined and efficient solution for estate planning.Episode Highlights:04:08: The conversation takes a personal turn as Matt shares a family tragedy that served as a catalyst for creating EncorEstate Plans, illustrating the real-world consequences of inadequate estate planning.07:06: Matt highlights the core belief behind EncorEstate Plans, emphasizing the value financial advisors provide in guiding clients through the estate planning process. He discusses the limitations of DIY software solutions and the persistent gap in estate planning despite their availability.11:56: Matt addresses the limitations of EncorEstate Plans, acknowledging that it may not be suitable for everyone. The platform is tailored for the mass affluent, and advisors are equipped to determine when software is appropriate and when clients should seek legal advice from an attorney.16:55: Matt discusses the documentation process, emphasizing the need for clear client decisions and the validation of those decisions through summaries and email communication. The platform aims to provide due diligence in documenting clients' desired estate plans and ensuring their ownership of the decisions made.21:02: Matt explains the variability in how advisors use EncorEstate Plans, allowing them to decide whether the client takes the first pass on the questionnaire or if they walk through the process together.26:02: Matt introduces the process of restating existing plans, leveraging the information from the client's old documents. He explains how the questionnaire is filled out based on the information extracted from the existing plan.Key Points:EncorEstate utilizes technology to simplify and enhance the estate planning process for financial advisors, making it more accessible for both advisors and clients.Matt advocates for financial advisors to adopt flexible payment models beyond the traditional AUM, ensuring broader access to financial advice.The conversation highlights the growing importance of estate planning as a fundamental aspect of financial advisory services, emphasizing its transformative impact on client relationships.Tweetable Quotes:"Estate planning isn't an add-on; it's a core part of financial advisory. It's table stakes for advisors in the industry." - Jason"Our goal is to enable old documents to become new with less than 10 minutes of effort, transforming the outdated estate planning experience." - Matt"Access to advice is crucial. We need advisors with flexible models to serve different client levels, moving the industry in the right direction." - MattResource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Woodgate.com – Sponsor  linkedin.com/in/matt-morris-1557ba9bPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason interviews Nicholas Palahnuk, the founder and CEO of PhilanthPro Solutions. PhilanthPro is a platform designed to assist individuals in planning and managing charitable giving at scale. The conversation highlights the challenges in catering to diverse stakeholders and expresses a shared excitement for contributing to impactful philanthropy.Episode Highlights:01:00: Nicholas introduces PhilanthPro as a digital platform for clients to plan and manage charitable accounts with features like financial planning, green planning, relationship management, governance, records, charitable news, and a learning hub.07:21: Nicholas outlines the initial steps after a client decides to make a sizable charitable donation, considering financial planning and multi-year contributions.13:20: Nicholas discuss on how clients use the tool to simulate scenarios, entering large grants to see the impact on future distributions and making informed decisions instantly.17:17: Discussion moves to advisor feedback, with Nicholas mentioning that advisors find value in deeper connections with their philanthropic clients. The tool helps in understanding grant plans, which can impact investments, enhancing communication and planning.23:08: Nicholas agrees and mentions potential use cases, including charities interested in smoothing out donations and encouraging multi-year commitments. He notes the positive response from various pockets of the philanthropic community, financial advisors, and non-profits.27:43: Nicholas shares that what excites him the most about PhilanthPro is being involved in facilitating impactful philanthropy. He finds it incredible to work with clients who have decided to use their funds to make a positive difference in the world, filling gaps where needed and making a meaningful impact.Key Points:Nicholas outlines how PhilanthPro Solutions' platform simplifies the management of philanthropic endeavors, covering grant tracking, legal obligations, and financial planning in a user-friendly interface.Advisors find value in the platform as it deepens their connection with philanthropic clients, allowing better planning for grants and minimizing surprises in financial decisions tied to investments.The goal is to enhance collaboration, encourage multi-year commitments, and provide a data-driven benchmarking tool for users.Tweetable Quotes:" PhilanthPro is more than a tool; it's a solution that streamlines the entire philanthropic process, connecting advisors, clients, and nonprofits for impactful giving." - - Nicholas"PhilanthPro is not just a platform; it's a tool to support those making a difference. Frontline nonprofits and philanthropists deserve the honor for their incredible work.” - Nicholas"Our goal is to make PhilanthPro an industry standard, empowering everyone involved in philanthropy with the tools and insights they need to create positive change in the world." - NicholasResource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/npalahnuk/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Dave Glaser, the CEO of Dwolla, a leading digital payment solution that empowers third parties to offer streamlined and unified payment processing services. Dwolla's innovative platform facilitates efficient and secure digital transactions, revolutionizing the way businesses handle payments.Episode Highlights:05:36: Dave delves into the global theme of account-to-account processing, highlighting its rapid adoption in the U.S. This period coincided with the rise of fintech and the increased need for remote access to funds, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.07:30: The conversation touches on Dwolla's evolving responsibility, moving from a B2C to a B2B provider. Dwolla now focuses on servicing businesses that interface with millions of consumers in their networks.11:25: Dave agrees with Jason's assessment, tracing the history of the ACH system and its evolution as money became more digital. He highlights the continuous innovation, from mainframe connectivity to modern cloud-based systems and mobile apps, democratizing access to exchanging money.13:36: Dave explains the significance of businesses digitally transforming their systems, processes, and moving to modern app-based, cloud-based systems. Dwolla aims to provide account-to-account solutions, emphasizing their lower cost, speed, and competitiveness compared to traditional methods.16:17: Dave delves into the motivators for banks, stating that deposits are the primary source of revenue, guiding banks in their decisions and incentivizing their actions. He emphasizes that while banks add value-added services, deposits remain the core focus.21:05: Dave identifies competition as the most significant challenge, emphasizing the fierce competition in the payment space. He highlights the necessity for efficiency, focus, strategic hiring, partnerships, and optimal resource utilization in the face of strong competition.Key Points:Dwolla is a leader in the United States for B2B enterprises processing account-to-account payments, with a focus on providing efficient and low-cost solutions for consumers and small businesses.Over the years, Dwolla has pivoted its focus from providing payments for consumers and small businesses directly to offering its API for the banking network.Dwolla is adapting to the evolving trends in the industry by focusing on providing faster payment methods and open banking tools through its platform.Tweetable Quotes:"Banks are primarily driven by deposits. Deposits are always at the core for banks and the way they think about things." - Dave Glasser"Competition in the payment space is fierce. Start-ups in this space have to be very efficient, very focused, very driven." - Dave Glasser"I get to bring account-to-account payments and open banking innovations to the US. I can't wait to get out of bed every day to do it." - Dave GlasserResource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/daglaser/https://www.dwolla.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason interviews Cameron Howe, CEO and Co-founder of Investipal. Originally designed for DIY investors, Investipal has evolved into a versatile online platform that also serves advisors, offering enhanced tools for portfolio research and management. The conversation emphasizes Investipal's commitment to financial literacy, particularly among younger generations, and the value of remaining a calculated, revenue-focused, and durable company despite being bootstrapped.Episode Highlights:04:00: The discussion focuses on unifying the advisor experience through research and development. Investipal aims to streamline the fragmented advisor tools, providing a more cohesive and personalized experience for users.08:31: Jason brings up the transition from a DIY tool to serving advisors, inquiring about the feedback that led to this shift. He also asks about the feedback from advisors on what was missing from their previous tools.13:18: Cameron talks about Investipal's focus on private assets, catering to advisors dealing with alternative exposures. The goal is to optimize client accounts by incorporating private assets into the portfolio management solution.14:47: Cameron clarifies that Investipal aims to own the investment management side while integrating with financial planning and client-related tools. The focus is on providing a comprehensive solution for investment management and portfolio optimization.16:38: Cameron discusses the challenge of being bootstrapped, emphasizing the need for calculated risks with limited assets. Despite the slower growth, being revenue and profit-focused has allowed for a more durable and diligent approach.Key Points:Originally a DIY tool, Investipal has evolved into a platform serving both individual investors and advisors, positioning itself between discount brokerage firms and managed services.Investipal seeks to unify the advisor experience by connecting various tools for risk assessment, research, portfolio management, and client communication, providing a streamlined and cohesive solution.Investipal aims to focus on owning the investment management side, catering to mid-market advisors.Tweetable Quotes:"Investipal focuses on owning the investment management side, offering a comprehensive yet cost-effective solution for mid-market advisors, while integrating with financial planning tools." - Cameron Howe"We want to instill financial literacy, especially among younger generations, and provide streamlined tools for long-term wealth building, not just for advisors but for the general retail population." - Cameron Howe"Being bootstrapped forced us to take calculated risks, ensuring a more durable company that remains revenue and profit-focused, rather than succumbing to the fast-paced VC cycle." - Cameron HoweResource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronhowe/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=cahttps://www.investipal.co/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason interviews Tim Hewson, CEO of LegalWills, an online platform providing millions of users with a simple and accessible solution for creating legal and compliant wills. Tim discusses the importance of having a will, the challenges of estate planning, and how Legal Wills aims to demystify the process.Episode Highlights:00:34: Tim introduces the topic of legal wills, emphasizing their significance and the need for everyone to have one. He discusses the mission of making will preparation affordable and accessible to everyone.01:04: Tim outlines the mission of LegalWills, emphasizing the removal of barriers to will preparation. He discusses the accessibility and affordability aspects, considering it a vital document for everyone.07:36: Tim introduces the Key Holder concept, allowing users to securely share information with designated individuals when needed. He explains the Messages service, enabling users to leave specific messages for their loved ones after their passing.10:53: Jason commends LegalWills for allowing users to pick and choose services. He highlights the importance of having a Power of Attorney for young adults turning 18, and he appreciates the affordability of LegalWills' solution.14:49: Tim explains that LegalWills covers a broad range of scenarios, including lifetime interest trusts for blended families. The service evolves over time to address various situations, and currently, there are few cases that they do not cover.18:15: Tim responds to the criticism of LegalWills' affordability by questioning the high charges for simple wills by some law firms. He argues that basic wills shouldn't cost as much as they often do, and he highlights the issue of lawyers overcharging for relatively straightforward services.24:28: Jason and Tim emphasize the emotional impact on families left to deal with disorganized estates and stress the importance of creating a will to prevent conflicts and contempt among family members.Key Points:LegalWills aims to simplify estate planning, catering to diverse needs, including those of blended families.Tim discusses the challenge of balancing growth and service quality as Legal Wills has steadily expanded without external funding.The platform has made a positive impact on users and charities, emphasizing the importance of organized estate planning for individuals and Tweetable Quotes:"Writing a will shouldn't be about dying; it's part of financial planning. Organize your affairs while you're well; it's a gift to your loved ones.”"We're on a mission to demystify wills. Losing the legalese can make the process more accessible. It's about clear instructions, not complex language.”"Every person who used our service is better off—over a million users and counting. Helping families and charities with organized estate planning is what keeps us going.”Resource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://legalwills.company/https://www.linkedin.com/in/timhewson/?originalSubdomain=caPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason welcomes back Reese Harper, the CEO of Elements. It is a platform designed to provide faster and more effective financial advice. The innovative approach of Elements simplifies financial diagnostics, making it accessible to a diverse audience. The episode explores the evolving landscape of financial services and the need for simplicity and accessibility in wealth management.Episode Highlights:01:10: Reese transitions to discussing Elements, introducing it as a platform for faster and simpler financial vital signs. He also describes Elements as providing diagnostic reports for present-day financial health, comparing it to medical diagnostics.06:01: Reese refers to the Hippocratic Oath and avoiding unnecessary costs, discussing the difficulty in providing low-cost solutions for meaningful conversations. He also highlights the importance of not forcing clients to incur costs that aren't truly transformational for their stage of wealth.11:45: Jason acknowledges the value of addressing fundamental financial problems before delving into long-term planning.17:36: Reese introduces "Elements Money" as a nurture campaign, aiming to circulate personalized material tailored to each client's financial elements.23:58: Reese recounts a client's journey to building liquidity, demonstrating the effectiveness of personalized financial planning through "Elements Money."31:13: Reese narrows down the idea of giving back to one hour a week, suggesting an industry-wide commitment. He also notes the biggest challenge for Elements has been introducing a new category in an industry resistant to change.32:59: Jason asks Reese about the excitement that keeps him motivated, with Reese expressing joy in continuous learning and the pursuit of meaning in his work.Key Points:Elements serves as a platform for assessing financial vitals, offering a quick and accessible way to analyse a client's current financial situation.Financial vitals, unlike traditional planning, address the present needs and concerns of clients, providing insights that complement the future-oriented approach of financial planning.Reese emphasizes the challenge in convincing clients, especially those with lower wealth levels, of the value of financial planning. Elements aims to bridge this gap by facilitating meaningful conversations at a lower cost.Tweetable Quotes:"Financial vitals are the pulse of your wealth, offering a real-time diagnosis, while financial planning paints the visionary picture of where your finances can journey in the long run. Both are essential for a holistic financial strategy.”“Elements provides a simpler, faster set of financial vital signs that can be understood and acted upon by anyone, regardless of wealth level.”"Championing a shift in the industry, Reese Harper highlights the need for professionals to offer low-cost, meaningful conversations. Elements provides a solution, empowering individuals to engage in transformative financial discussions without hefty fees.”Resource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.advisersoftware.com/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Andres Jones, Co-founder, and CEO of Facet. It is a fintech company challenging traditional financial planning models and aims to introduce an advanced form of financial planning to underserviced markets often neglected by the industry. They use a subscription-based approach, focusing on a broader definition of financial planning beyond retirement. The company emerged in response to industry challenges, notably the failure of the DOL fiduciary rule.Episode Highlights:01:19: Anders provides a snapshot of Facet's inception in 2016, emphasizing the disruptive intent to reshape financial planning with a subscription-based model.04:34: Anders illustrates the depth of Facet's service, sharing anecdotes about clients seeking assistance with major life events like having a baby.08:08: Anders expands on Facet's client-centric approach, emphasizing assistance across different life milestones, showcasing the company's comprehensive financial planning perspective.10:28: Anders discusses the facet philosophy, highlighting principles like maintaining a six-month emergency fund before investing, emphasizing the right order of operations.13:20: Anders discusses metrics like member per planner ratio, client satisfaction, retention, and the importance of activation—ensuring clients act on provided advice.17:24: Jason inquiries about the onboarding experience at Facet, prompting Anders to explain the two-call process led by a separate membership team to understand the client's needs and introduce Facet's services.20:33: Anders highlights the focus on understanding the emotional aspects and the "why" behind a client's financial goals, aiming for a personalized and meaningful planning approach.26:32: Jason discusses the challenges of serving clients with lower income or assets, and Anders mentions his optimism about technology advancements enabling lower-cost solutions in the future.30:10: Anders highlights two motivating factors: Facet's mission-driven culture, where team members share stories about changing members' lives, and having an incredible team that makes the hard work of building a business enjoyable.Key Points: Facet operates with a strong mission-oriented culture, emphasizing the team's commitment to changing financial planning for the better.The discussion explores challenges when clients outgrow advisors and the potential for AI to drive down costs, making financial planning more accessible.Despite virtual work success, Anders expresses a preference for in-person collaboration, especially in creative aspects of the business.Tweetable Quotes:"Financial planning, when done well, looks at everything in your life that money touches, not just what your money is doing and what it'll be doing in 40 years." - Anders"The AUM-based business model for retail clients does not make sense. It does not align the cost that you're paying with the value that you're receiving." - Anders"Our ideal member is someone in their late 20s to early 40s, figuring out how to 'adult' and wanting help, or pre-retirees focused on the next 5 to 10 years." - AndersResource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://facet.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, Jason and Guy will reflect on 51 impactful episodes of Fintech Impact. From CRM evolution to the rise of AI in finance, this conversation explores cutting-edge trends and thought-provoking discussions that shaped the year, sharing insights into cybersecurity, marketing, and innovative solutions revolutionizing the advisory landscape.Episode Highlights:01:28: Jason shares insights from his speaking engagements at Future Proof and the IFP event, discussing the importance of technology in bridging the gap between advisors and the next generation of clients.02:56: Jason explores the pervasive nature of fintech, emphasizing its role as a tool for advisors to enhance value and service while staying competitive.08:37: Jason reflects on standout episodes from the year, mentioning Luminent's approach to understanding clients' values and Elements, a tool for efficient financial collaboration. He highlights the importance of these innovations in reshaping onboarding processes and improving financial advice delivery.11:48 Jason discusses Kepler's approach to traffic generation by partnering with organizations that already have financial traffic and New Retirement Wealth's integration of a DIY financial planning tool within existing platforms.14:44: Transitioning to the topic of a repeat interviewee, Guy asks Jason about Conquest and its role as an AI-driven solution in the market.17:28: Jason provides insights into UnderwriteMe, a tool specializing in insurance underwriting. He highlights its unique approach of conducting a medical and financial fact-finding process before recommending insurance policies.22:54: Guy expresses amazement at UnderwriteMe's ability to provide newcomers in the insurance industry with the same insights as seasoned professionals. He notes that the tool seems to level the playing field, reducing the need for extensive industry experience.Key Points:Discussion revolves around ground breaking achievements of fintech companies, notably one making significant strides in the Canadian enterprise market and securing a major contract in the US.Ariza, a tool introduced, uses a quadrant system to understand individual retirement preferences, emphasizing the need to tailor strategies based on behavioural preferences like certainty, variability, commitment, and optionality."Underwrite Me" is highlighted for revolutionizing the insurance application process, conducting preliminary medical and financial fact-finding to enable users to compare policies based on health criteria, reducing surprises for clients.Tweetable Quotes:"The AI wave in #Fintech is real, but it's not just automation. It's about enhancing advisor-client interactions, process management, and making technology truly adaptive.” - Jason"2024 in Fintech: Brace for the next wave! AI adoption accelerates, with platforms integrating intelligent agents. The future is not just automation; it's smart, adaptive solutions.” - Jason“Reflecting on 2023 in Fintech Impact: A diverse journey from cybersecurity to marketing, featuring leaders, experts, and the big players in the Fintech space.” - JasonResource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Manu Smadja, CEO and Co-Founder of MPower Financing. MPower Financing is a company that specialises in lending loan to international students because they have their own specific challenges that are encountered by many people who come to a foreign country.Episode Highlights:02:30: Manu elaborates on his realization about the ongoing challenges faced by international students, citing personal experiences, and the turning point a decade ago when a student approached him for financial help, sparking the idea for MPower.03:13: Manu shares the pivotal moment when a student was on the verge of dropping out due to a small financial shortfall. This event led him to question why no one was addressing this issue and motivated him to establish Empower in April 2014.05:40: Jason discusses the challenges of issuing loans to young people with no credit history or assets, and Manu emphasizes the need for alternative data sources.07:11: Manu discusses the complexity of acquiring customers overseas and the challenge of servicing loans globally, which has been a focus for their company.13:09: Manu highlights the importance of character, creditworthiness, and the proof of capability demonstrated during the selection and integration process for international students.14:09: Manu explains how MPower leverages data on placement rates, graduation rates, and post-graduation salaries as part of their compelling value proposition.18:32: Manu compares the traditional loan process to MPower's approach, emphasizing the company's role in making the market for students who can't secure loans locally and providing a better experience for those who can.25:27: Manu emphasizes that the impact on students helps the team stay motivated and focused on understanding and addressing the needs of the students.Key Points:A leader in international student financing, MPower Financing focuses on empowering students from 200 countries attending over 400 universities in the US and Canada.The company's mission is to address the unique financial obstacles encountered by students studying abroad.MPower Financing leverages alternative data for credit assessment, providing loans to international students who may face challenges securing loans in their home countries.Tweetable Quotes:"Leveraging data on placement rates, graduation, and post-grad salaries, MPower Financing ensures a compelling value proposition for students worldwide.”"MPower Financing was born out of the realization that small financial shortfalls were pushing international students to drop out. We aim to bridge these gaps and make education accessible.""In lending to international students, we challenge the misnomer of treating no-file students like bad-file ones. Credit is a trajectory, and we leverage alternative data to understand and support their unique journeys."Resources Mentioned:https://www.mpowerfinancing.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmadja/Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Ian McKenna, founder of advisersoftware.com. Ian is a guru of advisor technology in the UK and has a great lens on both the UK and technology around the world. He is here to capture his and Jason’s casual and informative discussions about the industry's past, present, and future, offering listeners a valuable perspective on the fintech landscape.Episode Highlights:02:08: Ian introduces advisorsoftware.com, initially focused on UK advice technology but evolving into a global platform to address the international nature of financial planning.03:48: Jason and Ian plan to delve into various topics, starting with the evolution of software in the UK and then expanding to a global perspective.05:16: Ian envisions a future where Fintech seamlessly integrates into everyday digital life globally, making it the norm rather than a separate entity.11:57: Jason and Ian explore the irony that tougher regulation, especially in consumer protection, has proven beneficial for financial advisors' success.13:29: Jason reflects on the future landscape, where technology becomes an integral part of every business, echoing the sentiment that companies will be either technology-driven or obsolete.15:18: Ian reflects on the impact of greed in past generations, citing the shift from nationalized utilities to the privatization of shares, ultimately leading to profit-driven organizations.19:39: Jason discusses the global trend in regulation, praising Australia's commitment to the right end state despite occasionally going too far. He acknowledges the UK's balanced approach and the US's focus on the fiduciary duty.23:32: Ian discusses the challenge for US vendors in scaling globally, emphasizing the historical tendency to prioritize the US market and the increasing competition from Australian companies that build with a multi-jurisdictional approach.31:59: Ian shares tricks, such as withholding data, to encourage technology use. He expresses his passion for creating enabling solutions through technology, emphasizing flexibility in savings options.Key Points: Ian McKenna discusses the evolution of advisorsoftware.com from a UK-focused platform to a global solution for international financial planning.Jason and Ian explore challenges faced by banks entering advisory services, regulatory dynamics, and the positive impact of stricter regulations on financial advisors' success.The conversation highlights the increasing importance of technology, envisioning a future where it seamlessly integrates into daily business operations globally.Tweetable Quotes:"Companies will either be technology-driven or obsolete in the future financial landscape." - Jason Pereira"Financial advice should be a utility accessible to all through technology, not a luxury reserved for the wealthy." - Ian McKenna"Flexibility in savings options, like Micro Savings, can empower individuals to save more through technology." - Ian McKennaResource Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.advisersoftware.com/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Shalicia Harris, founder and CEO of In Charge; a platform designed to empower financial advisors in growing their businesses and fostering stronger relationships with clients. The focus is on personalized financial literacy, aiming to empower clients in making informed decisions about their money. The platform enables advisors to seamlessly create tailored campaigns, emphasizing transparency and education to eliminate negative experiences in client-advisor interactions.Episode Highlights:02:03: Shalicia discusses the solution, emphasizing the need for personalized financial literacy to empower clients in making informed decisions about their money.06:37: Shalicia emphasizes the deeper and more personalized customer journey created through market surveys. She mentions the inclusion of market surveys in the insurance world, allowing for a more personalized customer journey.07:00: Shalicia emphasizes the creation of transparency and education as the primary goals. She discusses the importance of making financial information palatable and eliminating negative feelings in client-advisor experiences.12:01: Shalicia introduces the "5 key pillars of personal finances," covering debt, housing, investment, financial resilience, and creditworthiness and describes a 3 to 5-minute assessment and breakdown of client finances.17:49: Shalicia finds excitement in positive feedback, knowing clients feel empowered, and the impact of In Charge in promoting financial literacy.Key Points:Shalicia's goal is to make financial advice more accessible to everyone and eliminate the fear associated with seeking financial guidance.Change management is a significant hurdle in the financial advice industry due to heavy compliance ties. Shalicia highlights the need for overcoming the industry's resistance to change and embracing technologies like AI.In Charge focuses on empowering clients by providing transparency and personalized financial literacy. The platform aims to bridge the knowledge gap, allowing clients to make informed decisions and fostering trust between advisors and clients.Tweetable Quotes:"In Charge is a platform to help advisors be In Charge of the growth around their business and help their clients feel In Charge at the same time." - Shalicia Harris, Founder and CEO of In Charge."Transparency is huge, and education is huge. We're living in an age where the majority of consumers have some sort of high school, college, university degree, and even master's degrees are quite high at this time." - Shalicia Harris"The feedback from clients is that this made me trust my advisor a little bit more because they felt that they weren't hiding things. Transparency itself becomes a part of that trust foundation." - Shalicia HarrisResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/shalicia-h-8176b0b7/?originalSubdomain=cahttps://beincharge.io/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Kareem Hamady, Co-Founder and CEO of AltExchange. The company is a platform that helps advisors better manage all the complexity around the issuance, management, and stewardship of alternative investments in the marketplace. Kareem provides an overview of AltExchange, a company focused on aggregation and automation technology for alternative investments (alts). The company retrieves data from various platforms, including PDFs and spreadsheets, and uses machine reading technology to make sense of the data.Episode Highlights:03:10: Kareem details the challenges in private capital markets, emphasizing the absence of standardized identifiers, varied reporting metrics, and the need to structure non-structured data.05:37: Kareem explains AltExchange's involvement in the post-investment phase, focusing on tracking actions and workflows after the investment is made. The process includes receiving quarterly reports, annual tax documents, capital calls, and distributions.09:25: Kareem describes the normalization process for line items on CAP account statements, making the comparison between different asset managers more straightforward. Despite being time-consuming, the goal is to simplify the understanding of performance.13.38: Kareem discusses additional workflows, such as managing capital calls and distributions. The platform allows advisors to set calendar invites, providing clarity on the purpose and amount of wire transfers. This proactive approach reduces confusion for clients and advisors.15.53: Kareem describes AltExchange's business intelligence quality checks (BI QC rules), which constantly run to ensure data consistency and accuracy within the system. The platform aims to maintain data integrity and prevent issues like unrealized value spikes.20:28: Jason inquiries about AltExchange's future direction. Kareem discusses the potential for AI-driven summarization of asset manager quarterly updates, benchmarking, and exposure analysis.Key Points:Private capital markets pose challenges due to the lack of standardized identifiers and diverse reporting metrics, making it more complex than dealing with traditional assets like ETFs or mutual funds.AltExchange addresses challenges in the post-investment phase, helping advisors track actions and workflows after an investment is made.AltExchange facilitates various workflows, such as onboarding, distribution alerts, and managing capital calls and distributions, streamlining the advisor's role, and enhancing client communication.Tweetable Quotes:"AltExchange simplifies the complex world of alternative investments by aggregating and automating data from various platforms, using machine reading technology to make sense of the data.""Navigating private capital markets is challenging due to the lack of standardized identifiers and diverse reporting metrics.”"Exciting times in the fintech space! AltExchange leverages AI to drive innovation, from summarizing asset manager updates to benchmarking and exposure analysis. Solving complex problems with technology in its early stages."Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Andrew Butt, Co-Founder and CEO of Enable. Enable is a platform for managing B2B rebates a problem that exists at scale. Andrew describes Enable as a cloud-based platform fostering collaboration among supply chain stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, focusing on trading agreements.Episode Highlights:01:03 Andrew shares the history of Enable, rooted in his background of building software. He recounts encountering the complex rebate management issue at a fast-growing UK distributor, where manual Excel spreadsheets were used due to ERP limitations.04:30 Andrew adds the loyalty element to rebate programs, drawing parallels with consumer loyalty programs like air miles or coffee shop rewards. The discussion emphasizes the role of rebates in fostering loyalty and influencing consumer behaviour.07:23 Andrew and Jason discuss the reconciliation challenges in traditional systems, including conflicts, different data sets, and timing issues. This conversation underscores the importance of transparency and collaboration in overcoming these challenges.11:24 Andrew highlights the importance of alignment across the supply chain, emphasizing that effective rebate management fosters collaboration among trading partners and how their platform serves as a tool for aligning interests, meeting customer needs, and sharing rewards to enhance overall supply chain performance.17:20 Jason explores the concept of the platform evolving into a more dynamic marketplace where rebate agreements resemble an auction-like system for which Andrew acknowledges the potential for negotiations and dynamic offers, drawing parallels to Google Adwords' instantaneous pricing model.22:40 The excitement for Andrew lies in the transition from being a piece of software to evolving into a network. The prospect of becoming a network-driven model and the associated opportunities ahead drive Andrew's enthusiasm.Key Points:Rebates play a crucial role in business models, with manufacturers strategically using them to incentivize behaviours like volume purchasing. The complexity of rebate management is highlighted, with instances where businesses rely on rebates for profitability, and more than 75% of global trade involves rebates.The future trajectory involves expanding coverage for various rebate agreements, providing more insights, and transitioning from a simplifying tool to a strategic driver for business performance.Tweetable Quotes:"Rebates aren't just discounts; they strategically shape behaviours. More than 75% of global trade involves rebates, and for distributors, rebates make up an average of 100% of profit.""Automation in rebate management isn't just a time-saver; it's a game-changer. Freeing up personnel from manual tasks and providing valuable insights for informed decisions."“Negotiations and dynamic offers become a reality, drawing parallels to Google AdWords’ instantaneous pricing model."Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Zach Conway, co-founder and CEO of Seeds. It is a platform that allows advisers to better assess investors and personalize their portfolios in order to create a better engagement with them. Zach highlights the traditional mechanical investing process with Seeds' approach, which aims to make investing more meaningful and engaging for both the investor and the advisor.Episode Highlights 02:07: Zach stresses the importance of understanding your client deeply. By asking the right questions, one can understand their needs, desires, and values. This is essential for delivering a personalized experience.05:13: Zach emphasizes the difference in their approach. Instead of explaining the money management strategy, they take clients through a digital assessment to unpack their personal investment mindset and behaviors.08:19: Zach speaks about side-by-side analysis of the current and proposed portfolios. He highlights the platform's capabilities, from portfolio construction to implementation and management.10:39: The traditional process of managing money and the flaws in not truly understanding the client's perspective, says Zach.15:54: Zach stresses the need for a change in the narrative, moving away from the emotional investment stories driven by fear and greed. He talks about the ongoing struggle and their aim to rectify this perception in the industry.17:16: Zach talks about the prevalent sales conversations in the industry when clients walk in and the narrative around money management. He comments on the industry's realization of the pitfalls of this narrative, especially when the S&P decreases.23:05: Zach talks about presenting a three-dimensional story to the investor. The focus can be on values alignment, risk exposure, or other aspects based on the client's persona. He emphasizes the need for personalized storytelling in the industry.27:22: Jason talks about the next generation's perception of investing and mentions the disconnect in the industry's marketing and actual delivery.33:25: Zach expresses excitement about the prospect of creating a future where investors feel heard and understood, and advisors provide value by aligning investments with clients' values and goals.3 Key PointsSeeds takes a client-centric approach by understanding an investor's analytical nature, interest in emerging trends, values, and ethical concerns. They emphasize the importance of aligning investments with these factors.Seeds aims to make investing more meaningful and engaging for both investors and advisors, contrasting this approach with traditional mechanical investing processes.Zach emphasizes the need for a shift in the industry's narrative, moving away from focusing solely on investment returns to understanding clients deeply and shaping portfolios around their values.Tweetable Quotes"Understanding your client deeply is essential for delivering a personalized investment experience." - Zach Conway"Our goal is to provide a personalized investment experience from initial assessment to ongoing portfolio management and reviews." - Zach Conway"It's not about the technology, it's about how it's applied. Sustainable organic growth is the key." - Zach ConwayResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Joel Bruckenstein known as the "godfather of advisor technology" in the US. Joel is the President of Technology Tool, a well-known consultant and writer in the financial advisory technology space. Joel is the President of Technology Tool, a well-known consultant and writer in the financial advisory technology space. The episode focuses on Joel's journey and how technology for financial advisors has evolved over time.Episode Highlights 01:26: Joel shares that he spends a significant amount of time consulting, evaluating new products, and engaging with advisors.04:13: When Joel began his journey, the wire houses, and many independent broker-dealers (IBDs) predominantly used proprietary technology solutions. Independent advisors had limited options in terms of technology.09:41: The cost of financial products, such as mutual funds, was much higher 30 years ago, and ETFs were not yet available.11:56: Jason shares a common observation that many outsiders, including technologists and engineers, often believe that technology will replace advisors and reduce their numbers.17:14: Jason agrees with Joel's observations and highlights the proliferation of niche solutions that address specific planning issues, which has become more prevalent over the last decade.24:16: Joel highlights how smaller advisory firms may outsource their technology needs to specialized providers.29:27: Joel suggests that AI can be leveraged for more straightforward tasks, such as generating drafts for blog posts and even assisting with email replies for routine requests.34:52: People's satisfaction tends to be higher when they are not aware of alternative solutions or when they have limited exposure to different technology options.Discount Code and LinksDiscount code for advisors for $200 : Woodgate200Registration linkSponsorship prospectus link3 Key PointsJoel reflects on how the landscape of advisor technology has evolved since he first started in the field.Joel and Jason discuss the common complaint among advisors about margin compression and increased competition in the industry due to technological advancements.Joel highlights the growing importance of data and AI in the advisory industry. He explains that data is like digital gold and can be leveraged for various purposes, including AI-driven insights and analytics.Tweetable Quotes“It's essential to remember the technological context of the time when he started, as they were still in the era of DOS, with Windows emerging as a platform.” – Joel“Technology has completely transformed the way advisors do business, and he views these changes as positive. It has made advisors more efficient, allowing them to serve more clients and provide a better user experience for both their employees and clients.” – Joel“The financial advisory industry often takes longer to adopt technology due to its highly regulated nature.” – JoelResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of Fintech Impact, we have a repeated guest Aaron Klein, the co-founder and CEO of Nitrogen Wealth formerly Riskalyze. Aaron was back in April of 2019, and he has been up to quite a lot. Aaron introduces the concept of behavioral science, alluding to how clients react to financial decisions. He shares an anecdote about an advisor who realized that he was anchoring his clients' portfolios based on his own risk tolerance which led to a misalignment in clients' expectations and actual investment outcomes.Episode Highlights 00:52: Aaron discusses the evolution of their company, originally named Riskalyze, reflecting on its 12 1/2-year journey since its foundation and the launch of their initial product for advisors.03:26: Jason expresses a desire to discuss the client's journey with Aaron, mentioning the need for better structures and processes in the industry.09:20: Jason acknowledges that while there are solutions for SEO and content marketing to attract leads, the real challenge lies in the post-acquisition phase—how to nurture and engage these leads effectively, which he views as a significant task.13:39: Aaron discusses their proposal capabilities that enable advisors to create investment proposals aligned with a client's risk tolerance and needs, emphasizing the credibility of data and analytics over traditional trust-building methods based on image alone.26:48: Aaron explains that while Nitrogen isn't marketed as a compliance tool, solo advisors can significantly benefit from the platform as it helps them document client risk preferences and agreements, reducing the risk of legal issues in the future.35:13: Aaron emphasizes the need for top-tier wealth management firms to use top-tier technology and believes that integrating the right technology into the growth process is crucial for success.36:57: Jason points out that many large players in the industry have been acquired by even larger companies, and the landscape has shifted, making it more challenging to replicate past successes.3 Key PointsAaron Klein talks about Riskalyze's transformation over 12 1/2 years to Nitrogen Wealth, a platform for wealth management firms.Aaron discusses behavioral science's role in finance and introduces tools like "retirement maps" and "check-ins" for better client engagement.Nitrogen's focus shifted to being a growth platform. Aaron stresses the need for integrating top-tier technology in wealth management.Tweetable QuotesRisk is one of the critical dimensions when building investment proposals for clients. - Aaron"Emphasizing the issues with advisors not effectively aligning with clients' risk preferences, Nitrogen Wealth steps in to bridge the gap." - Aaron Klein "In the post-COVID era, trust-building evolves - data and analytics become more crucial than image alone." - Aaron KleinResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://nitrogenwealth.com/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Chris Shuba, Founder and CEO of Helios Quantitative. It is an "in-source CIO," offering a unique solution for financial institutions. They provide all the functions of an investment department without the associated costs and hassles. Helios Quantitative simplifies and streamlines the operations of an advisory practice.Episode Highlights 01.52: Chris notes that while models were initially a primary focus, Helios has expanded its services and technology to become an all-encompassing in-source CIO, moving beyond a sole emphasis on modelling.02.23: Chris outlines the core goals of most advisors, which include looking impressive to clients, spending more time on their strengths, achieving scalability, and ultimately being profitable.09.42: Jason emphasizes that Helios Quantitative covers the entire vertical funnel for advisors, from ideation to implementation to communication and maintenance, providing a comprehensive value proposition throughout the process.11.47: Chris mentions their preference for working with disruptive-thinking advisors who align with their approach. He also highlights the cost aspect, emphasizing that model marketplaces can be expensive, while Helios aims to be a low-cost alternative with more capabilities.17.24: Chris discusses the challenge of underestimating the importance of model designs and their correlation with real-world events. Chris explains that Helios originally used linear mathematics, which sometimes didn't align with real-world complexities, leading to advisor confidence issues.3 Key PointsChris mentions their exciting plans for further development of the platform beyond two main function Model Development and Management and Research and Analytics.Chris draws an analogy between their approach and the concept of an aircraft carrier in a fleet. Still, it needs a surrounding ecosystem of supporting components to protect it and ensure its effectiveness.Chris highlights the accessibility of machine learning and AI tools for smaller companies like Helios, which empowers them to develop and deploy cutting-edge technology.Tweetable Quotes“Helios focuses on mathematical diversity, providing multiple types of models to increase diversification within a portfolio. The goal is to bring institutional-level diversification strategies into the retail space, reducing risk and enhancing portfolio stability.” – Chris“Simply adding more components does not guarantee increased profitability or improved client satisfaction. All components are needed to create a world-class asset management experience.” - ChrisResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisshuba/https://heliosdriven.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Rafael Loureiro, CEO of Wealth.com. The company besides having the most incredible URL for a fintech firm is an estate planning platform that allows for advisors and clients to collaborative work on estate plans and produce like legal estate documents and make it part of the entire continuing advisors by proposition.Episode Highlights 00:53: Rafael describes Wealth.com as a tech-driven estate planning platform designed for financial advisors. The platform helps advisors set up high-quality estate plans for their clients, offering legal estate documents that are applicable in 51 jurisdictions.03.09: Rafael and his team decided to create Wealth.com as an intelligent platform to help financial advisors maintain up-to-date estate planning. Their goal is to ensure estate planning evolves with changes in assets and beneficiaries, emphasizing the importance of keeping it current.05.56: Rafael notes that the platform's dashboard can integrate with the advisor's preferred CRM, such as Salesforce or Wealthbox.18.33: Rafael underscores the startling statistics related to estate planning, with a majority of Americans not having a plan, and even those who do often have outdated plans. He notes that many people only consider estate planning when faced with a loss or a famous person's passing.22.31: Rafael emphasizes that they wanted a domain name that represented more than just estate planning. They aimed to provide a holistic, digital solution that encompasses various aspects of financial planning and positions the advisor at the centre of the client relationship.3 Key PointsRafael discusses the creation of Wealth.com and the motivation behind it. He begins by explaining his involvement with a global fraud prevention company before venturing into estate planning.Jason highlights the importance of improving estate planning, particularly in areas like tax, estate, and insurance, where there are significant opportunities for enhancement.Rafael reiterates his desire for more flexibility, asking why estate planning can't be done from the comfort of one's home, given the advancements in technology.Tweetable Quotes“The visualizer tool provides scenarios and simulations, helping clients and advisors understand the implications of different situations, such as one or both spouses passing away.” – Rafael“The platform has an API connection with Zillow, so when a client's real estate is sold, they receive a notification. The platform prompts the client and notifies the advisor, placing the advisor at the center of the relationship.” – RafaelThe only effective incentive for estate planning may be opting for a comprehensive financial planner who includes it in their scope of work and compensation structure.”- JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.wealth.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaelloureiro/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Elliott Limb, founder and CEO of Cubed. It is a company assisting fintech companies scale, while mitigating the high failure rates commonly faced by startups.Episode Highlights 00:21 Elliott discusses Cubed's mission, which is to help fintech companies overcome high failure rates. Cubed serves as growth partners, actively involved in running and growing fintech businesses.06:45: Elliott acknowledges that the cultural divide between traditional finance and fintech is a common issue. He mentions that this divide is gradually improving, but it has been a significant challenge in the past.09:37: Jason seeks advice from Elliott on how to prevent the challenge of knowing when to decline potential sales and engage in the difficult conversations with clients who demand hyper-specific, non-scalable solutions that offer significant financial incentives for custom development work.10.25: Companies should take a more strategic approach rather than jumping straight into execution, even if it means walking away from potentially lucrative opportunities initially.14:51: Jason acknowledges that for technical founders and entrepreneurs, constantly seeking funding can be frustrating and time-consuming.16:39: Jason and Elliott discuss common issues faced by fintech companies and methodologies for course correction.23:57: Elliott's assessment suggests that the fintech industry faces unique challenges related to due diligence, investor experience, and rapid funding cycles, which could contribute to a higher failure rate compared to other sectors in the venture capital market.36:02: Elliott is driven by the goal of making the market better and increasing innovation within the fintech sector.3 Key PointsElliott provides a holistic view of the challenges and responsibilities that both start-ups and investors face in the fintech industry. He highlights the need for strategic planning, rigorous measurement, and a strong focus on team execution to improve success rates.Elliott explains that Cubed's involvement with fintech companies from the venture capital side usually happens for three main reasons: Due Diligence Support, Portfolio Review and Turnaround Assistance.Jason and Elliott highlight the need for fintech founders to strike a balance between loyalty to early employees and the necessity of bringing in diverse talent that can help the company navigate the challenges of growth and innovation.Tweetable Quotes“Building a great piece of software is not enough for success; you must consider distribution and other business aspects.” – Jason“Companies should position their technology in a way that clearly demonstrates how it will improve the customer's business and provide a sustainable business model.” – Elliot“Companies often hire experienced individuals but fail to provide the necessary enablement and alignment to ensure success.” - ElliotResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to John Lenker, founder and Chief Vision Officer of the marketing firm and Kevin deLaplante Partner & Chief Knowledge Officer. Lenker is a growth consulting firm that specializes in assisting early-stage startups in achieving product-market fit and establishing a recognizable brand before their launch. They emphasize on the challenges startups encounter, including a lack of market analysis and a tendency to prioritize technical development over other critical aspects of their business. Linker aims to help startups navigate these challenges and achieve their growth goals.Episode Highlights 05:19: Kevin mentions that some startups exhibit what he refers to as "pathological behavior," which involves making decisions that are not in their long-term rational self-interest, such as burning through limited funds or making poor decisions.06:02: Some startups, especially those with an engineering perspective, focus solely on building their technology because they believe it will revolutionize the market.07:42: John talks about the importance of early-stage analysis and planning in the fintech industry to avoid common pitfalls and challenges faced by startups.08:41: John explains that they sophisticated tools and financial models, including customer lifetime value simulation engines, to guide early-stage decision-making for fintech startups.17:02: John shares a real-life example of an individual who worked for a major platform company for several years.3 Key PointsJohn highlights one of the primary reasons startups fail in their endeavors, which is a lack of proper market opportunity analysis. He emphasizes the importance of examining the need in the marketplace, identifying the target audience and buyers, assessing the competitive landscape, and understanding the current solutions available and their market adoption status.John talks about the importance of thorough market research, timing, and branding in the success of entrepreneurial ventures, including fintech startups.The discussion emphasizes the process of crafting a brand that becomes the undeniable solution in the market.Tweetable Quotes“Many entrepreneurs have not fully thought through their business situation, making it essential to guide them in clarifying their goals and increasing the likelihood of achieving them.” – John“There is often a disconnect between how the client perceives the problem and the reality, which becomes apparent through discussions and discovery processes.” – John“Branding involves making people believe in you and your initiative, which creates a tailwind for your work.” – JohnResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason interviews Julie Littlechild, the founder and CEO of Absolute Engagement. Julie is a renowned speaker and expert in client engagement within the financial advisory sector. She has recently launched the Absolute Engagement Engine, which brings her ideas on client engagement to life.Episode Highlights 00:58: Absolute Engine is designed to help financial advisors connect more deeply with their prospects and clients efficiently and consistently.06:31: Many advisors have recognized the importance of aspects such as Confidence, Concerns, Outlook, and Preferences; structuring the conversation in the format of a questionnaire can be a challenge, says Julie. 10:04: Julie explains that opportunities to uncover engagement and growth emerge for several reasons. These opportunities can arise based on how a client presents themselves at a given point in time, such as their confidence level during a review or introductory meeting.15:02: Jason emphasizes the importance of delving deeper to understand clients better, considering that many clients haven't thought deeply about their goals.16:44: Julie explains that their focus is on creating a leading indicator of future issues rather than identifying clients who are already on their way out.19:13: Jason highlights the common issue in the industry where discussions often devolve into fee arguments because clients may not fully understand the value of the services provided.24:40: Jason and Julie discuss the motivation behind developing their platform and the goals they hoped to achieve.29:26: Jason and Julie emphasized the value of asking meaningful questions and co-creating value with clients.3 Key PointsJason underscores the importance of demonstrating the softer, more human aspects of care and concern in financial advisory interactions.Julie and Jason discuss the exciting possibilities with the data generated by the Absolute Engagement Engine.Julie and Jason discuss various aspects of the financial advisory industry, particularly focusing on a platform designed to help financial advisors understand and improve client sentiment.Tweetable Quotes“Capturing the fluid and evolving sentiments of clients, which can vary between couples and change over time, posed a significant challenge.” – Julie“Absolute Engagement Engine provides a structured way to address important topics such as Confidence, Concerns, Outlook and Preferences.” – Julie“AI automates more routine tasks; the focus should shift towards the psychological aspects of financial planning.” – Jason“Using technology is just one part of the equation, and advisors need to develop the soft skills and knowledge to have deeper, more effective conversations with clients when using the platform's insights.” – Julie“The platform not only provides efficiency for advisors but also delivers real value by helping clients navigate their financial journeys more effectively.” – JulieResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Steven Wasick, Founder of infoSentience, an automation company specializing in using artificial intelligence to enhance data analytics and communication in financial markets. infoSentience’s software can analyze any data set, identify key insights, and communicate them effectively, similar to a human analyst or journalist. This episode explores the innovative technology and applications that infoSentience brings to the world of finance.Episode Highlights 01:16: infoSentience’s key product extends beyond finance and into the sports industry. They provide fantasy sports reports for CBS Sports and cover sports leagues like the NBA and NFL.06:54: infoSentience’s approach leverages the power of conceptual understanding to efficiently process and communicate complex information, making it valuable not only in the sports industry but also in various other domains.08:02: Unlike template-based approaches where you simply fill predefined slots, infoSentience’s system accounts for the complexity of relationships between concepts. It doesn't rely on predefined structures, making it more adaptable and capable of handling intricate narratives.17:02: Steve discusses the different metrics and improvements that various clients have seen through their collaboration with infoSentience.25:51: Steve shares his motivation to continue pushing forward after overcoming technology challenges and reaching a point where they can showcase their work effectively.3 Key PointsinfoSentience’s system employs a rules-based approach to mimic human conceptual understanding, allowing it to process and communicate information effectively while avoiding the pitfalls of irrelevant or repetitive content.infoSentience recognizes the need for vertical-specific customization, they also aim to establish common models and approaches to address fundamental analytical inquiries that apply broadly across different clients and industries.Steve highlights the challenges associated with data analysis, data synthesis, and integrating data from different sources, suggesting that these are complex areas where their technology can shine.Tweetable Quotes“When reading poorly written or robotic content, readers often encounter irrelevant or confusing information that forces their brains to pause and question its significance. This disrupts the flow of understanding and can be frustrating.” - Steven Wasick“infoSentience’s future could involve integrating their technology into larger organizations to enhance data-related capabilities.” - Steven Wasick“Having a clearer understanding of data and its nuances from the beginning would be beneficial for infoSentience and similar companies that rely on data for their services.” - Steven WasickResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Stephen Chen, founder, and CEO of New Retirement. It is an online platform that facilitates financial institutions in offering DIY financial planning experiences to their existing or potential customers. The platform is designed to enhance and complement their existing financial services. Stephen describes New Retirement as essentially creating a "TurboTax for financial planning." Initially, the company began as a consumer-facing platform before transitioning into its current role of supporting financial institutions in providing comprehensive financial planning solutions.Episode Highlights 03:25: Jason acknowledges that Stephen Chen's approach with New Retirement is a much better approach compared to some other concepts he has encountered.04:07: Stephen talks about the evolution of New Retirement's business model. Initially, the company was bootstrapped and started as a subscription service for consumers. However, it became evident that this model wasn't inherently scalable for venture capital investment.05:36: This strategic shift from a consumer-centric model to enterprise partnerships has allowed New Retirement to scale and generate more revenue.11:08: Stephen emphasizes the importance of providing tools and education to help people gain a sense of financial control and visibility into their future financial security.18:08: Stephen highlights the importance of design in the software's success, making it user-friendly and accessible to a broad audience.3 Key PointsStephen shares individuals today are more educated and informed about their financial situations due to the internet. This increased knowledge enables them to have richer and more efficient conversations with financial advisors or coaches.Just as travel agents still exist but coexist with online travel booking tools like Kayak, Stephen believes that financial advisors will continue to play a vital role. However, he emphasizes the need for more advisors and lower-cost options to make financial planning accessible to a broader audience.Stephen discusses the importance of design in New Retirement's software, emphasizing that it needs to be intuitive and user-friendly, like the success of the iPhone with its consumer-grade design. He mentions that they are continually improving their software and focusing on data and AI to enhance the user experience.Tweetable Quotes“New Retirement collaborates with various players in the financial ecosystem to streamline and improve the efficiency of services offered to their target demographic.” – Stephen“Behavioral coaching also plays a significant role in helping individuals avoid major financial mistakes and execute their financial decisions effectively.” – Stephen“Large companies, including Fortune 100 firms, have now begun to appreciate the value of financial planning.” – StephenResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorNew Retirement Website Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Owen Winkelmolen, Founder/CEO of Adviice, a financial planning tool in Canada. It is a client-facing financial planning platform designed to support fee-for-service advisors and all advisors in general. It enables clients and advisors to collaborate in building a financial plan. The origin of Adviice, can be traced back to Owen's financial planning practice, Plan Easy, which he founded in 2018. The discussion touches upon the challenges faced by those in the financial planning space, especially when it comes to handling payments, subscriptions, and client retention.Episode Highlights 0.41: Adviice is a platform that manages the entire client engagement process, including onboarding, payment processing, discovery, document uploads, planning, recommendations, implementation, and tracking, all within a single platform.6.25: Owen explains that the onboarding process in Advice is designed to be user-friendly and efficient, with yes-no questions and multiple-choice questions that are easy for clients to answer.7.20: What sets Adviice apart is its client-facing approach. Clients actively participate in the discovery process by providing information and uploading documents, and the platform's tailored design turns this into a streamlined and personalized "fill in the blank" exercise.12:05: Regarding white labeling, the Adviice platform allows advisors and companies to fully brand the platform as their own.16:23: The Adviice platform incorporates a range of visual tools and features to enhance the financial planning experience and provide valuable insights to clients.3 Key PointsWhat sets Adviice apart from many other financial planning software platforms is its emphasis on workflow and planning tools.The platform's client-facing nature, combined with the ability to mark completed actions and interact with the plan regularly, fosters ongoing engagement and collaboration between clients and advisors. This approach ensures that financial planning becomes an ongoing, dynamic process rather than a one-time event, ultimately leading to better financial outcomes for clients.The discussion emphasizes the importance of shifting from a one-time financial planning model to an ongoing and collaborative planning experience. It's recognized that the real value in financial planning lies in the continuous planning process, which takes into account the changing circumstances and goals of clients over time.Tweetable Quotes"Planning software may start with the planning tool itself, and the front-end (client acquisition, payments, etc.) and back-end (modeling) are secondary considerations." - Owen Winkelmolen"The use of visual tools like the Sankey diagram and the contextualization of financial data are essential for helping clients truly understand their financial situation and the impact of various scenarios." - Owen Winkelmolen"The ability to white-label and customize the platform for different niches and client segments is a testament to its flexibility and usability" -Jason. Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.planeasy.ca/owen-winkelmolen/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason welcomes back repeat guest Trevor Greenway, the founder of interVal. Trevor discusses how interVal's software platform assists financial advisors, accountants, and other professionals in valuing businesses. The platform provides estimates of business value, guides clients in the right direction, and helps them optimize their largest asset.Episode Highlights 02:36: Jason inquires about the process of business valuation for financial advisors and others who want to help clients determine their business's worth.03:57: The conversation highlights the crucial aspects of raising awareness among business owners, enabling advisors to add value, and ultimately working together to create a well-planned and cohesive future. interVal's automated discovery process plays a pivotal role in achieving these goals.04:19: Jason emphasizes that conveying the value of something is one aspect, but explaining the reasons behind its value and providing strategies for improvement is even more significant.06:02: The discussion delves into the nuances of enterprise value growth and highlights the importance of understanding and optimizing value drivers beyond simple top-line revenue increases.14:15: Trevor highlighted the importance of focusing on optimizing business health and informed decision-making for business owners.20:49: interVal is actively navigating the dynamic landscape of technological adoption and increasing business owner expectations. 