In this episode, we’re excited to welcome Mark Gaffney, Founder and CEO of MEG (Mark Edward Gaffney), a boutique marketing firm specializing in financial professionals. With over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, Mark has dedicated his career to helping advisors refine their marketing strategies using one key element- data. Mark shares how analyzing key metrics, diagnosing inefficiencies, and implementing structured marketing plans can drive exponential growth for financ...
Mar 07, 2025•19 min
It’s always a treat to have Nicholas Ross, Chief Strategy Officer at FIG, on the show! In this episode, we're diving into strategies that can help financial professionals stand out in a crowded industry and build deeper, more personalized relationships with their clients. From cutting through the noise in the financial world to leveraging data and communication effectively, Nicholas shares valuable insights on how to differentiate yourself and grow your business. Nicholas also explores the impor...
Feb 21, 2025•25 min
We’re shaking it up here on the Retirement Inside Out Podcast! In 2025, we’re bringing you a fresh lineup of voices, featuring guest hosts from the Financial Independence Group team, along with advisors, industry experts, and business owners. But don’t worry- Tom will still be making regular appearances to share his valuable insights! To kick off the first episode of the year, we’re thrilled to welcome back the highly popular Tony Parish, CFA, CQF . As AI technology continues to evolve, its role...
Feb 07, 2025•29 min
In this week’s episode, we welcome back Tony Parish, CFA, CQF, Chief Investment Officer at Alphastar Capital Management, for another insightful conversation about the U.S. economy and market trends. This episode offers an exclusive preview of our upcoming State of the Markets presentation. Stay tuned as Tony sheds light on the overarching theme for 2024: the incredible persistence and resilience of the U.S. economy and markets. Despite global challenges and inflation concerns, the U.S. economy h...
Jul 26, 2024•25 min
In this episode, we’re joined by the one and only Dave Hostetler to talk about the evolving world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for independent financial advisors. He’s here to share the insights he's gained from talking with small business owners, highlighting current trends like friend-to-friend deals and internal succession plans becoming more popular. Join us as we discuss key factors influencing the valuation of advisory practices and provide some helpful insights for buyers and sellers...
Jun 28, 2024•27 min
As the financial services industry continues to evolve, staying ahead of the curve means engaging with the next generation of clients and advisors. Today we are joined by FIG’s Chief Strategy Officer, Nicholas Ross, to discuss the transfer of wealth to younger generations and the integration of younger clients and advisors into financial firms. One key takeaway from this discussion is the importance of understanding what wealth means to the next generation. While incorporating technology into th...
Jun 21, 2024•22 min
For the first ever time, we’re welcoming Keith Burger onto the Retirement Inside Out podcast! He recently joined the FIG team as the Executive Vice President and Head of Institutional Channel Sales. With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the FIG team. Tune in as we chat with Keith about his extensive background, including his tenure at AIG Corebridge and Luma Financial Technologies, and what led him to join FIG. Then, we’ll dive...
Apr 19, 2024•9 min
Ever wondered what it's like to be on the front lines of the financial services industry as an intern? We’ve got just the conversation for you this week! We are joined by Graham Wald and Paul Matanovic, our 2024 FIG spring interns in today’s episode. Tune in as we discuss their backgrounds, experiences, and takeaways from their internship here at FIG. From hands-on learning to relationship building, Graham and Paul have gained valuable insights into various aspects of the industry, from product ...
Apr 12, 2024•16 min
Join us for a special episode featuring David McKnight, our partner from Power of Zero. He’s here to talk about the upcoming Heroes of Zero conference in Nashville on May 16 th and 17 th at the Renaissance Hotel. Stay tuned as David shares the list of incredible financial experts that are going to be featured this year and discusses the details of the event. From understanding the latest tax law changes to implementing the most effective marketing strategies for your business, this event will br...
Apr 05, 2024•12 min
In today’s episode, we’re focusing on a topic that is increasingly vital for our clients: long-term care planning. Joining us on the show is Lily Vittayarukskul, the CEO and founder of Waterlily Planning. We’re so excited to partner with Waterlily and introduce you to its innovative approach to long-term care planning. Lily's personal journey, sparked by her aunt's battle with terminal cancer, led her to develop a solution aimed at easing the financial and emotional burdens of aging care. Waterl...
