Bank on Wipfli

How will wealth management change in 2026?

How will wealth management change in 2026? In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, join Wipfli’s Robert Zondag for a conversation with Diamond Consultants CEO Louis Diamond and Wipfli partner Ron Niemasyk about the evolving dynamics of the industry in areas like recruitment, tech and private equity partnerships — plus how wealth management advisory firms are adapting to keep up. Listen for a rundown on key trends that will shape wealth management over the next 12 months, including: Firms moving towar...

Segmented Service, Stronger Impact

Is your financial institution doing all it can to build and maintain strong, long-term ties with key customer groups? Her Bank tailored specific experiences to reach women customers who lacked a strong banking relationship. Discover what’s behind launching a niche brand: How Her Bank was born during the pandemic to meet the unmet needs of women who lacked strong banking relationships and faced financial uncertainty. Why authentic conversations — not just data — are key to understanding customer ...

Smarter insurance filing — Maximize tech and talent

Insurance companies face significant challenges in keeping up with changes in statutory requirements amid intensifying workforce pressures. Learn about key evolving issues affecting your filings: The growing talent gap in statutory accounting, driven by retirements and limited new entrants to the field The role of technology in streamlining workflows , improving collaboration and delivering contextual guidance for complex filings Why successful filings require more than software — how support an...

Podcast: Breaking the Security-Convenience Seesaw

How can companies deliver secure digital customer experiences without sacrificing customer convenience? In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we explore how organizations can break the traditional trade-off between security and ease of use in digital workflows. Wipfli’s Robert Zondag, partner, talks with Tracy Fox, co-founder and chief revenue officer of Botdoc, about the future of secure customer engagement, including: • The 72% disconnect between companies’ perceived customer experience and actua...

Navigating Private Equity: Trends, Challenges, and Future Outlook in 2025

Harnessing AI in Financial Services: Insights from Wescom Credit Union

When should financial institutions look to integrate AI into their operations, and how should they do it? In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we explore practical considerations for AI use in the industry, with a focus on security and user experience. Wipfli’s Robert Zondag , partner, and Matt Sabo , director, talk with Joseph Pellissery, Chief Information Officer at Wescom Credit Union, about AI adoption strategy, including: The use of AI in quality assurance for financial institutions. The impo...

Farm Finance Focus: Leveraging Data in Agricultural Lending

With many agricultural lenders aging out, there is a talent shortage within agricultural lending. This shortage emphasizes the need for more automation and AI to reduce support tasks and allow lenders to focus on true risk management and better productivity. In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we dig into the role of AI and automation in modernizing the world of agricultural lending. Special guest Croptell Founder Scott Sartor joined Wipfli Partner Robert Zondag to discuss: • The role of communic...

Revolutionizing FS: AI, Personalization, and Security

How can financial services organizations integrate AI into their operations to enhance customer experience while ensuring safety and compliance? In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we explore the rise of AI in the financial sector, with a focus on delivering seamless client interactions while maintaining data security. Special guest Ben Nichols, co-founder and head of product at Directlink and data science professor at Syracuse University, joined Robert Zondag , partner at Wipfli, to discuss: AI ...

The employee stock ownership plan advantage

How can employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) be used as a succession planning tool for registered investment advisor firms? In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we explore the benefits of ESOPs and discuss how to implement them. Special guest Nicholas Karalis, vice president of Wintrust Commercial Banking, joined Wipfli partner Robert Zondag to discuss: The tax advantages of ESOPs for both sellers and companies. How to successfully implement an ESOP. How companies structured as S corporation ESO...

Enhancing Wealth Programs for Community Impact

How can financial institutions leverage wealth programs to enhance customer relationships and community impact? Over the next 20 years, $84 trillion in assets are expected to be transferred, and this episode of Bank on Wipfli explores what financial institutions can do to connect with the next generation and retain those assets. Special guest Anne Schutt, Vice President of Business Development for Midwestern Securities, joined Wipfli’s Robert Zondag, Partner, to discuss: • The importance of boar...

SEC Cybersecurity Rules: Expert Insight

How can firms effectively implement and manage the new SEC cybersecurity rules? Listen in on this episode of Bank on Wipfli to find out how you can stay in compliance and protect against the looming threat of a cyberattack. Wipfli consultant Derek Olson joined Wipfli’s Robert Zondag , partner, and Paul Lally , partner, to discuss: The importance of having a comprehensive incident response plan to manage cybersecurity threats. The necessity of monitoring third-party service providers to help ensu...

Navigating Data Services in Financial Services

bank on wipfli

Navigating the digital identity landscape

Fraudsters keep innovating, and the reality today is that fraud is a business. The concept of “fraud as a service” is increasingly relevant as companies emerge that cater to malicious actors with services ranging from automated platforms for taking over phones to data mining tools for collecting personal information. In response, financial institutions must implement robust and adaptive security measures. That’s the topic of this episode of Bank on Wipfli. Robert Zondag and Mary Beth Marchione, ...