3 Key PointsJason and Trevor's conversation highlights the power of understanding "why" and "how" in addition to the value of data-driven insights. It also underscores the critical role advisors play in leveraging these insights to guide business owners toward growth and improvement.The discussion emphasizes interVal's flexibility in valuation frequency and data integration, highlighting the platform's ability to accommodate partners' preferences while delivering valuable insights for making informed decisions.Trevor highlighted the complexity of business valuations and how various factors can influence the perceived value of a business.Tweetable Quotes"While valuation is a methodology, the true focus is on enhancing visibility into the business's health and performance." - Trevor Greenway"Understanding the value drivers behind the valuation is more crucial than the valuation itself." - Trevor Greenway"The frequency of valuation updates doesn't necessarily lead to dramatic changes in valuation results." - Trevor Greenway"By automating certain aspects of discovery, advisors can focus on delivering true value to business owners, helping them hit milestones, achieve goals, and mitigate risks." - Trevor GreenwayResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Jud Mackrill, co-founder of Milemarker & Mammoth, who has been on the show before. The discussion centers around the challenges related to data and data management in the industry. For the past 15 years, many conferences have complained about the quality of data, its location, and how it's often siloed. Jud is working on a solution to address these issues.Episode Highlights 0:56: The company's main goal is to address issues related to connectivity, integration, and operational efficiency for firms that may not have the resources to specialize in these areas due to their focus on taking care of their clients' needs.01:40: Jason and Jud discuss the challenges faced by average RAs (Risk Analysis) depending on their size.06:27: Jud emphasizes that Milemarker's goal is not to compete with internal teams but to assist and augment their efforts.08:30: Milemarker helps integrate data and information so that when the Home Office receives requests from the field, they are intelligent and specific to the unique office or role making the request.16:37: Mammoth is an opportunity to modernize and streamline the process of handling alternative investments.19:54: Mammoth offers a single pane of glass solution that integrates with various technologies used by wealth management firms. The platform helps advisors manage alternative investments more efficiently and addresses the complexities involved in handling such investments for clients.21:45: The guest emphasizes the importance of having professional-grade software and processes to support technology and compliance efforts, especially as more firms transcend into becoming media and technology companies alongside their core service offerings.24:19: Being data-driven and having a clear point of view can provide a significant advantage to companies in the long run.3 Key PointsJud describes their approach to the consulting process, which involves writing a plan and designing how the data management and integration should work.Jud explains some of the quick wins and secondary wins that their consulting services provide to their clients.While technology can support the advisor-client relationship, the human element of personalized service will always be essential and cannot be fully scaled.Tweetable Quotes"As for the benefits of the consulting process, once the data challenges are identified and understood, the firms can leverage the solutions provided by Milemarker to improve data connectivity, integration, and operational efficiency." – Jud"It's very common for technology teams to be consumed with daily operational tasks and support, leaving little time for strategic planning and comprehensive data management." – Jud"A study by Fidelity, which found that many firms are acquiring other companies with clients that don't generate profits for the acquiring firm." - JudResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Philipp Hecker, CEO of Bento Engine. It is a cutting-edge content and conversation system designed for financial advisors. The system's primary goal is to assist financial advisors in cultivating stronger client relationships and expanding their businesses.Episode Highlights 0.49: Bento Engine aims to help advisors focus on crucial moments in their clients' and prospects' lives. It operates as a B2B SaaS solution, integrating with widely used CRM systems through APIs.2.05: During his time at JP Morgan's Wealth Planning and Advice unit, Phil witnessed the power of comprehensive advice in action. This unit included various financial planning teams across JP Morgan's private bank, broker-dealer business, and TRACE network.5:30: As per Jason, some advisors opt to limit the number of households, they serve to provide high-level service, which may restrict their income potential. This approach often leaves the bottom end of their client base underserved.13.41: Bento Engine triggers opportunities for gifting and personalization, and it often leads to fulfilment needs and product opportunities. Bento Engine is delighted to see the various directions that clients take in utilizing the platform's opportunities for the benefit of all involved parties.15.06: By avoiding the need for a separate login or app, Bento Engine becomes a background system that enhances the CRM experience and provides advisors with timely opportunities and materials. 19.40: AI language is an inefficient form of communication, and understanding clients' needs and concerns requires empathy and expertise.3 Key PointsBento Engine serves as a tax solution that integrates with popular CRM systems, making it the central hub of client-centric technology for advisors. By mining and leveraging client data, advisors can shine during crucial moments that matter in their clients' lives. Jason envisions that users of Bento Engine can use the triggered events to initiate other workflows, allowing for customized touchpoints with clients.It's crucial to strike the right balance between AI-driven automation and the personalized human touch to ensure a successful and ethical implementation of AI technology in the financial advisory space.Tweetable Quotes"Many financial advisors talk about providing holistic advice but may not consistently deliver it across their entire client base. Bento Engine aims to address this opportunity by providing a technology-driven solution that allows advisors to offer comprehensive advice consistently and efficiently to all their clients and prospects." - Philipp"Bento Engine sees the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models to unlock valuable insights from unstructured data within CRM systems." - Philipp"AI will not replace financial advisors; instead, it will make them more efficient, effective, and capable of serving more clients." - PhilippResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Jacob McGraw from Sikka.ai, a fintech company specializing in API platform services for dental support organizations (DSOs). DSOs are large firms that operate numerous dental practices. Jacob discusses Sikka.ai’s innovative underwriting methodology for insurance companies and explains the company's value proposition. Episode Highlights 01:00: Jacob explains the operations of Sikka.ai The company collects data from dental practices to underwrite life insurance applicants. 03:13: The company's API platform integrates with over 92% of the practice management systems used by these dental clinics, making it easier for DSOs to manage their operations.04:45: Jacob highlights the power of taking data from oral health practitioners since oral health often serves as an indicator of other medical issues.07:12: The current reliance on self-reported information in traditional underwriting can lead to inaccuracies and misclassifications. With Sikka.ai’s dental data integration, these issues can be addressed, leading to a more accurate assessment of risks, especially related to smoking habits.08:56: Jason and Jacob discuss how the fear of rejection has created a negative stigma around insurance applications.10:50: Jacob provides a practical example of how the risk model is used to differentiate risk within different preexisting conditions.17:10: The real-time data sources and API platform provided by the company are relatively new and novel to insurance companies, which are typically not accustomed to real-time processes.3 Key PointsJason and Jacob discuss the novelty of using dental data for insurance underwriting and acknowledges the value of alternative data sources in the insurance industry.The significance of dental data in insurance underwriting lies in its ability to offer valuable insights throughout an individual's life, regardless of their age or prior oral health practices.Jacob explains how their focus is on improving the underwriting process by reducing the need for additional tests and enhancing the speed and accuracy of risk assessment.Tweetable Quotes“Sikka.ai utilize two main products for this purpose. The first product includes indicators for pre-existing conditions like tobacco use, kidney disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc. Among these, the tobacco indicator is the most crucial, providing significant protective value per hit from exam one. The second product is mortality risk scores for life insurance underwriting, powered by procedure codes and the frequency of dental procedures performed per calendar year. These procedures help assess and understand mortality risks for potential life insurance applicants.” – Jacob“Data can be viewed as Swiss cheese, with holes representing missing or incomplete information.” – Jacob“Starting from a certain point in technology often influences a country's willingness to embrace new advancements.” - JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://sikka.ai/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Jay Goodis, the CEO of Tax Template Sync, a software designed to help advisors in Canada assess different tax scenarios for their clients. The software allows users to analyze current tax situations, run test scenarios, and optimize tax strategies.Episode Highlights01:57: Jay explains that the genesis of the company was driven by the need to save time and improve efficiency.02:23: While working in public practice, Jay constantly sought ways to be more efficient and identified opportunities to develop software solutions for the complex challenges faced by professionals in the wealth management industry.03:40: Jay explains that when assessing tax outcomes, it can be done from both a corporate and personal perspective. From a personal perspective, individuals can download tax tables from their websites to determine their marginal tax rate.05:52: Jason explains that individuals at the lower end of the income spectrum may face high marginal tax rates due to clawbacks, such as the guaranteed income supplement, which effectively results in close to 70% taxation.11:14: Taxes can be perceived as both simple and complex, depending on individuals' level of understanding and experience.11.38: Jason raises a concern about the perception of taxes being simple or complex. He mentions two categories of people: those who believe taxes are simple because they use tax software without fully understanding the complexities and those who recognize the complexity.18:22: The software developed is primarily used for personal tax planning and corporate tax planning with shareholders, says Jay.19:38: The lack of software dedicated to anything outside of financial planning and investment in this industry is horrible.29:43: Jay discusses the importance of simplifying the tax code and the challenges faced in finding professionals with expertise in tax and programming. 3 Key PointsJason and Jay discuss the impact of government benefits and income testing on tax calculations. Jason mentions that in the US, these are referred to as phase-outs, where entitlements are based on income and may result in different calculations.Jason shares his perspective on the challenges faced by business owners who often have surprise tax bills at the end of the year.Jason and Jay discuss the use cases and value of software in the financial planning industry, particularly in the areas of personal tax planning and corporate tax planning with shareholders. Tweetable Quotes“Many advisors focus on corporate tax and personal tax, so that's where most users begin. They work with their clients to assess their tax situations and determine what deductions, credits, or planning strategies are available to optimize their tax outcomes.” – Jason“The software aims to address both the total tax amount and the cash flow implications for clients.” - Jay“There is a lot of time spent by me and my colleagues reading tax legislation, putting that tax legislation into an interface that's easier for others to understand and to keep it current.” - JayResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Derek Notman, the founder and CEO of Couplr. It is a fintech company that provides a platform for people to find the right financial advisor for their needs. Jason mentions that he often gets pitched similar ideas, but he finds Derek's approach unique and effective. Derek explains that Couplr is focused on fixing lead generation in the financial advisory industry. He highlights that lead generation has been a personal frustration for him, and Couplr aims to address this issue. Episode Highlights01:08: Couplr is a platform that combines the concepts of eHarmony and Bumble. It focuses on facilitating connections between financial advisors and consumers based on the human elements and dimensions of the relationship.03:07: Early in his career, Derek joined New York Life and encountered the traditional methods of lead generation, such as cold calling, door knocking, and attending networking events like BNI meetings.12:02: Derek introduces the concept of warm inbound traffic, which refers to the existing pool of people actively searching for financial guidance.14:06: Derek further explains that Couplr empowers consumers by allowing them to research and get matched with an advisor when they are ready.17:21: Derek highlights the importance of providing valuable information and building trust with consumers before they even contact the advisor.34:20: Through the work at Couplr, Derek aims to break down the friction and barriers in the financial industry, enabling more advisors to help more clients.36:20: Derek shared his passion for fixing the issues surrounding money and improving financial outcomes for individuals and advisors. The conversation highlighted the complex nature of financial relationships and the significance of addressing them effectively.3 Key PointsDerek explains how Couplr's approach to lead generation is different from the traditional methods like SEO and paid ads. Derek explains the "bumble aspect" of Couplr, where consumers can explore the matches, read buyer reviews, visit websites, and check broker checks to gather more information about the advisors.By leveraging machine learning and AI, Couplr aims to continually improve its models and gather valuable data insights.Tweetable Quotes"The current process of finding a financial advisor is broken, as it fails to create a positive experience for both clients and advisors." – Derek"Couplr aims to help consumers find the best advisor based on shared human dimensions, commonalities, experiences, and philosophies." – Derek"By focusing on connecting consumers and advisors on a human level, Couplr offers a more targeted and effective solution." – Derek"Minimizing friction is crucial for adoption and user satisfaction." – Jason"Money is a powerful tool that people have access to, yet there is a lack of education and guidance in managing it effectively." - DerekResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.couplr.ai/about-couplr/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Rishi Khanna, CEO of StockTwits. It is a social media platform for the retail investing and trading community, known for inventing the cash tag. Rishi talks about his vision involving horizontal expansion to become a global platform and vertical expansion into diverse asset classes, while leveraging the culture of money and markets and the significance of live interactions.Episode Highlights01:00: StockTwits has expanded beyond U.S. stocks to cover Canadian equities, Indian equities, cryptocurrencies, and other assets.01:16: The company aims to provide a highly engaging place for global investors to connect, learn, and have fun while profiting.03:10: Rishi Khanna got involved with StockTwits in late 2019 after knowing the company for several years. He was invited to help build the next phase of StockTwits' vision, expanding its value to the investing community throughout the investing life cycle.03:35: Rishi mentions joining in January 2020 and how the world changed drastically during that time.04:07: Jason suggests having a dedicated social media outlet for a specific community of interest.06:08: Rishi discusses unlocking and utilizing unique data points, such as social sentiment data, trending activity data, and messaging bonds.07:37: Rishi highlights the importance of enriching the execution experience and providing a comprehensive toolset for users.08:57: Rishi discusses the challenges of the equity trading business model.10:26: Jason mentions the monetization strategy of advertising on the social media platform.20:45: The conversation touches on the introduction of trending streams and the importance of trust and quality conversations on the platform.22:20: Rishi Khanna expresses his wish to change the default position of cynicism and distrust in communications.3 Key PointsRishi talks about the importance of data and information in the investing life cycle.Rishi discusses the challenges of the equity trading business model, particularly in the US where it is highly commoditized and most big platforms offer free trading.Rishi explains how to facilitate and enable investors to explore and connect with different asset classes, find their tribes, engage in conversations, learn, and potentially build wealth.Tweetable Quotes"Equity trading is not a great business model. It's very hard to generate revenue to cover costs." - Rishi"We're expanding globally to become the go-to platform for the retail investing community. Launching in India is just the beginning." - Rishi"Our goal is to expand the asset classes and cater to the diverse interests within the investing and trading community. There are many micro-communities within this space." - Rishi"Changing things is a challenge... users hate change, especially if they've been using [the platform] for 10 plus years." - Rishi Khanna"We punch way above our weight class... getting to take on these challenges and problems every day is fun." - Rishi KhannaResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorStockTwits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Brigit Carroll, the policy lead for the Americas at Wise. Wise is a company that has previously appeared on the show. Jason has invited Bridget to discuss the progress or lack thereof regarding open banking in North America. They discuss various topics related to cross-border payments, banking apps, and the challenges faced by the industry. Bridget emphasizes the need for transparency in pricing and reducing the cost of remittances. They also talk about the evolving narrative of fintech disruptors and the importance of collaboration within the payment ecosystem.Episode Highlights00:42: Bridget provides a recap of what Wise (formerly known as TransferWise) is all about. 01:18: Wise is a global payments company that focuses on providing the best solution for moving money across borders. 02:22: Open banking is seen as a crucial component of the overall modernization of the payment ecosystem in Canada. 08:33: Bridget emphasizes the importance of faster payments, stating that Canadians deserve it and it's not just a luxury. Failure to deliver on this promise would be detrimental to consumers and businesses during the cost-of-living crisis.11:26: Bridget emphasizes the importance of bringing Canada up to speed with the rest of the world.16:22: Canadian banks are not competitive and are expensive compared to other financial institutions globally. 18:06: There are long lead times for various initiatives, such as the retail Payments Activities Act, which is currently undergoing consultations. 27:10: Knowing that we are making a positive difference in the lives of millions of people around the world is incredibly rewarding. It's why we do what we do, and it's what keeps us motivated to continue pushing for better solutions and a more inclusive financial system, says Bridget.3 Key PointsBridget explains that payments modernization in Canada includes various aspects such as real-time payments, modern payment licensing through systems like RPAs (Request-to-Pay Agreements), open banking, and enabling fintech companies to access the payment system through amendments to the Canadian Payments Act.Jason highlights the frustration of waiting several days for a payment to clear and emphasizes that instant payments are crucial for individuals who cannot afford to wait for their paychecks or for small businesses seeking instant liquidity.Jason criticizes banks for their generic marketing approaches that fail to address individual needs.Tweetable Quotes"Canadian banks may strongly resist open banking, while noting that Europe has taken a legislative approach, and the United States has embraced free market capitalism." – Jason"Wise was the first non-bank to access the Bank of England's faster payment system, resulting in cost reductions for customers and significantly faster payment processing." - Bridget"Change needs to happen in collaboration with regulators and incumbents as well. It's not about disrupting for the sake of disruption, but it's about working together to create a better system." – BridgetResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Giuseppe Stuto, co-founder and managing partner of 186 Ventures. It is a venture capital firm founded by former high-growth tech executives themselves. They have been there, and they know how to advise people who are going through that same journey. Giuseppe explains that their criteria for investing in a company involve evaluating founder market fit, the competence and unique positioning of the founders, their understanding of the problem, and their passion and motivations for building the business.Episode Highlights:00:47: Giuseppe Stuto says that they are at an early stage precede and seed venture capital firm. So, they typically invest at the earliest stages. There may or may not be a company incorporated or maybe a business already with over $1,000,000 in annual revenue, but primarily invests in the US primarily in the Northeast.01:43: Giuseppe shares how he and his best friend started angel investing. 07:25: As per Giuseppe for the most part, they make sure that they leave that initial meeting with two or three ways they can begin to provide value to that founder.10:04: The investors focus on connecting companies with key team members and leveraging their extensive network of technical and industry experts to provide support and value to the companies they invest in.11:57: Giuseppe emphasizes their role in assisting founders by aligning their goals, providing insights, and offering support through various programs tailored for founders and operators.15:08: Giuseppe acknowledges that building an unsustainable model can be challenging to unwind, particularly in times of high cost of capital. 21:29: It's crucial to have a deep understanding of the local market when making investment decisions or implementing business strategies.24:19: In the context of early-stage startups, the definition of "early stage" typically refers to the initial stages of a company's development, usually up until the Series A funding round.3 Key Points:Giuseppe shares how in early 2019, the brand was founded and then in fall of 2021, they started investing out of their first institutional vehicle.Giuseppe talks about the 4 pillars that they consider when deciding upon investment.Jason expresses the desire to discuss the investments made in the fintech sector and asks Giuseppe to provide details about the companies they have invested in and what attracted them to those companies.Tweetable Quotes:"Never before was there more of a time where founders should partner. With firms that actually have institutional know-how and being able to build companies themselves." - Giuseppe Stuto"In mid 2021, later on the peak actually where many funds were coming to market, new ones particularly we decided to institutionalize our platform and raise our first fund vehicle, which is a $37 million fund today." - Giuseppe Stuto"The experience of having been there and done, that's incredibly valuable, but there's also an underlying thesis to the investments." - JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Jennifer Thomas, Director of Business development for XLR8. It is a well-known financial advisor CRM tool that is built over top of the Salesforce Platform. XLR8 is an overlay or custom version of Salesforce. Jennifer explains that they use all the power and strength and a wonderful thing that Salesforce offers, and then they came out-of-the-box with a fully customized version specific to the finance sector. Episode Highlights:01:19: Jennifer talks about the history of XLR8. How did it come to be and how does it evolve?03.20: Within XLR8 what we are doing is providing the out-of-the-box solution that is able to be and still intended to be sort of further customized, says Jennifer. 07:17: Jennifer explains how they are a little bit different in the Salesforce space and that they are not a transactional relationship. They don't just sell you licenses and then sort of move on.08:43: Jennifer explains how keep updating the system as per process and industry changes.10:17: Jennifer shares how filling gaps is something that they work with the different educational series that they provide.10:57: Jennifer thinks more from a relationship point of view. She doesn't think about business workflow enablement. 12:40: Sort of mathematics in your mind doesn't always go there with technology, says Jason.15:01: Jennifer is currently at a place where her successful business basically caters to the financial advisors.16:13: To sort of filter and disseminate information to our clients of what impacts them, what matters to them, what's important to them, what's useful to them, that is something that we have sort of taken on our shoulders, says Jennifer. 23:08: One of the things that often shocks advisors is the transition cost from CRM to CRM. Jennifer shares what people can expect when they are moving to any CRM. 24:17: Big data is the most valuable part of your business. It is everything, it's every note. It's everything about your clients.28:06: The support in Salesforce is largely handled through DIY stuff on their very good learning systems.30:31: There is some saying about lesson learned or once the lesson is better learned once you have experienced it.3 Key Points:Jennifer explains how the user journeys and the product itself are informed by the user's journey.As per Jennifer a lot of firms don't always investigate the full breadth or depth of the technology they have.Jennifer says that their focus is to make sure that they are an ongoing partner, and their clients are able to and open to and know that they can kind of come knock on their door anytime to ask questions and look for ideas. Tweetable Quotes:"If you are willing to invest the time and effort into the customizations of building your entire practice into Salesforce, you can spend a lot of time on a lot of money, but also get a lot of utility out of it not everyone is built for that." - Jason "You could get into some really deep things, but there are also a ton of really some little things that can be done in the system that takes essentially time really adds time back to somebody that's doing those things manually or kind of doing those things in a repetitive way." - Jennifer"Leveraging a best-in-class platform in a unique vertical which is a great trend and bright place to be as a good, sweet spot." - JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Daniel Cronin, CEO and Co-Founder of Integrated Finance. It is a platform that helps Fintech's launch with their payment systems all ready to go. Episode Highlights:00:31: Integrated finance is a platform that helps fintech's to launch or incumbents or add new offerings to their existing customer base.02:00: The APIs that work with Bank A are entirely different to the APIs that work with Bank B compounded times the number of banks you are working, says Daniel. 11:45: The four letters that scare at every American when looking to do business with Europeans are GDPR, and Daniel has built our platform from a security perspective and data protection perspective here in the UK and Europe and it just conforms to GDPR.15:52: There is a stranglehold on innovation because over half of the Fintech that wanted to launch with product X, either never launched or ended up launching with product Y because it was 10 times harder.23:32: If we don't make the cost of entry low or be as lowest as possible then any number of constrained, innovative ideas who do not have capital Rich will never see the light of day, says Jason.32:01: Forcing consumer protection is a great way to create innovation that is now more secure, says Jason.32:31: As crypto cools, fintech's become the higher risk category, and Daniel would be interested to see how that plays out over the next couple of years.36.32: The biggest challenge in the company where is it today is to fully evaluate the ecosystem that Daniel is trying to build and strategically add new partners as they grow.39.15: Finding something that you love where you don't get Sunday blues changed Daniel's life about 7-8 years ago it was running his own business.3 Key Points:Daniel explains how they target the payments piece, they go even more specific than that on account generation, because this is something that's often overlooked in Fintech.It's the mountain of non-differentiating stuff that needs to be built before you can get your head above the water line just to breathe.There is an asymmetric relationship with industries that are currently growing rapidly, and the way legacy industries are built to serve that growth.Tweetable Quotes:"Rather than focusing on the core assets of the back end of Fintech, we focus on homogenizing the experience our Fintech customers get." – Daniel"The principal reason you increase engagement with anyone in any industry is by giving them account, and that's why we are in the payment and account space to give Fintech and Non-Fintech greater control of their user base." – Daniel"When a customer comes to us, the first thing, we do is we analyze what their requirements are, and we set them up with a sandbox that works with the bank, and they can do what they want." – Daniel"We establish a marketplace where all gaps are filled, and we're doing minimal filtering of features for every single partner, and that drives major commercial alignment." – DanielResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/danielcroninif/?originalSubdomain=ukhttps://integrated.finance/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Ashley Aydin, Principal at Vamos Ventures. It is a venture capital firm that not only makes investments in various areas, including fintech but has taken a keen eye toward increasing diversity within their founder.Episode Highlights:01:41: Ashley explains how they only invest in the next and diverse founding teams. They also focus on impact-oriented companies. 01:47: Ashley mentioned diversity, but it also means equity, community, product, and environment on the equity front, it's about wealth agency created for founders, teams, and communities and access to funding and growth that facilitates social mobility in the Community front, it's creating a diverse pipeline of Angel investors of VC investors of role models for future generations.03:29: 60% of population growth is going to be fueled by that next immigrant chic right in the coming years.03:48: The world is changing fast as what we are seeing, and it's increasingly marked by Latin X and diverse entrepreneurial influence.05:29: Ashley explains how there is a demand for more financial education and literacy.06:49: As per stats, less than 3% of funding goes to diverse entrepreneurs, whether women, Black, Latino, or any underserved overlooked founder category or demo figure.08:37: As per Ashley there needs to be education early on as to what these careers are, whether it's building, operating, or investing, and that we need diversity in those spaces and different experiences.11:15: Ashley is building sort of outside of the venture partnership and advisor staff off deep functional experts in health and Wellness and sustainability and future work in fintech that either have had exits or have been in an executive position.13:21: The more LP capital that you have that believes in these missions, that gives emerging managers a chance, the better the VC landscapers and the startup landscape.15:30: The founding journey isn't just this glamorous thing; it's also caring about an aging parent and building a company at the same time.17:35: Emerging fund managers aren't so much emerging anymore that they are the standard right and that they have unique insight into investing and building funds.18:22: At the end of the day, the opportunities between success and failure in life often come down to a couple of serendipitous choices made by others that give us opportunities where they could have just as easily turned away and done nothing.3 Key Points:Ashley explains how diversity is important to them and how they use it to build technology.Ashley shares examples and instances how they promote diversity.Ashley talks about the venture partner program. How people could sign up to be a venture partner, come on as a venture partner and help advise companies about market strategy or how to fundraise etc.Tweetable Quotes:"There are a few different things we look at in Fintech, but I think the overall theme is empowerment and education." - Ashley"When we look at the sub-sectors and fintech and what is most interesting in that connection, it's things like alternative business lending, new payment structures platforms that focus on wealth generation and wealth building and access and education." - Ashley"We have seen that people are privileged, are coming to coming to the VCs end up not necessarily staying on the right side of the law either." - AshleyResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Ryan George, CMO of Docupace. It is a platform for paperless tools basically designed to automate your back office or the financial advisors back office that, eliminate a lot of the heavy lifting and pain that we go through daily.Episode Highlights:03:07: Ryan is working with and working for people who are sometimes in the background of the business, whether it's connecting to the CRM and having a wireframe into that business or another level of deep integration.05:56: As per Ryan, in the early 2000s, they sort of had the mainframe systems where everything was a locked technology ecosystem, and in terms of what it was able to do and what happened, that led to this explosion of innovation.11:01: As per Ryan industry average is around between 25 to 27% of the NIGO rate for large enterprises, which sounds extremely high because it is on Docupace, it's below 3% for their clients.12:00: As per Ryan, APIs are a big part of their integrations and a big part of their systems. 18:26 Ryan discusses how the pandemic drove growth in digital data gathering.24:37: Sometimes, your clients will lead you down the path to destruction. It's a matter of knowing where to draw the line and saying this is what's good for us.28:01: As per Ryan, there is a need to pivot, and we need to change things in order to get to where we are trying to do what we are trying to move, move faster, be more agile, be more innovative, serve customers in a different way.30:42: As per Ryan, they are not at the level of creativity to where people are coming up with creative solutions to solve because they don't know what the problem is yet.3 Key Points:Ryan shares a case study of someone he has dealt with who didn't have the interconnectivity, what kind of experience change they see within their company, and what type of productivity gains they get from this.Docupace provides tracking in the dashboards where if paperwork gets submitted, somebody must call and say, hey, where's Joe and sell his application.Ryan shares what are the new features of Docupace that they are going to implement in the coming years.Tweetable Quotes:"We want to be a cohesive glue that helps connect your financial planning software, custodian, and systems together as you integrate throughout the technology stack that you have at your firm." – Ryan"Often, it's not the technology, it's the humans that become the inefficiency in the system, and we are trying to find that." - Ryan"Do you have the people in management or middle management with the vision for how this all comes together, which is a is and it's a very difficult thing to fill because it's a Venn diagram." - Jason"People who understand the digital realm as to what's possible and being able to tie that all together. Those are the single most valuable people in our enterprises these days." - Jason"There are so many uses for being able for one person to get data from another person, and that is never going to go away in this business." - RyanResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInLinkedIn - Ryan George Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Alan Gurung, CEO of SIFA. It is an artificial intelligence-powered platform for financial advisors to leverage their data, be more efficient, and garner insights from that data.Episode Highlights:01:52: It is a man versus machine argument instead of a man and machine argument.02:51: Generative AI seems almost scary to many, but the reality is the future belongs to those who utilize the robot correctly.05:29: AI works on explicit rules and logic to solve specific problems and is very rigid. Prerequisite rules and logic have been put together, whereas generative AI works a lot more on patterns. It's able to create new content on the back of those patterns that's been exposed.06:37: In SIFA, Alan and his team gain data that financial advisors use. They analyze the endpoint of all financial advisors trying to do with that data and trying to streamline that process as much as possible. So, the moment when people come on to decipher, what they can do is they can import their unstructured data through recordings from meetings or notes from meetings and start to have a conversation with that data.12:20: Alan explains how they come right at the start of the process of individuals once they record the meeting, they can import them into the cipher as well as gather data from all the other areas.13:15: Think about where advisors tend to spend the most amount of time or rather where they pay people to end up, saving them a lot of time, it's the middle and back-office side of things.14:11: People just hire other people to do stuff they hate as opposed to improving that process.17:32: Alan explains what the future of their application is what other features they are planning to implement.19:53: Alan sees support chats on every website, but in some of these to date the bots have been very, very rudimentary.23:45: The difficulty for Alan has been to work alongside data, and for a lot of financial advisors they realize the impact AI and machine learning might have on their overall business. 3 Key Points:Alan explains about AI and generative AI and how they are different. Alan talks about the integrations that they have done. He explains custodial integrations and couple of other CRMs.Alan explains how they are fundamentally changing the nature of the work in the back and middle offices.Tweetable Quotes:"SIFA is a virtual assistant that allows financial advisors to communicate with their data and generate insights." - Alan"A lot of individuals who seek out financial advisors one of the main reasons they do so is because they don't have the knowledge for certain questions they want to answer. But in actuality, a lot of people don't even know what questions to ask." – Alan"Small finance advising has been a somewhat delicate dance between logical decision making and emotional decision." – Alan"The interesting thing about the financial advice industry is that the demand for financial advisors is greater than the supply of financial advisors." – Alan"If I can teach other people how to be better with their money, maybe I can be better with my money as well." - AlanResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-gurung-186714168/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Matt Lister, CEO of Cloud Advisors. It is a company in the group benefits space, and one of the unique things they have done is they have built a benchmarking system that helps inform business owners as to basically how their plans stack up against competitors in the same space and helps advise around best practices and design. Service is free for employers. Paid by advisors and providers.Episode Highlights:01:04: Cloud advisors use the Canvas employee benefits marketplace. Matt explains how they show employers how their benefit plans stack up.02:23: Every advisor got their own limited pool of experience regarding different sectors, different types of companies.06:35: Matt explains how their system has options for employers that have no coverage, they can get a sample plan.07:17: Matt explains how their system intakes the benefits plan and breaks it down into hundreds of different variables that one can then compare by industry, region and group size.09:57: Matt explains how they developed the bar score, and it stands for benefits, action, retention, and it's like a credit score.14:15: With Covid, Matt has seen the geographical boundaries breakdown and even if you offer hybrid work, remote work, people are not drawing on labor from within driving distance of their office anymore, says Matt. 16:42: Being more competitive, when we dig into the actual benchmarking, we typically organize it by benefits included versus not included on our intro report, says Matt. 17.14: Matt talks about the type is benchmark that they do. There are basically 2 types, he says.19:41: Matt talks about the database that they have built and how they segregate problems and solutions.21:18: Advisors have their preferred solutions. They have exclusive rates and all of that can be customized on that evaluation so that the employer gets excellent bottom line.22:30: Matt says that they recognize that business owners are busy, and they have got businesses to run, and insurance is only a small component of that needs to be done efficiently and effectively and conveniently.3 Key Points:Matt talks about the big determinants, basically how benefits programs get structured in terms of, different industries or different careers, different development stages, what are the big factors implemented that should be impacting, and how a plan is designed. Cloud Advisor has been in the marketplace coming up eight years and when they first developed the database, they had a very limited amount of data in it to perform the benchmark. Matt shares how they achieved about 15,000 employee benefit plans.Matt talks about the client output and how they visualize the actual results.Tweetable Quotes:"We show them how their current programs stack up by industry, region group size as well as how they can improve their program." - Matt"When I started in the industry, my dad had spent most of his career working for a public crown corporation with the incredibly robust union." - Matt"We will connect not just with the vendor and the vendors; information will actually perform an instant quote and an instant proposal so that the employer has everything they need to." - MattResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInLinkedIn - Matt Lister’s LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau, co-founders of RISA. It is an online questionnaire and tool for helping determine what an individual's retirement styles are like and specifically helping advisors steer them toward the type of retirement solutions that help ensure that they both succeed, but also that they are comfortable and their preferences on how they wish to retire or how they wish their income to be general in retirement come about.Episode Highlights01:05: The risk that people face in retirement is different from pre-retirement, with the sequence of returns, risk, and market returns.04:46: Alex shares how they took reoccurring constructs and then wondered could they quantify them that were reliable and in a manner that was valid.06:28: Jason is not a big fan of bucketing, but for some clients like visualizing and understanding that might be the difference between them panicking and being comfortable.08:41: Alex informs that they have an implementation matrix, which is how someone prefers to implement financial advice.11:07: You always have to overlay the numbers; the advisor has to help you sort of curate through that journey.19:23: As per Alex there is no annuity proposal in much the same way that there is no like government worker puzzle in the United States.22:23: The distribution of advisor preference largely comes down to licensing standards.24:38: The best salespeople are the people that get to close loss the soonest.38:12: As per Jason, people spend a lot of time these days talking about understanding client bias.3 Key PointsAlex explains how they kind of take a step back and say what strategy is the one you should begin with when it comes to retirement planning? People either need safety or they won't accept risk, and they are different degrees of willing to basically lock themselves into something, so it's static.The first step of retirement income planning is to identify your retirement style and then build your financial plan and then take your risk tolerance questionnaire and choose your asset allocation and so forth.Tweetable Quotes"With COVID after reading a certain amount and collecting notes, we realized that there were certain constructs that seemed to be reoccurring motifs." – Alex"We all have different risk tolerances. We all have different preferences for security." - Jason"I may, as a consumer, have not known that there are different strategies that there are and here is the strategy that looks like it does fit best with my own psychological considerations and makeup." - Wade"The end consumer doesn't realize that there are options available to themselves for different retirement income strategies." - Alex"There are a few things that in research frustrate me more than trying to break an advisor value down to a percentage cases per year." – JasonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://retirementresearcher.com/about/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Christine Brunsden, CEO of Benefits2, a web-based application designed to help people and medical practitioners identify disabilities that qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. It also assists them by saving time and money while increasing the rate of success when applying for the Disability Tax Credit.Episode Highlights02:56: Through her teenage years, Christine's daughter went downhill, and she ended up going through some really terrible stuff.03:52: Christine realized how hard it is for young people who are aging out of the system, they don't have the proper support.05:44: Medical practitioners are burning out record numbers. They are not motivated to take their after-hours to fill out third party forms for the government09:41: Christine shares an example of a woman who did her disability tax credit with Benefits 2 on January 31st.11:09: The hard part for everyone involved in tax refund is that nobody has ever taught anything about this in school.12:02: Christine explains how her platform helps people qualify for disability tax.12:45: The government tried to bring in the disability tax motors restrictions act and fix the fee at $100. 17:08: Christine thought the disability tax credit promoters were really predatory in nature, taking that big percentage.19:10: Christine is a huge advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, and he is also a huge advocate for people with disabilities.24:18: The Canada Caregiver credit, medical expenses, and disability supports deductions home buyer's amount.25:09: 60% of all people who have the disability tax credit are over the age of 55, and the RDSP is not even a benefit for that.26:22: It's not a disability tax credit. It's really an enabling for people with ordinary everyday impairment to their activities of daily living.3 Key PointsChristine shares her daughter's ordeal and how her teacher called her out in front of all of her peers at the age of 6.Christine developed Benefits2 to leave more money in the hands of persons with disabilities and their supporting family members and to ensure Canadians have an option that complies with the disability tax credit promoters restrictions act.Christine explains how they created a platform, a complex algorithm in the background that once you have answered your questions related to your particular impairment, they write the application for success for you, you get a code and the PDF of the application and e-mail.Tweetable Quotes"My eyes are really wide open around the disability taxpayer." - Christine Brunsden"If the credit doesn't apply to you, maybe you're not working, but maybe you have a supporting family member, and you can transfer the credits to that supporting family member." - Christine Brunsden"Our marketplace will have diversity, equity inclusion, calendars that support all the different awareness dates throughout the country and internationally." - Christine BrunsdenResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Mounir Felloula, CEO and Co-Founder of Puulse. It is a challenger bank, that has specifically partnered with the company's HR departments to help enable their employees to have a positive banking experience from the moment they get paid.Episode Highlights01:51: Mounir explains what Puulse is and the services that they provide. 03:43: Mounir explains how they facilitate money getting to the employee's app from day one?05:22: Puulse's specific attack vector was to work with HR Partners to try to basically get involved with the companies.05:39: Puulse have a strong fintech part, but they are also like a nature tech pack because, basically they are able to know when someone finishes a job.08:09: Mounir shares how companies are now conscious about their workers.10:02: Companies that tie up with Puulse don't own the data payroll. The data platforms don't have the expertise to push money to look at regulation to know which license you need to have to push the money, when and how to clean the dealer configuration.11.10: More than 1000 people can implement the Puulse HR software, says Mounir.12:55: Mounir's aim is to facilitate everything related to gig workers.13:21: Mounir talks about employee's initial reaction of the app and what they are planning to launch in the future.15:09: Puulse's goal from the beginning was not only to bring workers, but to build the banking infrastructure to help people to be financially independent.16:25: People want to get paid daily, so this is possible, but the guardian is structure, which basically pays your taxes, restrict it.16:52: Human life is very exciting, and you can do plenty of things you can use to travel.18:56: Mounir discusses about the challenges they faced when launching Puulse.21:20: To build a culture that is effective and enjoyable that people want to be a part of and are happy to go up to every day, and that is unfortunately and a difficult task, but it's achievable.3 Key PointsMounir shares how they come in the middle and create liquidity on one side to the other.Mounir explains how they help companies facilitate on time payment.Mounir talks about the future of Puulse and its growth. He also discusses what they are planning.Tweetable Quotes"When we get the money, we are kind of a box that comes in the middle and start to push the money automatically that cover this gap basically." - Mounir Felloula"We notice when we start at the beginning about talking to HR companies and HR software, every people like every gig, workers complain to their employers, then they get paid all of them when they notice that what someone pays faster, they jump to one up to another." - Mounir Felloula"I can basically go between these jobs and vendors very quickly just by flipping apps and we are talking about essentially a commodity. We are talking about rides. So at the end of the day, if they don't support what the other guys doing and making it easy, then they are going to lose people pretty quickly." - JasonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Kelly Waltrich, CEO of intentionally, a well-known marketing firm within the advisor and fintech space that helps companies market themselves effectively and get results.Episode Highlights01:16: Most people didn't get into a business to market it, they got into a business to do the thing that they wanted to build.05:09: Kelley is extremely particular about the firms that they work with. They conduct a pretty in-depth review of the companies before they agree to market them because they have to have a couple of things right.05:46: It's sort of blows Kelly's mind how little founders and leaders are sort of inspecting the world around them and understanding what they are up against.07:21: Kelly talks about a major red flag when people don't know the competitive landscape.08:51: Kelly shares how they try for the most part, to just make sure that the brand is solid and what the messaging is going to be.10:29: As per Kelley it is important to clearly define goals and she is a stickler about the goal-defining process.11:54: Most ironically, in industry, it's always about helping people reach their goals.15:23: Just because you hung a shingle doesn't mean people are going to walk in and just hand you money. 19:09: Kelly shares how they track revenue through growth of all of their clients.25:47: Your brand is being distributed. More people are seeing it. It's so worth it, and Kelley tells everybody the same story.28:58: Kelley is on a crusade to help firms realize the value of modern marketing that it should have a seat at the table, that it should be driving strategy, and then it should be a driver of company revenue.3 Key PointsKelly shares how she was really compelled to create a company in that everyone in it had a strong industry context, understood the competitive landscape, understood the inner workings of each of the firms, and understood how everything needed to be connected.Kelly explains what content map is and how they use it.Kelly explains how they spend a lot of time building content strategies and content plans that fuel the overall demand generation plans. Tweetable Quotes"When everybody was reevaluating what they were doing with their lives. I wanted to build a firm that could turn that around for this industry and help firms deploy modern marketing to generate revenue, turn their marketing efforts into revenue generating activities." - Kelly Waltrich"I am building this technology. It is so awesome. It's going to change the way advisors work." - Kelly Waltrich"We make sure that we have a story that we can work with because, at the end of the day, we can't create campaigns, we can't drive opportunities." - Kelly Waltrich"Once you have given us your granular, thoughtful, realistic goals, we get after it, and we put a plan together, and we say this is, this is what it's going to take, this is what it's going to take from your time." - Kelly WaltrichResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://intention.ly/team/kelly-waltrich/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Jose Luis Salas Calcáneo, Sales Manager at Checkbook.io. It is an online platform for not just processing payments and pushing money to where you need to be but doing it in every method from digital to the old-school methodology of SNL.Episode Highlights00:43: As per Jose checkbook is 6 in one payment disbursement platform. They have six different railways in which they can disburse money, and the beauty of the platform is that the recipient can choose how they want to receive money.02:06: Instead of focusing on the people who were sending money, leaders at Checkbook decided to give a nice experience to the recipient. 03:55: Real-time payments depend upon both people having an account and a balance.05:43: Jose talks about paper cheques and how they still provide it to the end users. 07:47: Jose explains instant payments that entail instantly moving money from your existing Visa and MasterCard.09:47: Besides trying to convince people to value, funding something that basically has physical checks really shows a fly on the wall for that one.12:45: Jose says that they sign a contract, and then they have an onboarding process.13:34: There are people who want to use Instant Pay, NBC only, or ACGH and RTP, but we need to enable that we see what is the full experience for your final recipients we test, validate and deploy, says Jose.14:11: Jose explains how they integrate with some accounting and integrate with accounting seed, SAGE interact, and QuickBooks. 15:41: Jose talks about the benchmarking on how much time and effort is saved by AP departments in terms of being able to streamline the processes.17:24: Jose talks about the migration problem and the unbanked people. He would love to bring a solution for them.19:34: Jose loves connecting with people and solving problems.3 Key PointsJose talks about the six channels of payment that they have in place at Checkbook.io.Checkbook is the bridge to the old world and the new world.Jose explains if they have any integrations into billing processing software or is it just all native.Tweetable Quotes"We are also one-sided platform. For example, if you wanted to send money. You and me in some other environments, we both need to be in the same environment." - Jose Luis Salas Calcáneo"With the printed checks that we are doing now, we are just implementing the magnetic ink, which it might sound like that is not that important, but you have no idea how important this is." - Jose Luis Salas Calcáneo"Sometimes people actually don't want to reveal their account number, routing number, and it makes sense." - Jason"This is getting a lot of traction mostly in loyalty programs, people want to pay their customers, for example, for being loyal and being our current customer using these cards, and it's real." - Jason"We connect with the API of flat, then everything gets connected, and it's done. So you have a lot of money in reprocessing and returns." - Jose Luis Salas CalcáneoResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://checkbook.io/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Sharon Bauer, founder of Bamboo Data consulting. It is a niche privacy and security consulting firm that basically helps companies figure out how to foster trust and responsibly profit off the use of their data. Sharon's purpose is to empower businesses to make better decisions that will build sustainable privacy and security programs so that they can instil confidence in their customers, partners, and investors.Episode Highlights02.52: Data and monetization of private data came to be through companies like Google and Facebook.06.07: Sharon explains how laws were first and foremost designed around the surveillance economy.12.28: Sharon shares while setting up frameworks, what are the key best practice areas they look at. 17.02: Sharon explains the importance of having a standard contractual clause.19.20: Sharon talks about the misconception around data breach and how that happens.20.22: The SEC passed the rule that basically requires everybody to be certified if they are going to be a vendor that is used by someone licensed by them.26.33: If you are not going to respond to the liking of the individual or in a timely manner, they are going to go to the privacy commissioner.29.30: Sharon highlights awareness and bringing awareness to employees and making them feel really empowered that they are doing the right thing and that they are trying to work with their existing processes. 31.03: It takes 8 months to a year to truly implement a privacy program that is robust and operational.35.06: Privacy is not always top of mind for all companies. It is a huge, endeavor to educate, educate, educate, and bring awareness so that.3 Key PointsSharon explains how explains privacy program is for companies. If you have a chat on your website, an AI tool or maybe not even an AI tool, but it is recording. There is a transcript recording that chat and you are collecting information from the EU or UK users. You need to seek explicit consent.You need to make sure that the vendor that you are in business with also has good privacy and security practices and are not using that data for their own purpose.Tweetable Quotes"It has become a highly profitable stream of revenue to basically harvest this data and utilize its direct ads and doing a number of other things." – Jason"If you are collecting personal information from residents in the EU or UK or in the US, or any other legislate or jurisdiction, you need to consider whether those regulations also apply." – Sharon"Most recently Facebook came under fire again because they were collecting personal information for the purposes of hitting ads at them instead of seeking explicit consent to do that, what they did was they embedded it in the terms of use terms of service." - Sharon"I feel so fortunate to be working in an industry that is very collaborative and everyone is so supportive of each other." - SharonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Reese Harper, CEO of Elements. It is a financial planning company focused on delivering deep, meaningful conversations between clients and advisors, but specifically focused on the key things that they need to focus on in order to be effective in their financial planning journey. Episode Highlights1.36: Reese shares how the idea of launching Elements came through? What factors motivated him?06.38: Reese tried to create a more efficient way to answer questions without him having to do any of the data entry or data maintenance. 07.49: As per Reese they are trying to get deeper in conversations, but not have as many extensive presentations as they are trying to put in front of people. 13.48: Saving money, spending money, paying taxes and paying debt are the four elements that are the four vital signs that cash flow is made-up of.16.02: Reese explains how the elements financial planning system scorecard works. 18.58: Reese discusses the obligation that they have as the software provider in a world where it's all about financial health. 21.28: As per Reese both benchmarks and heuristics are important and right now, they just have heuristics in the system. 23.37: Reese supports the idea of advisors using guidelines and benchmarks to motivate clients toward a healthier state when needed. 26.27: Insights engine is what are we going to surface to the advisor to show them what's going on with their clientele.30.12: Reese shares the success stories and how well the app is received by clients.33.37: Reese explains how their entire clientele is not on meetings. He is batching responses and he is doing it asynchronously.35.52: A DSO that employs like 200 dentists, it's really hard to cost effectively work with rank-and-file dentists, says Reese.3 Key PointsReese discusses an easy way to measure holistic financial health. He shares how the elements financial planning system helps clients to collect and organize financial data and then gives a snapshot of all their key financial health metrics–in one view.Reese talks about the three main ways that they use to interact with clients.The advisor mobile version is mostly meant for real-time analysis, and when you get on the phone with the client, you will be editing data on the fly with them. The web is there for triage and sort of book-level clientele, explains Reese. Tweetable Quotes"If you ever tried to build your own software for your own needs, using your own money from profits from another business that like an advisory business to pay for software, you realize very quickly that it, it's very challenging." - Reese"You could really overwhelm people quite Quickly if you say we have to collect all the financial vital signs that exist in the world." – Reese"Benchmarking is kind of the V2 of what we see coming. It is when you can create internal when you have a large enough internal sample, you can start creating financial health metrics." - Reese"Almost everything that matters to you in your life has some representation on your phone screen." - JasonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/reeseharper/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Richard Vinhais CEO of WAX. It is a platform for ensuring collectible items of high value and making sure that if anything goes wrong with your treasured collectible or sentimental value object that basically you are protected. In addition, they have helped people with custody and leverage of these assets with that.Episode Highlights1.42: Richard talks about his background and how his journey started. 08.22: Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer. They have 200 billion in assets, maybe 40 billion plus in gross premium. They are who you want and they kind of concentrate on the high network space. 10.10: Richard talks about the lending business that they launched the previous quarter which is really in pilot.11.15: Richard explains in the collection management process there is an element of doing kind of a rapid income analysis on the individual rapid employment data. 13.14: Richard shares how they determine the value of assets and what is the process that they follow. 17.08: Cash is not as cheap as it, it was even six months ago. If you look back even a year ago when money was virtually free, that is just not the market conditions today. But there is still always a space for an individual that's looking for a quick infusion of cash, says Richard. 19.05: Once we are vaulting, we are responsible that means the insurance needs to be fully in place. The conditions of the vault need to be exceptional, says Richard.22.05: As per Richard, understanding the collector mindset is everything because every collector, they have their own tribe. Every collector also has their why behind, why they collect.25.12: As per Richard, they could open up the valves to allow anybody to enter their ecosystem which will certainly grow the top line of the business, but as claims start rolling in because they not thinking about the quality of what is coming in, then you are no longer running a profitable business. 3 Key PointsRichard explains the technology aspect of Wax and where is the tech coming to play, and how is he delivers Insurance on collectibles?Richard talks about the range of products that they have launched or will launch in future. The list included the collection management, model line insurance, lending, and then vaulting.Richard talks about appraisals, how that was going to work and how it changes the current experience.Tweetable Quotes"Collectibles are now seen as an alternative investment whereas in the past it was just kind of seen as a toy or a strange hobby or target demo has disposable income." - Richard Vinhais"The lending product was an experiment that we put into play last quarter, and we see this as a great way for individuals to kind of unlock value in the collectibles that they have." - Richard Vinhais"The amount of research we went into to find the correct vaulting partner was staggering, mainly because we want to make sure we're doing right by our clients, and we don't have to worry about it." - Richard VinhaisResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.wax.insure/about Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Brad Joudrie and Ken Lotocki. Brad is the Chief Revenue Officer of Conquest, and Ken Lotocki, Chief Product. Today they are going to talk about the changes, growth and challenges that have occurred in the past 2.5 years. Episode Highlights1.16: Brad and Ken talk about conquest planning and its origin stories.02.24: Ken talks about the adoption of new technologies and innovation in Conquest Planning. 03:30: There's a lot of in every other profession out there in terms of innovation, whether it's medical profession or legal profession or so on, more and more tools are being built to help make it easier for that professional essentially to do their job and financial planning, specifically building that plan.05.02: Brad and Ken discuss about the challenges they faced and how they implemented processes that helped them to save lot of time and effort.06.14: Jason mentions how Sam built strategies such a way to help advisors work with their clients and understand exactly what's being recommended to them.09.35: It's an easy enough conversation to explain to a client that if you delay you get more money, says Brad.11.18: Brad explains how Sam has shaved hours off the process using automation. 19.02: Ken and Brad discuss about the work and the process of hiring people.21.58: Ken explains how they invest heavily in technology.25.10: Ken talks about their partners and how they are very happy with the stable of partners they have from a venture perspective.27.01: Brad and Ken talk about the next feature or next thing that they are going to do in the company.33.03: There has only been three companies Jason has known of that have ever sold financial planning software outside of their own jurisdiction effectively.45.52: We understand better how advisors and financial professionals are working with their clients today and then have conquest to be agile itself to work within their ecosystem, says Ken.48.16: Ken shares how they are in a different situation than they were when they first sat down.53.21: There are a lot of good advisors, a lot of great advisors out there just approach it.3 Key PointsBrad and Ken talk about the launching of Conquest Planning and how as the company grew it adopted cloud technologies and innovation. Brad and Ken talk about the business and how big the team was when they first started in the company.Brad explains how the company's scaling was almost as a B2B as opposed to an enterprise product.Tweetable Quotes"The club speed knows which club to hit knows the distance, the thing and but in the end it's the advisor." – Brad"You landed the single biggest enterprise contract last year that none of the competition probably heard of yet, so kudos I think that's a testament to just how differentiating you are in the product market." – Jason"We have kept our team reasonably lean, I would say on the distribution side of the House, and that has been fairly intentional." – Brad"I love what we do and I love the fact that everyone in our company is passionate like we were." - KenResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Dave Carr-Pries, Vice President – consulting services at InvestorCom. Today they are going to talk about how the implementation of CFR and Reg BI has basically panned out in the last year and where the successes and challenges are? Episode Highlights1.31: InvestorCom is a fintech company, they provide software really focusing on helping the industry make better financial decisions, and with that means their focus is on compliance solutions that aim to make being compliant as intuitive as possible and removing friction and barriers from advisors of dealers. 