Mar 29, 2024•22 min
Welcome back to the Retirement Inside Out podcast! Hamilton Morales, the Senior Vice President of Social Security here at FIG, is with us for this week’s episode. Amidst a busy start to the year, he has some important updates and insights to share surrounding Social Security. Listen in to learn how Hamilton assists financial professionals in staying informed about Social Security changes, and the various Social Security events and seminars he is available to host. He’ll discuss the latest adjust...
Mar 15, 2024•14 min
We’re very excited to have our friend, Mark Gaffney, on the show today. Mark is the founder and owner of Mark Edward Gaffney (MEG), a boutique consulting and marketing firm for the financial services industry, and partner of FIG. In today’s episode, he’s joining us to talk about the data-driven marketing approaches that MEG uses to generate significant returns for financial advisors. Stay tuned as Mark shares some of MEG’s success stories, demonstrating the power that even the smallest of tweaks...
Mar 08, 2024•25 min
Brian Herriot is the founder of Choosy Consultant. He’s joining us on the podcast today to discuss his role as a lifestyle and wealth coach, working with successful individuals like consultants, coaches, and small business owners, to help them transition to a choosier life and achieve financial freedom. In our conversation, Brian shares his personal journey to financial freedom and how it led him to establish Choosy Consultant. He’ll share more about his unique coaching approach, which includes ...
Feb 22, 2024•17 min
Leslie Lipscomb, Senior Vice President at FIG, joins us for this week’s episode. She’s here to share her inspiring journey since joining the organization in 2006, starting as a sales associate and progressing to her current role. Join us as she highlights the company's resilience and growth after the passing of its thought leader, Bo Johnson, and her passion for building strong relationships, advocating for advisors, and uplifting women in the field. We’ll dive more into Leslie’s role as SVP, wh...
Feb 16, 2024•22 min
We’ve got a great conversation for you today! Ben and Kaitlin Schrock, two of our elevate coaches here at FIG and founders of BA Schrock Financial Group, are here to dive into their journey of building a successful RIA firm from the ground up. They’ll discuss the challenges they faced, the pivotal moments that shaped their journey, and the strategies they employed to achieve remarkable growth. Stay tuned to learn how they navigated the initial struggles of business ownership, built a highly effi...
Feb 09, 2024•27 min
Arron Price, the Chief Operating Officer at FIG, joins us today for our annual beginning-of-the-year prognostication. Get ready for insights into what lies ahead in financial services, InsurTech, data culture, and operations. We’ll look back on the predictions and forecasts he made for 2023 and explore how the industry has evolved. To kick off our discussion, we’ll revisit Arron’s forecast that the “great resignation” would be forgotten in 2023 and chat about the evolving mindset of different ge...
Feb 02, 2024•21 min
Tony Parish, CFA, CQF, the Chief Investment Officer at AlphaStar Capital Management, is with us for today’s episode. He joins us twice a year to talk about the state of the market and share his halftime report. Stay tuned as we dive into market updates, the US and world economy, and get a glimpse into Tony’s market forecasts for 2024. We’ll kick off this episode by reflecting on the remarkable resilience of the economy and the markets in 2023. Then, we’ll talk about the impact of inflation on ou...
Jan 26, 2024•29 min
We're excited to feature David Graham, the Director of Advanced Strategies at FIG, on the podcast today. David plays a crucial role in educating advisors on advanced planning concepts that go beyond day-to-day financial planning. Today, he's here to give us insights into the upcoming estate planning webinar series hosted by FIG's Advanced Strategies division. This series covers everything from the basics of estate planning to intricate strategies involving trusts, life insurance, and tax-efficie...
Jan 19, 2024•19 min
Welcome to the first official episode of 2024! We’re thrilled to be joined by Lisa Crosta, CFP®, CPA, MBA, this week, the Director of Wealth Management at BPP Wealth Solutions. She’s here to share her journey into financial services and insights into BPP’s comprehensive financial planning process, collaborative team structure, and Security Income Plan®. Lisa also shares her passion for educating and empowering female investors. As an all-women firm, BPP Wealth Solutions is uniquely positioned to...
Jan 12, 2024•24 min
As the world continues to technologically evolve, staying ahead of the curve in the financial services industry has never been more crucial. Andrew Barnett, the Director of Technology Innovation at FIG, joins us on the podcast today to talk to us about his role and the important technology and business solutions being developed inside FIG. From the industry's race to modernize and embrace emerging technologies to the evolving intersection of wealth management and insurance, Andrew talks about th...
