Barron's Advisor

David Chubak, Edward Jones’ head of wealth management and field management, explores how AI and technology are reshaping financial advice. He discusses closing the advice gap, protecting clients from fraud, and preparing for a historic intergenerational wealth transfer. The conversation also covers advisor succession, team-based service models, and creating a digital front door for younger and self-directed investors.

Jennifer Marcantel, founder of Marcantel Wealth Management, helps families in the energy and chemical industries connect money with purpose. She discusses building a multigenerational advisory organization, creating specialized teams for clients’ life stages, and designing financial security for women. Other topics include human connection in an AI world, guiding clients through financial anxiety, integrated tax and estate planning, and developing authentic leaders.

Jeff McMillan, a wealth-management and AI executive formerly leading firmwide AI at Morgan Stanley, imagines the advisory firm of 2030. They explore how AI could reshape prospecting, personalization, fees, compliance, and client relationships. As routine planning becomes commoditized, advisors may stand out through judgment, empathy, discernment, and whole-person guidance.

Spuds Powell, a Barron’s Hall of Fame financial advisor and Kayne Anderson Rudnick managing director, shares lessons from three decades serving affluent families. He explores trust, vulnerability, humor, and the value of challenging clients. The conversation also covers guiding families through market anxiety, wealth-related fears, legacy building, and the behavioral forces behind diversification and patience.

Barbara Trautlein, an organizational psychologist and founder of Change Catalysts, explores the human side of AI adoption. They discuss why resistance can be valuable, how her Head, Heart, and Hands framework guides transformation, and why AI can disrupt professional identity. The conversation also covers psychological safety, fair compensation, leadership teams, and building organizations ready for continuous change.

Scott Danner, chief growth officer at Steward Partners and founder of Freedom Street Partners, explores succession planning in an aging advisory industry. He discusses why founders delay stepping aside, the emotional toll of selling a practice, and how strategic partnerships can ease transitions. Danner also shares his Life Model for preventing burnout, protecting relationships, and building purpose beyond work.

Andrei Pop, founder of Humanity Labs who builds AI workforces for wealth management, explains how AI can take over machine work so advisors focus on human-only tasks. He discusses scaling trusted human experiences, the value of judgment and empathy, training advisors through apprenticeship-style coaching, and using firm-level AI memory to accelerate learning and detect firmwide trends.

Andrew Goldberg, managing partner at Cornerstone Alternatives who advises on private-market structures and liquidity, discusses interval funds and why their capital-management simplicity appeals to advisors. He recounts recent market incidents that spooked investors. He explains how to frame liquidity for clients, use data and playbooks to calm fears, and why fleeing can harm returns.

Carolyn McClanahan, a physician-turned financial planner who blends medical insight with money planning. She discusses how health decisions, family dynamics, and medical uncertainty reshape finances. Conversations cover healthspan vs lifespan, modeling healthcare costs in plans, when to prioritize living fully, and practical steps advisors can take for aging and crisis preparation.

Jon Nickow, a principal who rose from client service analyst to lead advisor focused on relationships and talent. Peter Lee, founding partner who built a multi‑billion practice and mentors next‑gen advisors. They talk about developing homegrown talent, staged advisor progression, delegating early to build trust, and engaging next‑generation clients to train future advisors.