The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors

Dive into the competitive landscape shaping the financial advisory industry in 2025. Discover how headline-making transitions and evolving deal structures are impacting recruitment strategies. Explore the financial benefits of independence for advisory teams and the dominance of leading firms in the independent space. Uncover future trends like retire-in deals and the role of private equity in recruitment dynamics. Stay ahead of the curve with insights on advisor movement and the shifts happening at major firms!

With Julia Healey, CEO of United Charitable Overview Julia Healey, CEO of United Charitable, shares insights on DAFs, their value to clients, and the potential positive impact they can have on an advisor’s business. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. About this episode… This episode serves as both an educational session and a business development strategy around Donor Advised Funds, or DAFs. You’ve likely heard of them, maybe even worked with one—but chances are, you’re not maximizing their potential. Because DAFs aren’t just for high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients. And while they offer a philanthropic path for clients’ wealth, the value goes well beyond. When used correctly, DAFs can help strengthen client relationships, attract new assets, and create a genuine sense of impact and purpose for clients at all wealth levels. Julia Healey knows this space inside and out. As the CEO of United Charitable, she works with financial advisors and clients every day to unlock the full value of DAFs—not just from a tax and estate planning perspective, but from a relationship and growth perspective, too. In this episode, we cover: How DAFs actually work—and what makes them so accessible. The biggest misconceptions—and why they’re not just for the mega-wealthy. How advisors are using them to differentiate—and build trust. The value of working with a firm like United Charitable—and how they help financial advisors make a greater impact with their clients. And what it looks like when you give clients a real path to be a philanthropist. Whether you’re new to the concept or looking to refine how you present DAFs, this episode offers a practical, insightful take on an often-overlooked tool. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources Innovative Ways the Best Independent Firms Fuel Growth: A Special Industry Update Independence allows advisors to create an unlimited menu of innovative value-add services for their clients. And as the industry landscape expands, employee advisors are finding ways to get in on the action. Learn specific examples of the various services offered by some of the industry’s leading independent firms. The Best of the Best: 10 Ways Top Advisors Are Growing Their Businesses A “Top 10” list of firm-level innovations and grassroots methodologies from some of the most successful advisors, teams, and firm in the business. Listen in to spark ideas designed to drive greater growth. The Power of the Midyear Gut Check: A Playbook for Clarity and Momentum It’s the perfect time for advisors to set up the second half of the year for success. Julia Healey CEO Julia Healey is the Chief Executive Officer of United Charitable, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting philanthropic efforts through donor-advised funds and fiscally sponsored programs. With a background in finance and accounting, she earned a B.S. in Business Administration, an MBA in Finance, and a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University. Though she began her career path in finance, Julia’s direction shifted after witnessing firsthand the inequities in access to education and resources. Inspired to make a difference, she combined her financial expertise with a deep commitment to social impact—ultimately leading her into the nonprofit world. Also available on your favorite podcast app and other media sites

