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
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

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

Connect with Stephen Langlois

• LinkedIn: Seaport Consulting Partners LLC
• LinkedIn: Stephen Langlois

About Our Guest:

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
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

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

Connect with Anthony Bueti

• Lincoln Investment Planning
• LinkedIn: Lincoln Investment Planning
• LinkedIn: Anthony Bueti

About Our Guest:

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
• And more!

Resources:

• Beacon Strategies, LLC Podcast

Connect with Chip Kispert

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

Connect with Parker Ence

• Jump Advisor AI
• LinkedIn: Jump Advisor AI
• LinkedIn: Parker Ence

About Our Guest:

Parker Ence is the CEO and Co-Founder of Jump, the leading AI-powered operating system designed 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

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.