How can wealth management leaders prepare for advisor retirements without losing the client relationships their firms have spent decades building?
In this episode, Chip Kispert speaks with Ferian Nickelson, chief operating officer at VestGen Wealth Partners, about financial advisor succession planning and the people, data, and technology firms need to support advisor retirements and client transitions. Ferian explains why clean, reliable client data must come before AI, how disconnected technology can create operational complexity, and why traditional CRM systems may need to evolve. They also discuss how VestGen acquires retiring advisors’ practices and prepares next-generation advisors to serve clients through the transition as more advisors retire and leave the industry.
Listen in as they explore:
How AI could or can give financial advisors more time to serve clients
What wealth management firms need before adopting AI
Where simplifying technology can improve firm operations
How next-generation advisors can build trust during an advisor transition
What financial advisor succession planning requires beyond transferring a practice
Ferian Nickelson is the chief operating officer of VestGen Wealth Partners. Her career spans the wirehouse, independent, broker-dealer, and trust sectors, including experience with Morgan Stanley, Hightower, Northern Trust, BNY, and LPL. At VestGen, she helps build the people, processes, technology, and advisor development systems needed to acquire retiring advisors’ practices and guide client relationships through matchmaking and transitioning to the next generation.
Growth through acquisition can look impressive from the outside, but the harder work begins when people, systems, and cultures have to come together. How can firms grow without losing trust or the human side of the business?
In this episode, Chip Kispert speaks with Chrissy Lee, Chief Operating Officer at Merit Financial Advisors, about integrating acquired firms with care. Chrissy explains how transition teams, training, culture, and communication help new employees and clients feel supported from day one. She also shares how Merit develops early-career and new-career professionals, uses AI to improve efficiency, and keeps the client experience central as the firm grows.
The conversation closes with a simple idea: technology can support the work, but trust is still earned person-to-person, not machine-to-person.
Chrissy discusses:
How transition and integration teams help acquired firms adapt to new systems, processes, and expectations
Why culture, communication, and job clarity can reduce uncertainty for employees joining a larger organization
How Young Professionals of Merit builds career skills, mentoring relationships, and reverse mentoring opportunities with senior leaders
How Merit is using AI, Copilot, and digital tools to save time while keeping people focused on client relationships
Why client experience, servant leadership, and person-to-person trust remain central as wealth management firms grow
Chrissy Lee serves as Chief Operating Officer at Merit Financial Advisors. Chrissy has over 15 years of experience in the Wealth Management and Broker Dealer channel, having started her career in Operations and eventually rising to the role of COO and President at her previous firm. She previously served as a board member for IPA, served on the Advisory Council of Docupace, a technology provider for wealth management firms, created the Women Advisor Network, and served as a committee member for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force.
At Merit, Chrissy is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm, working within the executive leadership team and each department within the organization to create efficiencies and streamline the client service experience. She is also responsible for operational strategy, driving strategic growth through mergers and acquisitions, and overseeing the onboarding process, business development, and technology implementations to create a best-in-class experience for the Merit community.
As a member of Merit’s Executive Leadership Team and Senior Leadership Team, Chrissy’s goal is to create a bridge between firm initiatives and working with the entire Merit team to bring open communication, a forum to gather new ideas to make the client experience evergreen, and to empower every team member to make decisions and help to execute goals together. This aligns with Merit’s belief that servant leadership comes above all else.
Chrissy enjoys spending time with her husband of 25+ years and their grown children. She loves reading classic literature, going to Disney, and watching classic movies. She has a heart for helping underprivileged families and considers this a lifelong stewardship.
How can financial advisors use AI to improve the client experience without creating more administrative work?
As AI continues to reshape wealth management, many advisory firms are asking where technology can create meaningful value and where the human element still matters most. In this episode of Beacon 1% Better Every Day, Chip Kispert welcomes Steven Latow, Chief Strategy Officer at Zocks, to explore how clean client data, connected workflows, and AI-powered tools can help advisors spend less time on manual processes and more time building stronger client relationships. They also discuss why the firms that prepare their data today may be better positioned to adapt as AI continues to evolve.
What to expect:
Why clean, structured client data is becoming the foundation for successful AI adoption in wealth management.
How AI meeting assistants are evolving beyond note-taking to improve advisor workflows and client records.
Why disconnected CRM systems and manual processes create friction for advisors and clients alike.
And more!