With Ben Valore-Caplan, Founder of Syntrinsic Overview Ben Valore-Caplan, founder of Syntrinsic, shares how he built a $2.9B mission-driven RIA to serve foundations, endowments, and values-driven institutions, the evolution of impact and ESG investing, why he sold to IMA Financial Group, and more. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. About this episode… This episode serves as a powerful reminder that the best businesses are built not just on scale, but on intention and alignment with values. In a landscape where most RIAs are designed to serve wealthy individuals, Ben Valore-Caplan took a different path—one rooted in advising non-profits with a focus on mission and purpose. After a decade as an educator and nonprofit entrepreneur, Ben entered the wealth management world at UBS’s predecessor Paine Webber. As an institutional consultant, Ben saw an opportunity to become a bridge between the finance and nonprofit sectors. Yet, as he looked more closely at the conflicts embedded in the wirehouse model, he saw a greater opportunity to build something better: an RIA fully aligned with institutional clients’ missions. So, in 2008, Ben left the wirehouse world to launch Syntrinsic Investment Counsel—an RIA built to serve foundations, endowments, and values-driven institutions. What started as a niche business has since grown into a $2.9B firm, known for its conflict-free model and deep alignment with client missions. In this conversation with Louis Diamond, Ben shares the story of Syntrinsic’s growth – from launch to sale – including: Leaving UBS to launch an RIA—and how that allowed him to serve institutional clients in a differentiated way. Mission-aligned investing—and how it has evolved beyond environmental, social, and governance (ESG). Philanthropy and nonprofit investments—and what strategies are applicable to all advisors. Mastering scale—and how to do so without compromising purpose or culture. The decision to sell the firm to IMA Financial Group in 2023—and what made that cultural fit work. Whether you’re focused on growth, purpose, or both, Ben’s story is a valuable reminder that building a great firm isn’t just about scale: It’s about clarity, intention, and doing the work that matters. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources The Best of the Best: 10 Ways Top Advisors Are Growing Their Businesses— A Special Industry Update A “Top 10” list of firm-level innovations and grassroots methodologies from some of the most successful advisors, teams, and firm in the business. Listen in to spark ideas designed to drive greater growth. Top Tips for Setting Your Business Up for Success Years Before a Move Whether you’re just exploring what’s out there or actively conducting due diligence, these insights will help you position your business and team for success, whenever the time is right. Is Scale a Necessary Evil in Wealth Management? Scale can provide a competitive advantage. Yet there might be scenarios in which bigger isn’t always better. Ben Valore-Caplan Founder and Co-President Throughout his career, Ben has built bridges between seemingly disparate groups. Since 2000, he has connected the nonprofit and finance sectors as an investment advisor and strategic partner to foundations, endowments, nonprofit organizations, and the people affiliated with them. Ben founded Syntrinsic Investment Counsel in 2008 after serving as Senior Vice President of Investments at UBS where he led the BVC Institutional Consulting Group. In 2023, Syntrinsic joined IMA Financial Group to gain efficiency and deepen impact across the country. At Syntrinsic, Ben serves as Co-President where he runs point on several client relationships and co-leads the firm’s long-term strategy. Syntrinsic advises on $2.9 billion in assets across approximately 60 foundations and endowments and a handful of private client households. Ben also builds bridges through community engagement. In his first career, he was an educator and social entrepreneur. He founded and directed Denver Summerbridge, an academically rigorous educational opportunity program for first generation college bound students that continues to thrive over 30 years later as Breakthrough Kent Denver. Ben served as an independent trustee, investment committee member, and Vice Chair for Colorado’s $50+ billion Public Employee’s Retirement Association (PERA). He served for several years on the Advisory Committee to the City of Denver’s $5 billion fund. He is on the board and chairs the finance committee of Challenge Foundation and serves on the board and finance committee of Denver Zoo and Conservation Alliance. Ben is a proud member of the Colorado Forum, a nonpartisan organization of community leaders committed to advancing creative, long-term solutions to challenging civic issues. He was selected as the Conscious Business Leader of 2019 by Conscious Company. Ben earned his BA from Brown University and MBA from the University of Denver. He and his wife, Amie, have four children. Also available on your favorite podcast app and other media sites