2.58: Without an advisor or an investor doing anything, when fund companies change their products or things change about their products, suddenly a portfolio may become unsuitable, says Dave.7.23: Dave discusses what is the kind of data points for the elements that you look for significant change.09.30: People like complaining about work and it's like this is not hard. You need to have investment thesis for how you actually manage portfolios and do it consistently and then you just have to look for changes that are pertinent to that, says Jason.14.02: Dave shares how they filter and pass data down to people and give them what to look at.15.30: When an advisor is presented with kind of a relative comparison, things do move slowly and we are starting to see a trend and making recommendations of products that stack up, says Dave.17.40: Jason discusses how it is not hard from the advisory perspective to have a documented process.20.01: Anyone who just basically buys nothing, but passive indexes have an easy time says Jason.22.01: As an advisor professional judgment is about identifying red flags and if there are any red flag be prepared to document your justification relative to those flags.29.30: We put out a process, our documentations are in place, this is really called practice management 101, says Dave.31.02: To not think through the advisor experience and how to make this a manageable experience is a gross failure of management like that, says Dave.3 Key PointsJason and Dave talk about the big changes in regulations both in Canada and US and InvestorCom dealt with the changes. Dave explains how they have taken self-monitor solution that builds the industry audit trail and added advisor alerts. Dave shares that they are working on the product recommendation side and how to do that product comparison or consideration of primitives.Tweetable Quotes"People probably made decisions that weren't good or interpretations that the regulator won't agree to." - Jason"This kind of change management or change monitoring process mean thanks to the regulator's kind of a new thing. So, no one really knows what that magnitude is." - Dave "My concern is people for shooting an arrow and then drawing the bullseye around it." – JasonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorDave – LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Adrian Johnstone, Co-founder, and President of Practifi. Practifi is an advisor centric CRM that was developed on the Salesforce platform but is not Salesforce itself and has made a name for itself in terms of leveraging the advantage to build better automation workflows and tools for advisors.Episode Highlights0.44: Adrian explains that they use the term performance optimization platform in Practifi. They use salesforce as the chassis, but they are actually a product sitting on top and none of the nasty overlay stuff.6.07: Adrian explains that their system is designed to provide the answers to questions you are not yet thinking like, who do I need to call, what do I need to call them about, what might I have missed from a compliance perspective and serve that information up to the right person at the right time.9.20: Adrian told someone that they need to do something along the way is one thing, but what they have done is embed things like the data capture and data transfer within the workflow itself.13.44: Many people don't realize that Salesforce and Microsoft are in pretty much every business where Salesforce exists, but they don't necessarily play great together on their own.17.19: Adrian shares how they have built very specific integrations at an industry level, and they will continue to do that as well. 19.20: Adrian says that they also see newer firms coming into the market who look at integrating the Salesforce and what they find is that they are going to integrate to something that they know everyone has customized because there are a very few standard Salesforce instances out there.21.58: Anyone who's going to really exercise the technology, then we are a great solution because you don't lose any of the flexibility. You just gain such a strong starting position, says Adrian.3 Key PointsPractifi is designed to cater for a multifamily office with complex relationship trees, many to many kinds of structures within there, as well as managing all of your other relationships.Adrian explains how they got away from standard stuff available on salesforce and built what Practifi Propel, which is an entire analytics suite and gives users the comprehensive time series data that one can really look at across the business.Adrian shares how he wants to create a more unified experience between the Salesforce and Microsoft Stacks because they know the Office 365 world is ubiquitous and they want to make that as seamless as possible.Tweetable Quotes"Having something purposely built versus generic from day one is a big advantage for anyone starting off from day one." - Jason"Practifi is not trying to be the solution to the retail banker. It's a solution to the wealth to the financial intermediaries." – Adrian"As the underlying platform changes, you are forced into reinvesting in building because it doesn't stand still and so you can't." – AdrianResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianjohnstone/https://www.practifi.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Don Scott, CEO of Frank Mortgage. It is a new company looking to take the bias out of shopping for a mortgage and make sure that consumers get the best rate possible. Don talks about the surprising piece of feedback that he has received post launching Frank Mortgage. Episode Highlights4.30: The market has a flaw in the way it's set up. The brokers are supposed to represent the customer, but we are paid by the lenders so that can steer a bias into the process and bias because it's not necessarily the same compensation between lenders may not be identical, says Don.5.44: Some of the brokers out there provide wonderful service for their customers. But there is this inherent flaw in the way that business is set up. So, customers often enter the process feeling very uncertain and not informed, and they often exit the process feeling the same way.8.51: Features matter as much as rate does to a lot of customers. It's always not just a pure rate decision and we can help them understand all of that, but then they ultimately can make their own decisions, says Don.12.49: There is a customer adoption and acceptance that has to take place for this kind of product and ultimately where we get down the road is where we can ask the customer for less and go to direct source to get more information, says Don. 17.00: Don explains how customers select products in the portal, how they move to the documentation stage and stages of approval with the lender.27.24: At the end of the day, incentives are often designed to control that person who is the bottleneck or is that person is going to write that business, says Jason.28.06: Raising capital is a major challenge that Don had faced while launching Frank Mortgage. 29.36: As per Don there is a great opportunity to enhance the experience of consumers in the mortgage market and the feedback, they are getting consumers is confirming that it's very positive so far and they don't see the competitors that are in the marketplace.3 Key PointsDon explains how the market has sort of turned into a Marcus. It's very focused on maximizing the outcomes from the brokers of the lenders and not so much for the customers. There is a lot of data scrubbing and a lot of back and forth between the broker network and lenders, but it's of time and resources, and with a digitized process like this, you can simplify that and deliver a complete file 100% of the time that has some algorithmically driven underwriting, says Don. Talking about feedbacks received from consumers Don says that they have heard in surveys that more and more consumers want to have online solutions for mortgages. So, they presented one to them and now Frank Mortgage is getting positive feedback about the experience. Tweetable Quotes"I have been around the mortgage market quite a long time, funded some of the medium and small sized lenders that are in the marketplace space know their businesses fairly well." - Don"It's not the customer that's paying us and so our economic incentive isn't always aligned with the customers best outcome." - DonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Professor Ben Charoenwong, an Assistant Professor in Finance at the National University of Singapore. Today Ben is going to talk about some research he has done specifically in the RegTech field. Ben explains how dealer broker firms would not have wanted to invest in all these technologies on their own, it's the fact that there are some regulations that kind of forced them to get software.Episode Highlights1.40: RegTech is short for regulatory technology or software that is designed specifically for the purpose of improving or assisting with compliance with rules and regulations. 6.09: At the end of the day, everything is all about liability and the only way to make companies accountable is to make them liable, says Jason. 9.00: When you look down the list of like the top 20 broker dealers, it's a mix of whether they are caring or not a lot of this business line of having custody.11.04: There are many proprietary software solutions for document handling and storage that jumped about 30% when this rule was signed and started to be implemented and there is just a dramatic jump in the firms adopting the software solutions.12.44: Ben saw an almost exact equivalent jump on the hardware side. The estimated IT budget for each company increased by about 30 to 40% and consequently the profitability of these firms increased by about five percentage points.19.14: The most profitable per dollar of revenue firms that exist at this point are typically sole practitioners running at a high level of automation and it's interesting.24.04: Ben talked about his research, and did he complete any form of causation like was it the elimination of bad actors or we could just attribute this to a Hawthorne effect?27.35: If you think about this SEC 175-A rule it is very basic and just says, all these other financial regulations, just can you comply with them always.3 Key PointsThe main thing about customer asset segregation is that the brokers that were not carrying or using other brokers as custodians, that was fine because that's a third party and it's very hard to steal customer assets when it's sitting with someone else, says Ben. Realistically companies looked at SEC rule that basically talks about banking versus investing and they must have thought immediately like we need a software solution. James explains what he saw in terms of the implementation and its efficacy of it.The technology component seems to have the operational effect that's almost equivalent to like having the FBI come check the firm, says Ben.Tweetable Quotes"In the face of increasing regulations in the financial services sector, it's become fairly difficult for humans to actually make sure they are in compliance." – Ben"You always have all the independent parties who are making decisions as to how things are to work." - Jason"It's a known phenomenon that computers tend to not get scrapped, they trickle down for a long period of time until they're useless." – Jason"I don't think regulation is going anyway anytime soon. It's going to increase even more."- BenResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.bencharoenwong.info/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Will Robinson, CEO of Encapture. The company brings machine learning to banks and lenders to help them understand what is going on with their data and make better decisions. Anywhere anyone signed, any place someone showing up and having to fill out paperwork or submit supporting documents to do something at a bank is where Encapture can get involved. Episode Highlights0.58: Encapture is a machine learning platform in the intelligent document processing space. They are good at finding and extracting important info out of documents. 4.02: Will explains how they collect documents required for loan processing and helps to save time and manual effort. 7.36: The big impact over the last several years is the ability to read through unstructured documents, says Will. 14.00: Will explains why it is important to feed really good clean data into your model in the first place.15.45: Jason talks about how the relative tightness of Encapture's data set really does play in quite well into being able to have that human versus machine interaction. 18.10: Will explains how some of their prospects are familiar with machine learning, how it works, and they understand kind of the limitations of it doesn't do everything and it doesn't do everything 100% accurately. 23.37: Will says that they kind of take the mindset if we can go solve everything there is to solve with the current product they have, then they will think about doing more. 25.39: As per Will getting people to really buy in and believe into where they are going has been harder than he had thought. 27.17: Will says there are so many problems out here. So many things to get solved and the way that we even solved them, we are getting better at that. 3 Key PointsWill shares how they are using machine learning to save lot of time and effort in data processing. Will explains how training a machine learning system is very similar to feeding it data. There are different methods of training where you feed it massive datasets, like thousands or 10s of thousands of samples of documents and you let the machine learning kind of figure it out on its own and come back to you with results. Will explains how they are not making decisions about credit or about new account openings, they are simply looking for the data in the documents and making that hunt and peck a lot more efficient. Tweetable Quotes"Our focus of the last several years has been in developing our own technology and trying to find some compelling sticky use cases in the financial services space to apply our tech." - Will"There are probably 30 examples that we can give as tangible to bank and so much of it is dependent upon who are we talking to in that meeting." – Will"It's incredible how far machine learning has come to mimic kind of a natural conversation between a system and between a person." - Will "There is a super long tail of community banks and kind of smaller regional banks that would love this technology that has never been exposed to it at all." - WillResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInhttps://encapture.com/about/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to James Tait, CEO of Underwrite Me. It is a platform that allows insurance advisors to quote and handle the entire application that underwriting cycle through one unified platform and does so in 11 countries around the world. James explains how the platform allows each insurer to configure their rules and consistently with their philosophy without asking different questions or without having to agree to exactly the same philosophy. Episode Highlights06.02: At Underwrite Me, someone puts their details in the portal and says these are their general health concerns. First the underwriting of their health condition as an individual happens and then the persona gets recommendations on pricing on insurance companies.07.51: As per James it was a painful process over the years to convince everybody to come on board. It wasn't easy by any stretch of the imagination, but the fundamental for them was that they were trying to improve the market. 08.58: James explains how they partnered with a couple of very large financial advice firms, and distributors in the UK that provided some of the attractive business volumes. 10.01: As per James there is a lot that they provide to the insurers even outside the marketplace that they are providing to do that. 14.50: James explains how the flexibility within the platform made it much easier to get everybody to agree on a common approach.19.14: James shares how they are focused on three regions at the moment, UK and Ireland, Asia Pacific and North America.25.01: Every industry at the moment, whether it's personalized medicine or personalized advertising, personalization is definitely the future of life insurance, says James.26.10: One change that James would like to make in the industry is ease of access to electronic health data.3 Key PointsJason and James talk about the early days of Underwrite Me, and how James convinced or how he got the insurance companies even come to the table on this?James explains how they are trying to improve both sales and customer experience.James shares his journey and how 22% of the financially advised UK life insurance is written through the Underwrite Me platform.Tweetable Quotes"By launching Underwrite Me, we were putting something in place that I think everybody would agree would make financial advisors' lives much, much easier and in a market, that's probably struggled to grow over the years." - James "Imagine if you had an extra month to make revenue with no additional investment like that is just profound in terms of size." - Jason"Underwriting is a field that is changing really rapidly at the moment and it's really interesting the differences around the world in the focus of that development. So, a big topic at the moment is how we incorporate predictive models, artificial intelligence, machine learning within the underwriting process." - James Resources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.underwriteme.co.uk/our-people/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Nicholas Bernardo, Founder & CEO of OnBord; a simple, secure tool with automated compliance features that will save you time and money while onboarding new clients. OnBord is built to streamline the new client experience for not only the advisors but also their clients.Episode Highlights03.02: Nick talks about his profile and what prompted him to launch OnBord. He also talks about how simple the tool is and the feedback that he has received from few of his clients. 05.32: Jason and Nick talk about the inconvenience caused during manual data filing or data gathering process. 06.17: Nick explains how they have created the ability to do a bulk transfer. Now they are working to eliminate that custodial spreadsheet so that if you are an advisor looking to leave a wire house or leave a broker-dealer that's protocol or non-protocol you have all kinds of limitations around what you can take. 7.18: Nick talks about their data gathering process and how they don't actually hold any of the client data.  09.32: Nick explains OnBord's entire work process flow and how it is all automated.11.04: Nick explains once the client completes the flow, they also receive an e-mail from the firm, welcoming them again, stating kind functions of the CSA and then also putting out the e-mail as disclosure documents that way that is one step that the CSA team has to do. 13.10: Nick explains how they are currently working on the KYC module right now so that they can update that and push it right back to the advisor's CRM. 18.20: Nick explains how OnBord shows real time status of clients filling in their information and how it helps to save a lot of time and efforts. 23.05: Features and functions we have an unbelievably long list of features and functions that. We want to put out there, but right now it's about solving the core problem right and showing the most value to the same, says Nick. 31.00: OnBord is a core technology for almost every RA in the in the country and maybe even in the world.3 Key PointsNick talks about how well OnBord uses automation to create great user experience. He says that they are not asking them complicated questions, they are asking the minimum amount of information that the custodian wants in order to open their account.Nick explains how they leverage text as a means of engagement of the consumers.Any business that gets new clients and needs information to get from the client to their database and potentially you know signed off on a form, that's our opportunity, says Nick.Tweetable Quotes"We are looking to make use technologies to flatten this whole experience out and that way the advisor and CSA, all they have to do is manage the process." - Nick "If you are a broker dealer and you need to update KYC on an annual basis, we'll be able to administrate the entire process for you." – Nick"Getting people's attention via text message and a reminder say hey by the way we need to get this done it. We're finding that you know response times are faster." - NickResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Justin Adler, co-founder of NorthOne. It is an online Business Account with built-in features to make business banking fast and easy. Justin helps people with this entire profit for a system, they put people in envelopes or supplements, but nevertheless it's basically splitting up by dollars or percentages and making sure that when the taxman comes calling the money sitting there when payroll comes, it's done which is fantastic.Episode Highlights0.54: When launching NorthOne Justin Adler's goal was to transform what would be a really burdensome experience of traditional banking into one that's simple, fast and efficient. NorthOne is like Uber for banking and financial management.04.19: When setting up his business Justin visited several places and did in-depth research. He realized that the problems we seen growing up were so widespread and so commonplace and they really resulted from the fact that small business owners are generally really good at what they do. They are great at your craft, but they are so ill prepared and ill set up for the financial management side.06.16: By launching NorthOne, Justin aimed to remove the opportunity cost of doing day-to-day banking from the business owner so that we could turn the really burdensome banking experience for small business owners. 07.50: Justin co-designed a feature called the Northland profit first envelope system. This allows the small business center to literally, with one click on drag and drop, an automatic budgeting system so that whenever they deposit money, the correct amount is sequestered for things like rent, payroll, taxes. 11.02: As per Justin, one of the biggest threats to the economy today is the failure rate of small businesses.13.13: One of the big features that Justin and his team worked on this year has been really about defining more convenient ways for folks to get paid and make payments. 16.09: Justin says that they focused on integrations that really allowed the bank account to do what it does best.3 Key PointsJustin shares how he has built a system to basically implement the entire cash flow model.Many small business owners use cash basis accounting to make decisions for what they can, what they can afford, what they can buy. A lot of what Justin has also focused on this year has been building integrations so that the business center can get a wider circumference and expand on the view of what's going on in their business through the Northwest Bank account.Justin shares how he sees the future of the product and the best way to serve the customer. NorthOne is a platform that really kind of connects that small business center to a variety of different proxy tools and services that they need. Tweetable Quotes"NorthOne is a digital challenger bank specifically made for the needs of small business owners across the country." – Justin"We worked with our team to really figure out how to take that functionality ACH and take it as fast as possible." – Justin"We have always stood behind the idea that if you make a product service, it's good customers should be happy to pay a fair price for it." - JustinResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Santiago Burridge, executive chairman of Lumiant. It is a platform that helps advisors discover what really matters to their clients and helps them have more deep and meaningful conversations and guides them along the way to a deeper and more meaningful and prosperous engagement. Episode Highlights0.38: All the extraordinary conversation that happens between an advisor and a client currently now goes into a filing cabinet and we anchor experience in something we can control, which is a product, says Santiago.4.33: You can't help people in relation to their life unless you understand what drives them in life and that is their values and it's not their goals because goals change, and values tend to not, says Santiago.9.21: If you lead with the client's life, not with your product, the client is going to work with you and that's the subtle pride pitch between selling and serving, says Santiago.17.55: The computers aren't the thing. Computers are the thing to get us to the thing and the financial plan is not the thing. The financial plan is the thing to get the things. The values and goals are the thing that gets you to that thing, which is financial planning, says Jason.23.23: When you are in a bad health situation or need surgery, the doctor is the shining star and the most important person in your world. But when everything is going ok or not ok or just average every day, financial planners are the most important.24.38: One wish for something to change in the industry is that 51% of advisers should be women. It's currently 16 to 20% and it's a disgrace and it's a poor reflection on what we do, says Santiago.3 Key Points90% of people who walk in to see an advisor and non-financial spouses, they generally do not know what they need to do, and these non-financial spouses have been utterly ignored by our profession forever, says Santiago.When we thought about bringing the whole client journey through a platform, it is values, goals, key advice, strategies and tasks to achieve and live the best life and what risk are they willing to accept to live their best life, says Santiago.Santiago is building nudges into the part forms and the ability to remind their clients of things that they need to do. But it's more than a task.Tweetable Quotes"When we thought about technology that has been used in the financial services industry today, we realized that everything's been built for the sale." – Santiago"Everybody wants change, but no one wants to change and it's the most frustrating thing in the world." – Jason"Supporting entrepreneurialism and independence, helping this industry achieve its potential is the thing that excites me to continue the work, day and night since I was a kid." - SantiagoResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/santiago-burridge-1a830b6/?originalSubdomain=auhttps://www.lumiant.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Guy Anderson about what happened in these past years of 51 episodes other than this one. As per Jason When it came to technology innovation, it was the bigger issues that were looked at first, but now we are looking at the smaller problems.Episode Highlights1.59: Jason shares what was his top pick for the most interesting fintech solution for 2022. 2.04: As per Jason the closest thing to the most revolutionary, coolest thing he has seen wasn't in Fintech and that is GPT chat. This year more than any product he was rather impressed by good execution. 04.02: Jason really appreciates Nudge; it is a tool for automating client communication and collaboration. Then there is Hubley a checklist or process mapping system. 06.09: There is a software now that ensures that everything involved with settling an estate is done first and foremost, but also as fast and as painlessly as possible. 09.40: Historically the distribution of financial products followed specific channels where you typically go to one person for one thing your investment guy, your insurance guy all that and we have seen that slowly expand out with multi licensing.10.15: Jason explains how and why the number of financial decisions that people face on a day-to-day basis is increasing.13.48: There is a certain type of person who is going to listen to a robot running their financial life start to finish. That's the reality of it, says Jason.16.28: If we keep on talking about being the future of this business, that is going to be the differentiation point because that is not going to be what is basically done, says Jason.21.49: Crypto is a technology that is unfortunately that is useful and unfortunately that use is lost and rampant speculation in most cases.23.32: In a lot of ways the crypto purists will tell you your mistake was leaving it on someone else's wallet, says Jason.26.02: Jason talks about his initial plans in 2023 and how he is going to bring in new and some of the old guest in the upcoming podcasts. 3 Key PointsFintech is going to revolutionize, and it has already started to revolutionize our business. Jason shares his views on where does he sees revolutionizing is going to impact advisors versus all the other aspects of the fintech space?Jason shares how much of this Fintech filters down into the hands of individuals and what impact does that have on the advisory business? GPT chat is a function of GPT 3 which is a general-purpose technology artificial intelligence that has been being experimented with and now they have kind of opened it up and it allows people to ask whatever question they want of it or to ask it to compose whatever text it wants. Tweetable Quotes"Buy now, pay later is still most hated but best example of embedded finance." – Jason"I see a lot of issuances coming to the business and building up deeper relationships with your clients and just being able to be better and just be being better advisors' long term." - Guy"Any new technology is always met by a bunch of scam artists." - Jason Resources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Yasser Abou-Nasr, Senior Vice President of product at Dwolla. The company is a payment infrastructure company specifically specializing in account-to-account transfers.Episode Highlights0.30: Dwolla is a modern payments platform that really becomes an engine that a lot of our Fintech or software companies or corporate enterprises want to embed in their stacks because they actually have sophisticated a2a problems that they want to solve, says Yasser.2.20: There was a decision to make a pivot around 2016 where Dwolla focused on helping businesses get paid and payout necessary use cases that really have to pay payments through modern API.6.11: One use case we are seeing is that people being really creative with helping that are under underprivileged and how they are able to leverage our platform to make cash flow readily available for those, says Yasser.8.04: It's just amazing to see how many different people are realizing the opportunities to embedded finance and finding that Dwolla is kind of that opportunity and that really helping us position and go to market. 9.18: Some customers use us as essentially, they are able to give cash advances to their drivers and their drivers are able to kind of pay back those loans as well through our network, says Yasser.12.21: Yasser wants to go ahead and be that payment service provider where they can actually leverage the data, make smart decisions and actually get payments to the financial Institute.15.47: Yasser says that they are looking at data aggregation and enrichment for them to bring other value adds to kind of help enrich the transaction or the decisions or the risk behind those transactions.17.05: RFP, request for payment is going to do some amazing things. Yasser has learned from other markets like India that they're way mature with instant payments. 19.01: Any type of position has risk involved with that and if Yasser can minimize risk and increase that position for a faster funding, then everything kind of follows right behind it.24.55: There are endless possibilities with a2a payments and that's what gets Yasser excited and kind of really coming in every day.3 Key PointsEveryone in vertical SaaS companies is trying to disrupt the certain industry that has pain points or problems especially around funding or positioning, says Yasser.The banks are just not best positioned especially when it comes to API's and how they want to manage innovation and Fintech find a big struggle to work with banks.The fact that open banking is regulated has really pushed a lot of innovation in a2a because of consumer piece, says Yasser.Tweetable Quotes"We actually power complex a2a payments as well and because of our solution people come to us." – Yasser"Effectively you are the pipes that no consumer sees but alleviates frustration when it happens." – Jason"We are excited about all the different use cases in industries around. We ran a report earlier and we see ourselves in 80 different industries." – YasserResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/yabounasr/https://www.dwolla.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Mark Higgins, Chief Analytics Officer and Co-Founder of Beacon. It is a company that provides cloud solutions to financial institutions to run their data and analytics and a number of other interesting and high-level things.Episode Highlights0.33: Beacon is a financial technology company focused on the capital markets. These are the sort of wholesale trading that happens in foreign exchange and commodities and interest rate derivatives.4.55: Mark had decided to start their trading and risk management system as a development platform that has all that enterprise technology stuff in it and so that quants and data scientists and people like that don't have to be experts at enterprise technology.8.00: The financial institutions have had a sort of 30 plus year history of on-premises data center computers and there is a particular kind of mental model that goes along with that.09.02: Mark shares how their product is this combination of two pieces. One of them is sort of an out-of-the-box set of trading and risk management applications and the second part of the platform is the developer environment where they can go and build their own tools.10.28: Mark says that they are very open with their underlying technology and development environment. Their clients get all of our source code, and they can write their own code in the environment. 12.02: In the early years of the company, Mark spent a lot of time being pretty reactive from a product perspective where basically their road map was whatever the next big prospects wanted them to build, and it kept changing all the time.12.35: Beacon is a big change for people. Jason talks about the implementation timeline for something like this for the people or companies.17.41: Institutions start using Beacon for one particular thing or whatever particular business problem they have and when their developers start using Beacon to build new stuff for the desk, then a new project comes up and they're like, why don't we just use Beacon for this, says Mark.3 Key PointsOne thing where Mark helps people with Beacon is how to use the cloud in the right way because beacons sort of automates all the cloud infrastructure management in the elastic compute stuff.Beacon came into the market after 4 iterations Mark shares how he ended up having to modify and adapt this product that he didn't expect initially.Beacon gives you a lot more flexibility in doing the kind of ad hoc analysis because you have access to elastic computing, says Mark.Tweetable Quotes"The quant has outsourced the most important thing that any developer can do, which deploys your change into production." – Mark"The thing that we didn't properly understand about selling to big institutions is that it's really hard to sell to them when you're a little company." – Mark"I just love the idea of helping the whole industry to get more efficient and productive through using better tools." - MarkResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-higgins-63b0264/https://www.beacon.io/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Andrew Kirkland, President, and Co-Founder of Justwealth. The company is a Canadian based Robo advisor that deals directly with consumers but also collaborates with financial advisors.Episode Highlights0.29: Justwealth is an online portfolio manager also known as a Robo advisor and Andrew is bringing investment services to Canadian investors via a very efficient model by using technology.2.55: Just of just wealth is for justice and acting in the client's best interest of all time we are regulated with the Ontario Securities Commission which means we have fiduciary standards to act in the best interest of the clients that we deal with, says Andrew.3.32: Andrew's co-founder background is in the asset allocation space. He actually manufactured some portfolio models for large banks and other high net worth portfolio management in Canada.5.25: It was important for us to make sure that we are building a broad product lineup and if someone looks at Justwealth lineup portfolios, we have a many more options than other Robo advisors, says Andrew.8.25: Andrew says that they have different portfolios for different account types. You could be accumulated in accumulation phase in one of our growth portfolios and invested in a non-registered account.10.13: Justwealth's portfolio investment questionnaire provides questions as to help us figure out which risk level that you're associated and for us, risk is really determined by your ability to take on risk and coupling that with your willingness to take on risks, says Andrew.14.07: Andrew says that they felt that their investment offering of having more options attracted somebody who may have more objectives that need to be met.16.09: People are beginning to realize that costs associated with the bank are just too high for the service that they are getting.18.00: Andrew says that they have financial planning channel, and they are working with financial planners, and they are referring or outsourcing the investments decisions to us20.43: Andrew wishes to have unlimited amount of funds to explain their services to all the people. 21.38: The biggest challenge in new company is to teach yourself to be patient for the public and the users to understand your service, Andrew.3 Key PointsFinancial plan can change and will change between today and 15 years down the road, but people just want to get an understanding for on the right track record and that's what our service can provide from a financial planning perspective, says Andrew.From a cost perspective, the people to have the most gain are not necessarily the millennials. Millennial will get the savings over time, which is phenomenal.Andrew shares where he is finding the majority of his client base.Tweetable Quotes"We are trying to make it as efficient as possible for people to get access to sound, quality, and diversified investment portfolios." – Andrew"In earlier times, there were a lot of costs that associated with the current model that inflated the end cost to the investor." – Andrew"We also have a family that targets or utilized often within RESP and education savings plans." - AndrewResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Greg Leroux, founder of Retirement Optimizer. It is a Canadian software that optimizes your retirement specifically around strategies on drawing down your assets over time to ensure that you successfully make it to the finish line.Episode Highlights0.42: In existing financial planning software, you enter a series of inputs regarding your assets, spending expectations and what you want your retirement to look like and what you have to fund that, says Greg. 0.55: As per Greg, the difference that we have at Retirement Optimizer is that we apply an optimization engine to the de cumulation side of things.2.56: Many clients ask, what should you be doing instead of the rule of thumb and the answer is there is no answer. Because it depends on lots of things and that's why when it comes to decumulation and retirements or in a game of chess, computers generally beat people, says Greg. 4.53: In any situation you are setting up with the spreadsheet, you are going to be making assumptions about the future, and your assumptions are by nature going to be wrong because we don't know what inflation is going to be over the next 30 years, says Greg. 6.02: Greg started with a company that was a performance reporting company to comply with CRM two requirements and allow people to look at their rates of return and benchmark them against common indices.7.21: Greg was originally contracted by a financial planning firm to build a suite of tools for them. And, once we actually had the solution working, they wanted to go into business with us and commercialize it more generally. 12.21: Computer says you have enough money to retire. It says that you might fall a little bit short if you were just using bucket approach of withdrawing assets. But that might not be where you're concerned. You might want to stretch things, says Greg. 13.18: As per Greg, the output of our system is a series of interactive graphs and tables on a computer screen. But many people who are retired and don't want to be staring at computer screens they can produce a report.17.00: Greg doesn't work under a subscription model like many financial planning pieces of software; instead, it's on a pay per use basis.18.56: As per Greg we are going in two directions right now. One is to make it even more user-friendly for the individual who doesn't necessarily have a financial planner. And other direction is to make it more complex for people who have crazy systems of accounts that include money that's offshore or overseas.3 Key PointsThe majority of people who are entering retirements have real estate as a substantial fraction of their net worth, but they don't intend to live in the same house until the end of their retirement. They intend to downsize at some point.Greg shares his thoughts on conjunction of financial plan with other standard financial planning software. Tech has been red hot industry for the last bunch of years, and it is really difficult even for highly skilled, highly compensated people to resist the siren song of California.Tweetable Quotes"I would like to see the industry evolving towards a computational stuff being handled by computers and human interaction being handled by humans." - Greg"Attracting, retaining talent as long as possible is probably the biggest challenge." - GregResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/grleroux/?originalSubdomain=cahttps://retirement-optimizer.ca/welcome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode of Fintech Impact, we have Marcilio Oliveira, Co-Founder of Sensedia. It is a platform that provides API access through microservices for different financial institutions around the world, basically connecting them seamlessly. They are helping the enterprise companies around the world to become more connected, open and digital using the modern integration platform and API.Episode Highlights1.03: Marcilio says that they created Sensedia 15 years ago to help companies to modernize their enterprise sectors. 1.14: In last ten years we have been 100% focused on API management platform to help companies to connect the core data in digital experience, partner journeys and innovation and in the last five years we created a nice, specialized solution for financial institutions, says Marcilio.3.08: The connection between the legacy system with mobile apps, with ecosystems from partners and with different kind of digital experience or digital behaviors is done using API.6.32: Companies are looking for Sensedia when they are trying to evolve the digital experience or part integration ecosystem positioning for open banking service, or they are looking for innovation.7.53: FTX conference in Dallas was amazing because we have around hundred financial companies there and all of them trying to discuss about strategy, not only about Tech, says Marcilio.8.04: API is a tech subject, and it supports new business model, new functionalities, new partners model and new positioning.15.40: Many banks have created their own API management plan because they are using these as internal APIs.16.04: All the financial institution will be part of one or more ecosystems because they have a chance to be the heart of the ecosystem to create their own ecosystem by exposing API.19.05: As per Marcilio, we are going to nice space where everyone needs to be a part of ecosystem.20.03: Companies should be more open and digital and connected and not looking for tech or for business strategy.3 Key PointsMarcilio shares what is the percentage of existing institutions that were non digital before and converting over versus native Fintechs that have come into the market?Fintechs are not looking for a hard discussion about tech integration. They are looking for the good experience in the digital world. So, we have invested a lot in digital experience for the companies beyond the API, says Marcilio.Marcilio shares his thoughts on where is the lack of openness? Is it a reticence of companies entering the space like departing from their norms of keeping things closed and being very defensive with data?Tweetable Quotes"We are focusing the enterprise companies. We are looking for the traditional companies and usually they are asking for our help in three different scenarios." – Marcilio"The open banking is not about regulation, it's about movement and in my perception, Canada will move fast about regulations." – Marcilio"If the company is looking for position as the central of ecosystem, they need to improve the developer experience." - Marcilio"Technology is not a strategy. Technology is there to enable your strategy." - Jason "My motivation is when I explain stories about customers and people show interest to listen more. I love to share stories from achievement with good customers." – Marcilio.Resources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInhttps://www.sensedia.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcilioso/?originalSubdomain=brPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Timothy Nuy, Founder and Co-CEO of Finclusion. The company is an African based neobank that is basically tackling a lot of the structural issues in banking in Africa in a digital way. Episode Highlights1.11: Today our lending products predominantly are either employed or merchant distributors ranging from earned wage access to payroll loans and from buy now pay later to merchant lending facilities, says Timothy.2.06: Timothy explains how he predominantly distinguish clients with our AI based credit scoring where they have consistently outperformed the markets from a collections and repayment perspective on the back of our scoring models.5.14: The traditional data is oftentimes not available on our type of supply and field. Also, the easily accessible credit score, simple repayment behavior isn't available. What is available is a whole lot of different data points that by themselves aren't actually predictable, says Timothy.9.03: Timothy explains how does the business side of the business differ from the personal credit scoring?11.10: Pledging security it depends on the market. In some markets it works, many other markets it doesn't. But depending on the relationship we can take a risk.13.01: One of the benefits of building some of the infrastructure in Africa from scratch is that infrastructure gets built based on modern day design principles.14.17: Buy now pay later has been something that has largely been a newer innovation in the Fintech space and within the last 24 months it's really taken off, says Jason.15.02: Today we can offer credit better than anyone else, but that's a leap. IT doesn't mean we'll always be better than anyone else, says Timothy. 16.01: We basically unconverted ownership of a client into our world and really achieve long term client stickiness, says Timothy.17.07: Timothy would love for the African rails to work as well as they do in India where you could just digitally verify anyone's identity and get access to their data in a readily simple, straightforward way.17.51: Getting people brought into the company culture and building together, creating that feeling of togetherness without actually being able to be together in the same office has probably been the hardest thing to do, says Timothy.19.20: Africa has been in the loss from probably the last 30 years. But Timothy truly believes it is going to convert and end up in the same space as a Brazil or China or India.3 Key PointsTimothy talks about the core problem that has to do with the AI based models on credit scoring you deal with in Africa compared to more developed nations like the US and UK.Timothy’s company does future wage access where they give you a loan which you can repay over 12 to 24 months using about 30% of your income as a maximum installment.The reality of not being able to pay for goods and services at checkout is a much bigger problem in the African population than the rest of the world.Tweetable Quotes“I feel there is no one really addressing the credit gap effectively with products and solutions that truly address the market needs on the ground and we could make a real difference.” -Timothy“We work with any employer more than 200 employees, but we prefer to work with larger employers.” – Timothy“No one would ask you for your house title for a small loan in the rest of the world probably via emerging markets where there's still an opportunity.” - TimothyResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/timothynuy/https://www.finclusiongroup.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's 250th episode we have guest host, Guy Anderson to interview Jason Pereira. Guy asks Jason what he has learned till now and where he is going from this point. Episode Highlights2.08: There are a lot of integrations in the US market, but Jason would actually refer to a lot of those integrations as borderline superficial.3.25: As per Jason there are a couple of ways to look at big trends. We can contrast the US market versus elsewhere because in US market everybody got baseline technology.4.35: If you went too far and just focused on digitizing and optimizing your process without focusing on how you can provide deeper, greater value to a client, you didn't do yourself a service in that regard, says Jason.5.24: In the developing markets, Jason is seeing a lot of unique and interesting ways of trying to get more people access to financial services, which is enormously important.8.40: The longer you depend on a system the more likely you are to depend on it for a longer period of time, says Jason.9.23: One of the single biggest bottlenecks with old systems is the inability to get the data open and out and then put into something elsewhere.11.28: Netflix and all that were big examples of technology uptake during COVID where people were using streaming systems. Jason explains whether he saw an uptake in Fintech adoption during COVID or not. 16.54: Flow charts technology to basically make a decision or to basically confirm that the planning solution you make is solid, that is foundationally found fantastic nudge.21.55: To monetize open banking, they're going to figure out a way to monetize it through the companies that are giving it to you, which is going to basically come back to you through fees, says Jason.23.31: When Jason started four and half years ago, Fintech was new term and we were in a big hype cycle at the time and he was seeing solutions left, right and center, novel things and different ideas but that's slowed down because the industry had hit maturity plateau at this point.28.33: Jason sees a world where money or decisions with money are going to be minute and the challenge is that this is a cognitive burden on humanity. 31.45: Google basically gives you every financial service for free and monetizing out the data and that should be scared to every sector of finance. 3 Key PointsJason talks about the challenges that he has seen in the sector that perhaps are limiting the advance of some of the Fintech companies.  When it comes to how to digitally transform businesses, many institutions don't have internal people that can think at higher level and nor the incentives designed to do that, says Jason.In Canada Jason had released the paper on open banking framework and when he started reading it, he stopped reading it very quickly because timeline set out was completely unrealistic.Tweetable Quotes"There is a lack of surprisingly digital on-boarding systems that exist in any country." – Jason"There is no way that we are going to meet the demand for developers in the future." – Jason"It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks sometimes." - JasonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Brooker Belcourt, Founder of Covey; an online platform for new inspiring portfolio managers to earn credibility by sharing their best ideas online in order to establish a track record and hopefully establish a career input for the management.Episode Highlights1.20: Covey seeks to solve the problem of finding investment analysts by creating a community to find and reward the best investment analysts so that we can all copy them and generate higher returns.3.07: People use Covey as a way to get into investing or to learn more about it or to play with virtual cash before playing with real cash and they use it to earn rewards.4.19: Covey tracks 50 matrix in real time and you have a shareable portfolio that's like probably the most robust mock portfolio software online right now. 7.09: Brooker explains that they post all trades to an immutable ledger so that the client won't have to hire auditors to come and verify their fidelity account or their e-trade account, which is actually really expensive.10.03: Brooker has observed that the great managers, great analysts tend to stay great and it has been described in academic research as the phenomenon called performance persistence.11.27: There are a ton of barriers to entry to becoming a great investment analyst. If you went to some big investment bank, you could probably become an investment analyst. But otherwise, if you're great, you may not be discovered, says Brooker.13.47: Brooker have received a lot of interest from the hedge funds to buy their analyst data and what we have to do though is structure the right deal that benefits the community of people who contributed that data.15.08: Brooker says that they had to think with their community how do they actually identify who is an amazing investment analyst and they came up with five or six metrics and looked across things like total return of course.18.57: Doing something that is totally new for you and getting VCs on board was probably the highest hurdle for us, says Brooker.3 Key PointsBrooker explains why community database information is valuable to others than to the people who are looking in Covey's ideas.In 2023, we are going to be launching the Covey copy trading style product that allows you to invest in the top analyst list, says BrookerBrooker explains how that entire reward mechanism allocates rewards to the different analysts. Is it just based solely on short term performance over a period of time or are there other metrics taken to consideration?Tweetable Quotes"It always struck me as odd that where this data rich world is investing and yet we have no way of like sorting through the masses to find the best." – Brooker"We are going to build more infrastructure to make it easier for people to follow and get the benefits of following the best people and little branches of investing.' – Brooker"If we built a fund around the top analyst and their ideas, we could allow anyone to invest in that front and then we can compensate some of the undiscovered investment analysts who otherwise wouldn't have been able to manage money." - BrookerResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Ari Brojde, Founder and CEO of Estateably, a leading provider of digital solutions for the North American trust and estates industry. Episode Highlights0.50: Estateably is a Canadian estate administration software that makes sure that when your loved one passes away the owner's burden, that is, the administrative work left behind by an estate is dealt with in a quick, efficient, and accurate way in order to get the thing closed as soon as possible.08.23: In August Estateably was nominated as software the year and the Trust in the space states category and Canadian Lawyer magazine in October and in December of 2021 they gained 140 professional customers. So it was, it was a great year for Estateably in 2021 and they have managed to continue on that success in 2022. 14.18: If a company is using Estateably, they are going to be able to work with you as the executor to get all the necessary inputs that are required throughout the entire estate administration process, they are going to collect information about the deceased, where they lived, where they died, where they married, all they kind of important information that goes into the probate application process. They are going to get information about the beneficiaries. 17.41: Ari says that there are sometimes between 100 and 150 different tasks that are associated with the completion of an estate and what's critical for people is to be able to stay on top. As an executor Estateably may not always be open on your desktop and so it's very important to be able to have the deadlines that are to be met and to get e-mail reminders sent to your g-mail will simplify things. 21.12: Estateably's is Canada's first real estate administration solution based in the cloud. Ari shares how sometimes they would go for demos and companies would sign-up just by hearing that they are a cloud-based solution.3 Key PointsAri talks about what happens when someone passes away and what it's like to have to settle in the state and what needs to be done? Ari explains how Overall there are about 420 hours and statistics show of manual administrative work that needs to be accomplished.By using Estateably, the user will be able to prefill all the forms, all the letters that are required to go out to those service providers to cancel accounts, and it's going to save at least ten times the amount of time that it would take to do everything manually. One of the features of Estateably is Gmail Calendar Integration. Ari talks about why that's important and what it accomplishes? Tweetable Quotes"When we asked the people that trust companies to show us what kind of software they use, their eyes kind of glazed over and they said, what are you talking about?" - Ari "A power of attorney is just a different form of fiduciary relationship and takes much to be able to tweak the original platform to be able to create a new product line." - Ari ResourcesFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorAri – LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Wilbur Swan, CEO of Catchlight. It is a company that uses AI to help advisors basically find and close better leads. Episode Highlights0.50: Catchlight plays a new kind of solution for advisors which focus on what we call lead optimization, which is common in other industries, but new to financial advisors, says Wilbur.4.13: Fidelity Labs started with infidelity in 2005 and had a mix of roles in almost 20-year period of working with the businesses to accelerate ideas called as digital acceleration, as well as incubating an entirely new concept, called as full staff incubation. 5.20: Fidelity Labs for those who haven't seen it is a good combination of subject matter expertise, resources and of course money to help with the ideas for innovation, says Jason. 6.08: Wilbur's company is now as of T3 publicly launched and available for advisors to subscribe to and it's an ongoing relationship with Fidelity Labs.10.08: The advisor gets into our web UI, uploads a spreadsheet that includes all of their leads and system then goes toward taking the core data about leads and we enrich it using the same type of data partners that large companies typically use to understand their marketing, says Wilbur. 14.15: With machine learning models we split models capturing like does the person have the means that they would need financial advice? Do they have complexity in their life and are they encountering life invents that suggest how the timing is good for the advisor to pitch that prospect, explains Wilbur. 16.05: When you aggregate the data across state advisors or across several advisers is super interesting to marketing people who are thinking about personalization, says Wilbur. 19.04: Wilbur is particularly focused right now on a tip of the iceberg and easy solution for advisors to use around how do you gauge better with one-to-one prospects.21.07: Wilbur says that they are growing really quickly. Just a few months ago they posted 20 open roles and still they are looking for many more.23.06: Financial advisors provide really valuable service and Wilbur would love to see them be able to provide it to more people at greater scale via Catchlight.3 Key PointsIf you can unlock the potential of your advisors in the marketing and selling, they are doing, it makes them more efficient in terms of use of their time, says Wilbur. Catchlight's UI output is almost similar to what Google search does. Its page ranks the best matches for you at the top of page so you can focus on the best places to find your effort.Fidelity and Fidelity partnership bring to bear large amounts of data to study to figure out how Salesforce actually works.Tweetable Quotes"We aim to help advisors improve growth through AI powered insights on three things like who should they call, how should they pitch them and what should they pitch them." - Wilbur "We are also continually improving. In our learning model our data science team is constantly evolving in the background to best identify the prospects for a given advisor." - Wilbur "You are soaking up a ton of data from publicly available sources and serving up against that next best prospect." – JasonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Shirin Oreizy, Founder and CEO of Next Step, an award-winning Behavioral Design Agency with offices in San Francisco, CA & Boston, MA.Episode Highlights1.00: Next step is a behavioral design agency because we sit at this intersection of leverage and being able sentence and how we help our clients design and their marketing and product experiences for their clients and ultimately, we are trying to help them better understand how people really making decisions about the brand or so that they can ultimately drive better engagement or adoption for their products and solutions, says Shirin. 3.01: Shirin explains what behavioral science is. It's the study of how people really make decisions. We put the emphasis on the word really because there is another field of study called economics that we all have heard about that also looks at decision making.5.47: Typically, when we work with startups, we are helping them create lifts anywhere from 30% to 300%, says Shirin. 7.35: Shirin explains that she is helping startups who have found early product market fit and now need help scaling or if they’ve plattued and need to get unstuck.10.39: What we are really trying to do is figure out these different behavioral science  principles, which one of them has legs to it? Which one of them do we think is going to work for you and your situation? explains Shirin19.34: Shirin says that as humans we have evolved to remember stories. We haven't evolved to remember random facts and figures and features. 22.08: Shirin explains that their goal is to determine where can we introduce these Behavioral Science based nudges in the marketing or product for the biggest impact relative to effort and how we  can remove friction from the behavior we want users to take. 23.25: Jason says that the first things he discovered when he got into his business were it's a lot harder to make people move in inch than you would ever think. 29.01: There is a special offer for listeners of this podcast. Shirin has an offer limited to 3 startups per month where they will do a free behavioral science consult w their team. Listeners have to mention that they have heard about Next Steps that through FI podcasts and fill out their online form on https://hellonextstep.com/.3 Key PointsShirin explains why behavioral science is important for startups and how her Behavioral Design Agency is helping them? Shirin explains how her company's starting point, or the testing is all principles and ideas that have already been proven out in research in academia. Shirin and Jason talk about a few cases where Shirin's company helped startups increase their top funnel. Tweetable Quotes"I was always looking to figure out how we can create a more data-driven way to help our clients with their marketing efforts and growth efforts." - Shirin Oreizy"We have had a lot of great success working with technology companies, bringing it to life." - Shirin Oreizy"It's about that person's individual journey that leads to their version of rational decisions." - JasonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Michael Butler, President & CEO Grasshopper Bank. The company began operations in 2019 & is a client-first digital bank serving small businesses, start-ups, & investors supporting them across the innovation economy.Episode Highlights1.14: Grasshopper Bank was a digital bank that was formed about 12 months before the pandemic hit with its primary purpose was to deliver digital financial solutions into the business and innovation economy and that was its formation and the primary purpose 4.19: In March, Grasshopper Bank launched a totally digital treasury management solution for small businesses. 6.52: One of the biggest, hottest growing parts of ventures fintech and to the extent that we are, we consider ourselves more of a fintech with a bank charter, we think there is a real kind of alignment of mindset as it relates to working with these companies, we have a great deal of knowledge of how FinTech’s work because of using them on platforms or evaluating them for a variety of different purposes.7.27: Business becomes another leg of this stool in which if you are in the venture capital business and you are promoting a fintech, trying to get them aligned to a bank that they have a banking as a service relationship for them is an accelerator to the growth of the portfolio company, which then goes back to the success of the venture firm.16.12: Michael could never get enough of is entrepreneurial thinking and creativity. He thinks that the world becomes a better place when we can manage entrepreneurial thinking and creative thinking and better things come from it.16.49: Michael did a a deep dive evaluation of people and make sure people were enrolled, that they wanted to be in, that they were capable of being in, that they understood the strategy and were excited about executing against it. 3 Key PointsMichael explains how they differ and solve the problem of banking for the small Business Innovation economy. Michael Butler has got the company website and they have basically resections, banking, lending and fintech in particular. Michael says that they capture the deposits that are leaving the industry by creating relationships with fintech companies and then the other leg of the stool is we want to be involved in other lending activities that are associated with the business and innovation economy, not just venture but.Tweetable Quotes“Banks have a hard time due to its historical kind of tight regulatory environment and its ability to attract top talent on the technology side and to deliver industry-leading technology solutions.” - Michael Butler“We have embraced the fintech movement and we use a partnership model to create our platforms and create the experiences that we think we need for our customers.” - Michael Butler “So that's where the demand comes from this, this combination of industries shifting into more of technology-oriented products and services, small business and then the people who are running those businesses and their psychographics related to being technophiles versus not and demanding a digital solution.” - Michael ButlerResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Akshay Singh, Founder & CEO of Indyfin; the investor experience platform that has redefined the way consumers find, research, review, & interact with financial advisors.Episode Highlights1.08: Indyfin is about simplistically setting independence like yelp meets mash.com, but for wealth management, if you think about Indyfin, the most important thing is helping financial advisors and the potential clients establish trust with each other, no platform online or marketplace online digitally is able to do that, says Akshay. 5.45: Google has figured out that user data or user feedback, what these clients are saying is super important. So, Google is able to identify a lot of these keywords that people are putting in their searches and match that up with the profile of these advisors.12.23: There is other data-driven information along the lines of how much assets did visor manage, how many households and then there are in depth ratings around various skills that divisor has state planning, financial planning, managing investments, taxes, retirement, followed by in depth reviews from all of the published reviews that this advisor has, says Akshay.17.36: Indyfin also offers affiliate partnerships where Akshay and his team are getting some consumers from and again, they go through the matchmaking experience, and they connect the consumer to the advisors. 19.33: Advisors are kind of finding this data to be super helpful. The next stage that we find that kind of once advisors go live with their profile, they obviously have a public profile and that is very exciting, but then when they start to find it. They starting to rank for certain words and that's super exciting. 26.02: Akshay's vision is in the future; financial advisors would actually be doing zero marketing and that's something that we really believe in and we are just helping the industry transition to that place.3 Key PointsIndyfin is giving financial advisors a platform that they can count on to help them collect feedback from their existing clients in a highly structured manner. Through Indyfin how the advisor's benefit is that any prospective client who is going to show up on devices calendar for a meeting to make sure that they are qualified and in the process of their sharing information withIndyfin, which may be helpful for the advisor to show up for the meeting, Indyfin will select that information. It's purely administrative and Indyfin basically gets all that information, explains Akshay.The most powerful form of business are referrals and those are getting harder and harder, and they are also not very structured. Second most powerful thing is validation and referrals, validation. Tweetable Quotes"I have been solving the same problem from the beginning, which is how do we help consumers better manage their finances." - Akshay "I know we will get to the testimonials; we will get to the growth. But getting the fundamentals right is so important and hear what's driving everything is client feedback." - Akshay "My job is advisor would be so much even more fun that's you've got to identify who those net promoters are and be able to ask them for the referral." - AkshayResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to David Whitcomb, VP of Product at MX. It is an aggregator of aggregators in that it provides tech companies & traditional finance companies with a way of accessing a common data format across multiple different data aggregation companies & kind of pulls into data from all includes above and spits it up. Episode Highlights1.00: MX not only connects with other aggregators, but the company also connects directly with some of the biggest things in North America for direct API access. 6.08: Once the data is refined and is in enhanced state, MX creates personal financial management tools out of it. 9.00: To the average consumer, they are starting to see if they haven't seen the new grading technology in MX which allows them to put the transactions from the bank account or their investment accounts into an app or into a dashboard or into some other places, says Jason. 