Whether you’re leading an RIA, broker-dealer, or independent advisory firm, this conversation offers practical insights into how AI, better data, and stronger operational processes can help your team deliver a more efficient and connected client experiencewhile growing your business.
Explore more conversations from Beacon 1% Better Every Day for practical ideas on advisor growth, operational excellence, technology, leadership, and the future of wealth management.
Steven Latow is the Chief Strategy Officer at Zocks, where he helps shape AI solutions designed specifically for financial advisors. In this conversation, he shares insights on client data, advisor workflows, AI adoption, and how technology can enhance, rather than replace, the human side of financial advice.
Technology is changing how financial professionals work, but not every AI solution is built on the same foundation.
What separates tools that create real efficiency from those that simply add another layer of complexity? And how can firms prepare for a future where AI handles more of the administrative workload?
In this episode, Chip Kispert speaks with Darren Tedesco, President of Advisor360°, and Scott Freeland, VP of Product Management for the Enterprise Suite at Advisor360°, about the future of AI, data strategy, and workflow automation in wealth management. They explore why unified data is becoming the foundation for agentic AI, how firms are approaching technology consolidation, and what operational challenges stand in the way of broader AI adoption. The conversation also examines workflow automation, advisor productivity, and the infrastructure needed to support long-term innovation.
Key takeaways:
Why unified and trusted data is becoming the foundation for meaningful AI adoption in wealth firms
How technology consolidation can reduce operational friction across advisors, clients, and home offices
What separates note-taking AI tools from systems capable of executing workflows and actions
Why agentic AI may shift advisors away from administration and toward client-facing activities
How end-to-end workflow automation could reshape onboarding, reporting, and portfolio management
Darren Tedesco is President of Advisor360°. Darren is responsible for strategic relationships at the executive level and leads business development activities for complex enterprise relationships. He represents Advisor360° externally as an industry leader, elevating the brand through conferences, councils, and thought leadership on the intersection between technology and wealth management. Internally, Darren provides market intelligence and competitive insights into the company and advises on account growth opportunities. Prior to Advisor360°, Darren spent most of his career at Commonwealth Financial Network, where he was the Managing Principal of Innovation & Strategy, overseeing all aspects of technology and designing the platform that would eventually become Advisor360°.
An accomplished senior leader with over 30 years of experience in driving value creation, growth, and profitability across global financial services and FinTech, Scott Freeland has a proven track record of launching and leading industry-leading wealth management businesses, financial products, digital solutions, and enterprise integration. A transformational leader with strong communication, organizational, and strategic skills, he has successfully led teams in high-stakes environments, delivering exceptional results in the areas of wealth management, banking, product and digital innovation, and investment research and analytics.
With a deep expertise in global financial markets, product and technology development, M&A, and strategic partnerships, Scott has played a pivotal role in the growth of organizations like London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) / Refinitiv, Scivantage, and Bank of America / Merrill Lynch. His leadership has been instrumental in driving multi-year strategic plans, reshaping business models, and creating new digital experiences, positioning companies for long-term success in an increasingly competitive and tech-driven financial landscape.
In his most recent role as Global Head of Business Strategy for Investment & Wealth Solutions at LSEG, a global business providing investment research, market data, analytics, and digital solutions to wealth and asset management markets, Scott was responsible for leading strategy and the execution of strategic programs. Scott successfully executed a comprehensive multi-year strategy to transform the business through targeted market expansion, strategy-aligned product development, and strategic investments with corporate development, and restructured market strategy to regain competitive advantage and focused growth. With the successful transformation of the business, in 2023 Scott took on expanded responsibility serving as Global Head of Wealth Solutions.
Things are moving faster than ever in wealth management. New technologies, growing regulatory expectations, cybersecurity concerns, and increasing amounts of data are forcing firms to rethink how they operate.
In this conversation, Chip Kispert sits down with Sid Yenamandra, CEO and Founder of SurgeONE.ai, to discuss what it takes for firms to keep up in an environment of constant change. Drawing on his experience helping financial services organizations modernize their technology and compliance infrastructure, Sid shares why clean data, thoughtful processes, and strong human oversight are becoming critical to long-term success.
As the conversation unfolds, Chip and Sid explore why many firms still struggle with fragmented systems, how organizations can move from reactive compliance to more proactive risk management, and what leaders should consider as AI becomes more common across the industry.
What to expect:
Why firms can no longer rely on outdated approaches to compliance and risk management
The important role clean, organized data plays in supporting better business decisions
How firms can begin modernizing their operations without overwhelming their teams
And more!