With Cary Carbonaro, Managing Wealth Advisor and Women & Wealth Ambassador at Ashton Thomas Overview Cary Carbonaro learned from her own experience that there was both a gap and an opportunity in attracting and retaining women clients and advisors. In this episode, Cary shares specific advice on what firms are doing wrong and how they can get it right. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. About this episode… In our world, most firms are focused on growth. However, they often overlook one of the biggest and most significant opportunities: women. That includes women as clients, who are expected to control two-thirds of all wealth over the next decade. It also includes women as advisors, who remain significantly underrepresented in the industry. Cary Carbonaro has made it her mission to positively impact the world of women when it comes to advice and representation in the wealth management world. Cary’s extensive career includes leadership roles at ACM Wealth, Goldman Sachs, where she served as Vice President and Head of Office, and United Capital, where she founded and led the Women’s Leadership division. Today, with a client base that’s more than 75% women, Cary has built a $300mm advisory business at Ashton Thomas, focusing on empathy, education, and empowerment. She has also been an outspoken advocate as the Women and Wealth Ambassador for the firm and in the media, advising on how to support women in wealth and how to move from recruiting slogans to real change. In this episode, Cary and Mindy Diamond discuss: Cary’s personal journey from the wirehouse world to independence—and how her experience influences her work. The opportunity in serving women clients—and what firms should be doing differently to win in this market. The gap in attracting and retaining women advisors—and how to build a practice that excels with top talent. What advisors often get wrong about “selling” to women—and how to fix it. And how authenticity and advocacy can drive both purpose and growth Cary’s success story is one that resonates with advisors on many levels, and her mission is one we can all get behind—and learn from. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources Finding the Shortest Path to Excellence Can Be a Game Changer for Advisors Doing everything you can to deliver better service, drive growth, and achieve your goals faster can result in extraordinary benefits. Firms That Win in 2025: What Advisors Are Really Looking For With advisor expectations evolving, not all “good firms” are winning the talent. Mindy and Louis Diamond share what today’s top advisors really value—and why some firms are standing out while others fall short. Wealth Management Landscape at a Glance This “at-a-glance” continuum infographic—to help you navigate the different models and understand how their features stack up. Cary Carbonaro Managing Wealth Advisor and Women and Wealth Ambassador Cary Carbonaro is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner™ professional with over 25 years of experience, and currently serves as Managing Wealth Advisor and Women and Wealth Ambassador for Ashton Thomas. She leads a multimillion-dollar financial planning practice, specializing in empowering women to overcome financial challenges and increase their financial literacy. Cary’s extensive career includes leadership roles at ACM Wealth, Goldman Sachs where she was Vice President and Head of Office, and United Capital where she founded and led the Women’s Leadership division. At United Capital, she earned titles such as Diamond Office Winner, Managing Director, Partner, Voice of Women, FinLife Coach, and MVP. Cary is the author of the bestselling book The Money Queen’s Guide: For Women Who Want to Build Wealth and Banish Fear,  Morgan James, Oct 2015. Cary’s second book. Women and Wealth: A Playbook To Empower Clients and Unlock Their Fortune,  published by Wiley April 29, 2025.  It was #1 New Release in Wealth Management, Economics and Business Finance. She serves as a CFP® Board Ambassador, representing the financial industry in the media, and has been honored six times on Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors list. In 2016, she was awarded the prestigious Investment News Women to Watch recognition. In 2024, Cary was appointed as the first female member of the Nasdaq Advisor Council. She has also endowed a scholarship at the State University of New York at Cortland for Women in Business, where she was the founding president of Sigma Delta Tau sorority. Cary is the founding president of the Women’s Giving Alliance, a giving circle in the South Lake Community Foundation, and a member of the Benefactors Circle at the Center for Financial Planning, where she advocates for advancing women in the financial industry. Cary’s knowledge and expertise are highly sought after, and she frequently appears as a commentator on local and national television news channels. She has spoken around the world on financial literacy, with a focus on advocating for women and guiding them to financial empowerment. Also available on your favorite podcast app and other media sites

Discover the shifting landscape of financial advisory firms as top advisors redefine their expectations. Key insights reveal why clarity, consistency, and flexibility are crucial for attracting elite talent. The discussion highlights the importance of firm culture and how evolving paradigms focus more on long-term value rather than short-term gains. Additionally, the role of technology and individual preferences in firm suitability are examined, showcasing how unique attributes can set successful firms apart in a competitive market.

Brian Pultman, Founder and CEO of Correct Capital Wealth Management, shares his courageous journey from a 25-year tenure at Wells Fargo to establishing his independent firm. He candidly discusses the challenges of this transition, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal values with professional goals. Listeners will find insights on navigating the complexities of independence, the value of clarity in leadership, and the unique advantages of specializing in niche markets. Brian's story is a testament to pursuing integrity and personal fulfillment in the financial advisory landscape.

