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

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert
• chipkispert@beaconstrategiesllc.com

Connect with Brian Hamburger:

• MarketCounsel
• Hamburger Law Firm
• LinkedIn: Brian Hamburger

About Our Guest:

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
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert
• chipkispert@beaconstrategiesllc.com

Connect with Rich Whalen:

• LinkedIn: Rich Whalen
• LinkedIn: Equity Services Inc.
• Equity Services Inc.

About Our Guest:

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.

What does AI actually look like inside a modern wealth management firm, and where is it creating real impact today?

In this conversation, Chip Kispert sits down with Brad Goodman, COO of Apollon Wealth Management, to unpack how fast-growing firms are using AI to streamline operations, improve advisor efficiency, and scale without losing what matters most: the client relationship. Brad shares a behind-the-scenes look at how thoughtful infrastructure, not just new tools, is shaping the future of advisory firms. If you’re thinking about growth, technology, or how to give time back to your advisors, this episode offers a clear, practical lens into what’s working right now.

What to expect:

• How AI is reducing meeting prep time and increasing advisor capacity
• Why owning your data and workflows matters more than chasing new tools
• The shift from fragmented tech stacks to integrated ecosystems
• How culture and technology must evolve together to support growth
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert
• chipkispert@beaconstrategiesllc.com

Connect with Brad Goodman

• Apollon Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: Apollon Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: Brad Goodman

About Our Guest:

Brad Goodman is the Chief Operating Officer at Apollon Wealth Management, one of the fastest-growing RIA firms in the country. With a background that spans leadership roles at William Blair and early-stage growth at Hightower Advisors, Brad brings deep experience in building infrastructure, scaling operations, and supporting advisor growth. He is particularly focused on how firms can use AI and technology to streamline workflows, improve client experience, and give advisors more time to focus on what matters most: meaningful client relationships.

Progress often starts with a hard look at what is actually working, not what looks good on a vendor slide. Wealth firms keep buying more technology, yet advisors still juggle too many logins, duplicate data entry, and workflows held together by workarounds.

In this episode, Chip Kispert sits down with Ryan George, CMO of Docupace, to unpack the tech stack myth in wealth management. They talk about why tech sprawl is creating friction instead of freedom, how AI can support operations and compliance without putting client data at risk, and why unstructured data has become a hidden liability that can hurt valuation, regulatory readiness, and M&A outcomes. Ryan also shares why the industry is closer to the “wealth transfer wave” than most people think, and what advisory firms may need to rethink as servicing models evolve.

Ryan discusses:

• Why does more software rarely fix a broken process, and how simplification becomes a real competitive advantage
• How AI is shifting from standalone tools to embedded capability, and why many firms are still hesitant to adopt
• What “data health” looks like in practice, and how unstructured archives can create real compliance and operational risk
• Why poor data hygiene can drag M&A timelines and impact valuation, and what acquirers are starting to pay for
• How the advisor role may change as automation reduces admin work, and why human connection becomes even more valuable
• Why marketing works best when it connects emotionally, not when it adds more noise to the inbox
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast
• Docupace

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert

Connect with Ryan George:

• Docupace
• LinkedIn: Docupace
• LinkedIn: Ryan George
• ryan_george@docupace.com

About Our Guest:

Ryan George is the Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, a firm that supports broker-dealers, RIAs, and hybrid firms with workflow, operations, and compliance technology. He brings a sharp, practical perspective on how firms can reduce friction, improve data quality, and build systems that support both advisors and enterprise leaders. Ryan is known for his candid take on industry trends and his focus on what actually moves the business forward.

Progress often begins with understanding how people think and how their choices take shape. Firms today face more noise, more channels, and more competition than ever.

How do you reach people in a way that feels clear and genuine? How do you adapt to longer research paths and shifting expectations?

In this episode, Chip Kispert speaks with Nick Ilev, CEO of ProperExpression, about the changing buyer journey, the value of authentic content, and how structured marketing gives firms a steadier path forward. Nick also explains how AI supports efficiency without replacing human judgment and why a consistent framework helps lift both visibility and growth.

Nick discusses:

• Building authentic content strategies that connect with audiences where they are, not where you want them to be
• Why traditional SEO still matters alongside AI search optimization and how the two work together for visibility
• Using LinkedIn ads effectively for advisor acquisition and the importance of communicating cultural fit through content
• Implementing closed-loop marketing systems that track results and feed insights into future campaign planning
• How AI serves as a tool to accelerate efficiency without replacing human connection and inherent marketing value
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast
• Advisor Marketing Made Simple podcast
• The Compound – YouTube

Connect with Chip Kispert:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert

Connect with Nick Ilev:

• LinkedIn: Nick Ilev
• Website: ProperExpression

About Our Guest:

Nick helps RIAs and WealthTech firms turn marketing into a measurable revenue engine. His background includes time as an in-house CMO guiding growth at a successful startup and experience as an agency founder leading marketing transformation across multiple sectors.