Dec 15, 2023•29 min
Hamilton Morales, our Senior Vice President and Social Security Specialist here at FIG, joins us for today’s episode. We love having him on once or twice a year to update our audience on what’s happening inside the world of Social Security. In today’s episode, we’ll discuss the latest news for Social Security in 2024, including the 3.2% cost of living adjustment, rising Medicare Part B premiums, and the importance of comprehensive retirement planning to combat inflation and changing financial la...
Oct 27, 2023•18 min
This week we are joined by the founder and president of Illuminated Advisors , Anna Shea, to dive deep into the world of digital marketing in the financial services industry. She will discuss the path that led her to establish a boutique digital marketing firm, the power of personalized content, and share some insightful strategies to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. As Anna offers her unique perspective on what's hot within this dynamic realm, we also delve into the excitin...
Oct 13, 2023•27 min
Welcome back to the Retirement Inside Out podcast! Today are joined by FIG’s Talent Solutions team to talk about generational differences in the workplace and the changing landscape of talent acquisition. Tune in as we chat with Lori Miller and Alex Batdorf about how to effectively identify, attract, and retain next generation talent for your independent financial professional or financial services firm. The conversation covers various aspects of hiring and working with the next generation of ta...
Oct 06, 2023•30 min
Join us for a conversation with FIG Chief Strategy Officer Nicholas Ross, where we tackle the need for strategic thinking in the financial professional world. We discuss everything from the impact of global economic trends on your clients to the importance of owning your narrative in your financial business. Tune in to gain insight on how to stay ahead of the curve in this ever-evolving industry, the need to operate at both macro and micro levels, and the importance of becoming the CEO of your f...
Sep 15, 2023•25 min
We are back with FIG’s Executive Vice President, Dave Henry. He’s bringing us a quarterly life insurance industry update in today’s episode. Tune in as we discuss advancements in technology that are revolutionizing the insurance industry, from precise illustration systems to streamlined policy management. We also delve into how insurance carriers are responding to new regulations like AG 49-A and AG 49-B while maintaining fairness for all clients. Then we’ll chat about the rising interest and po...
Aug 25, 2023•31 min
Today we’re excited to be joined by Monica Breeding, our Director of Marketing at FIG, who is here to talk to us about our upcoming ElevateU branding and coaching event. This event, designed to help improve and scale your business, is taking place in St. Louis on September 17 th , 18 th , and 19 th . We are especially excited about this ElevateU event, as it features a stacked lineup of industry experts and introduces two brand-new programs designed to boost your marketing efforts. Discover the ...
Aug 11, 2023•22 min
Welcome back to the Retirement Inside Out podcast! Today, we are excited to be joined by, Arron Price, Chief Operating Officer of FIG. In this episode, we explore how organizations like FIG and other financial services firms are leveraging agile project methodology to empower their teams, enhance efficiency, and provide remarkable results and deliverables for clients and stakeholders. Aaron provides valuable insights into the benefits of agile project methodology, its potential applications in v...
Aug 04, 2023•25 min
Welcome back to the Retirement Inside Out podcast! In today's episode, we are joined by the Chief Investment Officer at Alphastar Capital Management, a member of the FIG operating system, Tony Parish, CFA, CQF. He’s here to share his half-time report with us today, providing valuable insights on the state of the market and more. Tony will kick off this episode by sharing his analysis of the first six months of 2023, which have been vastly different from the challenging year of 2022. He discusses...
Jul 28, 2023•31 min
Welcome back to the Retirement Inside Out podcast! In today's episode, we have the pleasure of having Mike Lecours, CFP®, co-founder of fpPathfinder , join us. fpPathfinder is an incredible resource for financial professionals, offering a wide range of tools and resources, including checklists, flowcharts, and optimized client and prospect meetings. With over 4000 financial professionals benefiting from this remarkable technology, Mike is here to share how it has revolutionized practice manageme...
Jun 23, 2023•26 min
Welcome back to the Retirement Inside Out podcast! Today we are joined by two very special guests, president of Independent Property & Casualty Group, Matt Woodford, and president of U.S. E & O Brokers, Angela Schroder. They are sitting down with us to talk about all things Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance- from making sure you have the right coverage to how often you should review your coverage. As your business grows and carriers and policies change over time, this is a critical step that ...
Jun 16, 2023•37 min