With Stephanie Bogan – Founder, Limitless Advisor Overview Stephanie Bogan, founder of Limitless Advisor, offers a glimpse into the advice and perspective she shares with advisors and business leaders in the wealth management world, focusing on mindset and methods, and their relationship to achieving one’s best business life. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. Watch… About this episode… In the wealth management world, growth is typically measured in hard numbers, such as assets, revenue, and headcount. Yet, the most successful advisors are those who define growth more holistically, designing their businesses around the lives they want to live, rather than the other way around. Yet there’s a certain reality that many advisors are experiencing, such as burnout, blurred boundaries, and growth that doesn’t always feel fulfilling—and the struggle between building a business and living a balanced life has become much more common. Stephanie Bogan, the founder of Limitless Advisor and one of the most respected voices in advisor coaching, joins the show to address all that and more. At 24, Stephanie built a consulting firm and sold it a dozen years later for seven figures. She joined the firm’s executive leadership team, playing a pivotal role in scaling their offerings to thousands of advisors. Then she left for the SVP role of Training and Client Experience at United Capital. And if all that wasn’t enough, Stephanie made one of the most dramatic life shifts of all: She moved to Costa Rica to design the lifestyle she once only coached others to pursue. Today, Stephanie works with advisors across the industry—helping them grow with greater freedom, clarity, intention, and purpose. She founded her successful practice on the belief that the key to greater success and happiness lies in mastering mindset and methods. (And Stephanie’s impact in the wealth management world extends to clients like Michael Kitces and Louis Diamond!) In this episode with Louis, Stephanie breaks down her philosophies, offering anecdotal evidence around each, including: The power of mindset—and how making one shift can transform how you work, lead, and live. Reframing negativity—and how certain strategies can help you transform adversity into positive paths. Avoiding burnout—and how to build a business that scales smartly without sacrificing your sanity. Plus, Stephanie reflects on her own journey, including the personal pivots that provided her with a clearer path forward—and how those lessons now shape her work with advisors. Whether you’re considering a new path or looking at ways to refine your current trajectory, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that growth isn’t just about doing more—it’s about being more intentional with what you build. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources Leveraging the Power of Mindset to Enhance Your Wealth Management Business Without the right mindset, it’s impossible to determine if where and how you practice is indeed best for you, your business, and your clients. Self-Assessment for Advisors Our 7-Step Guided Process helps advisors navigate uncertainty with confidence. At its core is our trademarked Self-Assessment—a powerful tool to define your goals and start smart due diligence. Download a preview and take the first step toward your best business life. The Best of the Best: 10 Ways Top Advisors Are Growing Their Businesses— A Special Industry Update A “Top 10” list of firm-level innovations and grassroots methodologies from some of the most successful advisors, teams, and firm in the business. Listen in to spark ideas designed to drive greater growth. Stephanie Bogan Founder Stephanie Bogan is a recognized leader in the financial services industry with over 25 years of experience consulting and coaching top firms, thought leaders, and C-suite executives. At just 24, she founded her first consulting firm, which she sold 12 years later in a 7-figure deal to a Fortune 200 company. Joining their Executive Team, Stephanie played a pivotal role in integrating and scaling offerings across thousands of advisors. Later, as SVP of Training and Client Experience at United Capital, she spearheaded the development of the national practice model, training center, and client experience, which were adopted by thousands of advisors and ultimately acquired by Goldman Sachs. In 2014, despite her financial success, Stephanie retired to Costa Rica to explore a more fulfilling path. Her search led to profound insights about the science of behavior and mindset, shaping her belief that the key to greater success and happiness lies in mastering mindset plus methods. As the founder of Limitless, Stephanie now empowers financial advisors and founders to create bigger, better futures on their terms. She is the author of The Power of Practice Management (Bloomberg Press), a regular contributor to leading publications such as Investment News, Financial Advisor, Kitces.com, and Advisor Perspectives, and a sought-after speaker in the industry. Also available on your favorite podcast app and other media sites

Joel Guth, Founder and CEO of Gryphon Financial Partners, shares his journey from a wirehouse advisor to leading a $3B independent firm. He discusses how his transition opened opportunities for tailored client solutions and a more autonomous business model. Listeners will learn about the significance of building trust, the importance of prioritizing long-term value over immediate gains, and the transformative role of technology in enhancing advisory services. Guth emphasizes evolving from advisor to leader, essential for scaling a successful financial enterprise.

Tony Parr, Founding Partner of The Parr McKnight Wealth Management Group, shares the dynamic journey of creating a billion-dollar advisory firm. He discusses leveraging Wells Fargo’s ecosystem for a seamless transition to independence. Highlights include strategic decision-making for financial partnerships, the importance of client relationships, and fostering a multi-generational team. Parr emphasizes balancing growth and purpose, detailing his approach to succession planning and community contributions in the advisory space.

Dive into innovative strategies that leading financial advisors use to turbocharge their growth. Discover creative team structures that promote efficiency and unique marketing ideas tailored to today's digital landscape. Explore the advantages of hiring experienced advisors without a book of business and learn how strategic partnerships with CPAs can enhance referrals. From succession planning to navigating recruitment challenges, this collection of top tactics is sure to inspire fresh ideas for any advisory firm.