Fintech Impact

Turning Wellness into Financial Savings with Om Suthar of SQRLIn this 70th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host conducts an interview with Om Suthar, Founder of SQRL. SQRL is a company that combines fitness tracking, behavioral finance, and insurance into one product that services and encourages workplace wellness. During the course of the discussion, Om Suthar offers information about how vital wellness is from a productivity and insurance level and how SQRL is impacting within their unique convergence of these spaces.Episode Highlights:00:42–  Om Suthar introduces himself and explains SQRL.00:56: – What was the impetus for Om to start SQRL?03:00: – How does the SQRL app work for users?04:39: – Where has SQRL led Om thus far?05:47: – How can employers benefit from utilizing the service?07:21: – How does activity and insurance data converge with SQRL?08:55: – What are some of the potential positive outcomes of Squirrel?11:33: – What has been the response to SQRL up to this point?12:24: – Why has the traditional distribution model been less than pleased             with this solution?14:38: – What has been effective in SQRL’s efforts to penetrate the market?16:52: – Which scary health statistics demand positive results?17:32: – How does the monetization of SQRL work?18:07: – What has been the end-user reaction?19:33: – If there was one change Om could see happen, what would it             be?20:06: – What has been the biggest challenge for getting this company to grow?22:12: – What keeps Om driving forward and excites him as an entrepreneur?3 Key Points:The dashboard showcases aggregate anonymous-level data to track user activation, progress, long-term behavior change. Om Suthar believes the responsible thing for SQRL to do is to not actually work with the insurance companies, because, wellness programs today appear to be designed to help health insurance companies create public health records off our personal health data.If every American walked 10,000 steps a day, the American healthcare economy would save $550 billion dollar in treating chronic cardiovascular diseases every year.Tweetable Quotes:“What you can do with Squirrel is you can sign up through our portal, customize the conditions and the pay-out amount.” – Om Suthar“For every 2000 steps that you add to your habit and keep, which most of our users do within the first 166 days on average, that’s an 8% reduction of the risk of chronic cardiovascular disease.” – Om Suthar“We only charge per employee that activates the program.” – Om SutharResources Mentioned:Facebook – Jason Pereira’s FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedInOm Suthar– Linkedin for Om SutharSQRL – Website for SQRL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:In this 69th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host conducts an interview with Samantha Russell, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Twenty Over Ten. Twenty Over Ten is a company that assists advisors with marketing and consulting for their business, along with intuitive websites that are easy to manage with a compliance backend. Samantha shares how Twenty Over Ten was started, the marketing problems that they provide their client's solutions to, and the common reasons why many advisors either succeed or fail at digital marketing.Episode Highlights:● 00:36: – Samantha Russell explains Twenty Over Ten and how they help advisors.● 02:44: – What was one of the driving forces for Twenty over Ten getting created?● 05:22: – How has the RAA market differed from the BD space?● 07:34: – What are the unique value propositions that Twenty Over Ten offers?● 12:47: – Do they look for performance on a global level to see what the best practices are?● 17:21: – Jason shares a story from earlier in his career at a dealership conference.● 18:24: – It is all about content marketing and sharing free information.● 19:12: – Besides marketing, what other ways are Twenty Over Ten helping people?● 22:17: – What is one thing that Samantha wishes could be different about her business?● 23:05: – What has been the biggest challenge to date for Twenty Over Ten?● 25:51: – What are some of the website conversations like for those that claim they don’t need them?● 28:03: – For less than $100-a-month clients can benefit from the expertise of Twenty Over Ten.