10.15: MX has created a ton of intelligence around grabbing different data models, specifically around the council transactions. Normalizing the transactions, adding content to it around categorization classification of what the transaction is so that when a user of MX product or service gets the output of that account transaction we have, we've normalized all of it and have an often typically enhanced it so that it's more readable and more usable for whatever is being built, says David. 14.04: Everyone is getting into the payments world, which means a person is connecting their accounts at lots of different places and in many cases those connections then create a council of their own, says David. 25.02: With the shifts in the way payments are being made or with the shifts in the way consumers are engaging payments, we sell a lot of data that can enable our stuff. We are accessing account numbers, routing numbers to enable some of those use cases. We see that by ensuring that the data we have is leveraged in the right ways. 3 Key PointsDavid and Jason discuss about data normalization. When data is received directly from the bank, VN, API, or via another aggregator, the data is in often different formats. It often has different values added into it or different parameters to that transaction; David explains how MX helps to simplify the entire process. David shares how they use multiple layers of analysis. They have been using human intelligence in conjunction with computer analysis for the past decade.David explains what proprietary and competitive advantage is and what is the consumers data. Tweetable Quotes"So historically, personal financial management has been what I would say is called financial literacy." - David"I think a lot of people are finding themselves there, and with tools like MX offers, it allows you to centralize that stuff more quickly so that you can effectively manage." - DavidResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorDavid Whitcomb – LinkedIn | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Shep Hickey, founder, and CEO of Bryzos. It is an online steel marketplace. Any kind of marketplaces are financial solution, and Shep incorporated Fintech solutions into the platform itself.Episode Highlights1.03: Bryzos is an online steel marketplace that has Fintech features that allow a buyer or seller to go all the way with procure to pay.2.17: Bryzos absolute origin is really about creating a solution for the daily grind of sourcing, bringing and getting sales down the road.4.28: The mill distributor who are making some materials are primarily on the sell side and on the buy side you also have distribution like there have an offline customer that needs something.5.00: The mechanics for Shep remain unchanged even if someone needs a couple foot of steel or few miles of pipe.6.40: Shep is reducing the opportunity for human error by reducing the amount of time. They have a structured way for buyers to enter what they need versus what Bryzos makes for them.8.11: For every single seller you have as a buyer, you have one to one relationship, which is an enormous amount of administrative, says Shep. 9.02: When Shep and his team were sitting down to solve and create a real end to end solution, it was always known that they had to create a buy now, pay later solution.10.51: Buy now pay later, Shep offered primarily through the vendors. He discusses whether they offer another facility for those vendors who are willing to do that?11.30: Someone who is really understanding working capital, they are outsourcing their credit risk at no cost, says Shep.13.51: Energy related steel is one of the most complicated things to trade online because it is so heavily specific and there's also sort of subjective piece, says Shep. 17.50: There is no way that industrial products are not bought and sold online. Buyer has no clue who seller is and the reason that was able to occur is because we removed all the financial risk and that's exciting, says Shep. 3 Key PointsTraditional process is that buyers come in, they create a bill material, they get sent out to the sellers, the sellers will quote it, and deal be created. It's really the buyers creating the demand, says Shep.Shep talks about how they facilitate the financial transaction deal side.Shep talks about where he sees the steel industry, whether it is going beyond just the steel side at this point or not.Tweetable Quotes"I don't believe in the end that Bryzos is just a steel platform. This is an industrial goods trading platform." – Shep"We have completely allowed the seller to outsource any credit risk when it comes to selling their products." - Shep"We have a whole module that manages and neutralizes the risk of the movement of goods and money. It allows reconciling inline versus what happens traditionally when you ship something." - ShepResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorShep Hickey – Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Tyrone Ross, CEO and Co-Founder of Turnqey Labs. The company is a new fintech that's looking to solve the problem of crypto reporting within traditional finance.Episode Highlights1.00: Turnqey is an API suite that is geared to be an integrator aggregator in the marketplace for all things crypto asset data. The end goal is to harness the power of data and analytics to develop a more durable, equitable, transparent financial system.4.52: Tyrone was at Eaglebrook Advisors. Tyrone helped Chris King start Eaglebrook, which is an estimating platform for crypto for advisors. 5.59: Turn division for Turnqey had always been in Tyrone's head. He knew that building UI immediately puts you in competition with everyone else that has UI, and advisors love dashboards clients.07.24: At Turnqey, Tyrone is building infrastructure layers.12.01: If you look at the data, it shows between the 2019 and 2020 tax year, crypto transactions tripled, 362% increase, says Tyrone. 13.51: Tyrone talks about the feedback mechanism that he is developing between the RA and Turnqey.14.25: The investors that Tyrone will be working with the 25- to 45-year-old segment, ideally in that 100,000 to like 5 million segments.16.32: One of the things that Tyrone wanted to do this time around with his start up that he didn't do last time was to have customers before the launch.17.10: The goal for Turnqey is that they are selling B2B and not going directly to the platforms.19.15: Tyrone is a purist. He believes in crypto assets and crypto networks. For those who grew up like him, it had to operate outside the traditional financial system. 19.53: An ETF is only going to benefit the people that are very upset that we don't have, one who is privileged, wealthy elite people who don't need it, says Tyrone. 21.33: Tyrone has established a new company. He has established the reporting structure and made sure that the APIs work and provide feedback. Next part for him would be to develop some type of risk management space. 23.54: Tyrone says that everyone knew how easy it was to work with people who don't fit the actual profile of a wealth management client, so now it would like to expand on that a little bit. 3 Key PointsTyrone talks about the breakdown of the integrator aggregator marketplace.Turnqey Labs not only monitor location change, but they also monitor cost base. Tyrone talks about crypto ETS, he explains his thesis and shares his viewpoints. Tweetable Quotes"You are basically talking like the number of transactions. Client's transactions are one thing, transactions leaving the place their custody to different places, including private wallets. Now we are talking about something incredibly complex." - Jason "The next Gen investor, the next Gen RA, nobody is building it and I know it because, I was traveling around the country and, meeting awesome people and going to some of the largest RA platforms." - Tyrone"If someone can't pay us, we are going to give them a virtual family office experience like all of our clients are going to get." - TyroneResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Ehsan Shariati, CEO and Co-Founder of Functionland. The company is the distributed storage platform that allows you to store data on the blockchain but utilizing your own dedicated hardware. Episode Highlights0.33: In Functionland we are creating a decentralized Google cloud. Basically, like the cloud providers that we are getting services from like storage, backups, computation power and running AI algorithms on their servers, says Ehsan. 1.00: Ehsan's company is decentralizing the hard infrastructure so that everyone become a provider to others and they all can basically provide services to each other2.47: We have a can full of companies there that are providing most of the storage for the Internet at this point and all of the tools get built on cloud providers, says Jason.6.37: Blockchain has given us the power of P2P transactions basically without any middleman and we used that power in the hard work, says Ehsan. 7.41: Ehsan says that they are utility token not a financial token and the token is there to support the utility of the ecosystem which is storage and computer and application providing.8.12: If you have the hardware, you can get all the basic things for free because the tokens are there to pay for it by itself.9.51: In our system there is no central key. You are the owner of your keys and no one else can access your files or decrypt except you, says Ehsan. 11.18: We connect your wallet, your wallet sends the request, encrypt the file with that signature and send it for backup, says Ehsan.12.01: Ehsan explains if there is a fair approximation that the things you are providing are a beauty play for people who have tremendous amounts of storage need or people who also are developers. 15.00: The vision that we had was actually to create a platform that monetizes open source. We want to create a direct channel between the creators like app developers, content creators with the consumers, says Ehsan.3 Key PointsEhsan decided to create plug and play hardware that any user could plug into the Internet, and it became a DAB server. It gives you the power to own your own data.Ehsan explains how secure it is to have mine data stored on someone else device that could be sitting on their desktop?Ehsan talks about the entire fragmentation of the data and how that works. Tweetable Quotes"We are a partner of five coin, and we work together on the protocol set that we have. But the approach is different because five coin is more focused on B2B business." – Ehsan"We opened a per-order campaign for one month and the initial storage that we have when we go live by the end of the year is 2 petabytes and that would be start." - Ehsan "I have been at developer like for 15 years and the vision that we have that to monetize open source, that's something I know that it's very interesting for a lot of developers." - EhsanResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorEhsan Shariati – LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Hemant More, CEO of Arcons Technology. Arcons is a suite of software targeting RA's and advisors in the US specifically helping them with various cloud solutions, online billing, CRM reporting, trading, and client portals.Episode Highlights0.38: Hemant founded his company in 1998, and they started their enterprise helping RA's. The initial product that they offered was related to billing.1.09: The beauty of Arcons' company offerings is that they allow firms to come to them with customization requests, and they are able to offer specific new features for firms that will be like a white cloud service.4.49: Once you log into our suite of services, you could do all the things you do to run your business like you could do portfolio management, trading, reporting, CRM, and everything works off the same common database, says Hemant.7.29: We either work with the firm to discover the overall solution, or sometimes we start step by step process where we handle biggest pain first and make it a continuous improvement process, says Hemant.9.00: We also create documentation and videos of client cases. We train their end users, and once the initial version is done, we work on the next version based on what enhancements are needed, and cycle repeats, says Hemant.14.15: Hemant created a solution for company due to which their quarterly work was reduced to three to four hours with one click, which included billing calculation and revenue sharing and creating really good invoices that could be e-mailed automatically.15.28: In technology things are changing rapidly. If there is more automation or more avenues for automation, the more things people have to remember to do.3 Key PointsHemant talks about the robust workflow process that he helped build for a client. He shares what it is like to engage with him? What is the onboarding look like? Is there a discovery process for helping client workflow or is that something client comes back to Hemant with afterward? Hemant provides a service whereby they can customize the report output to match exactly what the advisors need and that makes them extremely happy.Hemant is currently adding a support for power API, which means that all the data in our system can be easier and can easily analyzed by any business user.Tweetable Quotes"Our firm has a very good reputation in terms of client service. We provide excellent support, and we are always willing to brainstorm what new features could be added to make people's lives easier, their workflows better and errors could be eliminated." – Hemant"We could give people a statement of work saying this is what we will deliver, and this is how much time it will take and this is how much it will cost." - Hemant"We don't do enough sales and marketing and that has been our biggest challenge. We have really good software and service and the one that is our clients, loves it." -  HemantResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorHemant More – LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Rebecca Wilde, Managing Director of StockSnips. StockSnips is an AI and natural language processing platform that harvests data to provide stock purchase and sale indicators, bringing artificial intelligence to the world of stock selection. Episode Highlights0.38: At StockSnips we are providing investors with a low-cost high performing portfolio model that leverages our proprietary sentiment signals, allowing investment managers to go ahead and provide a competitive edge to their clients, says Rebecca.0.57: Rebecca has found a way through AI, natural language processing, and machine learning to derive a quantified signal that is a robust proxy for measuring investor sentiment.3.14: What Rebecca wanted to solve is how independent RAs can get back into the game of active management and not have to go down the rabbit hole of simply falling behind the passive indexes that have performed greatly.4.01: Rebecca talks about the type of unstructured data that they are harvesting in order to make the recommendations.6.54: We have message sentiment DK model that solves the problem of how you take raw sentiment data and create a signal from it, says Rebecca.12.13: It is a nice thing to see that all algorithms are picking up very accurately what is going on in the market and it's able to provide that up capture but also protect on the downside as well. 14.46: Rebecca talks about portfolio composition. How many positions do you typically hold for things and is there any allocation to cash?19.32: If there was an easier way to reliably predict the style rotation, sector rotation, size rotation of markets we can be able to build much more robust models, says Rebecca.3 Key PointsThe cost of doing signal generation, getting the technology up to speed, and delivering it at scale is unfathomable for any individual investment manager to do on their own, says Rebecca.Rebecca has constructed a model with the wall street equity research firm where they have gone ahead and used growth value, quality, removed momentum and replaced it with a new sentiment signal and that has significantly outperformed many benchmarks.Rebecca is working not only on the education of artificial intelligence aspect but also how one can use this in its strategy or how can you use this in marketing to go ahead and gain new clients.Tweetable Quotes"You will find a lot of Robo advisors are taking very basic measures of sentiment and then making trades, which is moving markets and it is a big problem." – Rebecca"We are kind of in our go to market approach. We have been targeting smaller independent RA's who have found great success." – Rebecca"The fact that our models are entirely systematic, there is no human intervention, and it remains low cost. It leads to a very, very scalable model." – RebeccaResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorRebecca Wilde: LinkedIn | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Rohit Mittal, CEO of Stilt. The company is an online lender that specifically targets immigrant and unreserved populations who have very specific challenges when trying to obtain debit and credit. Episode Highlights0.32: Stilt is a Fintech company focused on immigrants. When immigrants move to a new country, they don't have a credit history or credit score and it's very difficult for them to access financial products.1.11: We are continuing to serve the immigrant population and recently we also launched a new product called Onbo, where we leverage all the infrastructure that we built at Stilt to help other companies serve their target markets, says Rohit. 6.17: When we started the company, we said immigrants are not an exception, they are actually the policy for us. So, we build everything in our company focused on immigrants, says Rohit. 7.52: All immigrants are stretching for is content that's helpful to them and they come to our site or blog pages and then they apply for a loan and then we apply underwriting model built specifically for this market, says Rohit.8.40: Rohit talks about the efficacy of how his risk model working thus far because what he is saying is we can’t get access to Fico score but let’s compile other data into basically a different version of that.10.31: The banks have the biggest balance sheet and so they do the most lending and they are still stuck in their old ways and it's very difficult for them to bring in new data sources to serve a new population. 13.15: Immigrants first get to know about us in a non-financial context. They look at our content, they get to know about the company, they know we are legit, they become familiar with us and when they need financial products then they come to us and apply for a loan, says Rohit. 14.48: We are seeing this infrastructure of lending that we have built is actually valuable to other companies who want to launch a lending product, says Rohit.19.06: Rohit explains what happened in the modeling process or what data in the modeling process ended up being important?3 Key PointsRohit answers how he had discovered a problem in the market and decided to fix it and how Stilt was launched?Different companies have used different types of underwriting methodologies to serve the customer segments that they are going after.There are traditional lenders who want to expand their running capacity and there are people looking for other markets other under service verticals. Rohit talks about his target market.Tweetable Quotes“The core of the idea to build Stilt just started with our personal experience of not being able to find an apartment in New York mainly because of my credit history.” – Rohit“The credit bureaus and the credit scoring agencies are also incorporating new data sources although but they're doing it very slowly as compared to Fintech.” – Rohit“You can actually launch a lending product in a few weeks with the infrastructure that we used to build Stilt instead of building everything again on your own.” – RohitResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor LinkedIn - Rohit Mittal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Robert Sofia, CEO of Snappy Kraken. The company is a well-known platform in the advisor community for helping advisors market their business through social media and other venues. Episode Highlights1.32: Robert's love was in marketing and in 2009 he launched his first marketing consulting firm for advisors. He scaled that up to serving about 800 advisors at its peak. It was a good business, but it was all services. 2.30: Financial advisors offer tremendous value. They can do so much for people, but most don't know about them, and most advisors aren't marketers.3.18: Financial advisor industry had a really tough time in understanding or at least wrapping their head around organic marketing and bringing people into that, says Jason.5.46: Technology and content are two things to build relationships at scale to get entire 97% of the opportunity.8.07: Your contact list is your most powerful asset. Your contact list is the thing that is going to become all your future business, says Robert.12.00: Robert talks about the use of canvas the feature that they have added in the last 12 months. 13.44: Robert says that they wanted to create a way that advisor could send a broadcast message to all of their clients or all of their prospects individually.15.23: We are trying to enable real time authentic communication in a way that scales for the advisor, says Robert.17.41: We knew the only way to truly serve advisors was to also help them with their branding websites...18.44: Our plans are to create one seamless branding website and marketing experience that is of the very best quality available in the industry but still price accessible, says Robert.21.36: Robert talks about the onboarding process for an advisor. What is the time commitment, how much effort they put into in on a weekly basis and how much of it is on them and how much of it is just provided? 23.45: Robert has got two companies that he is integrating right now. He is actively engaged in the integration that will impact the industry.26.06: When you are going down a path and everything changes, you got to immediately adjust with that is very challenging and it's something that challenges us every day, says Robert.3 Key PointsRobert shares how he is scaling marketing for advisors effectively and how are they solving marketing problem for many?When you go out into Snappy Kraken to find campaigns you want to use, you can choose based on two things. It's who is the audience and what is the goal.Recently Robert went through an acquisition, and he picked up a company called advisor websites. He talks about the logic and thinking about that acquisition and what he plans to do with it.Tweetable Quotes"If we can help advisors serve more people with financial planning, that means better outcomes for everyone people." - Robert"Most advisors don't think about growth and scaling correctly. What they think is "I just need more leads and how can I get more leads." - Robert"Often we are so caught up in the moment of either success or rejection and failing to realize the absolute truth." - JasonResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Kevin Victor, VP of Sales & Partnerships at Mako Financial Technologies. It is essentially SASS for wealth workflow automation. Episode Highlights02.00: Kevin says that in 2018 it seemed very difficult to have strong remote operations and that in itself was a challenge. More importantly it has always been a headache that private equity firms, VC firms, alternative investment firms, or anyone who ultimately leverages this agreement to complete investor onboarding are an absolute nightmare. 04.30: Kevin talks about the unique type of workflow arrangement. How do you go from your firm's internal documents to the wide variety of account opening forms while going between a household to just let alone individual investor documents, non-Reg, TFSA, RSP?08.01: Most advisors have discretion over how they manage money. If you are dealing with major bank, Jason can pretty much guarantee you that if he goes to 12 different advisors at random, they all have different portfolios and how they match. 09.50: Different firms have different offerings or more focused offerings, and we are simply going to configure and supply that for you, says Kevin.11.05: Kevin talks about digitizing investment selection, digitizing unique firm documents, digitizing standard custodian forms, or any other third party after relying upon to execute client's operations with the capacity to do so. Let's analyze it for the client and give them solutions that make sense.14.26: Mako has the ability of doing three things, collecting data and the data is up to grabs. Populating forms that everybody wants to populate and creating the workflows, says Jason. 20.57: God forbid you are at the 9th inning as an advisor, and you identified a mistake by the custodian. You just have to simply resend the fix, or all interact within the platform, and the client is still going to receive that same white label experience, says Kevin.21.34: You don't have to start from the beginning, so the burden and efficiency are the burden is being resolved. The efficiencies that are being gained by the advisor, same experience for the investor, the turnaround time is important as well if we are reducing the burden of, operational deficiencies, human errors now go up things that are now being corrected on the advisor's behalf. They are going to be able to execute and open up the client's account much faster. They are going to be able to complete that transfer in much faster. 3 Key PointsKevin talks about the genesis of the company and where did the idea of launching it come from?Kevin shares how Mako Financial has created something that adapts to handle high variability; the firm and accounts for a 10/10,000 fund codes that exist in this country and all the ETF. He talks about how his company deals this large degree of complexity. Jason and Kevin talk about advisor and firm complexity issue and also about the complexity in dealing with different custodians.Tweetable Quotes"Digitizing was easier for Robo advisors, because they were a homogeneous uniform group." - Jason"For relationships where you don't have full integration, we also have other options." - Kevin Resources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Jeff Keltner, Senior VP of Business Development at Upstart. It is an online lender that utilizes artificial intelligence throughout various parts of the underwriting life cycle in order to issue policies as quickly and effectively and with a better risk profile than conventional.Episode Highlights0.32: Upstart is an AI lending marketplace where we power bank and credit union lending programs across a variety of products including unsecured consumer loans, auto refinance and purchase loans, says Jeff.1.03: The other key thing we work with our partners on is helping them acquire new customers. We not only serving their current customer base but being able to find new customers effectively and efficiently for their institution, says Jeff.3.16: We run a marketplace for consumers at upstart.com where they could come and we will pair them with one of our bank or credit union partners depending on the risk profile, the geographic footprint, and things like that, says Jeff.4.02: The credit file has hundreds if not over 1000 pieces of information about a consumer and most lenders reduce that credit file down to four or five things.8.02: Jeff says that they have got banks that are regulated by every major regulator and credit union. They have been through exams with these loans on the portfolio and most of them are driven by the desire to serve customers better.10.11: Every consumer-oriented bank Jeff has talked to is mainly focused on "how I better serve the consumers that I am working with and that drives more than expected what they want and their willingness to take a little bit of risk."13.18: In the era of online lending, sometimes people are applying for loans at multiple places at once, and you may not have the information about the latest loan taken out on the Bureau you got because they took it out the day after they applied for you.16.01: At the end of the day, it always comes down to cost distribution in almost any business, and that determines your potential market size for any product, says Jason. 19.49: We find that the model that public sector workers often are more creditworthy of their credit score, says Jeff.3 Key PointsJeff talks about the entire consumer lifecycle compared to vendor life cycle and how they go about getting approved and how does it work differently with you than at elsewhere. When someone submits the online form, and we are going to assess the risk and we are going to assume at this point that everything they told us is true. That may not be a good assumption, but for the risk model, we kind of says given these inputs, what's the risk, says Jeff.Jeff explains the difference between getting digital and really optimizing these processes in the productivity enhancements.Tweetable Quotes"The most online lending was kind of the digitization of the process, but not fundamentally changing how we thought about risk." - Jeff"Avoiding the downside at all costs is hugely a concern for most people because this is an industry that almost rewards people for saying no." – Jason"We also use connectivity to the bank account to look at transaction history and that actually helps you identify three things at least." – JeffResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Sam Kawtharani, VP of Product with Railz. The company collects data from different accounting systems, create a standardized file format, allows that information to be pushed into other products and vendors, and create unity around different accounting reporting systems.Episode Highlights0.36: Railz is a single API provider for accounting and financial data on small and medium businesses or SMBs in general. With Railz, they are solving the noise in the financial data that one would have in a typical business. 0.54: We are able to connect, normalize and set analytics that you are able to consume and make the decisions, whether it's a lending application or business floor management tool, says Sam.5.50: From a tax perspective, banking and e-commerce flow into our accounting system. The lending, management of payables, and receivables are some top three use cases that Railz deals with, and we are always working on expanding into that space, says Sam.7.11: Railz products can be customized based on the business industry and the business's financials. You get the chest to monitor your portfolio after it because you have access to that information for up to a year before you have to renew it.11.12: With Railz, we have two-way sync where we allow you to pull your bills and push back bill payments to the vendor. We can create that synchronized workflow for business workflow management, explains Sam.17.21: Every service provider has its own draconian rules for the cause of how you access the data, what you can do with it, and what not. These are some of the challenges which make it part of what we're building and removing nightmares for other customers.3 Key PointsRailz is taking all noise of data and translating it into something where customers and FinTechs can make sense of it and make a decision based on that.The credit cards are able to reconcile it back into the accounting system through journal or expense entries so that as a business owner today, you just see everything landing in your accounting system, and instead of doing their entry, you are doing a quick review and closing your month-end.One tricky thing when you are trying to build in Fintech or if you are a third-party fintech, your adoption depends on the adoption of your feedback.Tweetable Quotes"What is nice with using Railz is now that you can ask the businesses to grant you access to their financial and accounting information." – Sam"Except insurance and lending measurement of payable is another use case we are seeing, and there are two use cases of management of payable." - Sam"Open banking is one thing, but open data is a long-term play, and it's important to make it easy for people to move between venues when we have access and rights to it." - Sam Resources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Justin Fitzpatrick, Chief Innovation Officer of Income lab. An online platform that basically lets you do dynamic retirement planning.Episode Highlights01.47: Justin says that they are laser-focused on retirement income planning. He explains that they typically live alongside one of the widely used generalized financial planning systems for when client relationships need to go deep on retirement, whether it's incoming withdrawal, sourcing, tax planning, spending decisions. 07.00: A lot of people were a little dissatisfied with that framing of success and failure. We talked with a lot of advisors who were already talking with clients about adjustments. The problem was they couldn't actually show a client when an adjustment would be made or paint a longer-term picture of what a life might look like if you adjust in this way. So, we really homed in on helping advisors paint that picture, says Justin.13.10: Justin says that retirement is one of the nastiest, hardest problems to deal with. There are so many unknowables and unknowns, so it's for somebody who loves analytics. You can really dive in, but it would be hopeless to try to present that to every client. So, we have really tried hard to listen to our advisors, to listen to our consultants like Derek around you know, how can we help advisors best? Present this in ways to clients where they are going to understand and follow the plan. 14.43: Justin talks about inflation household by household, when they lasted innocent an adjustment. He says that it is great work for a computer but terrible for a human. So that's the kind of thing that we are trying to make this kind of service. Long term advice service really scalable for a practice. 20.03: Jason says if you are fortunate enough that your Monte Carlo score is 100% every time that you go and do it great like you got you tell clients they got next to nothing to worry about. But if the score is less then Income Lab frames the news in more human terms and makes it more digestible. 3 Key PointsJustin talks about the software that they are using and what is their software doing that is different than everybody else?Jason talks about the visualizations that Justin and his team have created around patterns of retirement income and patterns of retirement spending. He found those both insightful and also easy to understand for clients to show that too often the focus is on you know how much his portfolio generate every year. Jason appreciates how good Income Lab's features are and how user friendly they are.Tweetable Quotes"Retirement isn't static, people don't plan and follow it to the letter until they die or run out of money. Clients don't fail in retirement, they adjust." -  Justin"There is a lot of fear and anxiety around retirement, but we found that kind of more realistic dynamic planning really improves not just the objective outcomes for people in retirement. That is obviously super important, but also kind of a subjective experiences of clients and retirement." - Justin"There are clients, who say that retirement is dynamic, that adjustment is normal." - Justin Resources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Mark Warnquist, CEO of InShare - an insurance tech that focuses on distributing protection solutions to the on-demand economy to lift the gig workers of the world. Episode Highlights:0.50: With InShare, we set out to do something better and move faster than incumbents and build solutions that benefit and help the on-demand economy, grow and protect the gig workers on whom the on-demand economy largely depends, explains Mark.7.30: Mark talks about method of distribution. He tells the listeners whether he is still right downs to the end-user level, or is that still in the works, or is it largely more fleet-based?8.16: Jason asks, some insurance companies have added dongles that plug into your utility board to collect information. How are you collecting the information?10.43: We need to be very mindful as we deploy and talk with platform companies about the products, like how you deploy the products to do the right thing for gig workers in a way that will not destroy your operating model, says Mark.14.50: We need to know a certain tech component to the underwriting, which is very important. The burrito in the back versus the passenger in the back is a very different exposure, says Mark.17.14: The more that we can learn today is going to position us not just in today's sharing economy but tomorrow.18.10: The property sharing space is the other area where data and the same principles can be brought to bear, and that's in our road map for 2023 and beyond, says Mark.21.32: The United States has the greatest protection gaps than any developed country with gig workers. 22.51: We have to have insurance companies trust us, give us authority, give us the pen to rate their balance sheets, and that takes a great team. We are doing it, and that's been a challenge, says Mark25.09: You can't spend any time at Uber and deal with hundreds of gig workers, hear their stories, and not feel for them. There is a big gap in that, and we are in a place where we can help solve that, and that feels good, explained Mark.3 Key PointsUber and Lyft bought the insurance of need, and still, these are the insurances that cover the drivers, passengers, and third parties during each period. Mark explains how did he face and overcame the challenge of underwriting with so many tiny little contracts and doing so without putting himself in a bad spot. There is no substitute for having world-class talent because it's the only way to get anything done.Tweetable Quotes"The law of large numbers in the insurance world says that if I offered to everybody or a specific target niche, I could figure out, on average, the risk." – Jason"The insurance protections extend if you were on dispatch or that you were working on the provider platform and not on another platform." – Mark"The opportunities are there, and we have to be smart about prioritization like any company, but the market pulls huge, and I just wish we could move faster." - MarkResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorMark Warnquist – Linkedin | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Gerti Dervishi - Chief Growth officer for Flybits. The company helps financial institutions utilize the context of clients, individual situations, geography, and other factors that help serve up better next recommendations. Episode Highlights:1.08: Flybits the company is rooted in R&D. For many years, the research group built a lot of intellectual property and patterns behind the technology that continues to partner with academic institutions to move forward the agenda of innovation. 03:42: There are so much data that you are regularly giving to a person who makes decisions to look for things you are replicating before they get to the conclusion, says Jason.04:15: Gerti's company is very heavily rooted in research, and they bring all data together, which is no small challenge. 04:40: One extremely important thing is that you have to do things in a privacy-preserving way to deliver services, says Gerti.05:01: We do tokenization not only for extremely important privacy-preserving but also for security purposes, Gerti.08:27: The one thing we do when we partner with the customer or financial institution is we almost act like an extension of their innovation team, says Gerti.12:23: Gerti explains some of the most popular use cases from the consumer angle. 12:30: The card is a very big driver in our business. Consumers are particularly driven to that product in terms of spend, rewards, and offers because it's a product they probably interact most with, says Gerti.13:24: Mortgages are a very big deal, but we see unique here is that thanks to some of the functionality that we bring in terms of how we create the different datasets, says Gerti.17:05: We have created a set of utilities and tools very quickly and existing mobile applications that can be empowered with a recommendation system, explains Gerti.19:11: On the channel side, one of the biggest things right now in the market is the metaverse, and it is another channel that we are going to be interacting with, says Gerti.3 Key PointsGerti says that they are primarily focused on financial services, including insurance and banks, but they are an experienced design and delivery platform that makes the organization's personalization ready from data to the customer experience.We see more and more the creation of data alliances where multiple different essentially verticals converge into a financial transaction or outcome, says Gerti.Gerti explains how he brings a variety of products and creates a customer-centric rather than a product-centric approach where a multitude of different parts of financial services will cater to improve the overall financial status is important.Tweetable Quotes"We bring together the internal knowledge of an institution and how you bring that with external components." – Gerti "You started probably taking a bunch of standard datasets that you expect, so what products do they have like geographic location and all." – Jason"From a technology perspective, we are about to see some significant improvements and leaps in terms of customer experiences, which drives me." - GertiResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of the Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira is going to talk to Cato Pastoll, the CEO of Loop. They will discuss Loop's platform and how it helps companies operating as Canadian businesses get access to banking services in another market. Episode Highlights:0.43: Loop is an online banking and payment platform. They help companies that are operating as Canadian businesses to get access to banking services in another market.4.33: Cato says that they help companies get access to local banking in different markets. 7.46: Cato explains that they have been able to automate the account opening process in terms of customer verification, ID collection, and all that type of stuff required to verify customers. 9.33: Cato says that they save companies time because we offer all things in one platform, and that is easy to use. We save the money because we give it all this way for free. 10.44: Customers are delighted, specifically because they are saving a huge amount of money on every dollar they are spending in non-Canadian currencies. 12.09: Cato made it easier to deal with a major problem before allowing for potential companies to expand into a jurisdiction without the burden. 13.20: With our card, you get 55 days of interest-free spending when you spend money on the card. We offer the first 55 days of working capital that you have for zero cost as a merchant, says Cato.15.21: It's not like we are giving you anything for no cost, but giving it to you for no cost means that you can use our product in the finance network and capital gap and save a lot of money, says Cato.19.08: There is way too much of a structural gap between the capital that small companies can access and large companies can access, and that's driven by an efficiency more than a risk equation.23.06: Cato is not able to take any credit away from the founder of the business because they are 100% responsible for their own success, but the impact we were able to have by supporting them when nobody else would is a really exciting thing that kept him going every day.3 Key PointsThere are now banks in the US that will open accounts for non-US residents, and the way that we do that is we are helping facilitate all the KYC and KYP processes required to onboard customers.Companies have loved the loop product so far. We have had people posting status recently on Twitter and social media accounts talking about how much money they are saving with Loop versus their bank cards that they were using before. There are many acquirers or merchants, and processors who will help you collect money in different currencies by charging your customers in different currencies.Tweetable Quotes"We are helping simplify the process and operations of managing your business across borders." – Cato"We have the ability to make domestic supplier payments through the exchange network, which is other countries' local payment rails." – Cato"We really want to demonstrate a lot of value to customers in this segment by giving them embedded value in our products from the get-go well." - CatoResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira speaks with Jessie Vaid, creator, and CEO of ReadyWhen. ReadyWhen is a digital legacy manager that assists you in putting all of your essential information in one place so that when the worst comes, your family will have a head start in settling your affairs, as well as other kinds of beneficial tools and use cases while you are still living. Episode Highlights:05:56 Jessie started mapping out what she thought she would need to build the solution. At that point, she started discussion with her co-founder Sachin Bella and at that time he had unfortunately lost both of his parents and so he is actually gone through the loss and he knew the issues and problems surrounding being that executor in that probate process.08:48: Jessie thinks we have learned a lot in the last almost two years now. We identified some of the pitfalls and issues of building and providing a solution. Once we got the product to market, the feedback was very consistent amongst professionals. 09:13: Jessie says that their business model is B2B and B2C. They do not try to sell, you know, one license at a time. They have that option through our website. But they know that they need to get to the large corporations. Jessie needs to get the MG's and they need to get the buying from the professionals until they become that whole sold name within Canada.14:13: It also includes the ability to leave notes to loved ones, pictures to loved ones, and also videos to love ones. It also provides with having that ability to have that final message that taped in and released only upon your passing to your children or to your spouse.15:30: Everything is digital. What about all your digital accounts that you may have? What about your rewards points? What about those Aeroplan points? What about those credit card rewards points if you don't use them or if you don't transfer them? They are just going to disappear.23:03: The reality is if you are not there for the hardest times of the client's life, you are not earning it. 3 Key PointsIn 2020 is when we. got the prototype built and in late 2020 is when we actually released our MVP. In 2021 we were primarily getting the word out and getting users into this system, says Jessie.Jessie explains what kind of features they have applied to the software to enable it to serve its purpose beyond that of just a basic document storage.Prosper by sunlight is a new digital platform that they have released whereby they are focusing on the individual that wants a hybrid digital solution, also being able to speak to an advisor and get guidance and direction from the real life person on the other side. This solution focuses on wealth insurance and Wellness.Tweetable Quotes"We wanted to build a solution, to provide Canadians peace of mind knowing that if you pass away, everything would be in one central location and I think that is the motif of what we did." – Jessie"Our goal now is to really work on ensuring that the information is easily flowing into ready when." - JessieResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Stefania DiBartolomeo, Founder & CEO of Physis Investments. This investment is an ESG and impact investing platform for reporting sustainability amongst companies.Episode Highlights:05:34: Physis is an indent in the Greek world and means everything that is alive on Earth. It comes from the same root of physics. Physics is the law of nature, physics from entering Greek is everything that's alive. So a Physis investment, it's reinforcing our mission. The concept of investing, where respecting everything it's alive.11:21: We can also go as granular as really going deep down in saying if you have invested in Apple, the new iPhone has over 40% recycled. If you are investing in Nike I mentioned before, Nike owns Converse and every single pair of Converse is made with eleven plastic bottles, recycled from the ocean, says Stefania.13:34: In the beginning because every single company reports information in a different way and not all companies report all the information. I can say a couple things. First, the level of disclosure has improved incredibly, over the last three years, says Stefania. 16:10: Thanks to Physis data. We are a platform that is the life of financial advisors in their day-to-day life. They can input any portfolio in the platform, and become aware of the impact, provide this disclosure to their clients with a customized report, but they can also have access to tools and functionality to build a better portfolio. 3 Key PointsStefania explains that they have automated this data collection for over 10,000 companies worldwide. Then we process data quality checks with emails, algorithms that are assessed by the company over a six years of historical data and by peer valuation. This means that if we take the suit, two emissions or one company we evaluate this youth group mission based on six years of historical data. We compare this by their level of production or revenue and then we evaluate how well they're doing compared to peer analysis.Measuring how a manager or measuring how an index or whatever it is you are using to execute on this, how it's doing not just beyond the current score of like, hey, it's scores 96% in terms of how clean it is compared to everything else. But actually, the windshield down to water usage, labor issues, carbon emissions, like being able to measure the cumulative impact of that overtime and how that ticket you can measure that, you can track when it starts to deviate. The first thing an investor wants to do is sign up, once you sign up, they can start using functionalities as we have called look up so they can just type the ticker of the of or an icing of any security. It can be a portfolio of funds; it can be a single company. Tweetable Quotes"I wanted to start really when I was in college, and I was studying portfolio management and I started feeling disconnected from older classical investments because they had one goal in mind to make more money and I felt the need to add extra factors to just the financial performance." - StefaniaResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Anita Koimur, Co-Founder & COO of Liveflow. Liveflow is an online platform that pulls data into Google Sheets from various accounting software to allow and enable different workflows and processes more efficiently than currently can be done within that native software.Episode Highlights:3.42: It's amusing and bizarre that the balance sheet and income statement are the first things up there in the accounting world, and most accounts don't even prepare a cash flow statement because they do what they're supposed to do, says Jason.5.10: A business owner would have multiple spreadsheets, and it's just a nightmare to organize them into a single place, especially if it's Excel, and we just wanted to help them automate everything, says Anita.12.20: People ask us to integrate the chart platforms, but it's not something very close yet, because we do want to be a financial platform first, and that's something that we can consider going forward, explains Anita. 15.51: We are very open-minded, and we always say if you have any idea, please submit it because apart from you, there might be like 100 other people wanting the same idea, which will help us prioritize what to release next, says Anita.19.46: The whole world is moving toward transparency, and Anita thinks the apps should think about bringing business. She wants more connectivity of apps because some don't allow them to pull the data inspector.20.36: Hiring people very fast is one of the biggest challenges that are not truly sold to startups. The most important part is to be a match on the culture fit, not necessarily 100% of the skill fit.3 Key PointsBanks are not well synchronized with accounting platforms. Accountants, CFO, and business owners often need to collaborate on banking data, and it's very tiresome to switch between the banks, says Anita.People still use budgeting and QuickBooks and set it up with their mouse, which is not as convenient as Google Sheets for the keyboard. They want it to be there, and they cannot switch to Google Sheets and their budgets overnight.With Liveflow, you connect to your QuickBooks account or multiple accounts as an accountant, and you pipe all these standard reports in different tabs in your Google Sheets.Tweetable Quotes“We are building a fundamentally new category of software. We sit at the intersection of SAAS, accounting, banking, business analytics, and collaboration.” – Anita“You can have as many options as people on earth, and you cannot build something that fits everyone in terms of like dashboards that would execute the job they want.” - Anita“I love our customers because they are very creative people. They tell us what they want, which is amazing!” – Anita  Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttps://www.liveflow.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitakoimur/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Bill Petruck, Founder and CEO of funding matters. Funding matters is a light fintech with a series of calculators and other tools that help not-for-profit charities. It helps generate donations more easily by showing people the actual tax implication of various donation schemes and options and helping kind of grease the wheels towards making that happen.Episode Highlights:1.08: Bill developed an application called gift tabulator, used as their secret weapon for illustrating tax-efficient charitable giving. A few organizations came to them and said - we would love to have your gift tabulator on our site. 3.10: You don’t just have to donate only in cash in many countries. You can donate assets, and those assets might have some sort of embedded gain in them already that if you sold them, you would pay tax, says Jason.10.43: With the gift tabulator, we also want to reach out to the end-user or the potential donor and provide the opportunity to the donor to share this with their financial advisor, says Bill.12.28: Bill explains what is the user inputting as the variables, and what are they getting as a result?12.46: Bill says that their objective is to create a landing page with a bit of a narrative to it, and that landing page then says, select one of these assets, so the user or the donor can go everywhere, from cash to stocks to mutual funds, etc.15.23: 99% of all donations to charity come in the form of a check or credit card, and 1% of the donations come in the form of appreciated asset donations, and we want to see that number start to increase, says Bill.16.32: Bill says that in the gift tabulator, they have clearly illustrated why people need to have a current estate plan, but the major reason is that they want to leave as much money for their assets as possible.22.31: There was a very strong push back that tax credits do not influence charitable giving within the not-for-profit sector. A $50 donation is not driven by tax, but the tax drives the $50 million donations.3 Key PointsBill explains how when you are starting to look at the $50,000 appreciated asset donation that is being transferred over to charity, you are getting the tax credit on it, but you are also getting tax avoidance.Bill explains how does the charity get your technical tools into the hands of possible people or people who might donate?Bill will be focusing on developing an educational curriculum through the college system as an online tool that will help organizations and individuals within those organizations become far more conversant and more comfortable in illustrating the positive outcome scenarios for their clients.Tweetable Quotes“Different countries have different schemes for how they recognize the donation. We live in Canada, and it depends on the provinces up to 50% or around there.” - Jason“Our objective was why don’t we create a gift tabulator to be an outreach for the charity and allow them to see the most tax-efficient ways to give.” – Bill“We have many charts available, and one chart says that this is the tax you would have to have paid, e.g., $5000, based on the taxable capital gain, and this is the actual cost to you of making this donation.” – BillResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Tim Rickards, managing director of social and content strategy for Hearsay Systems. Hearsay is a social media and content management system that helps businesses market themselves better in today’s social and digital age. Episode Highlights:00.38: Hearsay is in essence of client engagement platform, and the company helps agents and advisors consistently deliver a personalized human client experience01.04: Hearsay also provides a comprehensive data capture and analysis system that helps people understand how they can keep improving as they move forward. 02.26: Tim talks about the guidance that they give to advisory firms who are new to this space looking to basically market themselves digitally. 05.12: Hearsay Systems is solely dedicated to financial services firms. They have an understanding with insurance companies, asset managers, broker dealers etc.05.33: Tim shares how they offer a combination of options that can help them to get advisors post on social media.06.21: Tim does an organic social field enablement, they allow individual people to increase the gravity of their social presence and expand their networks to help drive business, so posting is important. 08.28: Tim shares how you can literally funnel somebody to the conversion experience via text. 10.32: Tim talks about the social realm and all other communication. He discusses how he is helping to get a prospect down the funnel using next best action.11.33: Jason inquiries about the enablement part of the platform. He asks Tim how Hearsay Systems continues to nurture that relationship before advisors get to some sort of conversion point.12.32: Tim shares how they focus on social reciprocity and encourage people to not be afraid to direct message somebody if especially they are not a client. 18.18: As per Tim, social selling allows other people to find Hearsay Systems so that we can help solve their problems. 19:44: At Hearsay Systems they have features that screen posts for specific language and images so that the company doesn’t have to worry that something is going to go out that is problematic. 22:45: As per Tim they are using social media to help each advisor or agent grow their business, increase the number of policies there, their assets under management, etc. 3 Key PointsTim discusses how does Hearsay Systems stand out from the competition in the Financial Service spaceTim talks about text implementation and how is that being implemented and how is it different than what he is seeing? What is being done in the social realm? Tim shares instances and tells the listeners about the importance of having a good social reciprocity habit. Tweetable Quotes“We typically advise advisors to do, or agents is if someone responds and they’re not in your network, invite them to your network.” – Tim“People who are good salespeople have a both an intuitive and educated sense of when it’s time to dig in.” – Tim“Our view is that the technology is there to strengthen the human relationships and interactions itself, to replace them.” - JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Art Harrison, Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Daylight. It helps companies automate their data processes and create greater efficiencies around things like onboarding, documented population etc. Episode Highlights:0.34: Daylight’s mission is to enable companies to improve any interaction between people in the process. 10.50: To build a new platform or process, the developer starts from the inside and says, let’s build the data model or the data lake, and then we are going to build this new suite of tools that will change onboard everything, and then we will finally have clean data, and we see that still as a struggle.11.38: If you are always looking at that automation first, you are often not solving the root of the problem. We focus on breaking apart a traditional term that organizations use, digitization and automation.18.11: The challenges are the people on the front lines don’t know how to speak the language of the people who are building technology stuff, says Jason.20.23: In terms of daylight, what Art and his team have done is they focus on the guardrails that are needed to bring the most value without letting even those frontline people overstep their bounds. 22.09: Daylight gives the users an ability to participate without overstepping their bounds, and then gives the other groups the ability to govern the release cycle and data flow in and out of the application.22.48: For Art and his company it was that separation of the experience from the data and really focusing on the different audiences that will participate in making the ideal experience for any process.24.31: Daylight kind of mirrors randomized approach to like how do we bring value today without burdening you with problems in the future?25.20: Daylight is focused on providing low code in terms of the process build. The SME is the expert but still empowers the IT folks to focus on what they want to do.31.19: Most people focus on doing the one thing they are told to do in front of them. They don’t necessarily understand that this is what is possible is feasible and just the enormous benefits to it.3 Key PointsDaylight is a workflow engine that provides the tools for putting workflow together for the end-user and all the intelligence, execution, and deliverables that go into it.Art tells the listeners about the origin - what was the genesis of daylight automation, and how did it come to be?When building a digital ideal customer experience, 95% of the use cases are always exceptions. When you get into the room and technology, some pragmatism gets lost with some people, says Art.Tweetable Quotes“In a busy business, you are moving so fast, and you don’t necessarily have time to think or map processes out, but then you pay the price in the long run.” - Jason“We have kind of found this happy medium where it who is skeptical about some end user focused solution.”- Art Harrison“It is interesting because of the mindset shift there because it stops becoming about the ones who control and action everything and it’s a relinquishing your control to ones who basically steward the efforts of the entire organization.” - Jason Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Pereira talks to Sheldon Brow, founder of Pocket Finance; a platform for greater collaboration between clients and advisors giving them a personal financial management app on their phone that not only helps track their wealth but also educates them.Episode Highlights:1.04: Pocket finance is a dual interface fintech platform that could be a personal finance management tool for the consumers to help them safely and successfully navigate finance. 4.03: If a user has an average balance of 10,000 or more for six months or longer than they are making the minimum payment or low payment, you populate a notification that says you might want to change this to a different product to drop the interest rate in half to pay it off a lot sooner, says Sheldon5.01: The problem with banks is that the high-pressure sales that they have in there, it is this constant product dumping and doesn’t always mean it is a meaningful product for the client. 10.48: Being able to aggregate the data as one thing, any company can set up aggregate data pretty quickly through all of these different conduits that exist. There are a lot of them out there, but then what are you able to do with that data in a meaningful way? And then how are you engaging the different relationships that there needs to be in that conversation and enhance that collaborative advice?12.21: The single biggest obstacle to getting financial plans done is data collection, and the number doesn’t matter how much money they make, says Jason.15.29: Sheldon wants their app’s notification to not just be a notification in front of a user’s eyes. He wants it to be clickable and actionable for the next best. 17.12: Technology doesn’t need to be scary to adapt and increase engagement, and you can automate and personalize some of it very easily.18.33: As per Sheldon, there are so many things that need to be changed in the industry one is opportunities to collaborate on advice.22.01: Everybody thinks they are an expert, and there is a reason why somebody goes sideways. 26.01: If the system puts a tremendous amount of onus on the individuals to not get hosed or screwed, then that is a predatory system.3 Key PointsSheldon launched Pocket Finance by taking inspiration from two sides - one is the consumer side and the other one is the advisor side. Sheldon Brow shares details of his career growth and how he noticed major problems in clients’ financial transactions, and how he helped to resolve big payment issues. He also shares what motivated him to launch Pocket Finance. Sheldon talks about the importance of data within the financial conversation and how he enables that.Tweetable Quotes“There are some advisors who believe that the heavy lifting is their value proposition” – Jason“Even creditor insurance on a credit card for independent advisors is a meaningful and quick conversation.” - Sheldon Brow“Almost everything that matters to us in the modern day, especially digitally, lives as an icon on our phone.” – JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPocket Finance – Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Sarah Morton, Chief Strategy Officer at MeetAmi. MeetAmi is a company working to bring digital assets to Canada’s traditional wealth management space. We have brought her to this show to discuss how she will help evolve the industry into the digital asset space. Episode Highlights:00.35: MeetAmi is the company that Sarah has built to help advisors engage directly with digital asset investing on behalf of their clients. The company was founded a couple of years ago as they recognized the growth opportunities in the digital asset space, starting with cryptocurrencies but broader digital asset investing.1.37: We built our first product Ami Pro, a software platform to enable advisors to manage their client accounts and invest directly in digital assets on behalf of their clients, says Sarah.12.06: Sarah is launching inlearn which is our learning series. We have a fantastic head of learning, our Chief Learning Officer Chuck Hamilton, and he has been a thought leader in learning and blended learning for the last 20 years.15.04: We see a shift, and younger investors are making a lot of money in the crypto world, but they need advisors who can help them navigate that and recognize the tax implications and how to reinvest it, says Sarah18.24: It is important to orient where you are in the digital asset world and where your clients are, and if this is something your clients want today or they want tomorrow, it is  time to start thinking about it.23.09: The challenge is the objections in the market to keep things the way they are versus adopting how they come, says Sarah.3 Key PointsMeetAmi is the only multi custodian platform in the market to address the different use cases. The custodians will be different depending on how quickly the advisor may need to access the asset.It is important to orient where you are in the digital asset world and where your clients are, and if this is something your clients want today or they want tomorrow, it’s time to start thinking about it, says Sarah.ETF is an interesting model, and it provides you exposure. But with our model and cost structure, the advisor can hold the asset directly for their clients, and they can make the management fee rather than the ETF making the management fee, and the client holds the asset.Tweetable Quotes“Ami is your crypto friend, and the whole MeetAmi family of products is designed to help and be the co-pilot on the journey into digital assets as we transform into that world.” - Sarah “It is fundamental to enable the advisor to process the trades through a simple interface and then receive that data into their wealth management system or portfolio management system.” – Sarah“I don’t want you to throw your clients under a bus, but I will say the management of broker-dealers is not typically the leading edge of the sphere on innovation.” - Jason Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorSarah Morton – Linkedin | Website   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Seth Ross, General Manager for Dayforce Wallet and Consumer Services at Ceridian. Ceridian is one of the powerhouses of payroll worldwide, and Dayforce Wallet is a payroll tide banking and pays as you earn platform.Episode Highlights:0.46: It is an app and a debit card. The app allows you to see how much you have earned at any given point in between your pay cycles, and the debit card will enable you to go and spend it, says Seth. 2.16: Seth talks about the genesis of Dayforce Wallet and the challenge and opportunity that Ceridian saw, and why it stood up to this kind of extension? 3.27: It was always in the mind of David, CEO of Ceridian, that having real-time visibility on payroll would ultimately not just end with making things more convenient for the payroll manager but bringing that to the end-user and allowing them to get paid on demand, explains Seth.7.25: You are potentially the bank for some people, so talk to me about where you guys hope to take it from today, says Jason.9.10: Visibility is an under appreciated benefit. If you never actually take your payment on-demand, just having visibility in a spotless and easy place is helpful for people as well, Seth. 15.01: Five years from now, you won’t be the best employer to work for the list if you are not providing your employees with options and flexibility and how and when they get paid, says Seth.16.37: One thing that Seths wants to be changed in our company is that we would have 100,000 clients instead of 5000 clients so that we could access more workers and bring this to more people. 18.01: Seth hears great stories every day about people saying I will be tight on cash and my kid had a game and needed new pair of basketball shoes, and having this product allowed me to tap a button and buy my kid a new pair of shoes. It is just really motivating, and that is what gets me up in the morning.3 Key PointsWe want to help individuals take control of their financial lives and avoid costly debt traps. We’re going to put a tool in the hands of employees that allows them to access earnings as they already earned at no fee, says Seth.The relationship between earnings volatility and the desire to get paid as you go there has to be a correlation there, says Jason.The payroll industry at its heart is pretty conservative because you have one job to make sure everybody gets paid and no one gets paid the wrong amount, says Seth.Tweetable Quotes“We are all about making any day payday and giving average workers access to their earnings whenever they need it.” – Seth“Looking at data, I am finding that the typical range on payday loans is between 100 to $1000, with the average being somewhere below the hundreds.” - Jason“We see that the adoption skews to the larger companies. Ceridian averages about 1000 employees per company for each client that we work with, and on Dayforce wallet, it is a bit higher.” - SethResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorSeth Ross – Linkedin | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we have Fidelma McGuirk, founder, and CEO of Payslip. Payslip is an Ireland-based payroll company that does work all around the world. She is on the show to discuss the challenges of working with multi jurisdictions and other complexities. Episode Highlights:1.10: Payslip enables a multinational company to integrate all their IT systems and payment providers in different countries into a payslip. All the data flow is secure, structured, and standardized across other countries, says Fidelma.8.49: We want to have one standard way of working worldwide. We want to have useful tools to automate manual work and reduce the risk. And then, we want to have one system of record for our global payroll data so that we know we’re managing it carefully. So, I set the payslip as that central global parallel management technology, says Fidelma.10.16: The traditional services aggregator model is an American model. For example, if you find experienced payroll leaders in the US, 4 out of every five payslips in the US are issued to the ADP platform, says Fidelma.12.29: In Europe, there is a default outward approach to looking at why you are going to build your business, why you are going to have to be ready for it, and what gross efficiency looks like. It means you have to have an agile operational model. 