The Customer Wins

Eric Bourget is the Founder and CEO of HalfSerious, a renowned product innovation studio known for its exceptional creativity and unrivaled technological expertise. The company specializes in designing and creating bespoke software solutions that enable businesses to achieve their growth.  With a strong background in the video game industry, Eric brings a unique blend of creativity and technical insights to his work at HalfSerious. He is a highly sought-after speaker who addresses topics such as the role of design in business, nurturing passion in the workplace,, and the impact of AI on business operations. In this episode… The business space is rapidly evolving in the digital age and companies that fail to keep up risk falling behind their competitors. Digital transformation has crucial for long-term success, helping companies achieve greater growth and streamline their operations. By embracing transformation, businesses can potentially improve their agility, efficiency, and customer experience.  While technology can be complex, tech expert Eric Bourget suggests that the user experience should be intuitive and user-friendly.. As a tech developer company, involving clients in the development process is crucial. You can gain valuable insights that help you create customized solutions to address their unique challenges and opportunities. By tailoring the technology to each business’ specific requirements, you can ensure that it delivers the maximum value for all involved. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Eric Bourget, Founder and CEO of HalfSerious, to discuss digital transformation for businesses. Eric explains how HalfSerious helps people, how to get companies to adopt new tech, and shares his insights on using AI in businesses.

Valarie Vest is the Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer of Cambridge Investment Research, an internally-controlled financial solutions firm dedicated to serving independent financial advisors and their clients. The company offers a range of flexible solutions, including advising, growth, technology, independence, and more.  Valarie has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Additionally, she's a corporate innovator and leadership coach who works directly with financial professionals and associates to identify emerging trends and translate insights into actionable strategies. In this episode… Building a successful practice as an independent financial advisor can be daunting. It's no longer enough to offer sound financial advice — clients expect more from their advisors. They want personalized service and seamless experiences.  Valarie Vest, an expert in the field, says that the key to success as a financial advisor is creating exceptional customer experiences. Through this, advisors can attract more clients, retain existing ones, and establish a base of loyal, satisfied customers. Unfortunately, not all financial advisors possess the expertise to create these lasting impressions. She recommends partnering with firms that offer advice, technology, and growth strategies to enable advisors to serve their clients better.  In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Valarie Vest, Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer of Cambridge Investment Research, to discuss how financial advisors can thrive through better customer experiences. Valarie talks about how Cambridge, the foundational tools for connecting with customers, and how to design better experiences as a financial advisor.

Jonathan Michael is the Founder and CEO of Wealth I/O, a firm helping independent RIAs capture new clients with AI-powered marketing technology. With over 10 years as a MarTech executive, he has a proven track record of building and growing successful AI and digital marketing companies.  Jonathan is a keynote speaker and a contributing writer for Entrepreneur Media and StartUs. He also holds the Transformation Entrepreneurship Award for his achievements and impact as a founder. In this episode… As the financial industry evolves, clients are becoming more sophisticated and demanding when managing their wealth. Acquiring these clients as an advisor is becoming a challenge. Leveraging AI in your marketing as an RIA can be the missing piece..  Jonathan Michael, a tech guru in the financial services world, says that keeping up with the latest technologies positions you to attract and retain clients. One of the fastest-growing tech tools is AI. RIAs that embrace AI are well-positioned to differentiate themselves in a crowded market, attract more leads, and convert them into loyal clients. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Jonathan Michael, Founder and CEO of Wealth I/O, to discuss AI for wealth management marketing. Jonathan talks about Wealth I/O and how it helps people, how it uses AI to help generate leads, its business model, and ideal clients.

Whit Lanier is the Founder and CEO of Amplify Reviews, the market leader for collecting and publishing verified first-party and third-party reviews online. His previous startup was a healthcare review technology vendor that processed over 60 million patient reviews by 2021. Additionally, he has achieved a black belt in jujitsu and recorded music albums in two different bands. In this episode… The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently updated its marketing regulations, and as a result, financial advisors can now incorporate testimonials and endorsements into their marketing strategies. Now the voice of your customers can do the marketing for you.  Nowadays, online reputations play a crucial role in shaping the prospects’ choices of firms. Marketing expert Whit Lanier says that by leveraging online reviews, you turn your clients into online promoters of your business. With a compliance-first approach, there is no easier or lower-risk way for advisors to embrace client testimonials and take advantage of the new opportunities. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Whit Lanier, Founder and CEO of Amplify Reviews, to discuss how financial advisors can harness the power of online ratings and reviews. Whit explains how Amplify Reviews helps people, why financial advisors fear customer reviews, the value of using customer reviews in financial advisor marketing, and the process for collecting reviews for advisors. 

Reed Colley is the Co-founder and CEO of Summit Wealth Systems, a firm specializing in assisting advisors and their clients by utilizing innovative technology to cultivate mindsets and keep them on track. With over 20 years in the tech industry, he began his career with Black Diamond Performance Reporting in 2003 — the first cloud-based portfolio management system. Reed has also founded, invested in, and provided advisory services to multiple technology companies. In this episode… The wealth management technology industry experiences constant evolution. If you want to take your practice to the next level, it's time to embrace the power of modern technology and explore its benefits.  According to Reed Colley, modern wealth management has transformed in recent years with the rise of new technologies and the changing demands of clients. Unfortunately, many of the legacy systems that have been in use for decades have not kept up with these changes, leaving advisors struggling to meet the needs of their clients. Discovering this challenge, Reed shares his journey of creating a platform to replace these outdated systems to offer greater efficiency and growth. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Reed Colley, Co-founder and CEO of Summit Wealth Systems, to discuss how advisors can leverage technology. Reed shares his journey of creating a human-centered platform, how financial advisors leverage Summit Wealth Systems, and the role of technology in financial advising.