● 34:58: – What about Samantha’s job makes her excited to wake up in the morning?3 Key Points:1. Twenty Over Ten’s value propositions include a built-from-the-ground-up platform, a user-friendly system that doesn’t restrict your content, educational assistance and help with onboarding.2. The problems with websites not getting leads are typically not having a call-to-action, not being optimized for basic search engine optimization, and they didn’t have language specific to their audience.3. Successful websites generally have a schedule once option, very niche-specific language, include video in their marketing, and offer an “as featured in” page with logos of media outlets where their advisor has been featured.Tweetable Quotes:● “We always say you need to write your content to be problem-solution-based.” – Samantha ● “Your challenges sometimes are also your biggest blessings because I think we did have an outsider’s perspective so we could see things very differently than people that have been in the industry forever.” – Samantha● “If you aren’t moving forward, you are moving backwards.” – SamanthaResources Mentioned:● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s● Samantha Russell – Linkedin● Twenty Over Ten Blog – Blog for Twenty Over Ten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:In this 68th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host conducts an interview with Ron Finberg, Product Specialist at Cappitech. Cappitech is a company that assists international financial companies that deal with reporting complex issues stemming from global regulations. Learn what Cappitech is capable of doing during this discussion with Ron Fineberg.Episode Highlights:● 00:48: – Ron Finberg explains Cappitech and what they do.● 01:59: – How did Cappitech get started?● 05:20: – What is the regulatory challenges that Cappitech solves?● 08:15: – What types of challenges are often faced to compile data?● 09:42: – How does the Cappitech platform format work?● 10:55: – Which areas does Cappitech service?● 12:27: – What is coming out of extreme data dumps?● 15:09: – How does the end-user experience unfold?● 17:20: – What has been the reception from the clients that Ron has been dealing with?● 21:39: – What would be something Ron Finberg wishes he could change in the industry?● 25:09: – What has been the biggest challenge in getting Cappitech out into the marketplace?● 29:33: – What excites Ron Finberg the most about Cappitech?3 Key Points:1. I.T. people and legal compliance people have to work together to deal with regulatory organizations.2. Problem-solving questions that Cappitech asks include: Where is the data coming from? Is it enough data to comply with what the regulators need? Is there data that Cappitech can find?3. Compliance people can view where their problems are and what is getting rejected by regulators.Tweetable Quotes:● “I think what the European regulators are finding out is that there is a lot of information that they can’t use, just because they didn’t expect it to be received in a certain way, and it is...and there is no use for it all.” – Ron● “Our main user would be a compliance or operational officer at an investment firm.” – Ron● “There is always something new to be able to scale to, which is a nice area of the place we’re in, and one of the reasons we attracted certain types of investors into our company.” – RonResources Mentioned:● @Fintech_Impact - Facebook● Jason Pereira - LinkedIn● Ron Finberg – Linkedin● Cappitech.com – Website for Cappitech Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:In this 67th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host conducts an interview with Michael Curtis, President of Vision Systems. Vision Systems is a Canadian-based financial software corporation that is capable of performing full and comprehensive financial planning for individuals, businesses, and trusts. Jason and Michael’s discussion covers what Vision Systems is capable of handling, the difference between dynamic and static planning, and how the software is able to mold to the client.EpisodeHighlights:● 00:34: – Michael Curtis explains Vision Systems and how it got started.● 03:48: – Does Michael see a lot of larger firms viewing financial planning as a loss leader?● 06:30: – Which types of financial plans can Vision Systems handle?● 07:41: – Most of the software in the United States and Canada are goals-based.● 10:08: – Jason and Michael discuss the difference between dynamic and static systems.● 13:57: – What are the driving considerations in the development of the software?● 15:27: – What is the advantage of taking into consideration the entire family?● 16:17: – Why is multiple-generation planning so critical?● 19:21: – Does Michael feel that Vision Systems goes too far sometimes in the add-ons?● 22:47: – What does Vision Systems do on the portfolio side of things?● 25:00: – Michael explains what Vision Systems has created on the reporting end.● 26:56: – What future software releases can be expected?● 28:20: – What would be something Michael Curtis wishes he could change in his company?● 30:27: – What has been the biggest challenge in getting Vision Systems out into the marketplace?● 34:42: – What excites Michael Curtis the most about Vision Systems?3 Key Points:1.Integrating the terms of wills into financial predictions are critical for between 40-50% of the population.2. The national divorce rate in Canada is around 40% and millennials have thelowest divorce rate of any generation.3. The planner’s area of expertise is their financial tactics and the client’s area ofexpertise is their values and wants in life.Tweetable Quotes:● “We produce financial planning software. In my opinion, it is the most robust and also the most accurate software in Canada.” – Michael Curtis● “Our software is what I refer to as ‘dynamic.’ It is a true-life model, and the database is one where literally you can change any entry year-by-year.” – Michael Curtis● “We actually integrate the terms of wills into the financial forecast, and I consider this to be totally overlooked in the industry.” – Michael CurtisResources Mentioned:● @Fintech_Impact - Facebook● Jason Pereira - LinkedIn● Michael Curtis – Linkedin● VisionSystemsCorp.com – Website for Vision Systems Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:In this 66th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host conducts a review of his experience at the Salesforce World Tour Conference in Toronto along with his colleague Alex Martin, a financial advisor with IPC Securities, Vice President at Craig & Taylor Associates, and a Founding Partner with Jason Pereira at Finally Technology.Time Stamped Show Notes:● 00:49: – Alex Martin introduces himself● 02:01: – What is Salesforce● 06:13: – Salesforce puts out multiple iterations on a yearly basis● 07:05: – What is the importance of being able to build your own APIs on top ofpre-existing software for businesses● 09:23: – Alex discusses Salesforce’s Customer 360 platform for taking serversinto one place● 12:08: – Deduplication is a problem that people deal with in legacy systems● 13:03: – What is Alex’s take on Salesforce’s Einstein Voice● 16:26: – They discuss the concept of ‘next best action’● 19:07: – What is Salesforce's Quip platform capable of● 21:37: – How is the Salesforce training program Trailhead extremely useful● 26:35: – Salesforce empowers a company’s employees with the ability to self-learn3 Key Points:1. Salesforce is a development platform for everything from data services and A.I.platforms, to sales service, marketing, and commerce.2. Salesforce has different pieces called clouds for things such as service, marketing,and sales.3. Quip is Salesforce’s collaborative platform that is like Slack meets Google Docs.Tweetable Quotes:- “Salesforce was the first CRM (Customer Relations Management software) to be100% developed for the web.’” – Alex Martin.- “We need to pull all this data into one place, or at least have one central piece that isgoing to be able to mine all this data and talk to it and understand it.” – Alex Martin.- “The difference in Einstein (Voice) from other A.I.’s is the fact that it is reallysupposed to be the piece that makes your data actionable.” – Alex Martin.Resources Mentioned:● Facebook – @Fintech_Impact● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira● LinkedIn - Alex Martin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:In this 65th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host conducts an interview with Adam Holt, the CEO of Asset-Map. Asset-Map is a powerful online visualization tool that helps financial advisors, as well as clients, get aligned with each other. Adam shares the road that brought him into creating this service, how Asset-Map provides tangible value, and what changes Adam believes need to take place to improve the industry.Time Stamped Show Notes:● 00:30: – What kind of financial software program is Asset-Map● 01:03: – How did this journey towards Asset-Map roll out● 02:17: – Which elements are included in the Asset-Map visualizations for clients● 07:20: – You have to show a client that you know them, their needs and solutions● 09:59: – What does the customer experience of the product look like● 13:21: – What kind of goals-based planning module is Asset-Map● 15:03: – What has the advisor and client feedback been like with Asset-Map● 18:42: – Which types of integrations are possible with Asset-Map● 20:15: – Stop getting stuck in the exact details of the ever-changing data● 22:17: – Explain what is happening in terms that the client can understand● 24:40: – Advisors need to manage and project the client’s expectations● 25:13: – What would Adam Holt want to change in the industry● 28:23: – Which issues have been challenges to Asset-Map’s growth● 29:40: – What keeps Adam Holt excited about what he is doing with Asset-Map3 Key Points:1. The 5 things to capture on an asset map are legal entities, cash flows, assets,liabilities, and insurance policies.2. Asset-Map has essentially created an easily digestible info-graphic around a client’slife.3. The three basic expectations of consultants: prove that you know your client, you’reyour client’s situation, and know their options.Tweetable Quotes:- “We’ve been focusing a lot on, ‘how do I make the advisor look better?’” – Adam Holt.- “There are so many people trying to lead with advice, they’re mistaking the research,and the guidance, and the analysis stuff as actually the product of what the customer is really paying for.” – Adam Holt.