17.15: A multinational employer has different payroll service providers. They don’t want to be logging into different software that each service provider built just for their part of the process of their own country. They wanted to decide how they automate their whole process from the beginning to the very end.24.52: When you are an entrepreneur for five years, and it is pretty established, then your job actually kind of changes. You get to do the piece you are good at, which is like keep finding more spaces to innovate to make it even better, and that’s most exciting, Fidelma.3 Key PointsFidelma founded the payslip in 2016, and her previous life involved the setup and management of operations across 21 countries for a tax company that she was leading.What our technology does is help unify the data model at the global level and help standardize the process at a global level. We have a workflow automation engine standardized across all the different countries but has lots of flexibility, says Fidelma.Payroll is a bit like IT tech support for people. It is challenging to be recognized until something goes wrong, and if you don’t hear anything about it usually means that it’s all running very well.Tweetable Quotes“Payroll is a systematic process. It requires every pay period in every country.”  - Fidelma“More often, most jurisdictions, especially large ones, use engineer solutions solely for their jurisdiction. They don’t necessarily do multi custodial or multijurisdictional.” - Jason“You need to prove the validity of the system, credibility of your company, and the longevity of it, but that’s a bit tricky.” - FidelmaResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorFidelma McGuirk – Linkedin | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Daire Burke, head of Canada for Swoop Funding. Swoop Funding is an Irish-based company that works in multiple countries. It provides companies with access to a platform that aggregates lending solutions to meet their needs from various commercial blenders. Episode Highlights:00.46: Swoop is an online marketplace for small businesses looking to find funding for their business. We are giving business owners a tool to quickly find and compare funding products from right across the market, says Daire. 04.24: In Canada, over a million companies are turning over less than $10 million, and those are the businesses that can probably benefit from our platform the most. The important point in the design is that this is a free-to-use service for businesses.09.30: This is a real challenge, especially in Canadian banks, unless it is a small business loan backed by BBC, which the government backs, they’re not going to take a risk, but there are alternatives out there for funding, says Jason.10.43: We have a range of other digital lenders, non-bank lenders, grant writing agencies, angel groups, and we are trying to ensure we have a marketplace to fit all the financing needs of smaller and medium business owners would have, says Daire. 15.40: We have done white label projects with some of the biggest banks and their subsidiaries in the UK and NatWest, and that’s allowed them to serve their clients with other products that they wouldn’t ordinarily be able to, like grants or equity, explains Daire. 22.31: Access to publicly available data on companies would benefit so many different areas of this industry. When you’re getting information on the business directors, the filings, the financials, and kind of proliferation of data have so many benefits, not just in transparency but also in designing new products and meeting the needs of businesses, says Daire. 3 Key PointsSwoop Funding is trying to make small businesses get the most value from their data, empowering them to use data to find all of the products out there that can create value for their business. For the lenders in the Canadian SME lending space, the growth they have had over the last number of years has been very high, and you have to look at the reasons why that happens.Daire explains that they have a massive period of growth for their business in covid because they were acquiring all new users trying to figure out what type of government funding programs they could be available. It enabled them to serve their users the best way that they could at that moment. Tweetable Quotes“There are some green sheets on opening up with digital, fintech, and non-bank lenders that use different models to make decisions.”- Daire Burke“The corporate beneficial ownership registry has been a real sticking point in an issue for a while and many standpoints.” – Jason Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorDaire Burke – Website | Linkedin  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Lori Weir and Jeff Harvie. They are going to specifically talk about how they have helped advisors and firms deal with implementing new systems to help them better support themselves in this new regime CFR. Lorie started the company in 2015, and they set out to help investors feel more confident that they were invested in products that met their risk tolerance and financial goals.Episode Highlights:4.04: CFR is one of the biggest regulatory changes we have seen probably in the last 20 years, says Jason5.28: When we looked at the opportunity with our platform or open architecture, the way we use data, we looked at the CFR requirements and said we could help firms scale the requirements so that they can demonstrate that they're meeting the obligations, says Lori.13.21: There are so many permutations around selecting equity, and that really falls into what the role of the advisor is now, says Jeff.23.01: One of the things that we have proven out in the last 12 months is that we can prototype and roll-out required modules because we’re sitting on top of the data, and we can move to rollout a module without changing the advisor experience, says Lori.28.57: We do provide the ability to drift monitoring. We can provide an indication to advisors like are they red, orange, green, or where are they sitting in terms of the spectrum of client portfolio and can they take on or take off risk from the call the road forward, says Jeff.3 Key PointsJeff started out doing suitability oversight, and suitability oversight requires an understanding of the client’s risk profile to make comparisons for securities transacted on a client account.There have been so many standalone processes, and we have been digitizing them and simply replicating in multiple places. So, if you are inputting something once it gets used across the process and can be viewed by anyone, says Lori.Our platform can help firms organize RTQ and score to 100 via risk scoring within our applications that are proprietary to us so that we can score individual securities and compare those two at a client or an account level from a security selection perspective, says Jeff.Tweetable Quotes“Our solution set is built around the back, mid and front office to enable a seamless experience for the investor, the advisor, and the head office folks providing oversight.” - Lori “We just make it easier to collect, update, and monitor client information, which is vital.” - Lori “We really strive to make sure that the client information is as up to date as possible so that you can do a true reconciliation on, where the client is at from a risk appetite.” - Lori Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsorhttp://www.foureyes.financial/https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriweir/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffharvie1/?originalSubdomain=ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Louis Retief, Co-founder and CEO of Hubly. Hubly is an advisor workflow automation tool that helps take information from CRM’s and create actionable and easy to develop and implement workflows for advisors.Episode Highlights:1.41: New consumer financial products disrupt how people interact with their finances. But what we care about at Hubly is how this product innovation in new consumer products disrupts your professional service workers in financial services to serve their clients, says Louis.9.23: As per Louis, tools providers in the advisory space think about the financial advisor as to the end-user, but advisors don’t use half the tech in their business. 14.44: Louis says that they have been trying to find where there is room for standardization across the advisory industry.15.36: There is a massive bottleneck around the scheduling process of getting clients scheduled in for their review or check-in. The preparation component for those meetings and tracking all the follow-ups and the advisors’ promises. 19.29: Louis says that they see the CRM as the redundant compliant database for the client Ledger. So, they push activities back into the CRM to ensure they have that complaint history that is very important for regulators.23.23: Louis explains that they are limited in their ability to develop best practices, so they are working towards a future where they can have user-generated content on best practices workflows. 24.09: We want to spotlight the back-office workers. There is a lot of focus on the advisor and many tech bills for the advisor. However, they are not the main users of any software in a product or a firm, says Louis26.19: Our success is measured by how many more end-clients can access our advisors’ services, says Louis3 Key PointsIn the financial advisory business, you provide one of the most complex services. Unfortunately, people don’t realize how complicated a service you are delivering to your clients, so we built a robust solution, says Louis.You built a workflow engine essentially to integrate with different CRMs, pull that data in, and build simple to create, implement, and manage workflows that help advisors run their practices, says Jason.Louis explains that they have already built a couple of things into Hubly, making the ongoing service component a lot easier in their workflows. A user can create a workflow rule called a recurring rule.Tweetable Quotes“Hubly has many features that allow for personalization on a client level that CRM workflow technology does not qualify for.” - Louis Retief“Advisors want to have the one-ring version of the software, but no software package in the world is world-class at everything.” - Jason“We are very much focused from a cultural standpoint as a company. Focus on processes and workflows for our own business.” - Louis RetiefResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLouis Retief – Linkedin | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Marc Pickren, CEO of The Americas for TurnKey Lender. A global financial technology SaaS that has created and deployed the world's most impactful embedded finance platform since 2011. Episode Highlights:1.40: After having a conversation with Elena, Marc came on board as an advisor Slash unpaid CEO for a few weeks to try and see if there was a good relationship there and then eventually accepted the position as CEO for the Americas with the goal of moving their headquarters eventually from Singapore to the United States. 4.03: If you see an opportunity within a nation for some form of alternative lending, you have the audience or whatever it is. You can always try to build it all yourself from scratch, but being able to count on something that is proven to work in multiple jurisdictions, I can't imagine having little nuances of how different countries handle things differently, says Jason.5.00: The reason why we originally based out of Asia pack is because the kind of end of currency digitization of wallets. Then telecommunications is much further ahead in some of those countries, like in some of those countries you never really see anybody change paper currency, It is all electronic, says Marc. 08.40: Since digital lending has been around since 2014, the band Magic had the top hit rude that date; digital lending has been around that long. You have 2022, and now suddenly, all of these companies are realizing. "Well, how is the auto finance? The automotive industry survived?" says Marc. 13.56: The biggest challenge we are solving in 2022 is reformatting our home page to simplify understanding that this is a company. You can spend 20 minutes of your PowerPoint with lots of words and graphs, and people say we still don't know what you do, so we're trying to simplify in terms of our positioning, says Marc. 3 Key PointsThe Americas is a global company with 180 clients, 50 countries, and over 50 million people on the platform, and The TurnKey Lender was founded to solve a big challenge and something that is even looming heavier, which is the democratization of finance for North Americans and other parts of the world. The biggest challenge that we are solving is just explaining that lending is not something that people should be afraid of; they should embrace it because of the multitude of positives that come from it, explains Marc.Subprime to prime sub-lenders will do loans down to lower credit levels. So if you were in a situation like a veterinarian and care credit turns you down, you could partner with a third party that would ensure that no matter what the lender's kind of position is, you are willing to lend, particularly in a healthcare situation says Marc. Tweetable Quotes"The democratization of money is something that is catching on globally." - Marc Pickren"When you encounter a problem in a new country, odds are you've seen that trick before in a different way." - Marc Pickren"The number one reason why most people are coming to us is just because of customer data." - Marc PickrenResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Dimitri Dadiomov, CEO of Modern Treasury. Modern Treasury is a payments architecture system that focuses explicitly on payments and payment automation. She talks about how they differentiate themselves and dominate payment automation within this space.Episode Highlights:1.14: Jason asks, what were you trying to accomplish in the first place as related to automation functionality, and what was the origin of the modern treasury?2.39: The collection part has mainly been solved in the online payment, but much more goes into it beyond just collecting that money, says Jason.8.19: The significant part of making the money movement easy is to hold onto the context of payment from the moment it initiated through to its final resting place in the general Ledger, says Dimitri.11.39: Dimitri says that they help companies by providing better information, visibility, and alerting things. But they are very focused on delivering the best software experience, and there is enough complexity in that. 15.10: Dimitri says that they hope to provide better data tracking, workflow, and process. Every team that they engage with finds some new feature and use case where different types of users are engaging with the system.18.49: Jason asks if you had one wish or something that could change in your company or the industry as a whole, what would it be? 20.36: Dimitri says that when you have something that is pretty critical, companies tend not to want to buy that from a startup because that scares them. So, the hardest thing for them has been buying, earning, and preserving the trust as they scale up their operations. 22.02: Watching our customers grow means whatever they’re trying to bring into the world, and our business, in some ways, is pegged to them that’s exciting and refreshing to watch, says Dimitri.3 Key PointsThe Internet is messing with new parts of the economy that haven’t been messed with before. Many companies are building automated clearinghouse (ACH) infrastructure. Wire infrastructure is not core to what they are trying to put in the market, says Dimitri.Every transfer uses modern treasury software and API in the company we are working with. They built their company on top of our product, and it is exciting to watch them grow and not have to build a whole department which is our focus, says Dimitri.Dimitri thinks that the broad adoption of real-time payments and instant transfers would make an enormous difference. A lot of the problems that companies face today are using 50-year-old technology for the core payment processing pieces of the banking system.Tweetable Quotes“If you zoom out and look at what has been happening with the web economy, it’s been penetrating and messing with different sectors of the economy.” - Dimitri Dadiomov“Magical software is not something you have to use all the time, and it might not work for you.” - Dimitri DadiomovResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorDimitri Dadiomov – Linkedin | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Mohamad Sawwaf, Co-founder and CEO of Manzil. Manzil is a Canadian-based Islamic banking and finance platform. In today’s episode, he is going to talk about Islamic finance and how he is using Fintech as a platform for distributing Islamic finance in schools. Episode Highlights:1.15: Manzil was created to fill the gap of the 1.6 million Muslims here in Canada to get into homeownership and wealth management solutions and start to build their wealth for the first time.5.05: No one is talking about any desire to circumvent the tax code. It is to recognize that the tax code is designed to allow certain things like home purchases to happen in a way that is not going to be punitive from a tax perspective, says Jason. 8.27: Murabaha is a cost-plus situation. Therefore, this is the number one stipulation for entering into these transactions or focusing on asset-backed or asset-based transactions.11.00: There is a massive misconception about recourse on the asset. If you have an asset that hasn’t fully paid off, you have full recourse on that asset. Sell it off, make yourself whole again, and give it back to the client whatever is left. There’s nothing wrong with that, says Sawwaf.17.54: Jason asks, what else is lacking in the current ecosystem that needs to be brought to the table for people who need to borrow or operate in a whole all manner? 19.35: Funding and capital attraction into programs is a genuine big concern that we’re still solving. We do have access to retail-based capital, but at the institutional level, we need to get that good cost in place and launch this at scale, says Sawwaf.22.40: The endowment fund is the largest globally, and one of my friend who went to Harvard was getting a loan from the endowment fund. But the rules around him paying back are super egregious. So you cannot pay this back early even if you want to.3 Key PointsWhen you think about Islamic financial solutions, there is a religious component to how these structures are derived and executed in the marketplace. We can go over the theory, and in theory, everything sounds fine, says Sawwaf.16.01: We are a 100% digital platform. This is the only way to penetrate our community across the country without establishing bricks and mortar, retail branches, or offices that the typical financial institution would do, explains Sawwaf.There are so many advisors down there who specialize in dealing with student debt because every program in a word for forgiveness has all kinds of complexities. Tweetable Quotes“You can’t take money from me because money lending in Islam is not a commodity. You can’t earn money from money, and it’s not allowed.” - Mohamad Sawwaf“Christianity got around the usury laws within the Bible, which was to discount bonds originally.” – Jason“Talk to me about the risk mitigation for the non-primary party in diminishing Musharakah or declining balance type of transaction.” – JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorMohamad Sawwaf: Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Steve Sanduski, Co-founder of ROL Advisor. ROL Advisor is an online platform that helps advisors or helps coach advisors through a process to help clients focus on return on life as opposed to returning on their investments.Episode Highlights:0.54: Steve explains that they decided to create a new legal entity, hired some developers, and created digital tools that they call the ROL advisor, which stands for return on life. And the focus is really on helping financial advisors become life advisors essentially.1.50: Jason says that the returns are one thing, but at the end of the day, one thing matters are getting what you want out of life.2.13: What we are doing here at ROL advisor revolves around the discovery process. We think of discovery not as a one-and-done process but as an ongoing process throughout the life of the relationship, says Steve. 7.06: There is a series of 20 statements in the ROL index. These twenty statements are divided into ten categories, such as whether or not a person is getting a return on his/her schooling, housing, or accomplishments.8.20: The ten aspects are broken down into three categories, and then we give a score on a scale of 1 to 100 for each of those three categories, well-being, progress, and freedom, says Steve. 10.19: When advisors are working with a client not as an asset under management or not as dollar signs but working with them one on one as a human being for whom you can add some value and for someone that you care about, and at the end of the day that is what the client’s going to remember, says Steve. 12.07: We have six broad categories of life transitions, and within each of these six categories, we have anywhere from maybe five to ten life transitions related to each of those categories, explains Steve.26.32: Steve wants to have a superpower of taking in all of the information from many different areas and sources so that he can synthesize and reconfigure it and communicate it back out in such a way that many people can understand it and benefit from it. 3 Key PointsOften, financial advisors get a little frustrated when they see the behavior of their client, and they can’t understand why the client is doing this thing or why they are not doing something that they know is good for them, says Steve.Technology can augment the conversation like our tools are doing, but ultimately it is about the advisor and the depth of the connection, empathy, and understanding they have with clients, says Steve.Most financial advisors have been successful over the past few years because the markets have been good, so getting them to try and adopt a new way of doing business has been a little bit difficult because they are happy with what they are doing.Tweetable Quotes“So much of our current behavior is influenced and derived from our formative years’ experiences.” – Steve“It is just human nature that we want to keep doing what we are doing, particularly if we are successful.” - SteveResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorSteve Sanduski – Linkedin | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Laurent Bensemana, President of Ndex Systems. Ndex systems is a portfolio management software providing clean or scrubbed data for the industry. Ndex is a custodial-based company established in 1999. Laurent’s original objective was to build the ideal assistant for the financial industry. They never saw a distinction between money managers for retail brokers, discounters, product manufacturers.Episode Highlights:3.11: To expand our coverage, we have to ingest data from any source because clients don’t have all of their wealth with one firm, says Laurent.5.45: The client wants to pay for advice, but they don’t want to pay for the data entry. So we started offering that to the accounting industry to help them quickly reconcile and normalize the data to feed it into their accounting systems, says Laurent.13.15: If you want to have the best in class for everything, it’s not going to be one product. It’s going to be something that integrates the best in class, says Jason17.25 The value that gets built off a platform is greater than the value of the cost of the platform itself.19.00: Ndex gives a firm commitment and puts it on paper that your data is your data. Laurent explains that they are not here to sell data to any other group. What they do with a user’s data is they feed the application to capitalize on the Ndex tools and provide the data to whomever the user instructs them to.23.22: The financial industry, as the independent, believes in the human contact of the financial sector and how important it is in the comfort it brings to the investor. 26.52: Laurent says that they are not looking to compete with another technology platform. They are open and want to work with their competing technology platforms to alleviate their arduous tasks and focus on things that are much more interesting and unique to their offering. 3 Key PointsNdex has become a data bridge no matter where the data resides or what format it resides in. We can ingest the data, reconcile it, normalize it, and put it out to use either Ndex or peripheral tools that are best in their particular market segment, acclaims Laurent.Easily 50% of what we do, whether development or business orientation, is our colleague’s and clients’ feedback, says Laurent.The financial industry’s competition is not the financial firm next door. The financial industry competition is with Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Amazon.Tweetable Quotes“One of the greatest compliments we get from the custody industry is that they tell us clients who deal with Ndex seldomly call them for data issues because we clean up their data. However, we understand that their task is also complicated and demanding.” – Laurent“Plaid and other data aggregators have figured out how to tie into different bank accounts worldwide, cleanse that data and give someone a standard data format.” – JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLaurent Bensemana – Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Kison Patel, Co-founder, and CEO of M&A Science. M&A science produces a product called Deal Room, a platform for monitoring the entire life cycle of an M&A deal. M&A science is a company with multiple product lines covering education and technology for managing the M&A process focused around making M&A more of a collaborative people focus process.Episode Highlights:2.00: Kison says that they originally focused on diligence management. The traditional way was using an Excel tracker to request documentation from the company you are acquiring and then follow up with clarification questions. 6.10: In the early days, you used to have physical data rooms if you look at business. You had the banker boxes and had somebody to guard the access to get to this room. So you would have to fly in to review the documents, scan them, and put them on the server, says Kison.11.00: Jason asks, where did a lot of M&A learning come from? Is that coming from success stories you played, or are HR people coming and playing a role in this? 13.10: Kison explains that they are working directly with corporations because they had more stake, and they had to own the results. So if they can help them produce better results, that was a big win for them. 19.23: Jason asks Kison if you have one wish for something that can change in your company or industry as a whole, what would have been? 19.33: 90 plus percent of the time, when we look at problems, it is just some communication breakdown. Better reminders and more transparency on good frameworks work well on communication, says Kison.22.52: The challenge is getting the right skilled people to keep evolving the company. It becomes such a big emphasis on hiring because it allows you to get the talent in to optimize operations and help optimize the customer experience. 3 Key PointsEach organization is there to serve its customers. For us, the acquisition is what ultimately will mean for the customers, how we serve them and how we will come together to help them better, says Kison.A skill we don’t learn enough in school is sitting back and figuring out the obstacles. If you want to learn how to do that, spend some time teaching, says Jason.HR piece is probably one of the biggest challenges that we are coming across today, and it’s tough because that’s part of the muscles you got to develop, says Kison.Tweetable Quotes“As you go through a deal process, there is a leader in the very front end that is running around hunting the deal, doing the negotiation stuff.” – Kison“Some projects manually manage tracking stuff and can be completely automated. And it is not so much about replacing the rolls or limiting the rolls. It is more about shifting from activity that’s not valuable.” – Kison“Sometimes, part of the problem is we don’t necessarily equate the sufficient degree of time required to communicate properly.” - JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorKison Patel – Linkedin | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Dave Connolly, co-founder, and CEO of Knudge. Knudge is an automated client communication and collaboration tool that ensures that financial planning and advice are done digitally and effectively.Episode Highlights:0.40: Knudge is trying to solve a shared pain point in the industry, helping clients take action on the advice given. Knudge is a platform that allows advisors to have a repeatable process for assigning action items to their clients, says Dave.04.59: Jason suggests that at the end of the day, a financial plan without implementation is equivalent to just expensive toilet paper. It’s pretty much pointless.06.05: Dave says that we are learning that advisors are using knudge, providing some voiceover around the use of knudge with their clients in the meeting, and explaining that they are using this new technology to help ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.08.03: We have integrations with Red Tail and wealth box. We’re working on integrations with other CRMs, and either way, we have a CSV import, so it’s really easy to bring your contacts into knudge, says Dave.14.04: Knudge allows recipients to specify their preferred time of day to receive reminders. In addition to that, they can specify a specific day or time to receive a notification about that item on any discrete action item. 16.50: We set out to build this platform that allows advice and has a repeatable process for managing the client action items and automating all follow-ups. We are getting great feedback from our clients that it’s working, says Dave.18.15: In Knudge, putting all action items into a list and having due dates associated with them, knudge can provide peace of mind for both clients and advisors, says Dave.26.03: Knudge is not a back-office tool. It’s taking your CRM and contacts and making them real users on the other side who receive communications from you via this automated platform.3 Key PointsThe things that have long-term implications on your overall financial well-being require some guidance earlier in life.Knudge is not different than what you would put into an email. It has got a title details section and then parameters around when you want it to post and how you want the reminders to go.Not many companies are bold enough to put their full road map and future road map on their website and let people vote on it, says Jason.Tweetable Quotes“Everyone being busy these days and having a trusted advisor reminding you to take action on your work things that are easy to kick down the road or ignore are welcome.” – Dave“I don’t know where to start as an advisor, so talk to me about getting started. I want to facilitate all the reminders that you’re doing.” – Jason“Once you have established a diversified and properly managed portfolio, the planning side has far more ROI in terms of time spent on someone’s life.” - JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorDave Connolly – Linkedin  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Will Trout from Javelin Strategy and Research. He is the director of Digital Wealth Management. We brought him on the show to talk about some of the bigger trends in the wealth and assessment market and how they are potentially going to transform the industry in the next ten years.Episode Highlights:00.48: Will says that as the name implies, and from a technology standpoint, we focus on strategy for financial services institutions and large fintech providers and look at the intersection of strategy and technology as to how firms can advance their competitive position using tech.09.04: Will says that the friction that inhibited advisor access to private capital investments still largely remains. iCapital and Cais alone will not solve this problem, particularly when it comes to private equity.15.48: To productize direct indexing, you can kind of rule about how it scale and overcomes margins, but the most direct indexing strategies are built around the public equity markets, suggests Will. 16.31: To move towards retirement income focus demographics are pushing, the boomer generation is retiring, yields are low, and that are fueling interest in annuities and marketplace, says Jason.21.16: Industry as a whole needs to figure out ways to pull back and truly look at the complete lifestyle picture of the entire client and consider when it comes time to design whatever portfolio they’re investing in traditional markets, suggests Jason.25.58 Jason asks that the planning industry, with the advent of things like financial therapy and other concepts around financial wellness, is saying we have reached the point where we can be taking care of people’s assets, but now, how do we give them the ultimate version of their lives? 31.16: There is a lot of demand where the firm’s wealth managers fall short on life coaching and addressing the human frailties that define us all, says Will.39.03: More relationship-centric advisors trying to diversify into monetized areas rely on their CRM. But, there is a strong split between CRM at the enterprise level and the sales forces that offer a ton of functionality, says Will3 Key HighlightsThe definition of alternative investment is changing, but the theme is the same: looking for something different and something new. But the question remains, though, how can financial advisors access these new instruments, says Will.The growth of platforms like Simon markets has started offering structured notes and bank issues equities and now offering all sorts of non-securities products for most annuities, says Will.In the Financial therapy association or some specific people in the industry, speak out on the need for personal advice and write about dealing with people in grief, crisis, etc., says Jason.Tweetable Quotes“We can also survey financial advisors on an ongoing basis that serves as the fuel that drives our insights and works in support of our clients.” – Will Trout“We created systems to make it cheaper for the people who can’t afford to pay people who know how to give the advice.” – Jason“The therapist might be more adept at figuring out the real emotional issues, which will only help enhance the advisor’s experience.” – JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Jud Macrill, Co-Founder of Milemarker. Milemarker is a data solution company that helps financial services companies in an IaaS (Integration as a Service) specifically integrate data across many different platforms to get things talking to each other.Episode Highlights:00.36: Milemarker is born out of many years of frustration in the financial services industry. 5.02 Macril says that they find themselves more helping companies achieve a data warehouse experience whether they want to aspire toward a data lake or not. This is because data lakes are fundamentally unstructured data. 6.04: Jud says they see a huge opportunity to take every piece of information in their license data and help a client start to be actionable, experiential, and ultimately automated and efficient. 8.24: Jud says that they provide software which is our API technology, our data cloud, and our ETL processing in which the rules engine says, here is what your data is doing and when and how quickly it refreshes.11.01: Jason asks, with cloud-enabling COBOL, are you giving a solution for a problem that shouldn’t exist first? Because no one in the 1950s thought that this COBOL stuff would be used in the 2020s.13.25: Jason inquires, what kind of case studies do you have to show that you have saved X number of hours or provided X number of abilities for someone to scale larger?14.34: Jud suggested that they should be limiting the liability inside the firm by automating everything possible so that people can be more onward and upward in terms of their day-to-day.24.16: Jason asks what advice would you give to people who maybe don’t qualify the level to work with you or want to get started at taking control of their data and standardizing their digital processes?26.51: Companies in the future will have to be stock 1, stock 2 ISO certified, and understanding what that means today will dramatically improve your long-term value, says Jud.3 Key HighlightsJud is a creative person and has been a marketing officer at multiple firms, and his entire goal is to help financial services companies that are inherently creative to achieve creativity with data and solutions that they need.The future of a financial advisor is made inside a financial services company, and the maximum of time is going to be spent on cloud collaboration than you even realize.If you are unwilling to invest the time to standardize and create a process or recording or something repeatable out of financial service, you are just not solving your solution, suggest Jason.Tweetable Quotes“If you have a node code system that you can integrate APIs into, let’s do it. We will continue making it a more efficient experience for people to use their data.” – Jud“People often have a tough time expressing what they want, and getting into financial tools and understanding them allows them to say, this is what I wanted.” – Jud“You have to have people that have the tenacity to grow and build and prove themselves and are constantly looking for an edge.” - JudResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorJud Macrill – Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Sebastian Skwarek, co-founder of PreciseFP. PreciseFP was a guest way back on episode 26 in the summer of 2018 with Co-Founder Don Whalen. Don talked about their digital onboarding platform or digital data gathering platform for financial advisors.Episode Highlights:1.25: Sebastian explains PreciseFP is the virtual data gathering and client onboarding platform, provides the ability to customize a client journey fully, bring data in-house, and then share that data with the tools that advisors use.2.22: There are many features with PreciseFP, but the key feature is that the advisors who come to PreciseFP are ready to use block finders and personalized and customizable fact-finders ready to use as the box. 10.12: Either CRM or financial planning software if we do not integrate with a given financial software, so either way, you will be able to move the data from a client-facing application, which is PreciseFP, into your CRM and then into financial planning software.12.08: Sebastian says that they wanted to make sure what they were implementing, the features they were released, should be used by advisers. It is not something they came up with because they thought these would be helpful. 14.00: Jason says that the big news with you guys is that you got acquired earlier this year by Docupace. Can you speak to that? 20.53: Sebastian says that they are proud of their customer support because this is where we meet our clients. We will always give you a walk-through the minute you sign up. We are going to reach out to you within 48 hours. We are going to schedule a meeting with you to make sure you understand what you are getting into and how easy it is to navigate through PreciseFP. 24.03: Sebastian says that we can implement everything, but we want to make the system easy to use and manageable at the end of the day. We wanted to bring a difference in a benefit to invite.3 Key HighlightsThe main features of PreciseFP is to build a journey from start to finish and automated components that are the fact-finders, PDF markers; it is a CRM or financial planning software.Sebastian says that they want to make and enable the right tech that they can use within your practice. Data gathering is one thing, and then managing that information once it comes to you elegantly and adequately on a bucket.Sebastian says that they are building a fantastic ecosystem that will become a norm within the wealth industry. There is more to come in the next six months.Tweetable Quotes“Lead generation pieces are built interactive client engagements that you can take out of the box as we give them from a template library or build your own.” – Sebastian“You cannot ever compare Google forms or fillable PDFs because the difference is first impression counts with your clients.” – Sebastian“Everybody requests different things, and balancing what’s right and what will not work is a real challenge.” – SebastianResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorSebastian Skwarek – Linkedin Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is the 2021 year in review show and Jason brought back his colleague and occasional guest host, Guy Anderson, to interview him on the course of events and what happened in the past year. Episode Highlights:00.42: This is our second year in review, and Jason has done over 200 podcasts now in the fintech space. No one in the country understands the Fintech landscape better than you, says Guy04.08 Jason says that data tells other institutions about who it is you are. That data allows the current bank or financial institution to make decisions regarding services and products and other things that you can offer you. 06.10: We need to think about the ability to create technology that truly is client-centric in its focus, and to do that, we need to be able to access the data securely and effectively. 10.52: Swift data is a platform for securely storing your data. With this, if you have open banking, you can store everything. You could technically leave it in the institution connecting institutions or can extract it and keep it yourself, says Jason.20.38: Jason says Holistiplan came on the scene couple of years ago. It takes up pdfs with a tax return, spits out a user-friendly report, let people know what’s going on with the tax return, and is also a helpful tool for demonstrating value and helping clients.24.51: Microsoft working on HoloLens doesn’t even have monitors anymore. This is where they headsets and have monitors rendered in front of them.28.31: The difference between fractional ownership and blockchain is that blockchain being divisible means that they have to take zero-risk by its nature. 30.08: When you think about your choices as an owner of a real estate property or your own home for accessing the capital within that property, it is minimal borrowing, says Jason.31.22: Diversification can own fractional real estate worldwide, and it’s finally coming to markets and finally coming true, says the guy.3 Key HighlightsGuy asks Jason, you had a podcast with a company called Flinks, who are they, and who are some of the other prominent players in the open banking space? People talk about as mass proliferated Bitcoin is. However, there is still friction and anything that reduces friction access for the common person or investment accounts or whatever it is, gets the rewards, says Jason.NFT, Non-fungible tokens are proof of ownership of something on a blockchain. So, in theory, your house could be NFT, says Jason.Tweetable Quotes“In Swift data technically, the network verifies the data amongst itself and its validity. Theoretically, it is possible for something that we call disclosure list disclosure.” – Jason“Holistiplan technology is now far more accessible and far more accurate than standard things, especially the tax forms.” – Jason“The governments worldwide need to empower consumers, protect them, and encourage competition. The rates to our data should be enshrined into law.” – JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to James Rockwood, founder, and CEO of Capintel. Capintel is an investment analytics company that tells you how your performance looks and does all kinds of proposal building, automation, and team collaboration tools that reduce the heavy lifting and let us go back to focusing more time on what matters that’s the one on one time with our clients. Episode Highlights:00.42: Capintel is an investment comparison proposal platform for financial advisors that help them organize how they present and pitch investment products to their customers. 06.15: Jason says that industry people focus on demonstrating how smart they are to the client instead of speaking their language.09.00: Most advisors deal with tons of different metrics and data. They have complex reasons for recommending fund A versus fund B or portfolio A versus portfolio B, says James. 11.40: One of the bigger things going on around the world is they move towards even greater transparency and regulatory reform around any number of things, says Jason.16.08: Client focus forms will be good for the industry. It will be excellent once we get through the specificity of understanding, like how much information is enough, says James.21.41: It is interesting how in the 80s, the advisors had all the access, and now you could argue that retail clients have slightly more access because they can now access these random securities like NFTs in crypto, says James.26.00: In 2022, Canadian fintech startups will be able to submit a three to five-minute video to pitch their idea. We will provide them with access or select companies with slightly used MacBook Pros and then introductions to some of our Angel investors, says James.3 Key Highlights:Capintel has a product management component where you can build your models. Then, you will organize it the way you want and make that into capital by entering the codes, the fund tickers, and allocations.Financial goals are not met with a single financial product. Instead, it is a combination of financial products like a mixture of investments, insurance, willingness, date planning all over the place, says James.The amount of change required in regulation for financial advisors from a reporting perspective or a record-keeping perspective is massive and shouldn’t be underestimated. In addition, people had to make huge changes to their day-to-day workflow to be able to do it.Tweetable Quotes:“Being able to strike the right balance between informative and easily digestible is hard. Simplicity itself is a beautiful art but difficult.” – Jason“We are excited to be trying to build up more advisors’ abilities to address that holistic wealth problem because it will be a combination of the advisor’s judgment and knowledge of the client.” – James“People will be looking more and more for broader-based advice instead of Hollistic traditional investment management role.” - JamesResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorJames Rockwood – Linkedin Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Deven Hurt about the company Prediction strike of which Deven is the CEO and Co-Founder. Prediction Strike is a sports betting platform that treats athletes like stocks.Episode Highlights:00.45: Deven says, prediction strike is a sports stock market that allows users to buy and sell shares of athletes as if they were stocks. He said that they want people to start feeling like they are investing in players and using their sports knowledge as an investment.08.06: Jason says, based on the market dynamics, you probably always will play the role of the market maker for players with liquidity below a certain level and bench players whom no one knows their first name outside of their city.11.31: Jason affirms, as you guys are creating a market price, there will be some transparency in how you do it and specifically in the earnings. 19.26: Deven says we have started to work on partnering with athletes, and a big thing that we have told all the athletes is we want you to do whatever you want to do. 21.20: Deven explains that they are doing NFL, NBA, UFC right now, which has been exciting, and the next phase is going to be expanding esports. They have baseball and global soccer or global football as the priority.23.05: Academics will be very curious to see how market dynamics play out and the number of papers just being written off to see your behavior in terms of valuation and market clearing, says Jason.25.23: Jason asks, if you had one wish you could change in your company or industry as a whole, what would it be?28.44: Jason says, in Prediction strike, if you are willing to put the money in, you can have whatever draft team you ever want regardless of who else is playing the game, and that’s a key differentiator. 3 Key HighlightsDeven explains how prediction strike works and how it is different from other sports betting options out there.The interesting thing about traditional fantasy is you can’t necessarily get access to players you want. Whereas in prediction strike, you could construct whatever team you want. You just have to be willing to pay the price to get them on your team, says Jason.Athletic lives are short. In most cases, very few convert them into marketable brands that can be carried on after they retire, says Jason.Tweetable Quotes“The fan perception of athletes is so funny in how that matches up with how the players play, and sometimes it doesn’t.” – Deven“The amount of random jets and giants players who get traded is spectacular, and it’s just because they are so dialed into that hometown and hometown effect is real.” - Deven “I learned that it takes almost $200 million to go through the licensing if you want to operate as an online sports bet.” - DevenResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorDeven Hurt – Linkedin | Website Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Steve Boms, executive director of the Financial Data and Technology Association, a.k.a. FDATA. FDATA is a global trade association started in 2013 - 2014 in the UK. Episode Highlights:05.38: Steve says, you don’t need to understand the mechanism of how electricity is traveling from the power plant through the transformer into your house. Similarly, we have to think about open banking. But you need to know what happens if something goes wrong.07.52: Open banking is all about competition, and it is all about a more inclusive, more accessible financial services system that meets you as the consumer where you are rather than it being dictated to you by a large financial institution. 17.45: Steve says you can let the industry figure out the standard and the technology to make it work. And this is how the third-party bank gets approved to play in the sandbox. 18.31: Home automation is nowhere near what it could be because you have to worry about these things, says Jason.19.25: If you talk to the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, some of the regulators that were part of the implementation of this will be the first to tell you that we didn’t get this all correct, and we knew we weren’t going to get it all correct, says Steve.25.18: The future of any large bank, if they are smart enough, is to adopt the revolution to becoming banking as a service platform as fast as humanly possible to seize that opportunity. But executives aren’t rewarded for that kind of innovative thinking and banking unfortunate traditionally, says Jason.3 Key Points:Open banking is the digitization of financial services. It is a free and competitive marketplace for a consumer to decide which service provider you want to choose and provide you with the product or financial service. That service provider can be a bank, or it can be a nonbank.Steve says that the President of the United States earlier this year put out an executive order on competition, and this was one of the things he called out that even in the US, where you have 10,000 financial institutions and thousands of fintech, there is still not enough competition and we are not meeting the promise of just how innovative, and competitive this marketplace could be. We need to have open banking, and the government will have to mandate it. In Canada, a lot of our group’s conversations with the Department of Finance have been around keeping the Canadian financial services regime competitive against Europe and the UK, as they are catapulting ahead on open banking, and Canada hasn’t.Tweetable Quotes:“In theory, the government only has one concern: what is the best case for our constituents and our economy more broadly, and our view is that data is the best outcome.” – Steve“Never underestimate an institution’s ability to be spiteful if it’s not in their best interest to be cooperative, and this is where legislation matters.” – Jason“When you bring in a set of companies or use cases that are not regulated or supervised to the extent that a large national financial institution’s initial reaction is this is unsafe.” - SteveResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorSteve Boms – Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode is a recording of a brief intro that Jason gave to the recent Canadian advisor Tech Expo. It was the first financial advisor technology expo of its type in Canada, and that was put on by the Financial planning association Canada, for which Jason is the President.Episode Highlights:00.56: Digital transformation is about taking your practice and digitizing it, and reaping the benefits of digitization, efficiency, scalability, and hands-on experiences for both you and your consumer.01.12: Which of us doesn’t want to do the less heavy lifting, make more money, and provide clients?02.06 There are always opportunities around the outskirts of core technologies, and you need to treat your business like a business and think about how you can enhance it. 02.35: The dealers are too busy worrying about the mass audience in core technologies. So they are not going to get things like your booking scheduling systems. 03.01: If you don’t know what is out there in the marketplace or what others have done, it is tough to figure out what you are going to do for yourself. 4.00 Technology is meant to support your business strategy. Don’t go looking for the solution to your problem if you haven’t figured out your problem correctly. 5.57: Once you have identified what you do, look for repetitive things that take a lot of time and keep you away from facing clients. Because those are the ones that are the most useful to automate basically, and those are the ones that are most likely to have solutions. 07.07 Most important is to invest the time to learn and onboard the technology. Set aside time to understand the technology and then realize it so much and so well that you can turn around and train your staff on it.11.08: The day tomorrow and the next day are all about you. It’s all about technologies that you can choose and deliver.3 Key Points:The first tip is that you need to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset to start the visual transformation, says Jason.There are tools for the problems that are better handled through technology than by human beings. Human beings are good at figuring out complex relationships between things.Advisors digitized can transfer over all their systems with a couple of usernames, and everything is done at a premium.Tweetable Quotes:“There are so many little solutions out there that cost a couple of dollars per month to solve problems that are taking hours per week away from you.”“Some advisors don’t listen to you, steal you using E signature, don’t have a CRM, and don’t care about innovating any other stuff.”Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Gavin Spitzner, President of Wealth Consulting Partners. Gavin is one of the more recognized fintech experts in the US that consults with significant players on the state of their advisor technology and its future development. Episode Highlights:5.58: Gavin says it is not an institutionalized legacy in terms of how we ensure that we are delivering a client-centric and advice-oriented relationship where it always puts client interests first, and we are here to help and guide them. 8.57 Gavin suggests if you look at the research when clients leave, it's not about performance. It's all about the technology and communication you are doing.10.29: Jason inquires, what are the table stakes you think exist now and what are the better implementations over top of that? 11.42: Gavin recommends, "You have to make some of the decisions around what is high up on the value chain that I can uniquely bring value to and what else could I automate to digital engagement." 15.01: Jason suggests that you have to take a client-centric approach when you think of a plan-centric approach. 25.09: Automated intelligence overlays on top of CRM's because it's hard for companies to do many things well, and we can find some of the more specialized firms that are deep diving into it.27.22: Just because the software says do this doesn't mean that it matches the human being, says Jason.30.21: The entire industry is better off by niche development because you can cater to a small group of people incredibly well at a deeper level.33.00: The growth rates for direct indexing come from a smaller base, depending on how it is measured, it will be off the charts.34.52: Gavin says that if you educate your client, you will not focus on your custodial statement. You are going to focus on your performance report, which is about you and your goals.36.23: With the real aspects of COVID and changes in employment, whether voluntary or involuntary, everyone's life is turned upside down to some degree. 38.21: Advisors can guide clients to look at different work arrangements to take advantage of the wealth they have accumulated and permit them to spend more and do things differently when they can still take advantage of it. 3 Key Points Gavin shares how people came to advisors in the old days because it was the only way to access the markets or the information.Gavin points out that we need to have a better digital engagement process, but the traditional portals out there do not shape or make a match.Jason explains how the advisors who tend to focus in concentrated niches are growing at far faster rates than the advisors we need.Tweetable Quotes"The role of technology or data to engage with clients and make a meaningful impact on their lives motivates me." – Gavin"You can't go back to the old premise if you discover what it means going forward." – Jason"You are going to be more knowledgeable if you believe in technology and handle financial issues leading with planning and definition." - GavinResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorGavin Spitzner – LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Kevin Levitt; he is the Director of Industry and Business Development for Financial Services for Nvidia. The company is one of the driving forces behind the technology powering artificial intelligence today.Episode Highlights:00.38: Nvidia is a company that was started about 30 years ago almost, and they have really pioneered the use of graphics processing units. 08.12: What Jason has seen in academic studies is more accurate FICO scores in terms of calculating the probability of default.09.58 Jason asks, “What is the natural type of function for artificial intelligence disturbing the market today like what is the commonality around the things is replacing?10.20: Kevin says in the example of Siri virtual assistant or chatbot. In the context of financial services that are helping us to transfer a balance or to understand what our balance is, or pay a bill, it goes from there to assist the call center agent where we have a more complex problem. With the call center and the agent, the AI is actually complimenting human assistants with information.18.30: Large banks are trying to figure out how to build an enterprise AI capability, AI infrastructure to support the migration from a handful of AI-enabled applications up to 100s.22.10: Jason inquires, “What is the kind of cool use cases you see being drummed up and coming forward going in the future?” 26.30: Kevin talks about the four primary players in terms of big retail, big tech, fintech and big banks, are going to be the primary competitors and if one of them is using AI to deliver a virtual assistant or chatbot and the other one is still using some form of rules-based kind of chat experience, AI one is going to win.28.40 Jason: The technology companies choosing to come out and this is going to make everybody sharper, and everybody really focused on their value proposition and really try to eliminate friction.35.32: NVIDIA is all about innovation and stretching, kind of the boundaries of where people thought. Computing power could go and certainly where artificial intelligence could be of benefit. 3 Key Points:For the past 15 plus years, Kevin has been at the intersection of data technology and financial services.The technology can enable a better customer experience across many dimensions when artificial intelligence and deep learning models that leverage natural language processing are utilized.There are lots of opportunities to continually improve how AI is leveraged within any industry, including within the context of financial services.Tweetable Quotes:“You can think of artificial intelligence, or AI is kind of the Super umbrella if you will, and underneath that falls a category of artificial intelligence which is machine learning.” – Kevin“It is not about job loss it is about job improvement, which is freeing us to do the higher-order capabilities.” – Kevin“There are some of the smartest people in the world that are working on financial services, and they see the power and the opportunity associated with AI.” - KevinResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – Sponsor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Denelle Dixon, CEO and executive director of the Stellar Development Foundation. Stellar is one of those coins that has been around for a while and has some very interesting use cases. Episode Highlights:1.08: Dixon says that the stellar development Foundation is a nonprofit, non stock entity whose sole mission and soul focuses on developing the ecosystem around the stellar network and also shepherding the codebase for the stellar network.4.33: There are lots of stable coins that are issued on stellar, and these coins are like USDC, and you can actually send the stable coin so that you don’t actually have to worry about any volatility in the cryptocurrency market itself, says Dixon.8.25: The notion of having stable coins actually creates an opportunity for the stability so that you don’t actually have to worry that when you send a transaction, affirms Dixon.9.03: Dixon says that we think about the financial system from where we sit, wherever that might be but it’s really hard to think about in certain countries.11.34: Leaf global company has created the digital wallet that folks can use when they are crossing borders.14.31: Blockchain is the fastest way to transfer money between countries with the least amount of fees and your vendors on the other side don’t necessarily need to understand that blockchain is how you got it to them because it just goes into their bank account. 23.19: If you have the global network with the partners that create the on and off-ramps and then from there everyone can just build on it, and it can just grow. 28.37: China is developing its centralized cryptocurrency for absolute control of their economy. They do have the great firewall that gives them the more potential than anyone else to actually shut something down.3 Key Points:The global remittance system is enormous. The amount of money crossing borders, whether it be people sending money to support people back home, or even for transactional purposes, is substantial.Back in the old days of the Internet, you had a lot of Silicon Valley building for the world, and that’s actually not the way they should be. It always should be solving local problems with local solutions.The beauty of blockchain is that it allows the local developers to look at the problems they see around them and fix them in ways that make sense for their communities and do so in a global network, says Dixon.Tweetable Quotes:“We have come a long way, and we are now using the likes of a cryptocurrency that can transact the pennies.”- Jason“Blockchain creates the opportunity to truly have a global financial system that doesn’t exist today.” – Dixon“Not everybody does understand all the inner workings of how HTTPS works, and yet we still use the Internet every single day.” - DixonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorDenelle Dixon: LinkedIn | Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, Jason will talk to Brandon Chapman, founder of Advisor Flow. It is a tool that helps advisors learn more about their clients in onboarding and acquire vital information to them faster and better. Episode Highlights:01.10: Brandon explains Advisor flow was incorporated last year. He was working on a project three years ago because he was so frustrated with using PDF and word documents to gather facts about his clients in his practice. Then, during the pandemic, it appeared every other advisor realized that pen and paper wasn't sufficient and efficient. 03.40: Jason suggests if you want to see who is ready to work with it, put an obstacle in front of them. 07.18: Brandon says, if a robot is emailing you to do something, it's very easy to ignore it, but if it's a human that you know is going to call you next or see you at the dinner party, there's a much higher chance you're going to do that thing.09.24: Jason asks, how much of the financial industry has been around relying on frictions as a means of keeping people in place?10.46: Brandon said when there was no information online, a few companies could get away with this, but the fact of the matter is that the world has shifted, and the most profitable businesses are the ones that recognize when you put the customer first and you end up doing better. 18.53: Jason asks Brandon, tell us about how your first integration is gone and the feedback you've gotten from users as far.20.18: Brandon shares his wish that we need more people that challenge the status quo out there, and who will own the experience they offer.20.28: Jason asks, what have been the biggest challenges you encountered in getting the company to where it is today? 20.47: Brandon suggests, in the tech business, if you are not making money early enough, you make a deal with the devil, which might impact the decisions that you make afterward. 3 Key Points:The paper chase is the most challenging part of the financial advisory planning process, and if you can make that process seamless, it will encourage the odds that a prospect becomes a client, says Brandon.Brandon explains that any data collected in their system will feed into the advisor's CRM choice and potentially into the onboarding technology of choice, which could lead to account opening on the investment side.The most important thing in a fintech is you could know especially early in life is what you are and what you're not, says Jason.Tweetable Quotes:"There is a certain type of human being who's ok with turning over their entire lives to a machine." – Jason"Friction is not a way to win business. This is a way to get off your client base." – Jason"This industry requires a lot of relationship building, a lot of building trust and a lot of following through on promises." – BrandonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorBrandon – LinkedIn | Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason talks to Tom Carpenter and Jason Chomik from the financial data exchange which is an organization that works towards unifying data flow across different financial platforms.Episode Highlights:01.15: Tom explains that FDX is a not-for-profit organization specializing in an open banking or open fintechnical structure. They got an API that is open to use and one can freely use the API to ensure the safe exchange of data between organizations.03.46: The industry could work together that you had a governance structure that levels the playing field among Fintech's, financial institutions, and aggregators so that the market could determine the best way to deliver on consumer demand, says Jason Chomik.05.24: Open finance is probably the camel's nose under the tent of a broader set of use cases and a desire for consumers access, user data across a spectrum of industries, says Jason Chomik.11.50: Tom points out that on boarding many institutions is complex, and it is not a light undertaking, especially when you start thinking about the different security protocols and all of the other pieces that need to go in place to make everything happen. 13.43: You got a lot of adoption that you have to get before you can turn off an old technology to make the other ubiquitous, suggests Jason Chomik.14.31: Jason Chomik says you got to phase a timeline for phased implementation to adopt API standards. They have seen other jurisdictions around the world that put very aggressive timelines in place on API adoption. 19.19 Jason asks, you had one wish for something that could change your company or industry as a whole what could it be? 19.30 Tom says his wish would probably be more data-sharing agreements signed more quickly for us to create scale quickly. 21.39: No matter what type of open banking infrastructure is put in place for the system or in place around the world, the standard API is a function of all of them. 25.08: Jason asks what excites you the most about what you are working on and keeps getting out of bed in the morning to keep on fighting the good fight. 3 Key Points:Jason Chomik shares why they started using available finance. They felt this is broader than banking data, and insurance, investments, and taxes are considered a wide swath of financial information.The more people work with you, the more straightforward it becomes to transact within the network and the more valuable it becomes.Jason Chomik says, from a success standpoint they noticed, how many consumer accounts have been transitioned from credential-based access to the FDX API. Tweetable Quotes:"Tom created a platform for companies with their different systems" – Jason Pereira"It's the biggest challenge to making sure that both the Fintech's and the banks are walking to the same drum because all have the same end goal." - Tom"Open banking is one of the single most important business issues if not data rights issues in the marketplace today." - Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:LinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorTom Carpenter – LinkedinJason Chomik – Linkedin  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason is going to talk to cyber security expert, Evgeniy Kharam. They talk about general concerns around cybersecurity and best practices.Episode Highlights:01.07: Evgeniy work full time in the company for Herjavec group, being around almost 20 years and they are a cyber security company that focuses on cybersecurity only, and they have enterprises on a variety of talks. 03.14: Evgeniy explains that ransomware is basically somebody was able to get access to your environment. Your environment could be your service or IoT devices or your gas station tanks. 