Whether you’re leading an RIA, broker-dealer, or wealth management firm, this conversation offers practical perspectives on navigating change, strengthening operations, and finding ways to get 1% better every day.
Explore more conversations from Beacon Strategies, LLC for insights on advisor growth, compliance, operational excellence, and the future of wealth management.
Sid Yenamandra is the CEO and founder of SurgeONE.ai, an AI-native platform that unifies compliance, cybersecurity, and data infrastructure for broker-dealers, RIAs, and other regulated financial institutions. In this conversation, Sid brings deep experience in wealth management technology, cybersecurity, compliance operations, and AI governance.
Before launching SurgeONE.ai, Sid founded by Entradain 2012, where he focused on helping financial services firms manage cybersecurity through a compliance lens. Today, his work centers on helping firms move away from fragmented, reactive systems and toward more holistic, data-driven compliance infrastructure.
Sid shares why clean data, expert human oversight, and thoughtful AI governance are becoming essential as firms prepare for faster regulatory expectations and a rapidly changing technology landscape.
Before investment returns, AI tools, and succession planning strategies, great financial advice still comes down to people. Stephen Langlois shares why the advisors who will thrive in the future are the ones helping clients achieve meaningful life goals, build lasting relationships, and create value far beyond portfolio performance.
In this episode, Stephen Langlois, Managing Partner at Seaport Consulting Partners, LLC, joins Chip Kispert on this episode of Beacon 1% Better Every Day for a conversation about where the wealth management industry is heading and what advisors need to do to stay relevant in an evolving environment. Drawing from leadership roles at Kestra, Fidelity, eMoney, and now Seaport Consulting Partners, Stephen shares lessons learned from decades of working alongside advisors and building firms focused on long-term growth and client value.
Key learning points from this episode include:
Why the future of financial advice is shifting from portfolio performance to helping clients achieve meaningful life goals
How younger generations value financial planning, purpose, and legacy more than investment returns alone
Why tax planning is becoming one of the clearest ways advisors can create measurable value for clients
The growing importance of succession planning as more advisors approach retirement
Stephen Langlois is Managing Principal of Seaport Consulting Partners and a veteran of the wealth management and wealthtech industries. Most recently, he served as President of Kestra Financial, a PE-backed wealth management platform firm empowering independent financial professionals to deliver comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services.
Stephen’s career spans senior leadership roles at Fidelity Investments, eMoney Advisor, and LPL Financial, where he built deep expertise across RIA, broker-dealer, bank, and insurance distribution channels. At Fidelity, he led the acquisition of eMoney Advisor and drove significant ARR growth over five years. Earlier in his career, he was a consultant and engagement manager at Bain & Company.
Today, Stephen advises private equity firms, wealth management platforms, and wealthtech companies through Seaport, and serves on the boards of Holistiplan, StratiFi, and the Farnsworth Art Museum. He holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and a BA from Colby College.
What happens when a firm modernizes without losing the culture that made it successful in the first place?
In this episode of Beacon 1% Better Every Day, Chip Kispert sits down with Anthony Bueti, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Lincoln Investment Planning, to talk about the real challenges behind transformation in the wealth management industry. From supporting educators with retirement planning to navigating large-scale operational and technology changes, Anthony shares how Lincoln focuses on steady improvement while staying true to its advisor-centric culture.
The conversation explores the independent-advisor landscape, why process and change management matter more than most firms realize, and how leadership teams can drive long-term growth without sacrificing relationships. Anthony also shares thoughtful insights on culture, collaboration, and why the people’s side of change is often harder than the technology itself.
Chip and Anthony talked about:
How Lincoln Investment Planning evolved while protecting its advisor-focused culture
Why change management matters more than technology implementation
Supporting both 403(b) educators and high-net-worth clients at scale
The role of process improvement in operational transformation
Building credibility through consistent, incremental progress
Anthony Bueti is a senior operations executive with more than 25 years of experience leading enterprise operations, service, and transformation initiatives in the financial services industry. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC, where he oversees firmwide Operations and Service functions and provides strategic leadership for initiatives that enhance advisor and client experience, strengthen operational controls, and support scalable growth. Since joining Lincoln Investment in 2015, Anthony has progressed through multiple senior leadership roles and is widely recognized for driving operational excellence, risk management, and cross-functional alignment. His prior experience includes senior operations leadership roles at J.P. Morgan Chase, Pershing (BNY Mellon), and PNC.