- “We already have now, enterprise-level results, for multiple years, that advisors usingAsset-Map are actually making more revenue than those that don’t, by a significant measure.” – Adam Holt.Resources Mentioned:● Facebook – @Woodgate_Financial● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn● LinkedIn for Adam Holt● Asset-Map.com – Website for Asset-Map Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:In this 64nd episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host conducts an interview with Nitesh Verma, Director of Marketing and Enterprise Solutions at Advisor Websites. Advisor Websites operates as a platform that enables financial advisors to publish attractive and compliant websites. Nitesh shares the ways that Advisor Websites can improve business access and referrals for financial advisors, the integration capabilities of their services, and he points out the reasons why some advisors make the mistake of avoiding websites.Time Stamped Show Notes:● 00:27: – What is Advisor Websites’ origin and what problems is it trying to solve● 02:34: – Advisor Websites is like a Squarespace or Wix for financial advisors● 03:32: – Nitesh Verma started in sales at Advisor Websites● 05:07: – What are the price points for Advisor Websites’ services● 09:04 – Which tools currently integrate with Advisor Websites● 09:40: – How does the process roll out for a client using Advisor Websites● 12:42: – What are the key reasons that companies or business professionals needwebsites● 14:27: – Your first impression these days is your digital presence● 15:41: – A lot of firms miss out on generating their own referrals● 16:36: – What flows through between Redtail and Advisor Websites● 17:54: – How does the integration with social media platforms work● 19:40: – Search engine optimization is an available add-on service● 21:13: – What options are Advisor Websites not offering at the moment● 24:32: – Nitesh shares a story about what he learned at an industry conference● 26:42: – What are the biggest trends that clients are asking of Advisor Websites● 29:43 – Why are some financial advisors so against getting a website● 34:48: – If Nitesh could change one thing about the industry what would it be● 35:37: – What has been the on-going process of expanding Advisor Websites● 37:02: – What gets Nitesh Verma excited about working for Advisor Websites3 Key Points:1. The broker dealer market has been a big part of Advisor Websites’ client basebecause of their built-in compliance system.2. Without a website, how will your business get more referrals or have customers takeyou seriously?3. Videos can be used for emails, your website, social media, and are great for referrals.Tweetable Quotes:- “We are a website-building company, and we specifically work with financial advisorsin the U.S. and Canada. We have a proprietary platform with compliance in-built to help advisors market themselves.” – Nitesh Verma.- “Digital marketing, I think a big mind-set is ‘let’s get leads, let’s get leads,’ getting youbusiness. But, it is also actually converting those referrals.” – Nitesh Verma.Resources Mentioned:● Facebook – @FintechImpact● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s● LinkedIn - Nitesh Verma● advisorwebsites.com – Website for Advisor Websites Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:In this 63rd episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host has an informative interview with Aaron Klein, CEO, and Co-Founder of Riskalyze, a risk tolerance assessment and illustration tool that helps advisors analyze the amount of risk in their client's portfolios. Aaron opens up about how Riskalyze operates, how it can benefit advisors and the importance of risk assessment in the financial industry.Time Stamped Show Notes:● 00:40: – Arron explains what Riskalyze is● 03:11: – What is the Riskalyze definition of goals-based investing● 05:00: – Why does Riskalyze put risk-centric advice at the forefront● 07:00: – The biggest risk is if the market drops a client pulls out and missed theupswing later● 08:24: – How does the “risk number” that Riskalyze created help assess risk● 12:44: – Understand how much risk clients need to reach their goals● 16:14: – What types of methods does Riskalyze use to calculate risk probability● 17:22: – Advisors need to be clear on what they are offering clients● 19:08: – Has Aaron ever been asked to testify in court● 20:54: – Riskalyze feels that their competition is a spreadsheet and gut feelings● 24:22 – Risk tolerance data shows that 52% of investors between 20-29 didn’t fitthe stereotype of being aggressive investors● 29:55: – What does the Riskalyze user experience look like● 31:44: – Riskalyze doesn’t consider themselves a financial planning company● 34:34: – Riskalyze aims to help advisors democratize their access to advice● 35:15: – What have been the biggest challenges that Riskalyze has faced● 38:52: – What gets Aaron Klein up in the morning and excited about Riskalyze3 Key Points:1. Great short-term decisions are the fuel that successful advisors to create long-termfinancial outcomes.2. Riskalyze has around 200 “Riskalyzers” serving over 20,000 financial advisors.3. Financial advisement needs to move away from feelings and into quantifiablerecommendations.Tweetable Quotes:- “Our mission is empowering the world to invest fearlessly.” – Aaron Klein.