The Advisor Upside Show

What Makes an RIA More Valuable? Inside the New M&A Playbook

The Daily Upside — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Elevation Point CEO Jim Dickson joins the Advisor Upside Show to explain how the economics of RIA M&A are changing and why AUM alone no longer tells the whole story. He breaks down what buyers are looking for in organic growth, technology, data and succession planning, why some advisors mistake market gains for actual business growth, and how founders can turn an advisor practice into a scalable enterprise.

Dickson also weighs in on minority investment versus full acquisition, the role of AI in the future of wealth management and what it takes to make the transition from successful advisor to CEO.

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Future Proof, Data Centers and ETF "Slop"

The Daily Upside — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400

AI was a hot topic for many advisors out on the sand at Huntington Beach's Future Proof, but it wasn't the only trend getting their attention. The Daily Upside Managing Editor Emile Hallez joins John Manganaro to break down the biggest conversations from the event, from organic growth and advisor technology to the data center buildout. Plus, they dig into the explosion of new ETFs, including leveraged products, sports-themed funds and the growing debate over genuine innovation versus "slop."

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#FinancialAdvisors #WealthManagement #ETFs #LeveragedETFs #SEC #ThematicInvesting #FutureProof #FinancialPlanning

Why the Old Financial Advisor Playbook Is Changing

The Daily Upside — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Technology, client expectations and more holistic planning are reshaping wealth management. Nitrogen CEO Dan Zitting explains what that means for advisors, their businesses and the clients they serve.

This episode is presented by Fidelity.

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How Advisor Upside Finds the Stories That Matter

The Daily Upside — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Daily Upside reporter Griffin Kelly joins John Manganero for a behind-the-scenes look at how financial journalism gets made. They discuss Griffin’s path from local news to wealth management reporting, how Advisor Upside finds the angle behind the headline, and recent stories involving Vanguard, Altruist, Charles Schwab and the changing financial advisor industry.

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Why There's Never Been a Better Time to Be an Advisor | Orion CEO Natalie Wolfsen

The Daily Upside — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Orion CEO Natalie Wolfsen joins The Advisor Upside Show to explain why RIA consolidation and the ETF boom are reshaping how advisors run their businesses. Plus, she digs into the rise of private markets, Orion's role in 80% of industry M&A deals, and why AI is set to make advisors more valuable rather than obsolete.

00:00 Will AI Replace Financial Advisors?
00:24 Welcome to the Advisor Upside Show
01:46 Meet Orion CEO Natalie Wolfsen
02:23 The RIA Industry Is in Flux
04:18 Why ETFs Keep Winning
07:00 Are Advisors Fully On Board With ETFs?
08:14 Why Financial Advisors Are Moving Upmarket
12:09 Bringing Private Markets to More Investors
16:15 Do Private Assets Belong in 401(k)s?
17:48 Why RIA M&A Isn’t Slowing Down
23:34 What Could Derail RIA Consolidation?
25:05 What Wealth Management Could Look Like in 2030
27:39 How Orion Is Using AI
31:15 Will AI Make Our Skills Worse?
34:31 Could AI 10X Financial Advisors?
36:48 Will AI Ever Replace Human Advisors?
38:57 Bad Take of the Week: AI Will Kill Professional Advice
41:46 Closing Thoughts

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Are U.S. Stocks Partying Like It’s 1999? | Meb Faber

The Daily Upside — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0400

With valuations approaching levels last seen during the dot-com era, Meb Faber explains why investors may need to reset expectations, diversify beyond the S&P 500, and think much more seriously about survival over the long run.

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#MebFaber #Investing #StockMarket #ETFs #FinancialAdvisor #WealthManagement #PortfolioStrategy #ValueInvesting #InternationalInvesting #MarketOutlook #AdvisorUpside #TheDailyUpside

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How AI Could Reshape Financial Advice | Altruist CEO Jason Wenk

The Daily Upside — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Altruist founder and CEO Jason Wenk joins Advisor Upside to explain how AI could reshape financial advice, why a person born today may never need a human advisor, and what the industry must do to survive the next wave of automation.

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Is the Market Too Dependent on AI? | Marta Norton, Empower Investments

The Daily Upside — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Empower Investments Chief Investment Strategist Marta Norton breaks down the biggest risks facing markets, from AI earnings concentration to Fed expectations, geopolitics, and the future of the 60/40 portfolio.

Why AI Won't Replace Financial Advisors | AssetMark CEO Michael Kim

The Daily Upside — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Relax, the robots aren’t coming for your job. AssetMark CEO Michael Kim explains why human advice, trust, and relationships will become even more valuable as technology reshapes wealth management. Plus, he shares insights on AssetMark’s evolution, private markets, and why the wealth management industry is entering one of its biggest periods of opportunity.

This episode is brought to you by Fidelity.

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What Financial Advisors Need to Know About Social Security and Tax Alpha ETFs

The Daily Upside — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Could higher inflation actually help retirees?