Jeff Schwantz is the Chief Revenue Officer of Advisor360°, a holistic wealth management platform that helps enterprises and advisors accelerate their digital transformation. He is responsible for the company’s revenue generation strategy, execution, and go-to-market approach. With over 24 years of experience in the financial services industry, Jeff frequently presents at industry conferences, executive roundtables, workshops, and seminars. Previously, he has held executive roles at Morningstar, eMoney Advisor, BNY Mellon Pershing, and many more. In this episode… In today's fast-paced and ever-changing financial landscape, wealth management has become increasingly more complex. As a result, financial advisors face numerous challenges when managing and growing their businesses. Burgeoning financial technology might be the solution. Financial expert Jeff Schwantz says that by leveraging technology, financial advisors can increase revenue, streamline operations, and reduce costs. However, despite the benefits of technology, many financial advisors remain hesitant to adopt new tools and processes. Some fear that technology will replace the human touch while others worry about the cost and complexity. So how can technology be used wisely to meet the evolving needs of clients? In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Jeff Schwantz, Chief Revenue Officer of Advisor360°, to discuss how financial advisors can thrive through technology. Jeff talks about Advisor360° and how it helps people, simplifying how financial advisors onboard their clients, and the ideal clients for Advisor360°.

Babu Sivadasan is the Co-founder & CEO of JIFFY.ai, a full-stack platform that enables banks, financial services companies, and Fortune 500 organizations to solve their pressing operational and efficiency challenges. He has more than 20 years of experience working in engineering, including six years as Group President at Envestnet. Previously, Babu was the Co-founder of Stamps.com, which provided all the functions of the Post Office on a computer. In this episode… In today's fast-paced business world, staying competitive demands swift adaptation to better technologies. However, not everyone has the technical know-how to execute innovative concepts. That's where an AI-powered assistant comes in.  The power of automation is undeniable, and AI is at the forefront of the revolution. Whether you are looking to improve customer experience or streamline operations, Babu Sivadasan recommends harnessing AI's advanced capabilities. With it, you can simplify complex processes, save time, boost productivity, and achieve more than you ever thought possible. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Babu Sivadasan, Co-founder & CEO of JIFFY.ai, to discuss how financial services companies can thrive by leveraging AI. Babu explains how JIFFY helps people, its connection with other FinTech products, AI-driven software development, and recommendations for choosing an AI-driven product.

Louis Retief is the Co-founder and CEO of Hubly, a process management system that provides efficiency and visibility to financial advisory firms. With five years of experience in the robo-advisory space, he developed a passion for helping advisors enhance the delivery of their services. As a leader, he guides his team through challenges and creates a culture of courage and integrity. He is also a venture mentor at entrepreneurship@UBC and an advisory board member at AMS of UBC Vancouver. In this episode… As a financial advisor, providing the best service to your clients is your duty. However, sometimes it feels like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. You need a tool that can streamline your business processes and give you the visibility to stay on top of things. According to Louis Retief, financial advisors are juggling multiple tasks to achieve success. They are burning out and failing. However, having a process management system in place can help them. This way you can simplify your processes, improve your efficiency, and focus on what matters. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Louis Retief, Co-founder and CEO of Hubly, to discuss how to unleash the power of effortless financial technology. Louis talks about Hubly, how its product development aligns with the culture and habits of its clients, its business model, and its ideal client profile.

Rocky Chugani is the Owner and Designer of Rocky's Custom Clothes. He is an expert tailor specializing in custom-made, bespoke garments for the individual. Rocky's clients include renowned Hollywood celebrities such as Steve Harvey, Jay Leno, Jeff Probst, Maurice Chestnut, and many more. For the past 35 years, he has strived to maintain the highest standards in custom clothing, comparable to designers such as Zegna, Armani, and Karuna Khaitan. In this episode… Your appearance speaks volumes about your professionalism and expertise. Whether you're meeting with clients, networking with industry peers, or presenting in front of a room full of people, you want to look your best. When you look good, you feel good, and this boost in confidence can help you deliver more value to your clients.  It's no secret that successful professionals always put their best foot forward, and looking sharp is a crucial part of that strategy. Rocky Chugani says that professionals always look their best by investing in custom-made, bespoke garments from expert tailors. These skilled experts specialize in creating unique pieces that fit their bodies perfectly and accentuate their best features. By investing in your appearance, you're investing in your ability to deliver more value to your clients. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Rocky Chugani, Owner and Designer of Rocky's Custom Clothes, to discuss how dressing translates to service. Rocky explains how Rocky's Custom Clothes helps people, why choose custom-made clothes, tricks and techniques for delivering affordable quality products, and the fashion trends in the financial industry.

Mamal Amini is the Co-founder and CEO of GovernGPT, an AI that understands financial sector regulations for the SEC and FINRA. It reviews marketing materials for sales communications and provides real-time feedback at the point of creation. Mamal is an AI scientist holding an MS in computer science from McGill University. In this episode… Compliance in the financial services industry is essential. It's not just about following rules and regulations, it's also about protecting your clients and your business. With so many regulations to keep up with, it's essential to have a tool to help you stay compliant. According to Mamal Amini, using an AI tool that reviews content as your team creates it can save time and reduce the risk of compliance issues. An AI tool can identify problems, suggest alternatives, and give consistent feedback to content creators. He shares his journey of creating an AI tool to do exactly that. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker sits down with Mamal Amini, Co-founder and CEO of GovernGPT, to discuss how AI can help you stay compliant in the financial services industry. Mamal talks about AI-powered compliance review tools, GovernGPT, building an AI that acts like a Chief Compliance Officer, and advice for building a successful AI business.