- “We are swamped with advisors calling us when markets are down.” – Aaron Klein.- “Are you selling financial products or are you selling your advice. You can’t wear bothhats.” – Aaron Klein.Resources Mentioned:● Facebook – @FintechImpact● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira● LinkedIn - Aaron Klein● Riskalyze.com – Website for Riskalyze● @AaronKlein – Twitter for Aaron Klein Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:In this 62nd episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host conducts an interview with Ian Jeffery, CEO and Co-Founder of Breathe Life, a software service platform that drives traffic to insurance carriers websites and advisors. Ian also shares how Breathe Life helps to complete direct-to-consumer sales of life insurance policies and how he addresses the advice gap in the insurance industry.Time Stamped Show Notes:● 00:42: – How can Breathe Life benefit the industry● 03:14: – What made Ian get into this business● 06:42: – What does Breath Life do for clients● 10:08: – How does Breathe Life address the advice gap● 13:41: – Breathe Life works through MGAs and carriers, not through advisors● 14:08: – What is an example of a carrier they have worked with● 15:42: – What is some of the stuff they are learning from the analytics● 18:51: – How has the feedback been on Breathe Life so far● 24:00: – If Ian had one wish for his business, what would it be● 24:38: – What has been the biggest challenge the company has had● 25:56: – What energizes Ian to keep going3 Key Points:1. Breathe Life has two paths: the advisor path and the organization path.2. Breathe Life prospects people for their clients based on keyword selection andmarketing effort.3. Develop your own deep niches.Tweetable Quotes:- “70% of our sales on the direct-to-consumer platform are on mobile.” – Ian Jeffery.- “Every advisor can have their own personally-brand page.” – Ian Jeffery.- “Technology should be an enabler of what this industry has been doing, not adisrupter.” – Ian Jeffery.Resources Mentioned:● Fintech Impact – Jason Pereira’s Facebook● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s● LinkedIn - Ian Jeffrey● @ianmtl – Twitter for Ian Jeffrey● BreatheLife.com – Website for Breathe Life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:In this 61th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host conducts an interview with Scott Huff, the CEO of YourEfolio, an estate planning software platform to assist financial advisors facilitate the transfer of assets. Scott Huff shares his background in financial services and how it steered him in the direction of establishing YourEfolio, a company he has been active with now since March 2015.Show Notes:● 01:03: – YourEfolio is a premium estate planning software that benefits advisors,clients, and attorneys● 01:46: – Being a financial planner since 2001 is what pushed Scott into YourEfolio● 03:08: – How does YourEfolio interact their advisors and their clients● 04:32: – What is the service doing for clients online● 09:57: – Estate planning is a relationship business that has an effect on legacies● 10:32: – What has been the feedback from financial advisors● 12:14: – What is the value proposition of YourEfolio● 14:45: – How have lawyers been responding to YourEfolio● 16:35: – Yourefolio helps attorneys create and edit documents electronically tosave time● 20:01: – Clients are getting more educated and understand the costs involved intechnology● 22:22: – The market is a means to an end, not the means itself● 23:34: – What is the price point on YourEfolio● 24:40: – What types are integrations have been built into the software● 26:34: – If Scott could change one thing in the industry, what would it be● 27:04: – What has been the biggest challenge that Scott has faced when buildingYourEfolio● 28:16: – What keeps Scott Huff excited and motivated3 Key Points:1. YourEfolio settles estates from the tangible asset side as well as on the digital assetexposure end.2. The gamification module is a confidential survey given to client family members tounderstand what things mean the most to who.3. It’s a losing proposition to not evolve.Tweetable Quotes:- “Our system is professional-driven, it’s client driven.” – Scott Huff.- “The most challenging aspect of estate planning is knowing where everything is at,and what they have.” – Scott Huff.- “There are two reason you buy software, it streamlines your practice or it makes you money. We hope to make you money. Obviously, streamline your practice is part of it. But we want you to get ROI on it.” – Scott Huff.Resources Mentioned:● Facebook – @fintechimpactpodcast● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn● YourEfolio – Website for YourEfolio ● LinkedIn – Scott Huff’s LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.