His mission is straightforward: to generate short-term ROI while building the foundation for long-lasting growth. He believes in alignment where strategy, execution, and analytics work together to accelerate results.

At ProperExpression, Nick and his team focus on building and optimizing the full funnel for wealth management organizations, covering strategic planning, content creation, digital advertising, conversion, and CRM enablement.

The wealth management industry is at a crossroads, and those who fail to adapt will get left behind.

In this episode, Chip Kispert welcomes back Michelle Feinstein, General Manager of Financial Services at Salesforce. With three decades of experience across Pershing, BNY Mellon, and Salesforce, Michelle offers an insider’s look at how firms can modernize, scale, and lead through disruption.

Together, they explore what it means to move from “builder” to “steward,” why AI and data strategy now define success, and how to break down silos between technology and talent.

What to expect:

• How firms can unify people, process, and technology to scale smarter
• The game-changing impact of AI, data, and MCP integration
• Why firms must choose strategic partners over endless integrations
• Practical ways to embrace innovation without losing human touch
• And so much more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert

Connect with Michelle Feinstein:

• LinkedIn: Michelle Feinstein
• Salesforce

About Our Guest:

Michelle Feinstein is general manager and vice president, Global Wealth and Asset Management Solutions and Strategy for Salesforce Industries. Her expertise is in digital transformation for wealth management. This process of digitization is complex; it requires firms to accelerate plans to harness data, digitize advisor-client experiences, and modernize service to scale and support growth.

Marketing in wealth management is evolving faster than ever, with new technology, client expectations, and competitive pressures reshaping how firms grow.

In this episode of Beacon 1% Better Every Day, Chip Kispert speaks with Robert Sofia, CEO of Snappy Kraken, about the state of marketing in wealth management and how firms can accelerate growth. Robert shares insights on authentic client engagement, systematic nurturing, and the role of AI in speeding up and personalizing marketing strategies.

Key takeaways:

• The increasing competition from private equity-backed firms and the challenges advisors face in standing out
• Why authentic, quality messaging is harder to find and more important than ever
• How nurturing leads systematically can increase conversion rates by 200–300%
• The balance between referrals, digital channels, and social media for sustainable growth
• How AI is transforming speed, precision, and personalization in advisor marketing strategies
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert

Connect with Robert Sofia:

• Snappy Kraken
• LinkedIn: Robert Sofia

About Our Guest:

Robert Sofia is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Snappy Kraken, a digital marketing strategy company built specifically “for financial advisers who care about meaningful connections.” Over the years, Snappy Kraken has earned awards such as Best Overall Content Marketing Company from Martech Breakthrough Awards and has been recognized five times as an honoree of the Inc 500/5000. Over the past decade, Robert has supported thousands of companies across the financial services spectrum, including solo advisers, ensembles, family offices, broker-dealers, custodians, TAMPs, insurance firms, and more.

Artificial intelligence is shaking up wealth management, but how do you separate hype from what’s actually useful?

In this episode, Chip Kispert sits down with Geoff Moore, Chief Information Officer at ValMark Securities, to talk about how his firm is weaving AI into real processes without losing sight of what matters most: people.

From early wins with AI-powered document extraction to advisors reclaiming hours of family time and personal time thanks to AI note-taking tools, Geoff shares both the breakthroughs and the challenges of moving from proof of concept to production.

What to expect:

• Early wins and cautionary lessons with AI adoption
• How Compliance leaders can embrace, not fear, new tech
• Why context management is the next big frontier
• Real stories of efficiency translating into quality of life
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast
• AI for Advisors with Mark Heymen and James Cantwell
• Boxworks.box.com
• Blueshirt.ai
• Slant.app
• BarnDoor.ai
• Camelai.com

Connect with Chip Kispert

• Beacon Strategies, LLC
• LinkedIn: BeaconStrategies
• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert

Connect with Geoff Moore:

• LinkedIn: Geoff Moore
• Valmark Financial Group

About Our Guests:

Geoff Moore is the Chief Information Officer at Valmark Financial Group, where he leads technology strategy and innovation across the firm’s RIA, insurance, and broker-dealer businesses. With a focus on practical, people-first AI adoption, Geoff has guided Valmark through early wins in automation and data management, earning recognition as Box.com’s Small Business AI Disruptor Award winner. He serves on the CIO Inspire Chapter Board in Northeast Ohio and shares his insights as a panelist at industry events like the Advise AI Conference. Geoff is passionate about using technology to enhance both efficiency and advisor quality of life, helping professionals spend less time on manual work and more time with clients and family.