This week, Sean Allocca and John Manganaro break down why rising prices could lead to a larger Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and what this could mean for retirees. Plus, what the Social Security 2100 Act would change if it passed, and why Treasury officials are raising concerns about a fast-growing class of tax alpha ETFs.

Topics include:

Social Security COLA projections
Inflation and retirement planning
Retirement policy updates
Tax-efficient ETFs and 351 exchanges
Treasury and SEC scrutiny
Wealth management trends
What financial advisors should watch next

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The Future of Retirement: Why Living Longer Changes Everything

The Daily Upside — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400

People are living longer than ever, but are they prepared? Entrepreneur and author Jon Sabes discusses longevity planning, healthy aging, retirement income, Blue Zones, social isolation, and why advisors need to rethink retirement planning for a 100-year life.

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How Vestwell Is Closing America's $50 Trillion Savings Gap with Aaron Schumm

The Daily Upside — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Vestwell CEO Aaron Schumm joins The Advisor Upside Show to discuss the $50 trillion retirement savings gap, AI's impact on retirement planning, 401(k) innovation, private markets, workplace savings, fintech partnerships, entrepreneurship, and the future of financial advice.

This episode is brought to you by Fidelity.

• 00:00 – Show open / intro
• 01.55 - $50 Trillion Savings Gap in America.
• 23.23 - Quickfire Questions with Aaron Schumm
• 36.36 - Public Speaking

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Ascensus CEO Nick Good on the Future of 401(k)s, Retirement & Leadership

The Daily Upside — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400

What does the future of retirement savings look like? In this episode of The Advisor Upside Show, Ascensus CEO Nick Good joins John Manganero and Sean Allocca to discuss the evolution of 401(k) plans, SECURE Act reforms, retirement readiness, leadership, succession planning, and how financial services can help more Americans save for retirement. Plus, lessons from leading a 5,000-person organization and why transparency matters in business.

David Blanchett: The 7 Biggest Mistakes Advisors Make in Retirement Planning

The Daily Upside — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Retirement researcher David Blanchett joins The Advisor Upside Show to break down seven major flaws in modern financial planning. From Monte Carlo misconceptions and retirement spending myths to guaranteed income, longevity risk, and portfolio construction mistakes, this conversation challenges some of the industry's most common assumptions.

Dani Fava: Why AI Won’t Replace Financial Advisors (It Will Make Them More Valuable)

The Daily Upside — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Dani Fava, Chief Strategy Officer at Carson Group, joins The Advisor Upside Show to discuss how AI is transforming wealth management.

From achieving 100% advisor adoption of AI tools to why advisor fees may actually rise—not fall—in the age of automation, Dani explains what advisors need to understand about technology, client expectations, capacity constraints, and the future of advice.

Geopolitical Risk, Retirement Psychology & AI's Growing Role in Wealth Management

The Daily Upside — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400

This week, John and Sean unpack why markets continue to shrug off global conflicts, what one geopolitical event could trigger a major market downturn, and how advisors should think about risk in 2026. Plus: AI and alternative investments, a controversial emergency-fund debate, and three psychological patterns that can quietly derail even the best retirement plans.

The Battle Over Alternatives in 401(k)s Is Just Beginning

The Daily Upside — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400

More than 40,000 public comments have poured into the Department of Labor's proposed retirement rule. Sean Allocca and John Manganaro explore what's at stake for advisors, plan sponsors, and retirement savers, plus why younger investors are increasingly aligning portfolios with their personal values.

This episode is brought to you by Fidelity.

How Wealth Management Is Changing: Conferences, AI and New Investor Behaviors

The Daily Upside — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400

From Future Proof and advisor conferences to annuity psychology and prediction market ETFs, Sean Allocca and John Manganaro break down the trends shaping financial advice, advisor education, and the future of wealth management.

Presented by Fidelity.

Follow The Advisor Upside Show for weekly takes on the trends shaping advisors’ business.

Social Security In 2026: What Financial Advisors Need To Know

The Daily Upside — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400

When should your clients claim Social Security: 62, full retirement age, or 70? Claim too early, and the reduction in benefits is permanent.

In the debut episode of The Advisor Upside Show, presented by Fidelity, Sean Allocca and John Manganaro sit down with retirement expert Marcia Mantell to bust the most stubborn Social Security myths: the real math on claiming age, the working-while-collecting trap, and why benefits are not tax-free, despite what the headlines say.

Follow The Advisor Upside Show for weekly takes on the trends shaping advisors’ business.

The Advisor Upside Show trailer

The Daily Upside — Tue, 26 May 2026 15:19:06 -0400

The wealth management industry is changing fast, but many advisors are still using the same old playbook. Join hosts Sean Allocca and John Manganaro, along with leading industry expert guests, as they break down the trends shaping your business.

Each week, we'll cover critical topics while also having a little fun. It's all on the table, from retirement income planning and Social Security to the behavioral side of investing and what clients are hearing elsewhere. We've created The Advisor Upside Show because staying informed isn’t enough anymore. You need to stay ahead.

New episodes every Wednesday. Launching June 3rd on all podcast platforms and YouTube.