07.11: Evgeniy points out that they always have different scales of cyber security controls for protection. She asks if you run a small business and this business is acceptable to the public and people walking in back and forth, but you never lock your screen, then what is the point?13.47 Jason says you are able to have different unique complex passwords for every website so, if one thing gets hacked, only the one thing gets hacked, not everything else.15.02: Jason asks, in small medium besides businesses who are users of technology, to talk to me about best practices for protecting themselves. 16.25: Evgeniy says, if you create your own software, you also wanted to have an MFA for the users or in the majority of the cases, if you can pass the authentication to LinkedIn, to Google then people can utilize this way to connect to you and you not going to be saving their credentials. 23.41: Jason points out that making an email look like it comes from another company is very easy. 24.10: Jason says there is no full delegation of your diligence, you have to take responsibility for basically being your first line of protection. 24.59 Jason explains why when you look at a marketing website, the first thing as a sales pitch is not security.25.28: Evgeniy says the biggest challenge in the cyber security industry is definitely the amount of information we have, and we just don’t have enough time to be aware about everything. There is so much going on daily that just impossible for one person to know everything.  3 Key Points:In small scale business, you want to have an antivirus or EDR and protection response or EPP and word protection on all your devices, at least if or when somebody will get into not have such easier time to affect your system, says Evgeniy.The most common form of getting into people’s systems without authorization is human engineering.There are a variety of tools on the market, something called US dynamic access through the channels that will basically validate what can be done with your website, what can be done with the APIs from your website.Tweetable Quotes:“There’s a lot of information support lines for hacker organizations.” – Evgeniy“There are definitely attacks that are based on just hacking through code absolutely.” – Evgeniy“It doesn’t matter what innovation we’re talking about security plays a role in all of it.” - JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorEvgeniy Kharam – LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Jason is going to talk to Maya Pochiraju, VP of product at Payability. Today, Maya will talk about the challenges faced during covid by retailers and themselves in scaling to a giant shift to online business. Episode Highlights:00.56: Maya says, Payability sits at the intersection of e-commerce, financing, and payments. It is the core financial platform for all e-commerce sellers providing both financing and payment solutions to help customers scale and grow their businesses. 02.50: Jason asks when you go to deal a traditional bank, they look at the simpler time-proven, easier, faster things for them, which is limited based on the fact that human being is reviewing that. But when you throw so many points of data, how many points of data do you guys typically consume on an average case?05.10 Maya says their customers are all e-commerce sellers of varying sizes. It could be a seller as new as three months in business all the way up to someone who’s been in business for years. 07.52 Maya explains that they have one of the core payment products, a Payability seller card that allows their customers to spend their funds immediately and on the go.08.31: Jason asks, “Please share just how much your lending volumes increased over that period of time?”09.22: In growing the company, it is hard to continue growing the number of users you support without growing your headcount and talent and team, says Maya.10.34: The instant advances that we provide our capital advances about start customers to invest in inventory or advertising, says Maya.11.32: Jason says the backlog or shipping containers to come out of to get into the harbor in this crisis point is unprecedented in US ports. 12.21: Maya points out that supply chain challenges have caused the increase in kind of time to get inventory from upstream vendors to our customers. 14.00: The technology is what drives the business and what drives our customer experience, says Maya.3 Key Points:Maya explains that they have a lot and a ton of data that they leverage on a daily basis to continue to serve their customers.Maya shares how their financing products are really microgeneration in nature and how they quickly got customers and more money with their daily payment products.The e-commerce marketplaces have done a fantastic job of giving their sellers access to share data so that we don’t have to rely on traditional metrics but instead can lean in on e-commerce specific metrics, says Maya.Tweetable Quotes:“When talking about scaling typically, vendor financing is the biggest issue.” – Jason“We are consuming over 1700 data points on an average customer” -Maya“We have done to date almost four and a half billion dollars worth of financing.” – MayaResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInMaya Pochiraju – LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Jason is going to talk to David Reeve CEO of InvestorCOM. The company is a provider of regulatory compliance software and communications solutions for wealth managers, asset managers, and insurers in the financial services industry.  Episode Highlights:00.34: InvestorCom has been around for over 25 years. For the last decade, we have been working exclusively in the wealth management industry and specifically helping wealth firms deal with new regulations, says David.01.35: David says they managed documents for industries like wealth management and other financial services sectors that are very document heavy. The business really evolved from one of managing physical documents to digital documents and now software. 01.59: The western world of wealth compliance is all about disclosure, typically residing in documents.03.27: There has been a lot of regulatory change in the last couple of years US, Canada, around the world, and Australia for certain, and this has been almost unprecedented to the degree to which we have seen such compliance to wave rollout, Jason says.04.45 David explains what they try and do is work with firms to digitize processes and make some of the cost go away so one can, not just layer on additional people to comply with these new regulatory requirements.05.54: There are a couple things firms are adopting digitization more broadly, and then that is jumping over the fence into the compliance department, says David.08.01: In a practice management standpoint, if you are developing model portfolios and rolling that across your entire firm and then validating those portfolio decisions on a semi-frequent basis, you are ok, says David.09.38: It is a world of increasing complexity, and as per David what the regulators are saying is we need to create some standards around how products and advice are recommended. 10.58 Jason says that when the numbers update, that is all changed next month, and this has been a real challenge. They must have been turning to say, not only how do you help us do this, but what are we supposed to be doing in the first place?12.32: David says as a firm, we were getting some really good feedback on these peer rating concepts, and we are trying to create that standard as a front for the industry.15.32: It is exciting to be able to help clients comply, check the box often, build relationships with their clients by having more informed disclosure in doing all of this in a reasonably economical way, says David.17.12: We will be working on digital platforms that also enable or connect to all kinds of stuff in different sources, says Jason.19.12: According to David, moving some of the diligence up to pre-trade is a pretty big opportunity for the industry. 20.10: Jason asks, “If you were to sum up the overarching trends you see around the world and the bigger challenges in terms of regulation, then, by all means, tell the listeners how you are solving or helping people with this work?22.50: When you get into some of the requirements where you need to have advisors change behavior, that is where regulatory becomes much more challenging, says David.23.45: As a partner to firms, you need to start thinking about elements of making technology as invisible as possible.24.10: The whole area around adoption and encouraging adoption, making technology as light and invisible as possible is vitally important as we move forward, and of course, fortunately, technology is moving in that direction as well. 24.41: Technology is not your strategy; technology needs to enable your strategy, which is what last upon people looking for magic or solar bullet. 3 Key Points:There is a bit of debate in the industry whether compliance should be disclosure-driven or whether it should. Regulators should be looking at other aspects within the sector, but the reality is compliance.The industry matures as data is available as standards are available. It is a tremendous opportunity for the regulators to encourage the industry to adopt some of the standards and leverage technology to comply.Traditional wealth firms are enjoying B2B model, and the user experience is dramatically better and more efficient.Tweetable Quotes:“There is a huge wave of new regulations that add at the retail well space in the last several years, and we really positioned ourselves as providing compliance pain relief with the technology that we provide to our clients.” – David“The industries are starting to recognize the value of technology as being actually a competitive advantage because you don’t need to layer on additional people plus you can meet your compliance requirements without interrupting the workflow of the advisor.” – David“The regulators are a little more focused on the traditional brokerage model where products are being sold, and they are concerned about potential conflicts of interest in that Channel.” – David“If we don’t deliver solutions that provide high value to our clients and they’re going to buy them.” – DavidIt is not about putting the work on the advisor anymore; it is about creating a workflow for an advisor to be able to go through with his little friction.” - JasonResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInDavid Reeve: LinkedIn Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Jason is going to talk to Trevor Greenway Founder and CEO of InterVal. It is a dual-sided platform that is predicated on the democratization of valuation. The company believes that business owners and their key advisors deserve to have access to key metric and the leading indicators that are driving it at all times. Episode Highlights:01.06: Earlier, Trevor was in consultancy for about 11 years. The entire model is predicated on helping business owners earlier in the process, making any less of an emotional readiness type decision and something where they can be more proactive. 01.39: During the consultancy stint, Trevor found out that the commoditization of advice regarding accounting and banks is driven by when can I bring value at a specific point in time? But that specific point in time was usually too late 02.20: It was just through the manual process as a consultancy that Trevor and his team began developing automated tools. 03.35: At some point, you may be thinking about the exit or how much the business is worth or fill forms that say your business’s worth. Everybody is really operating in this giant black box without constant feedback about the market value. They are most probably the largest asset they have is. 05.13: Trevor talks about the awareness of one’s overall financial health. As result, they thought it was always backwards that the value of one’s business, which first SMEs is typically their largest asset is the black box that no one is aware of, so they are making contributions in the form of growing their business trying to invest in certain elements of it, so they are doing that part. 07.15: Trevor explains what ultimate KPI is? He advises one needs to where they stand today, and then it is that measurement over time, and its implications on all of the other advisory relationships, whether that be tax planning, insurance, wealth advisory, or funding financial planning. They are all integrated, and we have to be able to educate the business owner and their advisors around this key metric. 09.02: For those that have not yet converted to the role of cloud accounting, which allows Trevor and his teams to regularly extract that accounting data upon which to provide regular analysis to update valuation provider evaluation at onset and other key metrics and qualitative. 11.09: Trevor explains how they have numerous KPI metrics and analyses to tell the consumer how they are doing it. Things like current ratio, inventory ratio, inventory turnover, then benchmarking that against like industry. 13.02: Trevor built a proprietary algorithm based on history. They took dozens of due diligence processes and deconstructed them into common areas where prospective purchasers will look at the end regardless of how far you are away from leaving. 15.00: Business owners understand the qualitative factors that, while they may not directly impact the valuation, they impact the risk factors associated with that valuation.16.14: Trevor explains how their job is to create a discovery mechanism for those looking to deliver value.17.01: Your financial statements are not entirely indicative of your free and clear cash flow, so you think the easiest example is you have a business owner who is either overpaying or underpaying themselves relative to what it would cost to replace that skill set, says Trevor.20.00: Trevor explains how they want to help business owners; once they understand that, they talk about that end state. 22.02: Explaining ripple effect Trevor says it doesn’t just impact the business owner. It doesn’t just impact their account, and it has an impact on their legal structure. It has an impact on their tax planning. It has an impact on their financial plan, and their insurance products assessed that they that are necessitated to protect them. 25.23: If you want to deep dive and learn more and learn as much as you want, but in a matter of minutes, you can get what you need, and balance between compact complexity and simplicity in this space is will probably remain a challenge.3 Key Points:Trevor narrates about his corporate journey and how he developed automated tools. They built a tool for their own internal purposes; once they built it, a bunch of people wanted to license it.Trevor explains how they are tapping upon other databases of publicly available information on transactions to come to that based on industry. Jason talks about the two types of investors. The strategic buyers who basically just want to be involved, and then there are investment Buyers who just want to own the business and essentially have no operational need to run the business. Then there are ones who actually want to run the business. Tweetable Quotes:“It is our goal and our mission to help business owners and their advisors create awareness.” - Trevor Greenway“Everybody is working in a giant black-box without constantly knowing the market value.” - Jason PereiraEverything else that they do from a financial planning perspective is so critical. If you set a financial plan based on something that was wrong and then never revisited again, it is like a broken clock, except it was never right a second time.” - Jason Pereira“We pull APIs from cloud accounting data/” - Trevor GreenwayOur system concurrently runs three models - capitalized earnings, capitalized cashflows. and book value approaches on every business.” - Trevor Greenway“You are doing things that others aren’t that is impeding your growth.” - Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInTrevor Greenway: LinkedIn Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Jason is going to talk to Hans Zandhuis, President of Ally Lending (Acquired Health Credit Services) at Ally. Hans is working on the point-of-sale lending arm of Ally Financial and Ally Bank. The company has been around for four to six years. It started as a credit services court, but they were only lending in the medical environment; later, Ally wired us in October of 2019 and continued growing and standing. Episode Highlights:02.05: Hans Zandhuis and two other founders Matt McKenna and Clark Burget, started the business in June of 2015. They self-funded it and grew through the platform, brought on a number of other institutions to kind of be their balance sheet partners, and then grew the business. 02.31: In October of 2019, Hans’s company was in the medical space; basically, they were in the doctors and office inception of the business; that was how do we help consumers pay for health care? 03.21: Hans’ company was acquired in 2019; they started looking at other markets and moved into home improvement in May 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. In early 2021 they piloted in retail markets. 03.34: Hans shares how long it took him to reach the 400 million in total lending.05.02: Hans explains, when it comes to lending from traditional banks, the reality is we are typically talking much larger numbers than $750. We are talking about mortgages on your house. We are talking about personal lines of credit, several thousand, and at that moment in time, when you have that expense that presents itself to you.06.29: Consumers are really starting to move towards, and because of that you look overall at the general line of credit continuing to grow at 15 to 20% clip per year.07.02: We also saw that consumers kept their credit cards for either emergency; if their dryer goes out, they go for a vacation. So, they don’t want to have no credit facility that limits their ability to vacation.09.01: Hans explains how they make the process so seamless and simple that the consumer just adds in sometimes?11.04: Talking about value props, Hans says it is about how do we integrate into consumers so when investing in the technology, we are investing in our APIs we are investing in, how we integrate into multiple platforms across multiple verticals.12.45: Hans further adds that we will look to develop a better understanding of how we are making decisions around that, so we start talking about where we are investing as a technology. He says, “To me it is all around the B2B predominantly around the B2B but obviously the experience for the consumer as well pricing for consumers.”14.37: Talking about technological advancement, Jason says, “Please tell me why I am authenticating with a squiggle of ink? This makes no sense to me but in fairness, I think it was about three years ago. I think the credit card companies changed their terms of service. That fraud was the responsibility of the weakest point in the chain. So, everybody went around and updated their machines to basically support touchless pay and that kind of helped create the infrastructure to support everything, so you know, fear of lawsuit or fear of being stuck with the fraud is a great motivator.”16.45: Jason asks, “Talk to me about the initial feedback you garnered from the vendors you went to specifically start off with the medical industry, and then we will move over to renovations. But were they skeptical? When they first saw it? What was there was the resistance that you encountered, and then when they adopted it, what was the feedback from there?19.29: Hans talks about their approval process specifically; it has to do something with underwriting. He earlier mentioned risk-based pricing.21.00: Jason says, “I have seen all kinds of academically supported reports where basically these risk ratings are being developed to such a level of proficiency that there, compared to the FICO score, they are far superior lending to people who would never otherwise qualify at a given rate.”23.46: Jason inquires, “Talk to me about the expansion from medical. Why were renovations the next logical place to go? Or what else did you consider? Where do you want to go next?23.49: Hans affirms, “When you look at consumers and where they are spending their money. There is 1.3 trillion spent. You basically have number one in your largest. Then you have home improvement, then medical, and then you have kind of travel, so those are the pockets where consumers are spending their dollars.”30.40: Hans says, “While the market has the speed of change in this space is incredible, and it just feels like in the last two years that we were clipping along and probably a good 50-60 mile per hour rate and now we are sitting at 100. Everyone is running, and so that is great; it offers a ton of opportunity, but you just have to pick up the pace.”3 Key Points:Hans Zandhuis talks about the history of the company and what led to its foundation and eventual merging with Ally.Hans explains, “What are packages that they think are important to understand for their consumers?” Do consumers and providers work around creating marketing campaigns to both the consumers and the providers?” Hans talks about the challenges he encountered in developing a point of sale underwriting model and how he basically got people to agree at the right number as fast as possible. Tweetable Quotes:“We generally think there is kind of a word instalment loan only. So, in that instalment loan, you kind of look at what is your minimum that you would do a six month or three-month promotions.”- Hans Zandhuis“I don’t think anyone gets a credit card bill and doesn’t feel a little bit of guilt, whereas.” - Jason Pereira“Money is a motivator; it is one of those things where your start point determines your trajectory.”- Jason Pereira“Signing the documents, it is pretty simple, we think it is an extremely simple process, and so as you go through that we found that was probably one with the was the most important attribute.” - Hans ZandhuisResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInHans Zandhuis: Website | LinkedIn Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Jason is going to talk to Eric Fulwiler - Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer at 11 FS. It is a well-known consultant in the financial services space that specifically helps traditional financial institutions launched digital products. Episode Highlights:1.46: Talking about 11 FS, Eric says, “We are five and a half years old now. We work with traditional financial service institutions to help them essentially navigate digital challenges and opportunities in their industry.” 2.12: Eric explains, “We do a lot on the strategy side and open big banks, insurance companies, payment providers, wealth management businesses, navigate those changes, where the opportunities where the challenge is coming from.” 2.52: Eric explains about the product called PULSE, a library of Fintech user journeys from around the world. 3.50: “We got some really smart people in the company and many smart people in the industry that we know. We try to bring them together and give them a platform to share what they know and hopefully add value to their financial service professionals.” Says Eric.7.40: Jason says in Fintech all came in on an angle that came in with a method of monetization that challenges your model. Because at the end of the day, part of their value proposition had to be on cost. 8.35: 11-FS is really a fintech company, but we work with traditional organizations and financial services, and so it is really interesting to see the different perspectives and approaches that start-up to traditional companies take to everything, explains Eric.8.54 Eric: The start-ups can grow faster in many cases because of the approach they take to marketing and their go-to-market. The more relevant, modern, and current your marketing approach is, the better the result will be able to drive.10.18: Marketing is the function within an organization that should be closest to the customer. It is what connects the products to the customers you’re building it for and trying to reach, and many Fintech do this well.11.50: Good marketing communicates the story of your business in a way that is compelling, relevant, and differentiated, and so that’s what any CMO or any business needs to be focused on. 14.35: Jason affirms, in terms of marketing, companies will not do the extreme things necessarily because they don’t want to alienate the mass market that big cultivated for so long.16.16: Jason points out that some fintech in this world has kind of cornered the mind on market share in certain demographics and functions, and that is unbelievably valuable because now they have become a default. 18.43: Jason asks, “How much do you think the negative hangover of 2008 the global financial crisis kind of impacts the demographic marketing, basically inhibit the willingness of that demographic or eagerness that demographic to work with traditional vendors?”20.05: Eric says that the second-best marketing is people who you know and trust already telling you that you should do something, and you see a lot of these Fintech taking that approach. 23.40: Many banks are just trying to throw everything they do at you in a digital experience in one shot because they think more is better, or that’s their competitive mode, says Jason.24.15 Eric: Technology companies in general, think about how you have the attention and the connection with the customer? When they are building apps, it is not just about delivering, but how you can make the experience one that people enjoy.3 Key Points:11 FS is the layer on top of the technology that delivers the intelligence value-adding experience to the end consumer that will differentiate successful propositions from not successful propositions. What we are trying to build with Foundry is the level on top to really be able to enable those intelligent propositions, which is really what everybody should be going for.Modern marketing within start-ups and Fintech is about adding value, whereas traditional marketing is more about extracting value. It’s about how do you get this customer to do that thing. The business and the brand that delivers more value is going to deliver Better Business results in the long term.Fintech, by the nature of being small, is usually shaving off a piece of the market so they can be more specific in how they communicate and what they say they offer. Fintech is certainly digital-first in the marketing approach that they deliver, and that allows them to be more relevant because they can segment their audiences better.  Tweetable Quotes:“The start-ups can grow faster in many cases because of the approach they take to marketing and their go-to-market.” – Eric“Marketing is the function within an organization that should be closest to the customer.” – Eric“The company that is closest to the customer and has the most trust is the company that will win in the long term.” – Eric“You know having any business is about the people at the end of the day.” - EricResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInEric Fulwiler – LinkedIn Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s show, Jason is going to talk to Vieje Piauwasdy, director of equity strategy for Secfi. It is an online platform that allows employees of private companies to monetize their options and cash out before waiting for an exit from the company.   Episode Highlights:00.52: At Secfi, we help employees with their stock options. The company was started just four years ago. We have worked with hundreds of thousands of employees ranging from start-ups from the seed level to pre-IPO companies, says Vieje.2.45: The education part of Vieje’s mission is to help educate employees, help them understand their equity, and make the best decisions. Second, we do provide financing solutions for these employees as well. 4.10: Jason asks, “In your company if you are getting richly rewarded on in shares, and if you are not publicly traded and the timeline for exit is not known, how old you make the most of that and get out?” 5.29: Equity was a very taboo topic. It is something you don’t talk with co-workers, or it is kind of like talking about your salary, says Vieje.6.41: Private company valuations are very subjective, especially in this day and age where valuation numbers are thrown out.7.30: Most people are at their first or possibly second start-up, and they don’t know what their shares are worth. So here at Secifi, we really operate off, and we obviously add a financing solution to all this, but it all starts with education, says Vieje.9.28: Jason inquires, “We have got some sort of reasonable valuation on stock options, and you want to exercise them. So how do you help facilitate the exercising of this?” 11.12 Vieje explains, “The reason we are able to assume the downside in these positions is that we only work with fast growing start-ups with the reasonable means to exit.” 13.02: When it comes to rates and how we set those rates, that quite greatly depends on a company we work with, says Vieje.15.22 Vieje says that their financing is set up for individuals who want to go on their shares.16.41: If you are in a fast-growing start-up, then single-digit rates of interest are irrelevant compared to the vastly double-digit growth rates of the equity, says Jason.18.39: Vieje explains, the idea behind our rates is financing. We structure it so that individuals will have more cash in their pocket if the company has a pretty good exit. 19.24: Jason asks, “Talk to me about consumer reactions so far, and how is the adoption rate? How is the value reacting this? This is something that’s a welcome change because this is not an uncommon problem in Titan Tech world.” 20.08: Vieje says everyone should have access to something. The regulatory nature of stock options makes it a pretty crappy instrument all around. 23.43: Vieje reiterates, “We take a fiduciary approach to everything that we do. Team Equity strategist work with every individual.”24.14: Jason inquires, “If you had one wish do something get changed in your company or the industry as a whole, what would it be?” 24.20: Vieje wishes he could take out every one of these bad reputations of brokers and people just looking to make a buck off you. 25.17: Jason asks, “What has been the biggest challenge in the company to where it is today?”26.17: As per Vieje, understanding an industry that brings something new out to the world. Financing stock options is a completely new industry.27.13: Jason asks, “What excites you the most about what it is you are working on keeps you getting up every morning to keep on fighting the good fight?” 27.20 As per Vieje the best part about this job is the joy and happiness you can provide to an individual that you can only imagine. 3 Key Points: Vieje says, we provide as much information to service individuals as possible, giving data we have, giving the information on our platform, and let us stop and make a decision for valuation or equity. Vieje explains both liquidity and the option exercise are structured the same way. If we gave $1,000,000 in cash and cured by the shares, this situation wouldn’t be toward exercise options and taxes. Vieje highlights that Secfi is working greatly depending on where you are within the stage to company. We have no idea what the markets will look like, but if they believe in the upside of their company, then the company is going to have a good exit.  Tweetable Quotes:“No matter how much you plan around equity, sometimes your company grows a little too fast.”- Vieje“A lot of people, unfortunately, don’t plan properly and start talking to advisors for equity.” – Vieje“Not all employees are valued the same way just like this salary issue.” – Jason“There is a lot of risk you’re taking out of the table for individuals and putting on yourself what is being taken in return.” – Jason “Sometimes financing does not make sense for everyone.” – ViejeResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInVieje Piauwasdy – Website | LinkedIn Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Jason Pereira talks to Peter Lord - CEO of Codat. It is a platform that is building next-generation products and services for SMEs with easy, real-time data connectivity to their financial software. The company is building smart solutions that save time, money and enhance the customer experience in a matter of hours.Episode Highlights:00.30: Peter explains, “We help our clients who are large financial companies connected to the software used by their small business customers. We connect to accounting software things like Xero, Sage, QuickBooks E-commerce software, payments and marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, etc.” 00.50 Jason affirms, “You are a savior for financial institutions because you built the integration pieces yourself. It’s not a make your integration, but essentially, you’re making it easier for people to access all that through one portal versus multiple different API instances.” 01.50: Peter studied at Southampton University as a software engineer and moved into a product role. Through that personal experience, he saw the need to automate processes.02.10: They built their business where small businesses applying for a loan had to submit financial statements and ledgers in PDF agreements. Peter and his company replaced the manual process of Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage accounting.03.41 Jason inquires,” How many different integrations have you built for different technology?” 04.00 Jason: asks, “Talk to me about some of the challenges of the amount of data you have got to basically make accessible on one platform. Give me one example in accounting software.” 04.18: Peter replies, “We cover everything from high-level financials, digital Ledger, that property loss or balance sheet reports examples right down to the transaction level detail is in the journal.” 07.45 Peter says, “There is a new client finding, new spaces for technology every week.”09.33 Jason inquires, “Codat is just an open API at this point, or are you moving data between different systems; is that something that the end consumer is doing? or is that something that you have actually built; a bunch about the shelf integrations form?”10.35: Peter shares his mission is to make life easier for small businesses, and that’s what drives in right movement.11.54: Jason asks, “Overall, this is not a small piece of work that I am curious about; any statistics on how much data you are actually parsing for people at this point?”12.40 Peter explains they are now introducing elements of lending or capital financing.13.30 Jason reiterates, “You know the value of data, right. I’m sure you thought of the number of ways that you can move it around and basically collected for these people. But small businesses are going to find ways to solve their problems with your solution that you never dreamt of so, that makes a lot of sense.” 17.00 Jason asks Peter, “What’s been the biggest challenge in the company to where it is today?” 17.07: Peter shares the biggest challenge faced by them was to hire the right people.18.05: Peter explains that they are making products, so it’s building something, building our products, continuing to see expanding and budget in the hands of more users and more users for us. 3 Key Points:Peter talks about the creation of Codat. “What leads to its founding, and what problem are they trying to address?” Jason asks Peter, “Talk to me about the different verticals that you are basically involved in. You have over 100 clients at this point around the world. What are the different use cases they have used before?”Peter shares, “What’s the feedback they are getting from the companies that choose to partner with Codat. What are they saying in terms of the amount of time and effort, and development costs? Tweetable Quotes:“For our clients, it’s not just the extraction or pulling of that data, but we also take the push of data back into the software packages to help our clients reconcile what’s going on in their products with business customers and other systems of record.” - Peter Lord“There are all sorts of different ways that small businesses use their accounting software running on.” - Peter Lord“People are so important, and the company is our team, and so we make sure that we have been hiring the best people.” - Peter LordResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPeter Lord: Website | LinkedIn Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Jason Pereira talks to Dr. Stephen Taylor - Assistant Professor of Finance at New Jersey Institute of Technology. He has worked in the financial services industry at Bloomberg, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Morgan Stanley, and Tudor Investment Corporation. In this podcast, they will discuss a couple of emerging trends, specifically in fintech and fintech education.Episode Highlights:00.35: Steven is in the line of teaching for the past four years. He is from a bit of an orthodox ethnic background. He has gained a lot of practical experience in the past while working with Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg etc. 1.09 Jason curiously asks Steven, “What led you to teaching?”1.29: Steven talks about his career journey and shares about his knack for academia from a very early stage in life. 1.57: Jason says, “Today we are going to talk about emerging fintech trends.” He asks Steven to share the three big emerging fintech trends.2.11: Steven shares his insightful views of the big trends in the fintech trends. 2.43: He says peer-to-peer insurance is an area that’s just starting to expand; second on his list is asset management. Third, in his list is digital sharing of training strategies through various platforms.3.10: Steven says his views are more from theoretical design aspects; he does not know much about the regulation side. 3.15: While giving an example, Steven says, “Suppose within your immediate family you implicitly insure yourself. You have an accident, and your father might help you out with $200. This approach is a lot more cost-effective rather than going through the claims process where there are half a dozen people involved and overhead costs.” He shares his concern that “How do you formalize the insurance in a way that it is more than just family and friends’ agreement?”4.06: Jason says, “People are often shocked and amazed by the size of the insurance industry in general. When you think about how many people are employed, by how many people specifically on the distribution side is the actual underwriting, and eventually called reinsurance space.” 4.38: Jason further adds, “Reinsurance space isn’t that big really, but this is a distribution onerous.” He says that “I could see there is a tremendous amount of overhead.” 4.40: Jason asks Steven, “In the theoretical context, how does peer to peer software that is just solely through digital distribution and lack of need for sales agents? and how would this product be discovered and basically applied or opted into by both sides of the transaction?”5.00: Steven says he might like ideal visualization because it won’t manifest itself for decades to come or anything remotely close to it is. He says, “I would like to see it go to more of a setting where you get matched with people, you have similar risk profiles as yourself, and this could be done like pulling out a questionnaire survey.”7.48: Talking about the digital investment side, Jason says, “We have the big waves of the Robo advisors coming in, threatening too deep to destroy the traditional models.” 10.14: Steven says, “I would like to see what institutional hedge fund investor is five years ago to the day where there are certain limitations, but now you’re going to have hundreds of different opportunities to get into eventually, and it’s going to be a better space for everyone.”11.13 Jason inquires, “We are talking about a pile of stock because of XYZ and do the short squeeze. But you’re talking about something far more sophisticated, right? You’re talking about like no is sharing the quantitative algorithms, and what not for trading is that the uppercase?”11.34: Steven affirms, “I think the prototype for this right now is a platform called QuantConnect. they provide data infrastructure they provide back testing infrastructure, and you basically just cut up your algorithm in Python, and they’ll give you performance measures.”12.28: Steven shares the challenges and competition faced by students in the Fintech industry. He says, “By the time you finish school, you should be able to code; knowing excel is just not enough.”15.07: While providing an explanation for what programming is, Steven says, “If you learn to program well, you can automate basically all the tedious aspects of your job and then focus on the ones that really require human and electrical thoughts.”17.18: Steven says the biggest challenge in terms of getting a job for a student is to convince your hiring manager that you’re able to take a deeper dive into ideas, and you’re able to take on projects and ownership around them. 3 Key Points:Jason and Steven are going to talk about emerging fintech trends.  While talking about the challenges in the Fintech industry, Jason inquires, “How is educating people in finance changed in light of the proliferation of fintech? Steven talks in detail about the one thing that he would like to change in the Fintech industry; that is simpler regulation.Tweetable Quotes:“The more transparency you add to any system, the better the overall costs go down.” - Stephen Taylor“Technology and software are eating the world, and they’re slowly starting to eat the world of financial education as well.” - Jason Pereira“I always love people concept of proficiency, and my favorite question in the interview is give me an example of the most complex macro we’ve ever built. I always get a blank stare.” - Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInStephen Taylor: Website Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode is slightly different as Jason is not interviewing a Fintech but an artist - Krista Kim. She made global headlines as being the first artist to sell a virtual home via a non-fungible token (NFT). Krista Kim is a contemporary artist and founder of the Techism movement and a global ambassador for the Superworld and creator of the Mars House, and a talented artist. In today’s podcast, they will discuss “How technology is changing both the distribution and implementation of art?”Episode Highlights:1.10: Krista introduces herself as a digital artist, started creating digital artwork in 2013. While using smartphones, Krista observed how people were completely changing the dynamics of their social interactions because of social media platforms and how social media platforms were inferring cultures.1.18: As an artist, she thought, “We need to ensure that people are free thinkers going forward in the 21st century and beyond, but the big question was how do you do that?2.45: Krista says, “We have to have a daily practice of meditation because we have to strengthen our prefrontal cortex. It’s a muscle that actually keeps us as freethinkers so that we’re not perpetually addicted to our phones.”4.45: Jason refers to the filter bubbles that people have created; they only hear what they want to hear. 06.00 Jason says that they are going to discuss NFTS, digital art, and the metaverse in today’s episode. He says that unlike cryptocurrencies, where the entire idea is to make transactions with them potentially, which is something called fungibility, the ability to spend something in one place versus the other. NFT or non-fungible token is a token that denotes value or ownership of something specific, and in this case one of the biggest use cases has been in the art realm.06.44: Jason inquires, “How did you get into NFT? What was the opportunity you saw that you clearly harvested?”7.10: Krista talks about her journey as a digital artist and her research on the blockchain of art. She became whitelisted as it gave power to the digital artist to sell their art properly as a rare piece of work.7.45: Personally, Krista felt that NFT was giving digital artists the power to sell their art properly as a rare piece of work, one or limited series. But an artist can control its rarity, and that is everything for a work of art.10.11: Jason says, “What we’re seeing is just again another technology and especially Internet technology, basically starting to apply itself through yet another medium or another vertical of an industry which is artwork.”11.06: Krista explains the difference between NFT and a copy of the NFT.11.40 Jason denotes that “People have a hard time wrapping their head around digital currencies.” He gives an example of the games like Diablo or World of Warcraft, where even before there were markets that were built into these things, people were selling armor or weapons on eBay and transacting real currency and then meeting virtually to deliver on the actual product sold. 12.36: Krista affirms Jason’s views and asks him to look at Mars house. She shares why Mars houses became such a global story? It is because it really is a marker, overtime, and it is the harbinger for our augmented reality lifestyle that is coming around the corner. XR lifestyle. The Metaverse NFTs are going into the metaverse, and that is the next generation. 17.00: According to Krista XR experience is essential for brands moving forward in order to really connect with this generation and their communities in an authentic and meaningful way. 17.45 Jason says, “Virtual environments are becoming more and more engaging and more and more desired to be participated in, especially amongst young generations.” 19.58 Krista explains, “We are selling virtual plots of land that are basically mapped geographically onto the real world. Then we also have the actual interface that allows people to upload our digital 3D assets into the room space. So, you could imagine what concerts or Disneyland would be like with 3D digital NFT creating an immersive experience for you and your family like you could literally dance with Mickey Mouse or raise a pet Simba and you could wear the Elsa dress right, and they’re all kinds of incredible projects because the apple, the apple glasses, are coming out in a year.21.08: While talking about big events, Krista says, “Many people were making so many wasteful decisions for these events that can easily be a solvable, beautiful, more amazing experience in AR. 22.03: The fact that you can make friends and have playdates and kids in Egypt and visit the pyramids and learn all about it. That’s the future of education and travel, says Krista.27.15 Krista is glad that she found a collector on Super Rare. She says luckily, “In the community, we have a lot of visionaries and futurists, and art on the Internet is a consortium of collectors, and they are investing in the future.” 30.01: According to Krista, “We should have a healthy ecosystem, and that is facilitated through people who support the work. She adds,” I believe that the major change that we are seeing because of the NFT market is that their percentages are being lowered for 50%, maybe 30 to 20%, something a little bit fairer to the Creator and also the resale, royalties, and NFT markets.” 30.08: For super rare, Krista says, “Where I am based, we get a 10% royalty per resale on the secondary market, and I think that tradition and that new system will be also adopted in the traditional art world where it hasn’t.” 32.27: Krista shares, “How as a digital artist, it was kind of difficult to get mainstream art world support of her work.”3 Key Points:Krista shares the importance of discussing arts and humanities in the boardrooms. She points out the value of discussions and collaborations so that companies not only have engineers and entrepreneurs but also people who understand the human touch. Krista talks about the major power shift that NFT gives to the digital artists. They get an opportunity to market their work directly to the buyers and not have intermediaries get the gallery system and the traditional art system.Jason and Krista talk about the next generation technologies and how the world or facilities can be improved using technology. Tweetable Quotes:“Smartphones are addictive devices - We don’t want to be addicted. We want to be free thinkers and sovereigntist human beings.” - Krista Kim“There is an experiential shift going into XR, and that’s where NFTS are going.” - Krista Kim“We actually promote the democratization of ownership of the world, and we actually want people to monetize from the activity on their plots of land that they own because we are selling virtual.” - Krista Kim“It is important to create responsible things that make the world better and more beautiful.” - Krista Kim“You can’t rely on the traditional arts system to actually facilitate any sort of innovation” - Krista KimResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInKrista Kim: Website Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira talks to Kevin Lozer - Co-Founder of Holistiplan; it is a financial planning software that focuses specifically on tax planning. It generates a PDF version of your tax return and extracts all the verifiable information and actual data. Episode Highlights:0.52: Kevin explains about Holistiplan – it is tax planning software for advisors built by advisors. It allows an advisor to upload a PDF tax return and get a client deliverable prepopulated scenario and then screen and identify some planning opportunities all again with just uploading a previous year’s tax returns. 1.12: What Holistiplan really does is automate a tax return review. Then all of the work that succeeds that tax return review that advisors do, typically requires a whole lot of data entry. Historically, the company has taken that data entry out of the picture, and now advisors can just spend the time focusing on conversing with the client about their tax situation.1.19: Kevin says the idea to launch the Holistiplan started to percolate years ago. Roger Pine and Kevin had really put pen to paper and came up with the idea of uploading documents, providing an expert system, providing opportunities, and providing observations that many advisors across the country traditionally make.04.43: Jason curiously inquired about the feedback Holistiplan gets from advisors who implemented this type of software, like where they find the most significant benefit.04.52: Kevin shares when it comes to receiving feedback, it really breaks down into two different types of advisors. “One is advisors or firms that haven’t been doing tax planning. Secondly, we see clients wanting more out of the fees they’re paying advisors than investment advice. They are looking for a more robust, comprehensive relationship from advisors.” 05.51: Kevin explains the simple process of Holistiplan, clients can upload their financial data, and within a minute, the software digests all that pulled data, summarizing it in a client deliverable. Tons of firms are using it just for this feature. Upload or return get a client summary that the clients can understand that advisors can review with the clients. The report also provides planning opportunities that the software identified from that tax return. 06.55: Kevin says, “There is a whole other subset of advisors out there that actually do the quantification of planning opportunities like Roth conversion strategies, donor-advised funds, all kinds of different tax planning opportunities that we look at from a planning perspective. 07.05: Holistiplan also provides a forecasting tool - a scenario analysis prepopulated with the previous year’s data. So instead of spending the first 20 to 30 minutes entering data from the tax return into a calculator or tax software, now one can just copy it over from the prior year. Clients can make some edits to the fields and start doing complex strategies like Roth conversions or qualified charitable distributions, all kinds of tens and hundreds of different things that you can do from a tax planning perspective. 10.31: Jason is really impressed with the features of Holistiplan. He says to Kevin that “You are providing information on tax brackets where they are in terms of relative to phaseouts, right? So, because of that, the tools make it so much easier to understand tax planning.”11.11: Kevin says there are 75 to 100 different planning opportunities in the software, and they keep updating the algorithms.11.45: Holistiplan shares a visual report with 8 or 10 or 12 bullet point items based on that specific tax return. With this tool now clients can read through the 100-page document all by themselves12.15: Jason inquires, “What effort did Kevin and Roger put in to launch Holistiplan?”12.30: Kevin explains how friends and advisors in the financial industry helped them with their valuable feedback and improved the end result of the software.13.04: Kevin says, “Our initial prototype was to upload or return and just get the bullet point observations, but all those like visualization things that we talked about earlier, the emoji phaseout and whether they’re over-under or in those phaseouts, all that stuff was from other advisors as we started to roll this out.”13.41: While explaining their roll-out strategy, Kevin says, “We rolled out a product that wasn’t 100% complete; this was intentional. We wanted to get feedback and crowdsource some of the ideas, and now that we’ve got thousands and thousands of advisors using it, the feedback comes in fast and furious.”15.00: One thing that Holistiplan launched early this year was the tax-prepped letter, which is closing the communication loop between advisor, CPA, and client. Kevin shares “Advisors who are doing tax planning with or without holistic plan come up with some good pretty good observations and opportunities and then execute those and get all that work done before December 31st so that it all counts for this tax year it’s called Roth conversion or qualified charitable distributions.18.05: Jason affirms that when launching Holistiplan, Kevin picked a vertical of the financial planning world that has a lot of depth. 20.38: Talking about the unique work that Kevin and his company are doing, Jason remarks, “Taxation is a one-foot-wide spectrum of the entire financial planning spectrum, but you’re going in mile deep on that.”22.00: Kevin shares his vision to reach out to a lot more consumers. He says that it was part of what got him excited about Holistiplan and the software in general.24.40: Kevin says scaling the company has been the biggest challenge that they have faced so far. A year ago, we were 3 people, and now we are 15 people, and all of this during a pandemic.3 Key Points:Kevin shares interesting insights on the history of Holistiplan. Where did this come about? What was the opportunity to sell? Kevin explains how Holistiplan advisors won’t need a checklist anymore with hundreds of different things to look for in the tax return.Jason inquires, “How much of your road map can you share with me at this point?” Kevin says, “We are staying at the tax planning world for the foreseeable future.”Tweetable Quotes:“Holistiplan has taken data entry out of the picture, and now advisors can really just spend the time focusing on conversing with the client about their tax situation.” - Kevin Lozer“When it comes to tax planning visuals are far more effective than communicating in words.”- Jason Pereira“Not only do people not want to code things twice, but advisors also don’t want to enter the same data two or three or four different times into their various software programs either, so removing the extra data entry part was Holistiplan’s initial work.” - Kevin LozerResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInKevin Lozer – Website | LinkedIn Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. 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Host Jason Pereira talks to Atif Saddiqi - Founder/CEO at Branch. It is a fintech that allows employees to access the money they earned before pay-check. Episode Highlights: 0.30: Atif says Branch is a payment platform that helps businesses accelerate payments to the workers to empower them. 1.27: Jason asks Atif to share about the history of Branch and what brings him to launch it?1.40: Atif has founded the company way back in 2016. This was started from his own experience as an hourly worker. 1.59: While working as an hourly worker, Atif found that a common pain point for workers is always looking for ways to earn more income.2.14: Branch was initially launched as a mobile B2B product. Over time they kept improving the process. 4.22: “A lot of employers we work with still cuts paper cheques; they don’t have a reliable way to deposit money,” says Atif. 4.31: Atif explains how Branch helps employers by providing cost-effective solutions.5.59: People can use Branch as a banking service, affirms Atif06.31: Jason inquiries from an employer’s standpoint how does Branch helps in cash flow?7.54: Atif talks about the Digital Tips, Wallets, Reimbursements, and other user-friendly services that Branch offers. 08.29: As per a recent statistic, Atif has read that there are workers who are still living pay-check to pay-check.08.48: Atif talks about the new business models that are being introduced for the benefit of various classes of workers. 10.19: Atif elaborates on the user feedback that his company has received and how its services are used. 12.32: Currently, Atif and his team are looking for saving solutions that are automated. 13.49: Jason asks about the success rate data of “Branch”.14.20: When discussing revenue strategy, Atif says that the company primarily relies on interchange revenue. 17.00: Atif talks about various target sectors and how employers benefit from Branch’s services. 18.39: Jason talks about the cognitive burden of living pay-check to pay-check. 20.11: Atif talks about the most significant challenge that he has faced so far in Branch. 3 Key Points:Atif talks about his company Branch, the reason behind its launch, and how it is benefitting employees as a modernized employer payments technology.Jason curiously inquiries about the user feedback and success story of “Branch.” When talking about their target sectors, Atif says a large staff is operating in restaurants and hospitals. This helps them to tap into a large employee population.Tweetable Quotes: “Assessing your wages should be free.” - Atif Saddiqi“Employers see Branch is a uniform solution to pay all their contractor.” - Atif Saddiqi“We have to do mental aerobics when opening a bank account.” - Jason Pereira Resources Mentioned:Atif Saddiqi: Website Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira talks to Som Seif – CEO and Founder of Purpose Financial. In today’s episode, Som is going to give his unique perspective on the FinTech industry.  Episode Highlights: 0.50: Som talks about “Purpose” and the idea behind its launch. He adds that they are re-inventing the business in 4 core areas – Asset Management, Retirement, Wealth Management, and Small Business owners.03.04: Jason highlights Som’s venture capital history and success stories. 03.28: Som shares his vision about the FinTech industry. 05.57: Som discusses how he partners with people who have similar visions like him.07.14: “We have a deep understanding of our customers and their journey; this is how we solve their problems,” says Som. 09.17: Som gives detailed insight on how his company solves a customer’s problem. He also discusses the global product that they have created. 11.19: Jason and Som discuss about the regulators. Jason says that the regulators are willing to listen if you are willing to work with them. 13.12: “Innovation is extremely important in the Fintech company,” says Som.14.15: While striving for innovation, Som is constantly searching for an answer to the question – “What is going to be the ETF 2.0?”14.42: At present, Som is learning the Tokenization of things; as per him, this is the next big thing. 17.12: Som talks about a prevalent mindset that “People who have little money, makes no money.” But Som thinks otherwise.18.42: Jason asks the listeners to imagine a universe that has something different. He says one has to come out of past methods of doing business and innovate and chart out new ways.18.59: The problem with the FinTech industry is they think on average economics, says Som.20.57: Jason brings up the topic of non-technology solutions, one that is of monumental importance in the future in the financial ecosystem.23.59: Som talks about the interesting products and processes they have launched. He also talks about the “Mortality Credit” that goes to the beneficiary.26.01: Som talks about his organization’s goal “To create income for an indefinite time period.” 27.01: Som explains how he is a big believer in the advisor’s role. 29.27: The game that big institutions are playing gives advisors the cash flow, says Som.31.01: Jason and Som point out how customers want holistic solutions to their financial problems.32.20: Som advice “If you want to true high-net-worth advisor, you should have a planning mentality to truly engage the entire balance sheet of a customer as opposed to the money that you are managing for them.” 33.23: Som talks about the biggest challenges faced by him.    3 Key Points:Som shares interesting work areas of his business. He also gives insights on his vision and how he likes to connect with like-minded professionals. Jason explains how we are in the early innings of replacing ETFs. Jason and Som discuss the problems that incurred the FinTech industry. They also talk about the wrong assumptions that often circulate regarding small investors.Tweetable Quotes:“Everything looks like an opportunity in retrospect that they are going to bounce back.” - Som Seif “There is a lot to learn if you have a good relationship with the regulators.” - Som Seif“Regulators wants to see innovation and change.” - Jason Pereira“Imagine a universe with something different.” - Jason Pereira“There is a significant amount of people who needs financial advice.” - Som SeifResources Mentioned:Som Seif: Website Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira talks to Nick Catino, Head of Policy and Campaigns with Wise. It is a London-based financial technology company founded in January 2011 by Estonians Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus. In today’s episode, Nick talks about consumer-facing products used by banks and businesses.  Episode Highlights:0.38: Nick says Wise is a global payment technology company giving the best way to move money worldwide used by people who travel, live, and work internationally. 3.08: Jason asks Nick about the origin of the company, how it came to be? Nick points out Wise was founded in 2011 as Transfer wise in London. 3.10: It has two co-founders Kristo Kaamann and Taavet Hinrikus. 4.01: The company’s idea came from the analysis that consumers are getting ripped off to send abroad, and it is so central to our mission today trying the payments more transparent.5.30: Nick says living and leisure is focused on pricing across portal payments. When he travels, he keeps records of his credit card transaction receipts. When he gets back, he calculates how much he has spent, he does this for a living, and it is a complicated calculation.7.17: Jason points out, “If you are running a company and you have to buy from overseas vendors regularly, you will probably speak to your bank about what can be done, and they will graduate you up to the next level.” 8.33: Nick states, “When you are a multinational corporation or large business, you have a finance desk that is negotiating these rates in the wholesale market. 8.40: As per Mckenzie’s study report, hundred or billion dollars in fees consumers pay in small business pay per year.12.53: Jason asks Nick as a consumer, “If I have to send money somewhere in the world how can he utilize your platform?”13.08: Nick says Wise allows to send money to friends and family members on platform using their name or FI. During traveling, you can use your debit card. It is integrated with apple pay. In small businesses, you can use it for goods and services import and exports, paying workers and freelancers internationally, and combined with several accounting platforms to make easy payments.14.48: Jason asks how you enable business and how is that service different?15.14: Nick says we are making it easy for our customers to move money abroad in the business side. Small businesses are joining our services every month, and not only banks some tech companies are launching platforms that users in the US can pay directly in India or Singapore.16.45: Nick says we tried to make it easier for businesses to use our service. We started a consumer-facing brand, and there are end number of features and excited about market growth in the future by integration between business and banks. 18.15: Jason inquires, “What happens if I transact in Euros, but I don’t want Euros? Nick answers then it will automatically transact the lowest cost conversion related to the product.20.10: Nick says payments amortization has been a huge focus in many countries because it benefits consumers, and the ecosystem is very clear.23.00: Jason asks from an end-user perspective, “Why is payment amortization important?” Nick says it’s about the cost. In the UK, on average, fees are 0.4%, and money is moving instantly, but if you are Canadian or American, it is 1% or more, and money can take days to receive on the other side. 24.52: Jason says friction is in two ways one is speed, and two is basically cost, and both are impactful on the economy.26.35: Nick reiterates that a global payment company being new in the market is certainly difficult, and lack of consumer awareness about how much you are being charged while sending money abroad is a challenge we have to overcome.27.49: Jason asks Nick, “What excites him most about every day when he wakes up in the morning and keeps doing what he is doing?”27.55: Nick replies that so many smart, driven diverse people, 2400 wiser from more than 70 countries, still continue to learn about different markets in culture and take ownership with projects they are working on is the best part of working with Wise.  3 Key Points: Nick talks about the consumer-facing products used by banks and businesses to integrate APIs directly with their platforms.Nick says, “We pay fees to transfer money abroad, but we don’t realize how much we are overcharged, and many consumers and small-scale businesses are unaware of exchange rate markups.”Jason mentions like western union, you need a massive global network of fixed locations that will allocate money on one side of the border to move it to the other side of the border. Tweetable Quotes:“Business doesn’t impact revenue on the way it’s all about living methods of transparency” – Nick Catino“In 2021, sending money is like sending email” - Nick Catino“Many smart-driven diverse people, 2400 wiser from more than 70 countries continues to learn about different markets in culture and take ownership with projects they are working on.” - Nick CatinoResources Mentioned:https://wise.com/in/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholascatino/https://wise.com/us/blog/author/nicholas-catino/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kkaarmann/?originalSubdomain=ukhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/taavethinrikus/?originalSubdomain=ukPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. 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In today’s episode, Jason talks to Jon Cowley, founder of Whatifi. It is a visual financial planning software and tool that helps people think through various scenarios in different methodologies than people are accustomed to.   Episode Highlights: 1.00: Jon says Whatifi is a highly visual low code financial scenario builder and projection platform, making it easy for professionals to visually create, calculate, present and share multiple financial scenarios to their clients.1.46: Jon doesn’t come from a Fintech background; instead, he runs a VFX company. He has created some of the coolest movies and also some of the biggest duds. A lot of these are leveraging technology workflows for Jon.3.03: Jason points out that most people think spreadsheets are developed for users, but very few people think about using presentation devices.3.48: Considering the fundamental problems, Jon had built a software that connects all the logics and events. 04.01: Because each step is separate, it is very easy to follow along with the history. Utilizing this simple concept as base, Jon thought, why can’t he apply the same logic in Finance? Whatifi uses the same algorithm and calculates all accounting data. 05.13: So far, Jason has not seen any such concept in the Finance Industry. He says that spreadsheets exist for most financial planning software. He appreciates and says that “What Whatifi has done is very simple and logical.”06.41: Jon shares excellent real-live scenarios where Whatifi’s algorithm can be used. 07.02: No, thing in our system is just a number, they are the whole set of metadata that is wrapped around, that allows downstream things to adjust accordingly.08.00: Jon talks about building a roadmap so that every single day the starting point is accurate. 09.14: Jon points out the importance of planning goals. 09.40: Every day at Whatifi Jon’s team updates the baseline to see how they are progressing.11.52: Jon shares Whatifi’s top 3 value propositions. First is with this framework, you can build scenarios far more quickly than the tools currently available. The second is the ultimate scenario. The third is Visualization.13.23: Jason says it is not the Visualization, but the Causality is very transparent. 14.01: People who are indecisive and analytical are going to love Whatifi’s tool.15.07: Jason says so many tools are niche at this moment.17.19: Whatifi is the most unique decision-making software that Jason has seen so far. He is curious to know about the responses that Jon has received so far. 18.35: Jon says that advisors really like the concept of Whatifi.20.53: Jon shares, “While we have calculation engine, we also have trigger roadmaps.”23.30: Jon would like to see more collaboration between FinTech.25.09: For Jon, the biggest challenge is that they are outsiders who are entering the Fintech world.3 Key Points: Jason asks about Jon’s history and how he came across the idea to launch Whatifi.Listeners learn that nothing in our system is just a number; they are a whole set of metadata.Whatifi is a calculation engine, and we are using it to build scenarios for people, says Jon. Tweetable Quotes:“Metadata gets modified day to day and passed down for calculations.”- Jon Cowley“No, thing in our system is just a number.” - Jon Cowley“There has always been a black box aspect to Financial Planning software.” - Jason Pereira“At the end of the day, it is all math.” - Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:LinkedIn - WhatifiLinkedIn - Jon CowleyWhatifi - WebsiteFacebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira talks to Dennis Gada, Senior Vice President and Industry Head for Financial Service for Infosys. It is a global digital services company that offers end-to-end services to its clients from technology to business operations, consulting and helping them in the digital transformation journey, and helping them run in their existing business and technology operations.Episode Highlights:2.40: Jason inquires, “When companies come to Infosys for support, how do you navigate their digital needs?”4.18: Dennis explains, “We work in three different layers; driving efficiency in running business and technology operations, digital transformation of their end-to-end business process, and helping them to grow the business in a new area for consulting services.”5.10: Dennis affirms that the last 12 months post-Covid has seen significant acceleration of client journey, and we can call it a trigger, but it has been a prominent force of transformation. 