AI may be the biggest operational shift wealth management has seen in years, but its real value is not just speed. It is what that speed unlocks: better advisor capacity and time, stronger documentation, and more room for human connection where it matters most.
In this episode of Beacon: 1% Better Every Day, Chip Kispert sits down with Parker Ence, CEO and co-founder of Jump, to explore how AI is reshaping the wealth management industry in real time. What started as a simple idea to eliminate CRM data entry has quickly evolved into a broader AI-driven system helping advisors streamline meeting prep, automate follow-ups, and improve documentation.
Parker shares how advisors are reclaiming hours in their day and reinvesting that time into deeper client relationships and business growth. The conversation also highlights a shift happening across the industry, where compliance teams are beginning to support AI adoption due to stronger, more consistent documentation.
As the pace of technology accelerates, this episode challenges advisors to rethink how they operate, adapt, and stay relevant in a world where speed, personalization, and human connection all matter more than ever.
Talking points:
AI’s role in reducing administrative workload for advisors
How Jump evolved from a CRM tool to an AI operating system
Why compliance teams are starting to embrace AI tools
How advisors are using saved time to drive growth and focus on client relationships
The rise of AI in detecting new client opportunities and referrals
What the future of advisor-client relationships may look like
Why firms need to act now instead of waiting for AI adoption
Parker Ence is the CEO and Co-Founder of Jump, the leading AI-powered operating systemdesigned to support financial advisors by automating meeting workflows, improving documentation, and helping identify growth opportunities. With a background in fintech and experience working with AI at scale, Parker and Jump are focused on helping advisors combine technology with human connection to better serve clients.
It rarely starts with a bold decision; it starts with a quiet realization.
In this episode of Beacon 1% Better Every Day, Chip Kispert sits down with Brian Hamburger, founder and CEO of MarketCounsel and Chief Counsel of the Hamburger Law Firm, who discusses the complexities financial advisors face when considering transitioning from a wirehouse to an independent firm. Brian and Chip unpack one of the most defining moments in an advisor’s career, the shift from building within a firm to questioning what you truly own. What unfolds is not a playbook, but a deeper look at the mindset, patterns, and decision-making frameworks that shape successful transitions.
You’ll hear how advisors move from curiosity to action, why independence is not for everyone, and how clarity, not speed, often determines long-term success. This conversation challenges assumptions and brings a grounded perspective to what it really means and takes to build something of your own.
What to expect:
Why most advisors don’t experience a single “aha” moment, but a slow build of discomfort
The critical shift from “should I” to “how would I” and why it changes everything
Common mistakes advisors make when considering independence
How clarity and disciplined execution separate good from exceptional
Brian Hamburger is the founder and CEO of MarketCounsel and Chief Counsel of the Hamburger Law Firm, a leading business and regulatory consulting firm serving independent financial advisors. With more than 25 years of experience, Brian has been at the forefront of helping advisors navigate complex transitions, including breaking away from traditional wirehouses to build independent firms.
Through his work with MarketCounsel and the Hamburger Law Firm, he has guided some of the industry’s most significant and successful advisor transitions, providing strategic insight on business structure, regulatory considerations, and long-term enterprise value.
Brian is widely recognized for his deep understanding of the evolving wealth management landscape and his ability to help advisors make thoughtful, well-informed decisions about ownership, independence, and growth.
What if the real ROI of technology isn’t efficiency, but time?
In this conversation, Chip Kispert sits down with Rich Whalen, VP of Technology Strategy and Execution at Equity Services, Inc., to unpack how the right technology strategy can give advisors something far more valuable than speed: space to focus on clients. From his early days as an advisor to leading technology strategy at Equity Services, Rich shares how a single shift in workflow changed everything, and why most firms still get this wrong today.
You’ll hear how ESI approaches innovation differently, starting with data and process before tools, why advisor choice drives stronger adoption, and how AI should be approached with intention, not urgency. This episode is a grounded look at what actually works when building technology that supports real growth.
What to expect:
Why “return on time” matters more than traditional ROI
How better workflows can unlock 20+ hours per month
The real reason most tech adoption fails in wealth management
A practical framework for evaluating AI without risking trust
Rich Whalen is the VP of Technology Strategy and Execution at Equity Services, Inc., where he leads platform development focused on improving advisor efficiency and client experience. With a background as a financial advisor, Rich brings a practical, user-first perspective to building technology that actually gets adopted and delivers meaningful impact.