5:50: Dennis says there is an enhanced expectation from that banking and financial service. Not just traditional banking but also wealth management. He adds that all of that should be much more digital, and it has forced financial services firms to become more digital than it already was.8.38: Dennis justifies that firms have been forced to drive change at such a rapid pace that decision making has been so much quicker and adopting to new technology has been so ramping.9.30: Jason says, “He wants to know the decision-making mechanism how those are going to adapt?”9.55: Dennis explains business and technology have really come much closer together. These days discussions in financial service firms are much more about - What is the next wave of digital transformation? How much you can change the customer experience? How much you can leverage cloud and AI capabilities?11.35: Dennis reiterates with all the advancement in technology that has happened, on-boarding of new clients still tends to be the most complex process, and regulations also drive it.15.30: Dennis says more and more of a partnership between fintech, and larger bank and financial service organization will help to drive the transformation instead of fintech trying to get into all banking services themself.16.10: Jason asks Dennis, “How you see the development in these institutions to continue or had a lot of change in the post covid world?”16.39: Dennis says now 99% to 100% of the workforces are working remotely and delivering great values; this is the trend that is not going to change.17.35: Dennis says the digital transformation journey that had started is not going to stop in any aspect. 20.59: Dennis says firms have realized that while investing in the cloud they have not compromised in security. Cloud is more secure if not at the same level of security, then their existing data center. That’s the mindset shift that has happened in the last year, and more and more investments are going towards the cloud.21.35: Dennis says as firms invest in the new technology of the future, they also need to re-skill their own workforce as they have already done in Infosys.22.06: Jason is curious to know about the biggest post-pandemic challenge that institutions are going to face.24.20: Dennis says there will be some key challenges to sustain the pace of innovation, manage cybersecurity-related threats and risks. He stresses on the importance of motivating the new workforce to continue to work for large bank vs tech company of fintech and deliver the same kind of productivity.24.42: Jason asks Dennis his one wish for something he wants to change in his company or industry as a whole. Dennis wishes to innovate and scale, thus making that a part of DNA that everybody wakes up every day and comes there to see how you can do things more innovatively.25.30: Jason asks Dennis about digital transformation, the biggest roadblock he had encountered while facing clients he already had. 25.37: Dennis says the biggest roadblock is cultural change. There is a mandate at the board level, CXO level. There is also a push from the market, from the client to drive change. There is a lot of democracy and a lot of constrain internally to enable that change.28.12: Dennis says re-skilling of the workforce or right re-skilling of the workforce is an important factor to balance the understanding of business in domain with the understanding of technology.28.56: Jason asks Dennis “What excites him most about every day when he wakes up in the morning and keeps doing what he is doing?”29.40: Denies replies that the exciting thing is the platform we have and the technology we use really. It helps our clients to be successful and helps their end clients manage financial life better.3 Key Points:Dennis talks about his career journey. He has been associated with Infosys for about sixteen years, and Infosys financial business has been growing significantly over the years.Dennis says digitization was not possible unless there was a new technology intervention that we have brought in; it was the automation of loan process, using AI for underwriting, using machine learning for collections, extracting information from documents so that things can be updated at a much faster rate.Jason explains, “How the countries that are still developing tend to have new and better infrastructure that can help them to adapt to the technological changes what is happening currently.”Tweetable Quotes:“Transformation of experience means a transformation of the process itself” – Dennis Gada“Digitization was not possible unless there was a new technology intervention.” – Dennis Gada“Firms have been forced to drive change at such a rapid pace that decision making has been so much quicker and adopt new technology has been so ramping.” – Dennis Gada“These days, discussions in financial service firms are much more about what is the next wave of digital transformation.” – Dennis GadaResources Mentioned:LinkedIn - Dennis Gada’s LinkedInFacebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira talks to Andrew Chau, CEO, and Co-founder of Neo Financial. It is a technology company that is building a better financial experience for all Canadians. Episode Highlights: 0.42: Andrew explains that Neo Financial is a Fintech company, reimagining the everyday banking experience for Canadians. The company provides a seamless consumer experience.     1.25: Andrew talks about his history. His entrepreneurship journey started when he was quite young. 04.20: Andrew shares that Neo is a credit card and bank account as well. 04.28: The bank account and the credit card connect with a network of local businesses and large national brands where Neo powers the rewards and loyalty programs.04.37: Once a user gets the Neo credit card, they get access to 1000 multiple different cashback programs. 05.10: People often ask Andrew about Neo’s chain between food delivery and banking. He says that it is a consumer-focused business.07.13: Andrew talks about the 3-minute on-boarding process that one has to go through when signing-up in Neo.07.20: The sign-up starts with downloading the app, filling out few basic information, take a selfie and picture of your ID and hit submit.09.16: With one Neo card, consumers can access all different merchants’ and partners and get cashback on them.09.22: Andres points out that typically with credit card one gets points, a person never really uses them or redeem them at the end of the year. But it is not the same with Neo.10.38: Jason inquiries about the level of engagement and how Andrew reached out to the companies. 14.01: The short-term goal of Neo is building the merchant network, helping retailers, and adding value. 17.00: Andrew and Jason discuss the competition surrounding the banking and financial sector in Canada. 18.27: Andrew talks about competing with Big 5 companies. Their business focus is “How do we create our own category and not be in the same category?”19.50: Jason is really impressed by the genius of Neo’s partnership model.21.00: Jason gives insights on small business banking in Canada.23.09: Andrew shares how with Neo they are putting the power back to consumer’s hands and freeing them from the shackles of one institution.24.31: Andrew talks about the biggest challenge he has faced to bring his company today.27.50: Andrew gives credit to his team members and says that everybody has joined Neo to make a difference.  3 Key Points:When launching Neo Financial, Andrew brainstormed, “How can we bring tech experience around banking with a bit of innovation?” Andrew shares his insights on customer experience and on-boarding at Neo.Andrew talks about Hudson’s Bay Mastercard®—powered by Neo. Tweetable Quotes: “In most cases, the top 5 apps on a person’s phone are not a banking app.” - Andrew Chau“Through Neo, we are trying to add value to Canadian’s life.” - Andrew Chau“Nobody wants to carry a bunch of cards normally for the place they eat or drink, so Neo is a good solution.” - Jason Pereira“We are looking to build the largest financial institution in Canada.” - Andrew Chau“If your business owners love the bank, they will get along.” - Jason Pereira Resources Mentioned:Neo Financial: WebsiteFacebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira talks to Michael Stroev. He is the COO and Head of Products for Nebeus. The company is an online platform that allows people to borrow, transfer and rent cryptocurrencies.Episode Highlights:00.35: Michael introduces Nebeus as a learning platform that allows people to earn cryptocurrencies and get loans.2.14: Michel says he works on every single aspect of the company in terms of a COO.  3.55: Jason inquires, “What is the core value-proposition of Nebeus?”4.04: Michael explains Nebeus is an ecosystem of products. He adds “Our main products are launched, we have all the other products that are gone with launch, allowing our users to not leave Nebeus from any of their needs.” 4.48: Michael shares they have also added crypto-insurance to Nebeus where people can insure their cryptocurrencies with a $100 million insurance policy from Lloyd London.6.00: Jason explains “Nebeus crypto-insurance is not like protecting you from market loss but protecting from things that can go wrong with the institutions you are dealing with.”9.50: Michael says, “Our goal is to help users to keep their cryptocurrencies and their investments and not get margin calls and not get their assets liquidated, but it may happen.”10.30 Michael says it’s on users to choose what they want, and it’s on us to educate users to make the right choices and understand what they are doing.11.15: Jason asks, “How crypto renting works?” 11.20: Michael answers, “Crypto-renting is similar to crypto-savings account. People can deposit funds in crypto-renting programs, and they earn a certain percentage for APY per year.”14.10: Michael points out “Revolut allows you to send money to friends and colleagues for free, and we are doing the same with crypto.”14.31: Jason is curious to know “What Nebeus is doing on the Fintech side?”15.45: Michael says, “We have supercharged transfers technology that requires technical partnership with a company called Wolves. Here people can top-up and add funds to their new basic accounts by technology that cash directly from the bank account and transfer it to Nebeus.”16.27: Jason affirms, “You are doing everything that a bank does, in the Crypto realm.”17.45: Michael adds, “We are launching Nebeus for institutions; so, it’s the same product crypto collateralized lending for institutions, and one can get a loan for primarily reinvesting purpose.” 19.00: Michael says, “We don’t have iOS and Android apps. We started with the desktop dashboard functionality first, and I will probably do it the other way around. Internet is primarily a mobile today, so it makes sense to build app first and do the stuff.”20.30: Michael reiterates “Building trust is the key at financial sector and that in return will bring us more users.” 22.12: Michael loves building products. He says that “I love clearing concepts, I love seeing those things come to life, I like forecasting and strategizing the future of all these things.” 3 Key Points:Michael says he joined Nebeus as the Head of Products; Sergey Raomanovskiy was the founder of Nebeus back in 2014. When Nebeus was founded, it was a PHP learning platform and went through multiple alterations to become what it is today.Jason and Michael talk about Nebeus banking facilities, its costs to the consumer, and general structure. Nebeus have two loan options one is a quick loan, and the second is a flexible loan.Jason and Michael discuss about transfers. Jason asks, “Is it a standard paper crypto wallet or is it beyond crypto wallet?” Michael answers, “It is a standard type of crypto wallet although we do have a whole variety and fintech service associated with that crypto transfer can easily send, receive, deposit and stock funds.”Tweetable Quotes:“Building trust is the key at the financial sector, and that in return will bring us more users.” – Michael Stroev“Nebeus for institutions is a same product crypto collateralized lending for institutions and one can get loan for primarily reinvesting purpose.” - Michael Stroev“We have supercharged transfers technology that requires technical partnership with a company called Wolves.” - Michael Stroev“You are providing a point of sales solution, which makes a lot of sense.” - Jason Pereira“Everything is Crypto is for exchange.” - Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:https://nebeus.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mstroev/https://uk.advfn.com/crypto/Wolves-Of-Wall-Street-WOWSFacebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host, Jason Pereira, talks to Michael Lecours. He is the Co-Founder of fpPathfinder. It is a flow-charting tool for advisors so that they can make better and consistent decisions. Episode Highlights:0.40: Jason is a fan of fpPathfinder, because of its sheer simplicity.1.28: Michael talks and fpPathfinder, and how it helps advisors to make informed decisions using different formats of checklists.1.57: Flow charts provided by fpPathfinder, helps on the decision-making front.2.54: Jason is impressed by fpPathfinder, and he says that an advisor who sign-up with the company can really count on it.3.32: Jason and Michael talk about the constantly changing regulations in the United States.4.03: While talking about Michael’s company, Jason points out that “The fact that we are outsourcing the cognitive decision making is just remarkable.”04.14: Jason is curious to know about the creation and story of fpPathfinder.05.00: For Michael it all started with simple errors and how to provide some clarity to a client; he made a flowchart, which was widely loved and appreciated amidst the Financial Advisors. 07.24: Michael shares how his company constantly updates the checklists, and then they try to add one or two resources every month.08.14: Michael gives insights on the background research that they do. Inevitably fpPathfinder has 3000 Financial Advisors who use its services. 10.25: Jason inquiries about the order of decision points in a flowchart.10.51: As the first step of creating a flowchart, Michael or his team members come up with the issues. Then they step back and think about the unintended effect of the flow. 11.21: Michael talks about the challenges that he faces while building up flow charts in a computer or software. He prefers to build flowcharts on a piece of paper with sticky notes.12.04: fpPathfinder was launched as a grand experiment, and one of the biggest pieces of feedback that they got early on was - “We like the flowcharts and the checklists but get your fpPathfinder off there and let me put my logo instead.” 12.23: Financial advisors did not want their clients to see fpPathfinder’s logo in the flowcharts; so one of the biggest improvements that Michael did was allow for white labelling. One was not able to change the content but was able to change the colors.13.05: A year ago, Michael and other decision-makers of fpPathfinder took a big step; a lot of their resources started interacting with the CRM systems. 15.57: Michael says that they don’t get a lot of push backs from the compliance department. 16:14: Michael says that they don’t give any recommendations to Financial Advisors; they simply say to their clients that “Consider doing this.”18.21: Jason talks about Michael’s book and the interesting stories it has. 20.30: Michael talks about his future aspirations with fpPathfinder. There are several resources that Michael and his team are planning to work on.21.33: Michael talks about tailored checklists that they are going to introduce in the future. Depending on a client’s situation, there will be a checklist that makes more sense. 21.52: Another aspect that Michael will be looking at is making the user experience more easier. 24.25: As a Financial Advisor, Michael’s biggest wish is for the industry to integrate at a higher level. 25.02: Michael reveals the one biggest challenge that he has faced to bring the company to where it is today.27.24: All day long Michael and his team focuses on what they do best. There is no project in a team where they are dragging their feet. 3 Key Points:Michael explains that fpPathfinder makes checklists and flowcharts to help advisors be more diligent in the planning process and have more diligent conversations about financial planning topics with their clients.Michael talks about “How what started as a simple PDF of a flowchart, fpPathfinder now uses various technologies. It is also integrating with different partners. Jason asks Michael, “You have got this far with what you have done. What are your future aspirations for fpPathfinder?”Tweetable Quotes:“In financial planning, things that were earlier very popular are now critical to review.” - Michael Lecours“Some of the most brilliant ideas are the simplest.” - Jason Pereira“Setting-up a flowchart is a lot more difficult than it appears.” - Jason Pereira“Reverse mortgages can make or break somebody’s retirement.” - Michael LecoursResources Mentioned:fpPathfinder: https://www.fppathfinder.com/about-us/Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host, Jason Pereira, talks to panelists gathered at the WP Wealthtech Summit. The topic of discussion was “How the wealth industry is adapting to technology and revolutionizing the future of advice.” Episode Highlights:  1.18: Kendra Thompson is associated as a partner in Deloitte consulting practice. She leads the business called future of advice in investing, which focuses on what Canadian families care about as related to their investments? What are they willing to pay for? and How the industry is transforming to deliver that at a scale of profit?1.55: Joseph Lo, Vice President for Wealth Product Innovation for Broadridge. It is a global fintech company focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make the wealth management lifecycle better.2.05: Robert Smuk, President & CEO, Agora Dealer Services Corp. It is a B2B trading dealer created to help advisors and dealerships provide advice to all of their clients.2.33: Tom Burmeister, Vice President of Financial Planning with Naviplan and now happy to be a part of the InvestCloud family. 2.55: Jason’s first question is, “As per your experience in the fintech world, what is the most troubling trend you see happening and what are risks and opportunities coming from that?”3.25: Tom talks about e-based models that are getting more focus. The risk with that is – it is a massive change.4.13: Robert says the trend he sees right now is the client’s desire to have everything at their fingertips. “The financial services industry has been behind other industries, and our clients are now expecting what they get from other industries to be from this industry, and it is a real risk if we don’t move further.”5.12: Joseph says we need to be more open and have more APIs that enable prime ecosystems to provide choice for advisors and can use to provide the service need for clients.5.35: Kendra says she sees an acceleration in the pace of modernization and feels out differently whether you are sitting with regulators and the challenges they are going to have to deal with innovation and simplification.7.25: Jason says that the focus of fintech is often on the investment side. He inquires, “How do you see technology is used to support other areas of financial planning?”7.48: Kendra says we focus a considerable amount of our energy on the front end of value change, and that’s where a lot of noise and energy around fintech is heard.09.05: Joseph says the definition of advice is so much beyond investments now whether the advice is helping clients landing their insurance. 9.50: Robert says if we think about the expectations and if we think about the advisor’s ability to provide that meaningful advice, then, in that case, pieces of advice are much broader scope than it was in the past. You need to spend more time with the client and understand them.11.14: Jason says if you want to maintain margin, you don’t do that on the volume; you maintain base margin with volume. If you want to maintain margin, you have to be deep in that offering.12.04: Tom says we expect technology to come and transform. We need to work with stats, partners, and everybody else to make sure that when onboarding a client, we should personalize to what that client needs so that they can scale across the rest of your client base efficiently.12.20: Jason asks “How fintech influences vital space in traditional channels called banker and independent channels?”13.44: Robert says technology is at a point where the challenge in human nature is resistance to change. As people are willing to make several changes and we need to modernize our business, and so the role of fintech continues to guide us.14.16: Joseph agrees with Robert that advisors need to have a blueprint for what technology they introduce. He says fintech influence for independence is hunger for aggregation.15.45: Kendra says the most significant shift she sees, should benefit the independence is essentially recontamination of neighbor’s end from the outside.17.36: Kendra says for bank’s big challenge will be, they have a month of a merger of everything, and so for that, it must be like an internal merger about their platform and bringing all that to a single platform.18.48: Jason asks what should be the first step in terms of digitization? Joseph says the first step should be to focus on the things that are taking up the time you want to do, and secondly is really streamlining the conversations you have with clients and digitizing them.19.35: Robert says you need to understand your client’s willingness to do and willing to use.21.05: Tom affirms “You should always start with the process first, not necessarily what gets technology in reforms over process around that. You have to do several book works to find out techniques which can help you to make better from better you are.”21.30: Kendra says she will highly encourage the identification of the right partner. Added to that she will encourage a small group of individuals not to over customize any out-of-the-box technology.23.30: Jason asks What is the biggest issue in providing advice to clients in the mass market? What trends are you seeing in addressing this issue?”23.50: Tom says digitizing onboarding is the biggest battle in scaling advice and finding all the tasks.24.13: Robert says once you digitize how many systems are out there that need to go, and we are willing to accept it. Digitize it upfront first and figure out how to float it everywhere that needs to float.24.56: Joseph agrees with Robert that getting systems talking together is the expectation for the next generation. 25.31: Kendra does not agree to everything. She says, “When we think about scaling advice, we have to think about challenging the paradigm. You either get advice or you don’t.”30.48: The panelists talk about the most exciting and innovative technologies they have seen in the last 12 months.31.02: Robert talks about the “unified platform”; he has not seen it in Canada. Joseph is impressed by the AI-enabled search engine launched by “The Tifin Group.”32.34: Kendra votes for what Merrill Lynch’s digital team has done. She is really impressed by their latest launch, “Fully Digital On-boarding”. 33.21: Tom reiterates that technology is allowing us to get access to mainstream fashion.  3 Key Points: Today’s panelists are Tom Burmeister (VP of Financial Planning, NaviPlan by InvestCloud), Robert Smuk (President & CEO, Agora Dealer Services Corp), Kendra Thompson (Partner, National Wealth & Investment Management Leader, Deloitte Canada), Joseph Lo (VP Wealth Innovation, Broadridge).The panelist shares their views on the troubling trend that they see happening and what are the risks coming from that?”The wealthtech innovators talk about opportunities and unveil trends that are shaping the future of the wealth industry. They discuss the latest technology trends and how to incorporate a digital experience to accelerate business. Tweetable Quotes:“Clients are more tech-savvy than it ever been” – Robert Smuk“Technology enables to open eco systems” – Joseph Lo“It is easier to consume the trend and the changes that are closest to our own experiences” - Kendra Thompson“Investment is just one slice of what we see” – Joseph Lo“Technology is thought of equation of being successful in future” – Tom Burmeister“Vendor space is really getting better” – Kendra ThompsonResources Mentioned:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendrathompson/?originalSubdomain=cahttps://www2.deloitte.com/in/en.htmlhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joewlo/?originalSubdomain=cahttps://www.broadridge.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomburmeisteradvicent/Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of ‘Fintech Impact’ podcast, host Jason Pereira talks to Brandon Rembe, the Chief Product Officer of Envestnet, which encompasses his role overseeing product for Envestnet | Yodlee, the data & analytics arm of Envestnet. Jason & Brandon talk about every aspect of investment and share some great ways to make people’s financial life better. Episode Highlights:00.34: Brandon states that Envestnet is a large Wealth Tech and Fintech Ecosystem that is been around the business for over 20 years with a net worth of over $4 trillion. 01.32: Envestnet has acquired a lot of start-ups and the founders are still with the organization as they continue to innovate.02.13: Jason asks Brandon about the history of Envestnet and his role in the company.03.31: As per Brandon, they worked really hard to grow the business from the breadth of what’ they’re doing and are now focused on integrating all the components. 05.50: Brandon mentions that Envestnet as a company is the glue behind all those making sure that data flows seamlessly. 07:00: To apply any intelligence to the stuff, you need to have the right data.10.01: Legacy PFM applications and personal financial management applications, were really good at telling what happened in the past and what’s happening in your account currently. 12.20: If you want to hit your financial goals, here is the thing is that you need to do, you should spend less on entertainments and you should save more.14.25: Brandon tells that they want people to feel like they have control over their financial life and they understand their financials life.18.20: People also need to keep a check on how much they spent over the last year on an average and if the expenses were meaningful?20.08: They have just launched their new trust exchange as well where people can come in and get access to trust services. 25.30: We need to empower the advisor with one allowing them to collect all the information about their clients so that they can provide the right advice.26.14: We’re also trying to centralize / decentralize through this ecosystem to reach out and get the advice from both from investor and advisor standpoint.28.16: It’s also very important for advisors now to have the conversation of you client to say, well, what’s important to you in how you get to that outcome? Do you care about your carbon footprint? Do you care about taxes? 30.05: We’re trying to help every retail customer out there to start to create that intelligent financial life through micro saving and investing.32.04: Jason asks Brandon, “If you had one wish for something changed in your company or the industry as a whole?”35.02: It’s a problem that we can solve and reduce the money and finance fences that are causing so much stress to people.3 Key Points:Financial lives are probably very different from one another and are different from others; we need to understand the complete ecosystems, make the right advice or provide the right insights to them.When you take any technology, whether that’s machine learning, or that’s a new cool app, you have to pair that with a human to get the best outcome. We can all innovate faster and provide better outcomes for clients.When people go to talk to an advisor, they expect them to be the genius on everything, but they’re also not meant to be an expert on every single financial instrument that’s out there.Tweetable Quotes:“Trying to make people’s financial lives better throughout that entire lifecycle”- Brandon Rembe“You guys are like the granddaddies of data aggregation, really are like the first major Big E myth in that space.”- Jason Pereira“Hey I want to get you on the phone right away and talk about what I need to do to provide the best outcome for me. So that type of seamless handoff between the machines is incredibly important for us”. – Brandon Rembe“Here is why I am asking all of these questions because they do have a real outcomes, what their needs are for healthcare and everything else” – Jason Pereira“It’s not only plugging them into that network, it’s then facilitating that network as well”. - Brandon Rembe“We’re really bringing some of those things down market so that people do understand how much they’re saving, spending, if they should be saving more, etc.” - Brandon RembeResources / Links:Leave your review at Apple PodcastsJason Pereira Podcasts Fintech Impact PodcastsJason Pereira WebsitePodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Jason Pereira talks to Shawn Yeager, Vice President – Sales at Dataswift, a vanguard provider of infrastructure that delivers personal data access, storage, and portability. In this episode, Shawn talks about solutions and the issues around identity rights and access to those identities.   Episode Highlights:0.30: Shawn explains what does it mean by “Infrastructure that delivers personal data access, storage, and portability?”0.47: It means that for individuals, they get the security ownership and control of their private personal data.01.02: For enterprises such as Fintech, the ability to securely in a compliant fashion transact customer data without the liability of holding all of the data.  01.05: Dataswift also provides developers, open-source tools to readily built compliance, authentication, and data storage. 02.04: Shawn has 20+ years of experience in business development and sales of infrastructure software, digital media, emerging technologies, and much more. 03.00: Dataswift emerged from a multi-university research project conducted in the UK.03.03: The problem faced to solve was “How does one delivers grant and have legal ownership of data?”05.06: Jason talks about the paradigm of the market and what data looks like.06.33: Jason highlights that data rights around the world are a mess; instead of solving the problem, few countries said one could own a bucket or container of data.08.01: Shawn points out that centralized data is a liability, and it is important for enterprises to figure out how much data they want to retain?08.31: There is a calculus of determining how much data should be retained. 08.49: Shawn gives a classic example of two Dataswift’s clients: Fintech and the other from Health Tech. The clients simply wanted the score and not the underlying data. 11.37: Shawn talks from a consumer point about how does Dataswift’s product work?12.23: When logging and signing up in Dataswift, consumers gain the legal entity to own their data. 13.24: Unlike Facebook, Google, Twitter, or any other such platform, one gives access to the enterprises to own their data.13.30: When it comes to Dataswift an individual owns their own personal data lockers.16.43: Shawn talks about the hackathons organized by Dataswift. 21.06: While talking about legal ownership of data, Shawn exemplifies that Dataswift is not a company that will tell its users what should or should not be kept personal rather, the company creates standardized data conducts.22.21: Shaws talks about the pricing models of Dataswift.22.53: Jason and Shawn discuss how data is most stumbled upon in the marketplace.   3 Key Points:Shawn Yeager talks about his history, the origin of Dataswift, and the gap in the market that led to its creation?Jason and Shawn talk about data rights worldwide and how using containers to store data is considered legal.From a consumer standpoint Dataswift communicates to its users “Why,” “What,” “When,” and “How.” The idea is to take informed consent. Tweetable Quotes:“We cannot own data, but we can own the container.” - Shawn Yeager“People’s information is of value.” - Jason Pereira“Data rights around the world are a mess.” - Jason Pereira“Most individuals would give all of their personal data for a slice of pizza.” - Jason Pereira“Centralised data is a liability.” - Shawn Yeager“With Dataswift you are not tying back to someone else’s access to your data, you are tying back to your own personal data lockers.” - Jason Pereira“Both parties benefits when each knows what they are doing.” - Shawn YeagerResources Mentioned:Dataswift: Website | Pricing Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode host, Jason Pereira talks to Gil Petersil. He talks about how editing and auditing your networks, both online and offline, have massive impacts on your business.  Episode Highlights:0.36: Gil talks about his years of experience in networking. He has set up few businesses around them. 01.32: Gil gives a little background of his career journey. He has handled various jobs with large and small brands.02.41: He adds that he has gained the required experience as a sales manager, waiter, executive, and many more; now, he can give back as a coach and teacher.05.01: Gil shares few recent examples of brands approaching him during the pandemic since people are not buying many products or services. 06.00: Gil doesn’t believe in time-consuming all-day training instead he prefers experimenting and then later sees how it works. 07.29: Gil talks about ethical deals and organizing the network effectively.11.00: Gil talks about “If I want to develop my business from 100 a month to million a month or billion in a year, it ultimately comes down to how do I transform my network.”12.58: Jason says, “At the end of the end, it comes down to relationship.13.40: Gil stresses the importance of networking and how business gets affected by poor choices. 17.56: Gil shares that he has learned some life hacks, tips, tricks, methodologies, and formulas that he has not perfected yet, but they are working very well. 19.35: For the digital marketing realm, COVID 19 was a gift for them. 20.29: Gil shares his love for those companies that decided to change their vision and mission during COVID19. 21.11: COVID19 pushed people to innovate. A classic example is Zoom calls and meetings.23.21: Jason asks Gil to share his inputs on what a financial advisor can do to strengthen their referral business. 25.36: Gil points out that it is specific to per person, industry or organization what approach they are taking. Still, he shares few impactful points. 28.23: Jason agrees to the points shared by Gil and adds that the referral business that he gets from his colleagues or competitors.30:39: Gil shares that following people, but not adding any value, disconnecting people, it is excruciating in most cases. 31.46: He adds that if we make mistakes in networking and follow those mistakes, you can do better and better every time. Make sure your networking is healthy. 3 Key Points:Jason Pereira asks Gil what is it that you do to help business?Jason Pereira and Gil discuss given the current situation organization across the globe has to strengthen their digital presence, as there is no other way around it.Gil shares that knowledge should be free. As a financial planner, if you are not giving all your knowledge for free, you are doing something wrong.  Tweetable Quotes:“When talking about networking, it always comes down to the people who are around you.” - Gil Petersil“When it comes to your business, your network is everything.” - Jason Pereira“Networking is not an act of maliciousness, but an act of mutual benefit.” - Jason Pereira“During the COVID19, it is important more than ever to build a network.” - Gil Petersil“Networking is extremely painful.” - Gil PetersilResources Mentioned:Gil Petersil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilpetersil/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host Jason Pereira talks to Andrew Altfest - Founder and CEO of FP Alpha, CFP and President of Altfest Personal Wealth Management. FP Alpha is an AI-driven comprehensive wealth management solution that helps advisors identify actionable recommendations to clients in a scalable, intelligent, and cost-efficient manner.Episode Highlights:01.16: Andrew Altfest talks about his inspiration to launch FP Alpha. In 2015 one of his advisors was asked this question “How are you different than a Robo-Advisor?”02.11: FP Alpha provides a premium wealth management experience to clients; the fee justifies the value-add service that they provide. 05.01: Andrew worked closely with his CTO, who has a background in Tech Development, and they built the first beta version of FP Alpha. It was used in his wealth management firm since 2018. Finally, in 2020 it launched it at the T3 conference. 06.27: Andrew is focused on providing financial planning for the future. He is trying to evolve financial planning to Ver 2.0.07.11: Jason talks about the other AI financial planning software that he has seen that are good. But with FP Alpha covers the semi-obvious gaps in the market. 09.44: Jason enquires about “How the tax snapshot works?”12.05: Jason and Andrew discuss how Investment is one thing, but taxation is entirely different. He is impressed by how Andrew has done extensive due diligence, and FP Alpha covers those points which can be easily missed. 16.29: Jason and Andrew talk about the pricing structures. He points out Andrew has created a very differentiated service that provides tremendous value. 18.15: Jason is really impressed by FP Alpha and asks to share Andrew about the roadmap.19.50: Andrew talks about the first-of-its-kind holistic tool that they are going to launch. 24.27: Jason talks about the reality that even if the system does all the work the level of knowledge, you have to have in order to understand why the system did what it did.25.09: Andrew reveals the biggest challenge that he has faced to bring the company where it is today. 28.50: Jason says that advisors can be indispensable at the end of the day if they provide greater and greater value to their clients. 3 Key Points:Andrew talks about his vision to help clients handle their financial issues with minimal time using advanced technology. Andrew explains, “FP Alpha extracts information using AI from documents and understands what that information is, that is then combined with algorithms and recommendations around planning opportunities are provided to advisors.”Jason talks about how he is excited about the new platform. He inquiries about the modules Andrew has built so far and the value proposition.Tweetable Quotes:“As much as we do today there is so much more that we are adding to the software.” - Andrew Altfest“I am truly excited with all this new stuff, because it is going to liberate so much more time, it is ultimately going to better client’s life.” - Jason Pereira“The best way to win pricing against commodity is not to be a commodity.” - Jason Pereira“We as an industry need our own propriety technology to showcase our value.” - Andrew Altfest“A consumer will never understand the level of complexities that a trained professional will. - Jason PereiraResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFP AlphaPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host Jason Pereira talks to Scott Plaskett. As a financial planner, he is in the business since 1993. As a financial planner, he was looking for systems and technologies that would support the need to run the practice.  Episode Highlights:01.08: Scott shares how he realized there is the ability to create processes and workflow within the systems.01.39: After facing several crashes in the system, Scott was told to put a system in place that is running on its own server. 02.16: Scott gives a piece of insightful information that his firm was one of the first firms to embrace cloud-based technology.02:30: Scott took the help of salesforce.com, which is the apple of all programs. 03:49: Jason shares his preference for salesforce and how people often think it is a CRM platform with giant data on top. It is almost like AWS of CRM.04:35: Jason is curious to know “What does Genie deliver to an advisor who is looking to automate their process better?”04:45: Scott talks about the four components in Genie: The Marketing, Sales, Process / Fulfilment, and Profit Genie. 04:55: Scott also gives insights about the phases and automation that one would go through. 07:26: Most financial advisors grow their business with referrals, and this is extremely important. 08:48: Scott talks about the education-based marketing program of Genie and how it taps the invisible market.09:58: Jason stresses the importance of putting some valuable offer or product in the bang-on impactful market.10:38: Jason asks, “How are you going to articulate your value properly so that clients say wow.”12:15: Scott explains the entire process and emphasizes that they are already overloaded with work as a financial planner, so it is extremely important to keep track of all the work. This is where the sales genie comes into the picture. 12:50: Jason agrees that he has never seen an organization succeed without a proper process. 14:12: Scott discusses the importance of fulfillment in a business. If you don’t deliver on the promise, the entire business is going to fall.17:40: Jason and Scott discuss the importance of maintaining a uniform process. 19:31: Scott tells the listeners about the profit genie, which is more about running a better business.21:56: Scott also guides the listeners that people need to put it in their hat when it comes to building a business. The only way to do that is via information. 23:48: Jason asks what is giving the users of Genie confidence?25:02: Scott explains the importance of confidence and how it helps to improve the process and generate profitable revenue. 27:04: Scott guides his clients to implement the fulfillment genie at first then worry about leads.29:03: Scott’s vision is to remove malpractice from the advised-based industry. 30:00: Jason inquires, “What is the biggest challenge while implementing Genie?”3 Key Points:Scott throws light on visible and invisible markets. For example, if you are a real-estate agent and you want a property with a waterfront area. The problem is who are the people who want to buy that property, so this comes under the invisible market.It is important to know that you have a workflow managed by a system so that you and your people always know where people are in the process. Jason enquires about those people who have used the Genie platform and how they have benefitted from it?Tweetable Quotes:“If you are a financial advisor and you don’t have leads coming in then it is not good; it’s kind of like air is to humans as leads is to financial advisors.” - Scott Plaskett“Marketing is all about building rapport.” - Scott Plaskett“Client is paying you for the process.” - Scott Plaskett“Each of the opportunities we identify have different workflows.” - Scott Plaskett“If you want to build a business you got to have a platform in place.” - Scott Plaskett“The perfect sales is when you show the people this is what you need.” - Jason PereiraResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInPodcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode host, Jason Pereira talks to Binna Kim founder of Vested. The company is an integrated agency of Fintech and Financial Services Firm. She jokes about her Jerry Maguire moment when she decided to quit and start her firm.Episode Highlights:02.00 – Binna talks about how brands needed to speak to their clients. Vested wants to work with the best brand in the Financial sector.03:50 – Jason talks about his personal opinion while sharing an example of his friend who is an art director at a media company and how terrible marketing he has seen.04:55 – Jason continues to share that at times how boring and repetitive few ads are.05:06 – Pointing towards the current awareness, Jason asks, “You must be seeing a lot more willingness from tech-start-ups to be different than before?”05:16 – Binna confirms that more regulations are coming into the picture for Fintech companies. 07:17 – Binna shares from her experience that not only the big firms, even the independent firms or small boutiques, come to them and say, “We want our brand to be different; we want to tell a different story.”09:41 – Jason highlights if part of your value proposition is passing on the cost-saving using digital technologies and trying to undercut the competition. 09:50 – The reality is you just destroyed the economics of that business to some degree, and you need massive volume to do that, so it’s not surprising that you will have to play sophisticated games. 11:44 – Jason enquires, “ On the start-up side when they are coming to you and saying you got the millennials now, how can we appeal those people?”12:45 – Binna shares, “They have a much stronger idea about their brand and the kind of brand that they want.” “It is about the tone that they use for branding.”14:49 – Jason raises a concern that when you are marketing one type of consumer and then you raise the bar and going beyond that, how do you help them navigate that?”15:20 – Binna highlights everybody wants to find out their competitive wedge. During such a situation, understanding your “WHY” is essential. 17: 57 – Jason adds that “Lots of companies are now changing their tone and figuring out how to enable relationships.” 19:00 – Binna shares there are so much data available, companies are using AI, ML, Data Science to know their customer20:52 – Binna answers a critical question on diversity and inclusion. When it comes to Fintech companies, the change can happen quickly, but it is not happening.22:04 – Many firms are implementing policies and including women in leadership positions, but there is still a stigma. 24:58 – Binna shares about the one thing that has come out positively in the pandemic. It has virtually connected people. 3 Key Points:Binna and Jason discuss about acquisitions; more traditional financial companies swallowing small Fintech companies; therefor enabling them to serve more affluent customers as big brands back them. Binna talks how they have created a brand that is different from the rest. We challenge people to think differently.It is essential to ask yourself, “Am I putting my money behind the right kind of company?” Even for Fintech companies, they had to take cold hard look on their “Why”?Tweetable Quotes:“Fintech companies will now have to look more grown-up” - Binna Kim“Start-ups are getting more matured in their marketing.” - Jason Pereira“If it does not cross the threshold of comfort, you have probably not reached there.” - Jason Pereira“More customers are getting to choose who they are going to work with?”  - Binna KimResources MentionedFacebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInhttps://fullyvested.com/Podcast Editing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 169th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award–winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Adrien Treccani, Founder and CEO of Metaco, a company that enables traditional financial institutions to offer their clients blockchain solutions!Episode Highlights:0:29 – Adrien Treccani introduces Metaco.1:06 – What brought about the genesis of Metaco?3:24 – How did Metaco solve the frictions of cryptocurrency mass adoption?6:15 – What does the client process look like with Metaco?9:16 – Is Adrien seeing a willingness to adopt blockchain solutions out of fear of future regulation?12:14 – How does Metaco’s system of hierarchies and permissions work?14:10 – Adrien breaks down the book on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology that he is currently writing.15:57 – Where does Adrien see Metaco going in the future?17:32 – What is Adrien seeing as the primary reason for purchasing crypto?20:03 – If Adrien could change one thing in his industry, what would it be?21:50 – What has been the biggest challenge in getting Metaco to where it is today?25:43 – Adrien shares what excites him the most about what he is working on.3 Key PointsRegulations, infrastructure, and a lack of market demand were the main frictions preventing institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies.Metaco has taken the best and largest traditional bank models and adjusted them for the age of digital assets.At this stage, Adrien is not seeing massive adoption of cryptocurrencies as payment options, rather as an investment. Tweetable Quotes:“Governance we think is really where we find is in pretty much everything on the market today.” – Adrien Treccani“The fact of the matter is having some degree of optional socialization is a comfort that most investors will ask for.” – Adrien Treccani“Having one person with control over the keys is not a smart thing because what happens if that one person goes?” – Jason Pereira“Anyone who laughed at the concept of tokenizing asset classes just didn’t understand.” – Jason Pereira Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialMetaco.com – Website for Metaco Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 168th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award–winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Dan DeMers, CEO and Cofounder of Cinchy, a next–generation data–management platform that utilizes data fabric with the end goal of data autonomy!Episode Highlights:0:43 – Dan DeMers introduces himself and Cinchy.2:27 – What was the problem that Dan was trying to solve when he started Cinchy?5:05 – Dan and Jason discuss the nature of code and the realization of data as a core asset.6:56 – Jason and Dan explain why the silo system is not scalable.10:09 – What are the hurdles and limitations of data lakes?11:48 – Dan explains “data fabric” and what problems it solves.15:21 – Jason and Dan discuss the relation of Metcalfe's Law to data fabric.17:33 – Dan and Jason explain the value of data and what it means to every individual.22:14 – What kind of reception has Cinchy gotten from the major institutions that it works with?26:52 – Jason and Dan explain why we are on the cusp of a generation of people who all do some form of coding.29:31 – If Dan could change one thing in his industry, what would it be?31:29 – What has been the biggest challenge of getting Cinchy to where it is today?32:29 – Dan explains what excites him the most about his work.3 Key PointsRoughly 50% of all IT budgets go to integration and data management, including APIs and all the byproducts of data being fragmented.Data lakes are filled with fragmented and unorganized data with quality issues that allow you to do analytics at best because it is all just a copy.Acceleration of low–code and no–code has put the world on the cusp of a generation of which everyone knows how to code to some degree. Tweetable Quotes:“We’re so used to a world where data is siloed and it’s subservient to an application.” – Dan DeMers“If you ever have to rekey something into two different systems, it’s a failure.” – Jason Pereira“If I have to pay my vendor to access my data, is it really my data?” – Jason Pereira“You have to take the action. It’s not going to fix itself. The data is not going to self–repair, sadly.” – Den DeMers Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialCinchy.com – Website for Cinchy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 167th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Arin Klug, Cofounder of Epilogue, an online will kit that helps people leave behind a legacy that does not bring their loved ones massive pain by enabling them to take control of their will!Episode Highlights:0:32 – Arin Klug introduces Epilogue and how it helps people.1:06 – How did Epilogue come to fruition and what motivated its creation?3:38 – What is the average situation that Epilogue applies to?5:10 – Where is the line drawn for Epilogue when it comes to whose will it can help create?10:23 – Jason and Arin discuss the value of lawyers in the will process.11:50 – What does the Epilogue client experience look like?14:26 – Arin explains what happens when there are changes in estate law.16:50 – Jason and Arin discuss how the costs of lawyers interrupt changes to the will.20:17 – Does everyone really need to pay for the premium financial planning services?21:23 – Arin breaks down the four documents that are included in Epilogue’s process.24:27 – Where does Arin see Epilogue going from here?27:51 – If Arin could change one thing in his industry, what would it be?28:15 – What has been the biggest challenge of getting Epilogue to where it is today?29:53 – Arin explains what excites him the most about his work.3 Key PointsEpilogue helps people create a legally binding will in as little as twenty minutes online, a far cry from the months–long process for a typical will.Arin and his business partner started Epilogue with the thought of how many people they could disqualify from the process because they know that no system is right for everyone.Funeral instructions included in the will are not legally binding, so Arin advises his clients to put those in a separate document and share those with family members to make sure that they are carried out. Tweetable Quotes:“If you want your family to hate you after you’re gone, go ahead and die without a will.” – Jason Pereira“You can’t write a will that’s against public policy and public policy is always changing.” – Arin Klug“The perception of cost often leads to conversations not even happening in the first place.” – Jason Pereira“Death hurts the living as much as it hurts the dead.” – Jason Pereira Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialEpiloguewills.com – Website for Epilogue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 166th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Abraham Okusanya, CEO and Founder of Timeline. Timeline is an online platform that allows people to stress test the decumulation phase of their life and come up with a plan to deal with it!Episode Highlights:0:34 – Abraham Okusanya introduces Timeline.1:18 – Jason discusses the conflicting aspects and uncertainty of decumulation.1:52 – What was Abraham’s journey that led him to start Timeline?5:47 – Jason explains his biggest problems with financial plans.6:27 – What are the client inputs and outputs involved when working with Timeline?10:36 – Abraham explains how Timeline compares client expectations to reality.12:31 – What are the various spending rules that Timeline uses to adjust based on reality?16:54 – How does Timeline’s Floor and Ceiling rule work?18:39 – Abraham compares Timeline’s Floor and Ceiling rule to Michael Kitces’s Ratcheting rule.22:13 – Jason and Abraham discuss the benefits of discussing the realities of volatility with the client.23:02 – What is a withdrawal policy statement and what does it tell people?25:42 – If Abraham could change one thing about his industry, what would it be?26:32 – What has been the biggest challenge in getting Timeline to where it is today?27:51 – Abraham shares what excites him the most about his industry.3 Key PointsTimeline is a retirement income platform that helps financial planners and enterprises create simple withdrawal strategies for their clients by applying extensive data.Right now, most people are expected to run out of money ten years short of the average life expectancy.Timeline’s Floor and Ceiling rule affects how you increase your withdrawal based on inflation and portfolio performance.Tweetable Quotes:“Ultimately, our mission is to create retirement income plans where the money outlives the people.” – Abraham Okusanya“The Law of Gravity is a law because it’s an observed law and we know it’s going to work. The 4% rule is not a law, it’s an observation.” – Jason Pereira“That’s the worst thing, an academic or a researcher will create something that a marketing department will run rampant with.” – Jason Pereira“All we can do is to bring the reality of volatility straight in front of them because they are far better prepared for it.” – Abraham Okusanya Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialTimelineapp.com – Website for TimelineKitces.com – Website for Michael Kitces Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 165th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award–winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Meenaz Sunderji, the Executive VP at Zafin. Zafin is a banking software platform that helps financial institutions personalize their services for their customers!Episode Highlights:0:31 – Meenaz Sunderji introduces Zafin and its services.1:32 – What led to the creation of Zafin?4:31 – Meenaz and Jason dive into what Zafin does for its clients.6:11 – How many different Legacy COBOL systems was Zafin dealing with to create a unified view?8:33 – Did any financial institutions come up with a long–term strategy before Zafin came into the picture?9:50 – Jason and Meenaz explain the difficulties of putting multiple product lines into one framework.15:00 – How has Zafin dealt with financial restrictions and regulations around the world?18:19 – Meenaz breaks down how a large publicly-traded company re-engineers its incentive program for the longer term.20:43 – Jason and Meenaz discuss the opportunities and worries for banks and fintech companies.23:30 – Meenaz explains how focusing on the customer can build lifelong relationships.24:27  – Jason and Meenaz dive into infrastructure and the future of embedded finance.27:19 – What would Meenaz change about the banking industry?28:00 – Meenaz shares Zafin’s biggest challenge to getting where it is today.28:37 – What excites Meenaz about his work today and in the future?3 Key PointsZafin monitors a variety of financial information to personalize customer pricing and create customized incentive programs.Silos of customer incentive programs are breaking because banks realize that they are going to lose money if they continue to group customers like that.Jason and Meenaz believe that old institutions will provide the infrastructure for new financial institutions to move into the future of embedded finance.Tweetable Quotes:“You are a next–best–action engine that sits over top of their banking system in between the client and their offering.” – Jason Pereira“With competition, like we have in our space, it drives to become better, otherwise you won’t survive.” – Meenaz Sunderji“The traditional banks stand a chance of losing the customer relationship but still handling the plumbing.” – Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialZafin.com – Website for Zafin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 164th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Thomas Sponholtz, CEO of Unison, a company that enables equity financing of residential real estate and gives institutional investors access to the world’s largest asset class!Episode Highlights:0:33 – Thomas Sponholtz introduces Unison.3:16 – What was the impedance for the creation of Unison?6:06 – Thomas explains the consumer experience when working with Unison.7:37 – To what degree is Unison participating in the change in the value of the house?8:44 – What happens if the homeowner sells the property at a loss?9:36 – How long do these deals take to get closed?11:10 – Thomas discusses the return expectations by investors.13:24 – How much attention is paid to regional diversification?16:00 – Jason and Thomas discuss the potential risk for residential homeowners.19:28 – Thomas discusses Unison’s goal of giving people the experience of having a home without the financial commitment of owning.20:25 – What kind of feedback has Unison gotten back from its clients?23:28 – If Thomas could change something about his company and his industry, what would he change?26:09 – What has been the biggest challenge in getting Unison to where it is today?27:24 – Thomas shares the motivations that get him up every morning.3 Key PointsUnison introduced equity financing to residential homeowners while also enabling institutional investors to get access to the world’s largest asset class.By bearing a high percentage of risk than the homeowner, Unison bears a disproportionate percentage of both gains and losses.Investing in a single home brings as much volatility as investing in the stock market while diversifying your portfolio with thousands of properties across the country can lower volatility from 15% to 5%. Tweetable Quotes:“When you retire, your biggest expense is most likely to be housing but you could not invest in housing as an asset class as an institution.” – Thomas Sponholtz“Theoretically, this could be closed in a week, in practice because of that coordination between the homeowner and appraiser, it typically takes about 2 or 3 weeks.” – Thomas Sponholtz“To date, the only option for investment in residential real estate has largely been residential REITs, in which case you’re dealing with a renter environment, not an ownership environment.” – Jason Pereira“A single home has the same volatility as the stock market.” – Thomas Sponholtz“Communicating directly to the consumer is a lot easier sometimes than through an intermediary.” – Thomas Sponholtz Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialUnison.com – Website for Unison Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 163rd episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Clayton Feick (Flinks) to go over the fundamental concepts of Open Banking!Episode Highlights:1:33 – Clayton Feick gives an update on his role at Flinks.3:07 – Jason and Clayton discuss the leveraging of data with Open Banking.4:01 – What is Open Banking in layman's terms?5:22 – Clayton explains screen scraping as a way to access data.6:45 – Jason and Clayton break down the current barriers to user data.11:10 – Clayton discusses the banks’ struggles to adapt to a new environment.14:01 – Was there anything of note that came up during Clayton’s global panel?16:15 – Jason and Clayton discuss innovation and regulation coming together on a global scale.20:34 – Jayson and Clayton dive into the responsibilities of regulators and legislators surrounding data rights.22:31 – How does the Open Banking framework go about its security?25:54 – If Clayton could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?27:37 – What has been the biggest challenge in getting Flinks to where it is today?28:52 – What excites Clayton the most about what he is working on?3 Key PointsIn laymen’s terms, Open Banking gives individuals the ability to access and share their financial data for their own benefit.Over the past 12 months, the pace of change in the Canadian banking system has sped up, forcing banks to rethink their business models.Regulators and legislators around the world must focus on staying patriotic and doing what is right for the data rights of their citizens.Tweetable Quotes:“The industry just wants good clean reliable data that they can work with to power new use cases and drive innovation.” – Clayton Feick“There’s really a lot of value in moving good clean reliable data from one place to another to eliminate some of those paper processes.” – Clayton Feick“I think the innovative banks will start to see themselves more and more as a platform and start to think about their customer base and the services they provide in that way in order to be competitive in this new environment.” – Clayton Feick“Innovation has not arisen from legislation; it’s arisen from startups and innovators that are trying to do things differently with tech that’s available today.” – Clayton Feick Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialFlinks.io – Website for Flinks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 162nd episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Edward Berks (Xero), Davyde Wachell (Responsive AI), and Chad Davis (LiveCA) on what works and doesn’t work with Open Banking in different countries around the world!Episode Highlights:1:03 – Everyone introduces themselves and their companies.4:06 – What market has done the best job of moving Open Banking forward?8:44 – Where have we seen the biggest struggles throughout the world?13:40 – David explains how North American banks are actively slowing down the process of Open Banking.17:00 – Everyone weighs in on TD’s current lawsuit against Plaid.21:05 – What is the correlation between market competition and outcomes?27:00 – Jason compares the American financial psyche with the Candian one.28:03 – Everyone discusses streamlining access to capital during COVID in Canada.33:30 – Why does the Canadian government continue to push timelines for Open Banking?37:30 – David discusses the opportunity that exists for financial regulators in Canada.39:30 – What is the timeline in Canada for the next thing that financial institutions should be excited about?41:10 – What would each guest change in the world of Open Banking?3 Key PointsThough Canada has PIPEDA, which guarantees people’s right to their data upon request, the banks have made the process a nightmare for the requester. Canadian banks colluded to ban Apple Pay in Canada in a manner that would be considered illegal in other countries.In Canada, Fintech was completely boxed out of the situation of providing relief during COVID, something it could have done much quicker than the major banks.Tweetable Quotes:“Australia has always been a little further along on the accounting and banking spectrum than Canadians and Americans and the UK. I think they’re going to be pretty well positioned to roll this out right as well.” – Chad Davis“Every time we give a password, we’re violating our fraud protection. That’s just a nonsensical stance to take.” – Jason Pereira“Whether or not you’re China or whether or not you’re a Canadian bank, the more you try to stop the flow of information, the more that information is going to flow.” – David Watchel“I think that there’s a herd instinct in well–established banks in most jurisdictions, and once you get that first domino toppling, it’s difficult for the other banks not to follow.” – Edward BurkeResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialXero.com – Website for XeroLiveCA.ca – Website for LiveCAResponsive.ai - Website for Responsive AI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 161st episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host is joined by Ben Harrison (Portag3 Ventures), Andrew Moor (EQ Bank), & Daniel Eberhard (KOHO) for part 3 of his series on Open Banking. This one is all about Canada!Episode Highlights:0:57 – Andrew Moor introduces himself and EQ Bank.2:25 – Ben Harrison gives insight into his role at Portag3.3:58 – Daniel Eberhard introduces himself and CoHo’s mission.6:15 – What is the current state of Open Banking in Canada?9:00 – How does this round of conversations surrounding Open Banking differ from conversations in the past?12:49 – Jason discusses the unprecedented urgency around regulatory reforms in Canada right now.14:19 – What kind of consideration is Canada’s advisory committee taking from markets that have already implemented Open Banking?18:12 – Everyone discusses the lack of data rights for consumers in Canada.23:28 – What does Open Banking mean to the future of KOHO, EQ Bank, and Portag3?30:39 – Who will be making the decisions for consumers’ financial lives with Open Banking?32:39 – Is there a concern about focusing on solely quantitative data and ignoring qualitative data surrounding consumer lives?38:30 – Jason explains how quality goes down every time a company adds a new product.40:48 – What is the one thing that everyone needs to know about why we need Open Banking?3 Key PointsCurrently, Canada’s 5 largest banks have the largest revenue to population ratio in the world, largely due to a sheer lack of competition.Unlike past conversations around Open Banking with the Canadian Minister of Finance, this time around there is an actual proposal.The fundamental push for Open Banking has been fueled by a lack of engagement by consumers. The hope is that Open Banking makes financial transactions and banking transparent and simple. Tweetable Quotes:“This is a way to unplug the power of some very large institutions and deliver more value to the entrepreneurial community...everyone should be aligned on this kind of thing.” – Andrew Moor“The message that I take from the advisory committee’s work is they strongly believe that government absolutely needs to play an important role in designing the framework from a legislative standpoint.” – Ben Harrison“The real gating factor is actually the approval and I think that’s always been the biggest risk to this process. And now we have a framework through which to shape the discussion.” – Daniel Eberhard“The general how we’re going to do this hasn’t necessarily been fully addressed yet. It’s more so we need to do this.” – Jason Pereira“It is really hard to be good at tons of things.” – Jason Pereira Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialPortag3 Ventures – Website for Portag3 VenturesEQ Bank – Website for EQ BankKOHO – Website for KOHO Financial Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 160th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Frederik Mennes (OneSpan), John Pitts (Plaid), & Yoseph West (Relay) to discuss the state of Open Banking in the United States! Episode Highlights: ● 0:50 – John Pitts introduces himself and Plaid. ● 1:32 – Yoseph West introduces himself and Relay. ● 2:08 – Frederik Mennes introduces himself and OneSpan. ● 3:22 – What is the state of affairs in the US for Open Banking right now? ● 5:52 – Frederik addresses the fundamental differences between the US and Europe in their approaches to Open Banking. ● 7:00 – How has the state of regulations in the US impacted Relay’s growth? ● 8:30 – What are the incentives and motivations for Plaid’s clients on the bank side? ● 11:34 – Frederick shares about OneSpan’s client education around security in Open Banking. ● 13:30 – John explains why he thinks that regulations are not as vital as some might think. ● 16:47 – What is going right and what needs to be fixed in the US situation? ● 24:49 – How do US companies regulate the risk of moving to APIs? ● 27:46 – Is it reasonable to draw a compliance line for customers with a certain value of assets? ● 29:48 – Jason and Frederick weigh the risk vs. reward of Open Banking for smaller banks. ● 31:39 – How much pushback does John see from Plaid’s screen scraping guidelines? ● 36:08 – Where does Yoseph feel constrained in the current system? ● 41:00 – Everyone shares the one key thing that they believe the US Open Banking system should focus on moving forward. 3 Key Points 1. While the US finds itself years ahead of Europe on the practice of Open Banking, it finds itself an equal amount behind Europe on regulations. 2. Open Banking companies in the US face the challenge of switching over to Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) without risking data and client rights. 3. Screen scraping, or consumer data extraction for automation of previously-manual actions, is still allowed under PSD2. It has actually been updated in its security measures. Tweetable Quotes: ● “It’s no secret that Europe has been pretty much at the forefront of the Open Banking initiatives around the world through initiatives such as PSD1 and PSD2.” – Jason Pereira ● “To actually deliver true open banking, the dream that we all think of...I think that’s a dream that will only exist as a result of Challenger or Neobanks.” – Yoseph West● “At this point, regulation is actually very helpful to create a level playing field for security. Regulation can help to make sure that all the players in the ecosystem...implement the right security technology.” – Frederik Mennes ● “The key thing that makes the US market special is that it is being driven by consumer demand.” – John Pitts Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Woodgate.com – Website for Woodgate Financial ● Plaid – Website for Plaid ● OneSpan – Website for OneSpan ● Relay – Website for Relay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 159th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Hesus Inoma and Daniel Döderlein. As 2 pioneers of Open Banking in Europe, Daniel and Hesus are here to discuss the current movements and innovations of world leaders in European Banking!Episode Highlights:0:18 – Jason explains why he is hosting a 5–part series on Open Banking.1:41 – Daniel Döderlein introduces himself and what he does.2:29 – Hesus Inoma introduces himself and his professional experience.3:32 – Daniel defines Open Banking for the layperson.9:16 – What is PSD2 and what was its impact?12:20 – Jason and Hesus break down how banks will win or lose with Open Banking.15:36 – Daniel explains how banks have been rotten and spoiled for so long.19:39 – What will happen to big banks in the future with Open Banking?26:46 – Jason, Hesus, and Daniel discuss the shift in innovation that is happening in banking right now.32:52 – What does the customer really want and where does the business lie?37:00 – Jason breaks down the varying bank concentrations in different parts of the world.39:45 – Hesus and Daniel share their thoughts on the Visa–Plaid deal and the recent antitrust lawsuit surrounding it.47:22 – What is not working and what needs to change?53:28 – Daniel lays out a concerning future dilemma and question.55:00 – Hesus shares his final thoughts on the future of Open Banking.3 Key PointsAccepting card payments comes at a cost, either handled by the business or a service provider, presenting a problem for businesses that operate outside of Open Banking.PSD2, a regulation for electronic payment services in Europe, is putting the banking system in its place while also assisting banks in adapting to new Open Banking technologies.Over 50% of countries have 3 banks controlling more than 66% of the entire country’s banking deposits. Tweetable Quotes:“For us, Open Banking is a journey that will lead from Open Banking to Open Finance to open the economy.” – Hesus Inoma“When you really think about it, banking is a highly–commoditized business.” – Jason Pereira“The smaller players have always been reliant on the large players in terms of infrastructure, access, and service rendering.” – Daniel Döderlein“Everyone hates at least one of the banks that we deal with in this country, loves to buy the stocks to get the dividends, but also thinks we need them because they’re safe.” – Jason Pereira Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialBbvausa.com/ – Website for BBVAVisa–Plaid Deal – Article Discussing the Visa–Plaid DealDoderlein.com/ – Daniel Döderlein’s WebsiteLinkedIn – Hesus Inoma’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 158th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Jennifer Couldrey, the Executive Director of The Upside Foundation of Canada, an organization that enables equity donations by Canadian business founders who wish to make a positive impact on the future of their communities!Episode Highlights:1:20 – Jennifer Couldrey introduces The Upside Foundation.2:14 – How did Jennifer get into this business and how did The Upside Foundation get its start?3:52 – Jennifer breaks down The Upside model.5:56 – Why are these Canadian founders interested in donating equity?8:05 – Jason and Jennifer talk about how The Upside Foundation thrives in the long-game.9:07 – What does a typical deal look like and what factors play into these parameters?10:59 – Where are the donations being directed?13:01 – Is this a one-time donation or a continuously-managed fund?14:59 – Jason and Jennifer discuss how people view different charities.21:12 – What is the feedback that The Upside Foundation is receiving both before and after their clients’ exit events?25:57 – If Jennifer could change one thing in her industry, what would it be?29:12 – What has been the biggest challenge of getting The Upside Foundation to where it is today?30:25 – What motivates Jennifer to get up every day and push forward with The Upside Foundation’s mission?3 Key PointsCanadian founders use The Upside Foundation as a way to make a palpable impact in their communities.Companies are presented with the option of donating via stock options or personal proceeds to the cause of their choice.90% of charitable donations are donated to elite donations such as universities, hospitals, and larger organizations that decide where the money should be allocated. Tweetable Quotes:“It’s a way of embedding this charitable impact into your business from day one.” – Jennifer Couldrey“Part of the reason we have the flexibility to give through stock options or to give through personal proceeds is just to make that decision really easy for people.” – Jennifer Couldrey“Having the ability to course correct is a valuable luxury that I think that is afforded through having these endowments paying out small amounts over large amounts.” – Jason Pereira“When people think about charity, they usually think about helping the poor...but if you actually look at where charitable dollars go, 90% of charitable dollars are going to help elite institutions.” – Jennifer Couldrey“When you have something, it’s hard to give it up. The bigger that number is, the harder it is to cut that check.” – Jason Pereira Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialLinkedIn – Jennifer Couldrey’s LinkedInThe Upside Foundation – Website for The UpsideUncharitable – BookBillion Dollar Loser – BookThis Could Be Our Future – Book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 157th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Lil Roberts, CEO of Xendoo, an online accounting firm that aims to serve small businesses by simplifying the bookkeeping process!Episode Highlights:0:32 – Lil Roberts introduces Xendoo and its mission.0:56 – What was the inspiration behind the creation of Xendoo?1:36 – Lil shares her journey that led to the creation of Xendoo.3:22 – Jason and Lil talk about the importance of knowing your numbers when it comes time to scale.5:56 – Lil and Jason discuss the competition in the accounting industry.8:28 – Jason and Lil dive into the low bar of understanding for what people should expect from their accountant.11:40 – Lil explains why the concept of dropping off your paperwork is one of the past.13:48 – What tools are in Xendoo’s tech stack and why were those chosen?17:00 – Jason and Lil talk about the importance of being organized with your tax paperwork.18:45 – How much fun is it to make these tools work together nicely?20:42 – Jason discusses the digital lessons that have been taught by COVID.22:03 – What kind of feedback is Lil hearing from Xendoo’s clients?23:47 – If Lil could change one thing about the accounting industry, what would it be?26:22 – What has been Xendoo’s biggest challenge during its growth?27:04 – Lil discusses what motivates her to get up every day.3 Key PointsAs a serial entrepreneur, Lil Roberts hated that bookkeeping and accounting services were slow, expensive, and provided little transparency.Online bookkeeping and accounting services account for less than 1% of the industry as a whole.The days of dropping off your paperwork to your accountant are over. Everything is done online now and this helps business owners Tweetable Quotes:“No one gets in the business to do your bookkeeping unless you’re a bookkeeping business.” – Jason Pereira“I’m not concerned about the people that are doing the exact same thing that I’m doing; I’m concerned about the person doing something different that I’m not directly benefitting from.” – Jason Pereira“The magic does not happen after the year is over; the magic happens through the year.” – Jason Pereira“I can’t tell you how many times that we have seen somebody transpose numbers.” – Lil Roberts Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialXendoo.com – Website for XendooXeroQuickBooksThe Coming of The Human Knowledge – Work Cloud – Article by Sam Lessin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 156th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Zachary Dan, CoFounder and CTO of Act Analytics, a platform that helps financial advisors make better decisions around environmental, social, and governmental factors!Episode Highlights: 0:41 – Zachary Dan introduces Act Analytics.1:04 – What led Zachary to create Act Analytics.2:14 – Jason discusses the issues that exist in the ESG area.4:12 – How does Zachary score industries with ESG factors?8:09 – Zachary discusses the challenges presented by a high–level of customization in regard to customer experience.9:12 – What does the user experience look like from start to finish?11:14 – How often is the data updated?11:38 – Zachary dives into the sources of data that Act Analytics utilizes.14:01 – What has the feedback been like from Act Analytics’s earliest users?16:00 – Zachary shares his thoughts on future innovations for the platform.17:49 – If Zachary could change one thing about his industry, what would it be?19:17 – What has been the biggest challenge for Act Analytics during its growth?22:46 – Zachary explains what excites him about natural language processing.3 Key PointsZachary saw that neither the data nor the ratings were constructed in a way that served most people, so he created a tool that utilizes both in a way that translates to the end-user.At the moment, Act Analytics has about 20 paying clients with most logging on every day and utilizing the news–analytics feature of the platform.Zachary hopes to see the commoditization of ESG and financial data, making it widely available for everyone to choose how to use that information for themselves.Tweetable Quotes:“If companies in all sectors are being pressured to change over time and everyone’s doing this, that’s one way to change the world.” – Zachary Dan“I think one of the mistakes of what’s out there is this idea that you can become the standard scoring methodology for ESG because...it’s different for everybody.” – Zachary Dan“There’s lots of opportunities to include more built–out portfolio construction and AI that helps people build portfolios using both ESG and financial considerations.” – Zachary Dan“You can’t fully fit on a spreadsheet about just how ethical a company is but you have to figure out how to measure that in real-time.” – Jason Pereira“If someone doesn’t have a belief in something, why are you forcing it on them?” – Jason Pereira Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialAct-analytics.com – Website for Act AnalyticsTruvaluelabs.com/ – Website for Truvalue Labs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 155th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Christopher Doyle, the CEO of Billd, a vendor–financing company that allows contractors to purchase materials via credit so they can take on bigger projects!Episode Highlights:0:32 – Christopher Doyle introduces Billd and its role in the construction industry.1:17 – How did Billd get started and what motivated it?3:47 – What were the challenges of trying to make this platform work with being able to profile the clients accurately?6:27 – Why is commercial construction way worse than individual contractors?9:00 – Jason and Christopher discuss the risks involved in this business.10:55 – What does the process look like for contractors looking to work with Billd?13:06 – Where is the money coming from when it’s time to get paid back?14:23 – What kind of feedback is Billd getting from its clients?15:44 – Christopher discusses what has surprised him the most.18:15 – Jason and Christopher discuss the innovative tech that is being deployed in the construction industry.19:48 – What change would Christopher make in his business right now?22:00 – Christopher dives into the biggest growth problems that Billd has faced.24:11 – What excites Christopher the most about what he is working on?3 Key PointsBy providing a system of material credits, Billd allows contractors to pay for their materials upfront, allowing them to take on projects that would otherwise be too large to bid on.Most of the time, when Billd has to get involved for payment, it’s because they haven’t been paid for the work. In this case, Billd gets to act as the bad guy for the contractor.Even with a slow adoption curve, more and more innovative technology is being used in the construction industry, such as robot learning and 360-degree job site digital views. Tweetable Quotes:“In construction, contractors rely so much on those upfront payments and often times it’s a limiter to growth and starting the business altogether.” – Christopher Doyle“What we’re really talking about here is the reduction of burden for working capital within a business.” – Jason Pereira“If we’re going to burden someone in that process, it’s the supplier...We try to keep our contractor doing what they do best.” – Christopher Doyle“When you have a small group of people working tightly to build something from scratch, those little things actually will annoy the heck out of you.” – Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialBilld.com/ – Website for Billd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 154th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host is interviewed by Guy Anderson about what has been going on for the last 12 months!Episode Highlights:0:57 – Guy and Jason touch on Jason’s podcast rankings and success in 2020.2:40 – There are many subcategories in the Fintech industry.3:24 – What episodes did people like the most this year?5:48 – Are there any past guests that have made changes that Jason wants to have back on?7:12 – What are some exciting new technologies in the Fintech space?9:20 – Jason breaks down Cinchy’s strategies for connecting data with bilateral communication.10:37 – What is Jason looking forward to in 2021?11:40 – Jason dives into no-code platforms that are changing tech.14:28 – Would you spend $120/year for software that would save you 1 minute every day?17:25 – Jason discusses how automated software is benefiting businesses everywhere.19:48 – Guy and Jason talk about the painful process that used to be required to sign up for financial software.20:42 – What does the future relationship look like between the stock exchange and blockchain technology?21:57 – Is there anything coming down the pipe for the podcast that excites Jason? 3 Key PointsIn 2020, Fintech Impact has become #2 on Apple and #1 on Spotify for podcasts in the Fintech category.Crypto and blockchain technologies have gone from speculation and hype to large applications that have begun to deliver.Automated software provides the opportunity for exponential gains by saving users time.Tweetable Quotes:“Each day is the same...This is the year of groundhog days.” – Guy Anderson“Now we’re starting to see real applications of blockchain, and it’s exciting to actually start to see this stuff that had so much promise actually start to deliver.” – Jason Pereira“Once you wrap around what you can do, the number of problems in your life you can start to solve with these platforms is just nuts.” – Jason Pereira“The stuff that used to take a team of 5 can now probably be done by 2 in the same amount of time.” – Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialFpalpha.com/ – Website for FP AlphaCinchy.com/ – Website for Cinchy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 153rd episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Sara Green Broderson from Canaree, an online projection tool that holds the hands of startups by building their financial model and providing financial advice!Episode Highlights:0:36 – Sara Green Broderson introduces Canaree.1:38 – What is Sara’s history before and with Canaree?4:31 – How does the Canaree end-user experience look from start to finish?6:06 – Has Canaree involved API connections to accounting software or data aggregation?6:50 – Jason vents about his frustration with Canada’s lack of an open–banking policy.7:46 – What drives fundraising? Choice or demand?10:02 – What are the plans for further development of Canaree?11:17 – Where does Canaree get its current benchmark data?12:03 – What is the early feedback from Canaree’s clients?14:09 – Jason and Sara discuss what it’s like being a female founder in the Fintech industry.22:01 – How would Sara change the financial industry as a whole?23:10 – What has been the biggest challenge for Canaree during its growth?24:40 – Why does Sara get out of bed every morning?3 Key PointsLess than 10% of Excel’s functionalities are commonly utilized, making it an ineffective tool to make financial projections and giving way to companies like Canaree.One of the biggest pain points for startups is not having their finances planned out, thus driving the need for fundraising and projections.Though there is a lack of gender diversity amongst female founders in the Fintech industry, Sara has found that being one of the few has been a positive experience and the industry is moving in the right direction. Tweetable Quotes:“The time to model out your business is now because you’re probably facing unprecedented financial stress.” – Jason Pereira“Anyone would think that when you start a company the first thing you would do is sit down and make a budget or a plan for your cost, but people don’t.” – Sara Green Broderson“When we started out we thought it would be founders and non–finance people coming on board, but we’re actually seeing quite a lot of finance individuals signing up.” – Sara Green Broderson“Never discount simplicity and the value of it even to the most complex users.” – Jason Pereira“A worthy cause, entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of any economy.” – Jason Pereira Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialCanaree.co – Canaree’s WebsiteLinkedIn – Sara Green Broderson’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 152nd episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Richard Owen, VP of Sales for Retail Wealth Management in North America for Ortec, a company that projects out returns for a variety of asset classes through the use of sophisticated econometric models! Episode Highlights: ● 0:39 – Richard Owen introduces Ortec and the services it provides. ● 3:02 – How did Richard come to be involved with Ortec? ● 4:32 – Jason and Richard compare Monte Carlo analysis and Ortec’s analytical strategy. ● 7:28 – Richard and Jason break down the differences between financial projection companies in Canada and Ortec. ● 11:17 – Jason and Richard discuss Ortec’s core capability of providing a realistic view of the future. ● 16:06 – How often do Ortec’s algorithms shift and adjust with the market? ● 18:18 – Richard breaks down just how specific of information their models bring to advisors. ● 20:11 – How do Ortec’s clients feel about its methods and projections? ● 22:02 – What are the real-life deployment cases for Ortec’s software on a retail level? ● 24:53 – What kind of feedback does Ortec get from institutions and advisors? ● 28:30 – Jason and Richard discuss the tendency for businesses and individuals to have the wrong goals. ● 30:06 – What would Richard change in the financial planning industry? ● 31:08 – Richard explains the biggest challenge for Ortec in North America. ● 32:07 – What excites Richard the most about what he is doing? 3 Key Points 1. Ortec creates large economic models, up to 40 years out, for both companies and individuals throughout the European and North American markets. 2. Most large financial institutions make the mistake of solely looking backward to historical data to project for the future, while Ortec uses historical data and current trends to make its projections. 3. Ortec deploys its software in 3 different ways: client-facing API, integration with existing systems, and integration with Salesforce. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Historical data has biases...it doesn’t necessarily give you a good view of what the future looks like.” – Richard Owen● “It’s very very hard to operationalize those capital market models...The assumptions that you’ve built into the plan then need to change because the portfolio has changed.” – Richard Owen ● “Really, a lot of this is about driving what is the next best action for the advisor.” – Jason Pereira ● “You tell us the asset allocation and portfolio value, we’ll project out that future returns. What you do with that really depends on the use case.” – Richard Owen Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Woodgate.com – Website for Woodgate Financial ● Ortecfinance.com – Website for Ortec Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 151st episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Matthew Unger, the CEO of iComply, a company that deploys intelligent compliance management services! Episode Highlights: ● 0:35 – Matthew Unger introduces iComply. ● 1:18 – What was the origin of iComply and why did Matthew create it? ● 5:21 – How is iComply different from its competition? ● 8:49 – Jason translates iComply’s platform into layman’s terms. ● 10:15 – Matthew discusses the growing possibilities of client-side processing. ● 15:10 – How does iComply protect the user experience? ● 17:00 – Matthew breaks down the validation problems of current API–based KYC data services. ● 20:57 – What would Matthew change about his industry as a whole? ● 23:08 – Matthew discusses the biggest challenge in getting iComply to where it is today. ● 25:02 – What excites Matthew the most about what he does? 3 Key Points 1. COVID has forced people and businesses out of brick–and–mortar services and into the future of financial tech. 2. iComply sends verification programming to the devices of the end-users rather than having them come into a store to do facial verification. 3. API–based KYC workflows have taken the human element out of the data input process, allowing users to make it to the end of the process before informing them that there is a problem. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Things like KYC, things like compliance need to have a fresh look at how we handle user data and user privacy, and that’s really what led us down this path.” – Matthew Unger ● “What we actually do is we send the verification program into the browser of the client, so all of their data stays on their device.” – Matthew Unger ● “At the end of the day, you’re still pushing some form of data into the cloud to feedback something to verify.” – Jason Pereira ● “We can perform initial validation on the date the user’s inputting, and when the user inputs data that doesn’t seem to check out, we can immediately ask the user to correct it while they’re sitting at that form field.” – Matthew UngerResources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Woodgate.com – Website for Woodgate Financial ● iComplyis.com – Website for iComply Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 150th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Bill Winterberg, Founder of FP Pad, a source of educational content on tech for financial advising and forecasting. Bill is here to have a friendly chat about the current state of affairs as well as the future of tech in the world of financial advising!Episode Highlights:0:38 – Bill Winterberg introduces his website, FP Pad.3:04 – What did Bill do before he founded FP Pad?5:14 – Ted shares his dream before he went to college.9:35 – How painful was the state of affairs of technology when Bill got into financial advising?11:52 – Jason and Bill dive into the effects that AWS played on the cloud technology boom.15:42 – What are Bill’s best practices when he takes on a new client?20:53 – How much of an obstacle does changing the behavior of people in the firm represent?24:30 – Jason and Bill break down how to scale without integrating more than a firm can handle.28:08 – Where does Bill see the biggest changes in the future for the day–to–day life of financial advisors?32:50 – Jason and Bill discuss the tendency of financial advisors to believe bad advice.35:41 – How should advisors be spending their time these days?40:04 – What would Bill change about his industry as a whole?42:05 – What has been the biggest challenge for Bill to get to where he is today?45:10 – Bill talks about what excites him for the future.3 Key PointsFP Pad has evolved from a website and blog to a YouTube channel, podcast, activity highlights, and a plethora of other content and resources to improve Fintech practices.When taking on a new client, Bill hopes that the person or small group of people in charge of transition are focused on adding value to the company while helping everyone grow.Bill hopes that in 5 years, financial advisors will go from storing financial plans in silos to utilizing financial software that allows them to communicate with each other. Tweetable Quotes:“The movers and shakers have origins in Electric Avenue.” – Bill Winterberg“If you’re paying on a monthly basis, now you’re not worried about large–scale deployments, you’re worried about constant improvement. And now we all benefit from multiple upgrades per year.” – Jason Pereira“I am very receptive to legacy solutions and what exists in the business.” – Bill Winterberg“Focus on scaling the business with a couple of tools to leverage before you go building this massive platform.” – Jason Pereira“I think advisors should be spending their time figuring out how they’re going to grow their business or engage clients and engage prospects very effectively.” – Bill Winterberg Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialXY Planning NetworkGarrett Planning NetworkFPPad.com – Website for FP PAdLinkedIn – Bill Winterberg’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 149th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Mahima Poddar, the Senior Vice President of Digital Banking Strategy at Equitable Bank and head of EQ Bank!Episode Highlights:0:40 – Mahima Poddar introduces Equitable Bank and EQ Bank.1:15 – How did Mahima get to her current career?2:10 – What was the genesis of the decision to move to a Challenger bank?5:05 – Jason breaks down the banking system in Canada.6:55 – Mahima discusses the problems with lending/depositing with big banks.10:15 – Jason and Mahima vent about the dark patterns that big banks have with their accounts.15:30 – Challenger banks could have made the COVID-loan processes much simpler.17:02 – How does EQ collaborate with other players in the Challenger space?21:07 – Jason and Mahima dive into the willingness of the Canadian people to make a banking change.24:08 – What are the biggest concerns with open banking in different countries?29:37 – Mahima talks about EQ Bank’s efforts to cause changes within the big banks.33:12 – What are all the ways that EQ Bank provides great value to its customers?33:43 – If Mahima could change one thing in banking, what would it be?35:25 – What has been the biggest challenge in EQ Bank’s growth?38:30 – What motivates Mahima to battle the glaring issues of big banking?3 Key PointsEquitable Bank chose to never be a brick-and-mortar organization and to go the route of a digitized Challenger bank.EQ Bank offers zero monthly fees, free check deposits, bill-pay, interest-earning checking accounts, and more as ways to differentiate itself from the big banks.For the benefit of the Canadian people, EQ Bank aims to go beyond bringing people to its doors and cause real change in the banking system. Tweetable Quotes:“We are trying to develop lending products that are serving needs that are underserved by the big banks.” – Mahima Poddar“They don’t make it easy. They don’t understand it, but Equitable does.” – Mahima Poddar“There’s no business account that doesn’t have a larger-than-life fee attached to it.” – Jason Pereira“Friction is not a way to keep your clients. Friction is a way to piss them off and guarantee that when they see a better way, they’re going to leave.” – Jason Pereira“Canadians are starting to become more value-conscious and realize that there are better options available.” – Mahima PoddarResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialEqbank.ca – Website for EQ BankLinkedIn – Mahima Poddar’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 148th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Gangesh Ganesan, the Founder and CEO of PeerNova, a data management company that helps companies get control of their data to empower growth!Episode Highlights:0:32 – Gangesh Ganesan introduces PeerNova and its services.3:01 – How badly does it look when a company comes to PeerNova?5:10 – How do companies get onboarded and work with PeerNova?7:03 – Jason breaks down what a data lake is for those who don’t know.7:47 – What answers do clients get when they finish the onboarding process?10:20 – What are the biggest challenges that lead to data being inaccurate?15:00 – Do clients give positive feedback once they are onboarded with Peernova?18:47 – How does getting the data situation under control empower future innovation within these companies?20:54 – Jason explains the concept of low-code and no-code platforms.21:45 – Gangesh and Jason talk about the next level of AI and trends in the industry.23:52 – How much more innovation will we see in the next decade now that we have auto-generated code?24:45 – What would Gangesh change in the financial services industry?27:10 – What has been the biggest challenge during PeerNova’s growth?29:42 – Gangesh shares what excites him the most about his job.3 Key PointsPeernova is an operating system for data, helping companies manage and clean up their data, something that strangles many companies to death.Companies that come to PeerNova are not required to onboard all of their data onto PeerNova’s platform but can work side-by-side with PeerNova’s servers as they act as a data lake.Once companies have their data cleaned up and under organized management, their IT-centric work becomes automated while also empowering their business users.Tweetable Quotes:“We run both data quality and process integrity checks on the data and then we allow you to take actions on the results of that data quality and process checks.” – Gangesh Ganesan“Data quality is the albatross around the neck of every company and it is not great.” – Jason Pereira“Trying to find data quality and process issues and trying to make data available to downstream users is looking for a needle in a haystack, and the haystack itself is spread over a huge farm.” – Gangesh Ganesan“Humans are always the weakest link.” – Jason Pereira“The trend in the industry is to automatically start writing software itself for you. Instead of having to write code, you use tools that can write software for you now.” – Gangesh Ganesan Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialPeernova.com – PeerNova’s WebsiteLinkedIn – Gangesh Ganesan’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 147th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews John Wu, CEO of Ava Labs, a blockchain company focused on financial institutions!Episode Highlights:0:33 – John Wu introduces Ava Labs.1:07 – John dives into his storied career in emerging technologies.5:38 – How did John dive into the world of blockchain?7:20 – The owner of Ava Labs reached out to join forces with John.8:00 – How does Ava Labs solve many of the problems that others do not?9:57 – Jason and John dive into the problems with crypto exchanges that exist today.13:50 – John breaks down the reason that blockchain integration will take a long time.16:28 – Jason and John talk about the evolution of banking and plastic payments.21:47 – How does the blockchain scale without forgetting about the libertarians that have helped build it?24:50 – Jason and John look 10 years into the future of blockchain.27:19 – If John could change one thing about his industry, what would it be?29:02 – What are the biggest problems that Ava Labs has right now?30:55 – What inspires John to get jazzed up every day?3 Key PointsJohn began a software company that automated many of the backend tasks and gave access to crypto in an attempt to help individuals and small businesses.In today’s world of crypto exchanges, everything has been made for crypto users by crypto users, making it difficult for new users to enter the market. Ava Labs hopes to fix that problem.Eventually, end users will think of blockchain on the same level as using AWS. Even though they won’t understand how it works, it will just be a part of life. Tweetable Quotes:“Once you start investing for yourself, you realize this stuff is really hard for individuals and small businesses to get involved with.” – John Wu“The attention really comes when people think about it as the value that’s being transferred away from traditional finance to somewhere in the ether.” – John Wu“It’s the adoption cycle of any technology, right?... I’m starting to see the promise of blockchain finally come to fruition.” – Jason Pereira“The concept of a consensus protocol has been around for a long time.” – John Wu“There are so many applications for blockchain in so many niche spaces that you can have many different companies and protocols winning.” – John Wu Resources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialLinkedIn – John Wu’s LinkedInAvalabs.org – Ava Lab’s Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 146th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Daniel Döderlein, the Founder and CEO of Auka, the tech company that helped pioneer mobile-cash transfers in Europe!Episode Highlights:0:37 – Daniel introduces Auka and its journey.1:26 – Daniel talks about his history as an entrepreneur.6:15 – Jason and Daniel dive into the regulations that technology companies face and how they are used as a cop-out.11:03 – What was the genesis of Auka?19:20 – Daniel talks about the introduction of the smartphone and how that changed the mobile-finance game.22:32 – mCash lost its patent protection, leading to banks launching their own mobile-payment systems.24:10 – Daniel talks about his decision to take their mobile-payment system to the international market.27:02 – What does Settle, the next leg of the journey, look like?31:57 – What is one thing that Daniel would change in the ecosystem of his industry?33:53 – What was the biggest challenge for Daniel to get where he is today?35:40 – What excited Daniel the most about what he is working on?3 Key PointsDaniel began his entrepreneurial journey selling ice cream on a boat during summers in Norway, which led him to his entry into the world of technology.Daniel designed a brand-new payment system from the ground up, using Python to write the first mobile-payment system in Norway, mCash.Settle was designed as a mobile-payment business model to interconnect the #1 mobile-payment schemes in individual markets.Tweetable Quotes:“There are so many firsts that we have done in Auka. We wouldn’t be able to pull that off unless we had a vision, some really talented and dedicated people, and some hustling skills.” – Daniel Döderlein“Move fast and break things does not work well in highly regulated markets, quite honestly.” – Jason Pereira“There needs to be some tech involved in moving this money. Let’s replace this freight train with some fiber optics.” – Daniel Döderlein“We believed firmly there would only be one domestic winner in the mobile-payment space in every individual market.” – Daniel DöderleinResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterWoodgate.com – Website for Woodgate FinancialLinkedIn – Daniel Döderlein’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 145th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Sam Bakken, the Senior Product Marketing Manager at OneSpan. OneSpan is a cybersecurity technology company that works to improve customer experience by improving security systems using things such as biometrics. Sam is here to talk about biometrics and the role that it will play in the future of technological security!Episode Highlights:0:36 – Sam introduces OneSpan and the services that it provides.1:40 – Diving into the history of OneSpan and how Sam got involved.3:41 – Sam defines biometrics and how they are built.4:59 – Where does Sam see biometrics going in the future?7:15 – How much of a challenge is it for security-minded companies competing with the likes of Apple?10:28 – In what fashion are we using biometrics today without knowing?12:55 – Sam breaks down the multitude of biometrics information that comes together in technological security systems.14:20 – Mike and Sam discuss the outdated practice of giving a written signature and how COVID has affected that.17:20 – How does Sam see the gamut of biometrics evolving concerning how we want to interface with our tech?23:57 – What is the craziest use of biometrics that Sam has seen?25:31 – What are the reactions of financial institutions to new biometrics-based technology?30:42 – What is the one thing that Sam would change in his industry?32:08 – What has been the biggest challenge with taking biometrics-based technology to market?34:10 – What excites Sam the most about what he is working on right now?3 Key PointsBiometrics are the biological traits that can be used to identify humans, such as fingerprint, facial recognition, etc., and are being used more and more in technological security today.People have come a long way from being reluctant to put their information out on the internet to trusting technology enough to store personal information on their phones.Financial institutions are reluctant to adopt new biometrics-based technology due to cases of bias in the systems and also because a lot of tech allows multiple registered identities.Tweetable Quotes:“Solving the problem, selling the security controls that can help solve those weaknesses that are identified, that really appealed to me at OneSpan.” – Sam Bakken“It’s always a balance between convenience and security.” – Sam Bakken“You can’t always deliver a consistent user experience across all devices...but there are options to still offer those biometrics across devices in a consistent manner.” – Sam Bakken“A good user experience is a secure one.” – Sam Bakken“I just know that a lot of people are reporting on digital fraud, so to start to dive a little bit deeper into web vs. mobile I think would be helpful...so that we can take mobile-app security a little more seriously.” – Sam BakkenResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletteronespan.com/ – Website for OneSpanLinkedIn – Sam Bakken’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 144th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Michael Kane, co-founder of Hydrogen Platform, a fintech company working to build seamless financial platforms in an attempt to digitize the world financial system. Episode Highlights: ● 0:38 – Michael Kane introduces Hydrogen Platform. ● 1:22 – How did Hydrogen come to be? ● 3:22 – What is it like for Michael running a company with his twin brother? ● 4:55 – Michael breaks down the different fintech solutions that Hydrogen Platform offers to end-users. ● 12:20 – Explain the concept of high-code, low-code, and no-code programming. ● 18:03 – How does Michael see the end-vision for other brands and companies leveraging Hydrogen Platform and other platforms like it? ● 24:44 – Collaboration between the financial and tech industries will only grow in the future. ● 27:43 – Michael believes that pricing is far too high in his industry. ● 29:52 – What has been the biggest challenge for Hydrogen Platform to get where it is today? ● 32:00 – What excites Michael the most about what he is doing right now? 3 Key Points 1. Hydrogen Platform has made financial-technology integration easy by layering no-code and low-code applications on top of it. 2. Most vendors usually stick to their specialty silo and that’s where Hydrogen comes in, putting together all the pieces in an open banking platform. 3. In the future, companies all over the world will be integrating the different financial platforms that can be found with Hydrogen Platform. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Why can’t we just take our expertise, put it into a platform and then allow all these companies to use the technology that we had built in a more B2B enterprise application layer?” – Michael Kane ● “Applying for loans, it’s very painful. What if you could pull that in without any integration work...so the end user doesn’t know that they’re using Hydrogen.” – Michael Kane ● “You can’t necessarily go to one vendor to do some of these things...a vendor that does payments or cards or banking may not offer KYC.” – Michael Kane ● “The speed at which some of the development I’m seeing get done now is just neck-breaking compared to what it used to be.” – Jason Pereira● “It’s a challenge when you’re doing something new and getting people aligned with what you’re doing, but so far we’ve been successful.” – Michael Kane Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Hydrogen Platform - Website ● LinkedIn - Michael Kane’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 143rd episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Heinrich Zetlmayer, the Founder and CEO of Blockchain Valley Ventures, a Swiss venture firm that focuses on industry-leading blockchain businesses.Episode Highlights: 0:32 – Heinrich introduces Blockchain Valley Ventures.1:48 – Heinrich left IBM in 2008 to enter the venture capital industry.2:55 – Investments in the blockchain space needed to be separated from the business.4:26 – Blockchain Valley Ventures helps entrepreneurs by taking care of their problems.5:48 – Switzerland is a hotspot in the crypto world because of its unique regulations.7:07 – BVV invests in only two types of sectors.8:18 – With all the remote working brought on by COVID, Keyless has been brought to the forefront.9:32 – Heinrich discusses the multiple clusters in the supply chain management industry.12:03 – How are consumers finding product-market fit right now?17:49 – What excites Heinrich about the blockchain industry in the near future?20:09 – How will gaming play a part in the future of blockchain?21:40 – Coin Source is developing a system of crypto ATMs.24:20 – Why do people fear the volatility of the bitcoin market?26:10 – If Heinrich could change one thing about the blockchain sector, what would it be? 26:44 – What is the biggest challenge in Heinrich’s company today?27:49 – Heinrich discusses what excites him the most about his career.3 Key PointsBlockchain Valley Ventures provides value to entrepreneurs by helping them with their problems.Blockchain is just moving out of its infancy as an industry.People struggle with blockchain because of the volatility of bitcoin, but in reality, world currency is just as volatile. Tweetable Quotes:“We’re fully dedicated to the impact of blockchain technology and blockchain innovation...because it is such a fundamental innovation. It’s so complex in itself as it combines legal, technology, innovation.” - Heinrich Zetlmayer“If you want to be relevant in the blockchain space and deliver value, you cannot be just an investor. You need to add value.” - Heinrich Zetlmayer“The whole industry is moving out of an early-stage industry. It’s moving from proofs-of-concept into pilate projects and rollouts.” - Heinrich Zetlmayer“Value is not in a physical object; it can be abstracted. Just for the sake of convenience, it’s going to continue to grow around the world.” Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInFintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech ImpactJasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletterLinkedIn – Heinrich Zetlmayer’s LinkedInBvventures.ch – Blockchain Valley Ventures Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 142nd episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Matthew Bogart, Vice President of Marketing at NexJ Systems, a financial-specific CRM and data analytics tool. Episode Highlights: ● 00:27 – Matthew Bogart introduces himself and NexJ Systems. ● 01:35 – What is the history of NexJ ? ● 02:30 – How does NexJ go beyond just basic tracking? ● 03:48 – How has NexJ’s customer base evolved? ● 04:42 – What do they offer financial advisors? ● 06:12 – Matthew Bogart discusses the data points that NexJ looks at. ● 10:27 – NexJ has been around since 2004. ● 10:48 – What does Matthew see coming down the pipeline? ● 19:29 – Those that engage the most with their clients drive loyalty and are also usually the higher performing firms. ● 20:19 – What would Matthew Bogart change in his business or industry? ● 21:04 – What have been the biggest challenges Matthew Bogart has faced? ● 23:41 – What keeps Matthew Bogart excited each day about his work? 3 Key Points 1. NexJ looks at about 44 points of data. 2. Machine learning is when the systems analyzes pieces of data, looks for common patterns, and uses that to take action. 3. Exporting data is becoming a greater priority than it has ever been. Tweetable Quotes: ● “NexJ delivers intelligent customer management solutions to the financial industry, focused specifically on wealth management.” – Matthew Bogart ● “Who would have thought back in the year 2000 that a firm like Shopify would be designated as a CRM vendor?” – Matthew Bogart ● (NexJ) “Having thi very vertical-specific product that focuses on really the sales, service, and marketing elements that a financial advisor would need.” – Matthew Bogart Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Linkedin – Matthew Bogart’s Linkedin ● nexj.com – Website for NexJ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 141st episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Ned Phillips, Founder and CEO of Bambu. Bambu is a digital platform that helps businesses deploy robo advisor solutions quickly, fast, and customized. Episode Highlights: ● 00:56 – Ned Phillips introduces himself and Bambu. ● 02:48 – What led to the creation of Bambu? ● 04:04 – What was it about robo advisors that they gravitated towards? ● 05:50 – What problems did they run into with Bambu? ● 09:15 – When customers want Bambu to build them a robo advisor, what does that experience look like? ● 12:47 – What have been the responses to their robo advisors? ● 16:11 – How far down market in terms of client size or enterprise does Ned see this going? ● 17:48 – What does the pricing look like? ● 22:08 – What has demand been looking like? ● 26:04 – What would Ned Phillips change in his business or industry? ● 27:17 – What have been the biggest challenges Ned has faced? ● 29:32 – What keeps Ned Phillips excited each day about his work? 3 Key Points 1. If you build what everybody wants it becomes a random bunch of codes which isn’t a product. If you build a product and no one buys it, you are out of business. 2. Bambu built up their initial customer base by finding out what problems businesses had that they could solve for them. 3. Bambu can typically have you up and running with a robo advisor in 4-8 weeks if they are willing to go with their fixed version with the front end customized to the client. Tweetable Quotes: ● “We design, build, and integrate robo advisors. So the simplest way I can describe it is that financial institutions say to us, ‘I want a betterment. I want a wealth front. I want my own robo-advisor. We are a pure technology company.” – Ned Phillips ● “We are technology guys, 4-years-old. Yes, we are based in Singapore. But we have been pretty global. We have been really lucky. We have clients in the U.S. We have clients in Europe, and across Asia and in the Middle East.” – Ned Phillips ● “We have built over 20 financial institutions now. Some of the biggest Franklin, Standard Chartered, HSBC.” – Ned Phillips Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Linkedin – Ned Phillips’s Linkedin ● bambu.co – Website for Bambu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 140th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Samir Vasavada the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Vise and Runik Mehrotra the Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer of Vise. Vise is a next generation asset measurement platform that allows for the development, tracking, monitoring, and testing of portfolios made up of individual stocks. Episode Highlights: ● 00:30 – Samir Vasavada and Runik Mehrotra explain Vise. ● 01:40 – What led to the origin of Vise? ● 05:28 – What was the journey to getting Vise started? ● 06:55 – What does the workflow look like and the core data points? ● 08:45 – They talk about employment as a risk factor. ● 11:52 – What does a conventional portfolio look like to them? ● 15:57 – What are their thoughts on direct indexing? ● 19:39 – What has the feedback for Vise been like? ● 24:38 – What would Samir Vasavada and Runik Mehrotra change in their business or industry? ● 27:50 – What have been the biggest challenges Samir Vasavada and Runik Mehrotra have faced? ● 33:23 – What keeps Samir Vasavada and Runik Mehrotra excited each day about their work? 3 Key Points 1. Vise can customize strategies around financial advisors and explains why a portfolio is built the way it was. 2. A portfolio can be as few as 25-30 individual stocks to 100 individual stocks. 3. Vise helps advisers differentiate themselves, giving advisors some of their time back. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Essentially what Vise is, is that we are using AI to automate investment management for financial advisors. The vast majority of financial advisors really struggle to differentiate. They provide their clients the same generic portfolios.” – Samir Vasavad ● “We’ve essentially built this AI where we can analyze clients’ needs, money they have to invest, goals, networth needs, career risks, private holdings, to build a highly personalized portfolio of individual stocks, bonds, other assets. .” – Samir Vasavad ● “The thesis behind the company is the advisor is their relationship with their client, and we do everything else in an automated yet personalized way.” – Samir Vasavad Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Linkedin – Samir Vasavada’s Linkedin ● Linkedin – Runik Mehrotra● vise.com – Website for Vise AI  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Peter Misek, Founding Partner of Framework Venture Partners. Framework Venture Partners is a venture capital firm that takes a data-driven approach to investigate and benchmark companies before they even invest in them, and also provide consulting investment feedback before and after the engagement process. Episode Highlights: ● 00:39 – Peter Misek introduces himself and Framework Venture Partners. ● 01:35 – What is the history of Framework? ● 04:04 – How does being data-driven benefit startups? ● 08:08 – What does Framework Venture Partners come back to a startup with after scoring them? ● 10:48 – What types of levels of dropping out have occurred? ● 12:56 – Are their results leading to a more diverse group of founders? ● 18:25 – What is the next step after a company scores well? ● 22:29 – Peter Misek describes the experience of his team. ● 25:21 – What would Peter Misek change in his business or industry? ● 27:02 – What have been the biggest challenges Peter Misek has faced? ● 29:32 – What keeps Peter Misek excited each day about his work? 3 Key Points 1. Founders need advice and mentorship. 2. Framework Venture Partners tracks 15,000-plus startups across North America, which is about 3%. 3. Framework Venture Partners interviews with startups take 15-30 minutes with cursory consulting. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Framework was started with the premise that data can help us both find great startups, but also help our startups know where they need to go on a journey to become a world-class company.” – Peter Misek ● “We layer in operational expertise that we’ve developed over 20-plus years, my partner and I and the team, in very specific areas such as vertical expertise. So think financial services and artificial intelligence, and then think talent.” – Peter Misek● “All of the levels of government across Canada, the average sales cycle...is 24 months. All of the levels of government across the United States, the average sales cycle is below 12 months.” – Peter Misek Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Linkedin – Peter Misek’s Linkedin ● framework.vc – Website for Framework Venture Partners Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 138th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Ethan Buchman, Co-Founder of Cosmos and CEO of Informal Systems. Cosmos is one of the largest blockchains and one of the most valuable cryptocurrencies in the world, of which Ethan Buchman was an integral part of creating. Episode Highlights: ● 00:32 – Ethan Buchman explains Cosmos. ● 02:53 – What is Ethan Buchman’s history? ● 09:20 – What is the differences between and proof of work and proof of stake? ● 10:10 – Which countries consumed less power than bitcoin? ● 11:09 – Where else can you go besides bitcoin to maximize options? ● 12:00 – They discuss public and private blockchains. ● 16:06 – Where are the limitations with authurium? ● 25:24 – What does Informal Systems do? ● 35:01 – What would Ethan Buchman change in his business or industry? ● 35:49 – What have been the biggest challenges Ethan has faced? ● 36:50 – What keeps Ethan Buchman excited each day about his work? 3 Key Points 1. Blockchain is the evolution of automating human processes, moving from personal computers, to the cloud, and now to the multi-stakeholder operation. 2. In 2019, bitcoin consumed more power than Switzerland. 3. Reducing compliance is an important use case in the blockchain world. Tweetable Quotes: ● “We want to make it as easy as possible for people to build their own blockchains, launch their own blockchains, structure them in the ways that they need to that fit their needs and fit their values, and the values of their community.” – Ethan Buchman ● “In 2013 I programmed my first bitcoin transaction from scratch, which is almost like a religious experience to be able to do that.” – Ethan Buchman ● “The public blockchain becomes this source of truth that you can audit against without necessarily revealing all the information to the whole world. The boutry between public and private becomes significantly blurred .” – Ethan Buchman Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Linkedin – Ethan Buchman● cosmos.network – Website for Cosmos ● informal.systems – Website for Informal Systems Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 137th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews John Bromley, Founder and CEO of Charitable Impact and Mike Todd, Director of Charitable Investment Programs at Charitable Impact. Charitable Impact is a fintech online platform that enables charitable donations through donor-advised funds. John Bromley and Mike Todd talk about how they are able to get this done and what a donor-advised fund is. Episode Highlights: ● 00:38 – What is Charitable Impact? ● 01:30 – What was the impetus for Charitable Impact getting started? ● 03:44 – What is a donor-advised fund and why do they get used? ● 13:26 – How many people come directly and how many people come from other sources? ● 14:44 – Charitable Impact works with close to 100 investment managers across various firms. ● 16:58 – How does the technology work? ● 23:48 – What would John Bromley and Michael Todd change in their business or industry? ● 32:21 – What have been the biggest challenges John Bromley and Michael Todd has faced? ● 36:52 – What keeps John Bromley and Michael Todd excited each day about their work? 3 Key Points 1. The questions that pushed John Brimley to start Charitable Impact are: Where do you go to get advice in the charitable giving world? How can charitable giving be made possible and fluidly during any translation on a cost-effective basis? 2. There are over 85,000 charities in Canada. 3. Donor-advised funds are like having a bank account for charitable giving. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Charitable Impact asks the questions, who is really there to support the donor who is looking to participate, or who is participating in charitable giving? .” – John Bromley ● “We give people their own individual giving account, it is what is referred to as a donor-advised fund and they take on that account, they can put their charitable donations into it.” – John Bromley ● “We have higher net worth donor, and generally the majority of those people we meet through financial advisors. The majority of our donors, however, are everyday Canadians, I would refer to as grassroots donors.” – John Bromley Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● charitableimpact.com – Website for Charitable Impact ● Linkedin – John Bromley ● Linkedin – Michael Todd’s Linkedin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 136th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Garima Shah, President of Biller Genie, a SaaS company that helps companies get paid faster on their accounts payable. Garima Shah explains how Biller Genie got started, how it works for clients, and the benefits of their value proposition. Episode Highlights: ● 00:29 – Garima Shah explains Biller Genie and the origin of the company. ● 02:57 – Which accounting systems does she commonly encounter? ● 05:28 – What was the journey to getting Biller Genie started? ● 06:55 – How does the billing model work for Biller Genie? ● 09:09 – Garima Shah takes us through the Biller Genie process? ● 11:52 – What has been the general feedback they have been getting from most companies? ● 22:06 – They talk about accounts payable automation efficiency. ● 27:04 – What would Garima Shah change in her business or industry? ● 30:39 – What have been the biggest challenges Garima Shah has faced? ● 32:17 – What keeps Garima excited each day about her work? 3 Key Points 1. 90% of businesses in the world handle accounts receivable manually. 2. Biller Genie charges a monthly fee plus a percentage only when they collect on invoices. 3. On average, Biler Genie gets businesses paid 15 days faster, collecting 60% of their outstanding balances no matter what within the first 30 days ,and saves them between 15-20 hours a week in manual labor. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Biller Genie is an automated account receivable software, which is a whole lot of words that don’t mean a lot to most people.” – Garima Shah ● “Our average client does between $70,000-$100,000 a month in revenue or invoicing, and a client that does $100,000 a month would only pay $550 for Biller Genie in the entire month.” – Garima Shah ● “The average cost for an invoice, according to the Wall Street Journal, is between $16-$38 to process a single invoice manually.” – Garima Shah Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Linkedin – Garima Shah● billergenie.com – Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 135th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews two members of senior leadership at Conquest Planning, Mark Evans, President and CEO, and Brad Joudrie, Chief Revenue Officer. Conquest planning is a next generation financial planning software that is bringing in various forms of modern technologies to planning that will help expedite and increase the accuracy and the effectiveness of financial planning. Episode Highlights: ● 00:35 – Mark and Brad explain Conquest Planning. ● 01:12 – How did Conquest Planning get started? ● 05:20 – What were the gaps in the industry that they were looking to fill? ● 16:14 – Why is the API infrastructure so important to customers? ● 21:40 – What has been the response from the potential clients they have spoken to? ● 24:24 – How have they made this easier and more efficient? ● 30:34 – Advisors will be able to learn the nuances of various strategies while they use the service. ● 35:18 – What would Mark Evans and Brad Joudrie change in the business or industry? ● 39:47 – What have been the biggest challenges Mark Evans and Brad Joudrie has faced? ● 45:07 – What keeps Mark Evans and Brad Joudrie excited each day about their work? 3 Key Points 1. Conquest Planning uses 50+ defined financial planning strategies and they can test them all in less than a second against the plan to see which works best and rank the impact. 2. Having a strong API strategy helps with workflow and the power of data. 3. Conquest Planning’s digital stories are like live reports with key performances indicators. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Conquest Planning is coming to the market to really make financial planning more accessible to more Canadians. We feel like there is a huge gap in the industry today with the amount of people that have access to good and sound financial advice.” – Brad Joudrie ● “It’s easier once you have done it to come back and go, ok, I know what I need to build and how I can improve it and I’m starting from scratch and I am not using technology from the 1990s. I’m using today’s technology.” – Mark Evans ● “When something changes, you want to be able to react and see which new strategies might be applicable now that you have modified the plan, using a set of other strategies.” – Mark Evans Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Linkedin – Hayden James● conquestplanning.com – Website for Conquest Planning ● Linkedin – Mark Evans● Linkedin – Brad Joudrie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 134th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host, welcomes Jennifer Leger and Venky Kulkarni, co-Founders of Quber. They discuss common barriers to saving money, how Quber works to help its users overcome those barriers, and how they’re planning to grow the company. Episode Highlights: ● 00:41 – Quber is a money-saving app that helps people to save for specific life events and goals. ● 01:02 – Jennifer was inspired to create Quber out of her own personal financial frustration. ● 01:40 – When you download the app and create an account, you’re prompted to create your first savings goal, like an emergency fund. ● 02:06 – Quber stores the money that users are saving in a trust account so they can’t easily spend it. ● 02:38 – This is not investing in the stock market, it is simply setting aside cash to have on hand. ● 03:09 – Quber starts with saving rules, outlining how money will be moved from your bank account into your “savings jar” on the app. ● 03:32 –Quber creates savings goals and challenges for people to participate in within the app. ● 04:17 – Their target market is middle to low income people who have children. ● 06:05 – Quber is for really foundational savings, built for people who think they can’t save their money. ● 07:02 – For every $20 you save in the app, you get an entry into a drawing to win more money, and this attracts and retains users. ● 07:20 – Quber also has business partnerships, which is the primary way they get new users. ● 12:21 – Their next step is outreach to more Canadians through community savings initiatives and more traditional marketing. ● 13:53 – Quber’s monetization is primarily through their B2B partnerships. ● 15:02 – If Jennifer could change one thing within Quber or the industry, it would be to be able to move money faster. ● 16:24 – If Venky could change one thing, it would be to stop fees from disproportionately hitting the financially underserved. ● 18:26 – The biggest challenges for Venky were figuring out regulations and compliance as the company was starting, building partnerships with banks, and getting people to provide their bank account information. ● 21:00 – The biggest challenge for Jennifer is similar, but it’s mainly that growth has been slower than they’d hoped. ● 21:29 – What excites both Jennifer and Venky the most is hearing user testimonials. 3 Key Points 1. People often don’t look at their spending habits to understand where their money goes. 2. Quber has found success by incentivizing people to save through contests and partnerships. 3. Cultures in other parts of the world emphasize community savings and Quber hopes to bring that to North America. Tweetable Quotes: ● “A lot of people have cash but they’re spending it on things that they don’t really need. So what we’re trying to do is help people to save for the things that they want by changing their spending.” –Jennifer Leger ● “Those coffees and those foods really do add up, and people don’t realize it. When you’re spending, you’re not actually looking at it or looking at it in depth. So once they see that they can start cutting back on those things, they really see their savings grow.” –Jennifer Leger Resources Mentioned: ● Website – Jason Pereira’s Website ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● Quber Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 133th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Hayden James, Co-Founder and CEO of Fraction. Fraction is a company that is enabling a new method for getting equity out of your home or providing equity to purchase a home. Episode Highlights: ● 00:50 – Hayden James explains Fraction. ● 01:12 – How did Fraction get started? ● 02:44 – How do they facilitate the transaction of home ownership for the homeowner? ● 05:45 – Does selling a fraction of their home decentivise customers from maintaining their home? ● 06:44 – Where does the money from the interest reserve come from? ● 09:00 – Where are they finding the investors for this? ● 09:58 – What determines the amount of reserve someone would have? ● 12:29 – Where are they sourcing the real estate properties to securitize? ● 15:01 – Why is blockchain the right way to go with Fraction? ● 19:07 – What has been the negative feedback and how have they been combating it? ● 21:21 – What would Hayden James change in his business or industry? ● 22:01 – What have been the biggest challenges Hayden James has faced? ● 22:55 – What keeps Hayden excited each day about his work? 3 Key Points 1. Fraction’s Loan to Value is a maximum of 40%. 2. What determines the amount of reserve some would have is just based on the minimum interest rate that Fraction charges over the 5-year term. 3. Fraction’s mortgage rates are closer to a HELOC rate or a second mortgage. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Fraction is a digital lending platform based in Vancouver. We have the broad vision of transforming homeownership and and how people finance and buy and sell homes with the focus right now on providing liquidity for home equity.” – Hayden James ● “The key piece of us is that It is a debt product that enables homeowners to take a portion of their home equity and put it into alternative investments through a vehicle that hasn’t really been available before.” – Hayden James ● “Because the way we structure there are technically interest payments that don’t come from the homeowner but come from the interest reserve. We are able to claim those. So it is actually very tax efficient” – Hayden James Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Linkedin – Hayden James● fractionrealestate.co – Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 132th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Shrad Rao, CEO of Wagepoint. Wagepoint is an easy to use payroll provider that seeks to compete both on ease of use and friendliness. Episode Highlights: ● 00:38 – Shrad Rao explains Wagepoint. ● 04:37 – How did Wagepoint get started? ● 09:18 – How does Wagepoint make payroll not painful? ● 11:57 – What does their UI look like and what has informed those decisions? ● 14:21 – What are the benefits and the costs? ● 20:51 – What would he change in his business or industry? ● 22:20 – What have been the biggest challenges he has faced? ● 23:43 – What keeps Shrad Rao excited each day about his work? 3 Key Points 1. Wagepoint aims to take the guesswork out of as many things as possible as they pertain to payroll. 2. If there is a payroll in process for a very high amount, they contact the client for proactive fraud prevention. 3. Wagepoint invests very heavily in customer service and they don’t use call centers. Tweetable Quotes: ● “Wagepoint software built just for small businesses and backed by the world’s friendliest team. So essentially it is a combination of research that I’ve done a long time ago, we are talking 7 years minimum.” – Shrad Rao ● “Our NPS score is way over 60, which is very unbelievable for a payroll company and we actually get comments all the time about how friendly we are to work with. How easy we are to work with.” – Shrad Rao ● “When a small business owner calls us, it should feel like they are calling a friend who just happens to know a lot about payroll. That is how the experience should be and it should be across every level of the company.” – Shrad Rao Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Linkedin – Shrad Rao’s Linkedin ● Twitter – Shrad Rao’s Twitter ● wagepoint.com – Website for Wagepoint  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 131th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews Shuli Mantsur, Director of Partnerships at Become. Become is an aggregation company that provides a single-stop source for business owners to go to one website and potentially apply for multiple lines of business with multiple lenders. Episode Highlights: ● 00:42 – Shuli Mantsur explains Become. ● 02:30 – Become is like Expedia for business lending. ● 05:35 – What kind of businesses are they attracting as borrowers? ● 06:45 – How robust are their risk models at this point? ● 09:21 – How many data points are they taking in? ● 10:59 – Become can analyze why a client didn’t get approved for loans and suggest what they need to do to get funding in the near future. ● 12:05 – What does the customer experience look like? ● 15:27 – Do they provide support after the funding process? ● 16:37 – What has the response from lenders been like when they started? ● 18:35 – What would he change in his business or industry? ● 19:38 – What have been the biggest challenges he has faced? ● 20:39 – What keeps Shuli Mantsur excited each day about his work? 3 Key Points 1. Become started in Australia in 2016 and opened up in the United States as well in 2017. 2. Become is very analytical and creates customized filters. 3. Become is taking in over 50 data points. Tweetable Quotes: ● “We came up with a way for customers to come into a platform and sort of make it a one-stop shop where they can fill in just one application, ours, which is all-encompassing.” – Shuli Mantsur● “You don't need your application filled in as well. Use ours. Everything you ask is in yours, we ask in ours. Within I think 6-7 months, we partnered up with all the biggest lenders in Australia and pretty much took over the market, as far as a marketplace.” – Shuli Mantsur ● “We are partnered up with about 20 different lenders and two microlenders, and basically the main difference between these two is one will look with young businesses and start-ups and the others most likely won’t.” – Shuli Mantsur Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● Become.co – Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 130th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews F. Alexander Sklar, Head of Development at Payability. Payability is a company that offers financing to online merchants as a means of shortening their collection cycles. Episode Highlights: ● 00:48 – F. Alexander Sklar explains Payability. ● 01:17 – What is the origin story of Payability? ● 03:30 – How long does it traditionally take sellers to get paid on sales? ● 07:22 – What are the factors to determine how long it takes to traditionally get paid? ● 09:38 – How is Payability able to give sellers money upfront daily? ● 13:10 – Payability’s ideal customer is trying to scale their company. ● 14:57 – F. Alexander Sklar talks about the mechanics of payment. ● 18:04 – How did their fundraising occur? ● 20:49 – What would he change in his business or industry? ● 22:00 – What have been the biggest challenges he has faced? ● 23:54 – What keeps L. Alexander Sklar excited each day about his work? 3 Key Points 1. Selling on Amazon traditionally can take 14 days to get paid. 2. Payability, the can turn a 14 days sales payment turnaround time into a one day turnaround providing daily payments instead of bimonthly payments. 3. Negative working capital is being paid faster than you have to pay up for the goods. Tweetable Quotes: ● “We are a capital service for the modern day supply chain. We provide both payment solutions and cash flow solutions to e-commerce sellers.” – F. Alexander Sklar ● “For those e-commerce sellers selling on marketplaces we are shortening their cash conversion cycle when they are paid on terms. For those selling on their own websites, we’re providing liquidity and financing solutions for them to scale their business.” – F. Alexander Sklar ● “We have been able to deploy a little over $2.5 billion in growth capital.” – F. Alexander Sklar Resources Mentioned: ● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook ● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn ● FintechImpact.co – Website for Fintech Impact ● JasonPereira.ca – Sign up for Jason Pereira’s newsletter ● F. Alexander Sklar – F. Alexander Sklar’s Linkedin ● Payability.com – Website for Payability ● F. Alexander Sklar – F. Alexander Sklar’s Linkedin  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.