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Next Mile

Next Mile

Auteur(s): Milemarker
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 Next Mile is a podcast about bringing together the people and technology shaping the wealth management industry. Brought to you by Milemarker.Copyright © Milemarker Inc. Finances personnelles Marketing Marketing et ventes Réussite personnelle Économie
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  • The Playbook Behind the Fastest-Growing RIA in History with Jason Wenk

    The Playbook Behind the Fastest-Growing RIA in History with Jason Wenk
    Sep 30 2025
    Episode 112: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Jason Wenk, Founder and CEO of Altruist. Jason has lived and breathed the financial services industry over the last 20 years as a financial advisor, investment systems developer, analyst, and founder. Jason shares his journey from humble beginnings to building some of the fastest-growing RIAs. From his early days at Morgan Stanley to pioneering digital marketing for his own RIAs, Jason discusses the innovations that led to the founding of Altruist. Jason also explores the power of content and why social media platforms are today's hub for advisor growth. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (02:44) - Jason's money moment (05:21) - From intern to industry disruptor: Jason’s path to building two RIAs (13:56) - Jason's digital marketing playbook (17:38) - Where attention is won: YouTube, TikTok, referrals, and more (25:02) - Why offline marketing still crushes in 2025 (28:05) - The pain points that led Jason to create Altruist (34:12) - How Altruist is using AI to transform advisor workflows (43:06) - Jason's Milemarker Minute Key Takeaways Leverage digital marketing. Blogging and creating videos on social media build authority and trust. Play the long game. Social media platforms can drive billions in new business. But when they eventually get crowded, differentiation comes from client experience and outcomes, not just marketing tactics. Know your audience. AI and SEO shifts may impact younger investors, but retirement-age clients still search the old-fashioned way. Tailor your approach to the people you want to reach. Consistency wins. Whether it's local seminars, radio shows, or social media content, firms that pick a lane and execute with discipline tend to outpace the rest. Quotes "A lot of our fastest-growing advisors are using YouTube as their primary mechanism to be in front of new clients. We have a few who are using social media, so they're active on X, some are heavy on LinkedIn, and we're starting to see some who are actually doing decent volume from TikTok." ~ Jason Wenk "Our generation is open about how and what we do. We all have an abundance mindset, and we share and love celebrating everybody else's wins." ~ Jason Wenk "In a world where it'll be nearly impossible to be different and unique based on your content, what you actually deliver will matter a lot more. Driving the best outcomes and the best experience will become a differentiator. " ~ Jason Wenk Links Jason Wenk on LinkedIn Altruist Morgan Stanley AI Assistance - Altruist Elon Musk Connect with our hosts Milemarker.co Kyle on LinkedIn Jud on LinkedIn Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Produce game-changing content with Turncast Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at Turncast.com.
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    46 min
  • Inside the Growth Engines of America's Top RIAs with Ian Wenik

    Inside the Growth Engines of America's Top RIAs with Ian Wenik
    Sep 23 2025
    Episode 111: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Ian Wenik, Editor at Citywire and one of the sharpest reporters covering the RIA space. While many firms rely on market performance to maintain their numbers, Ian sheds light on what truly differentiates the fastest-growing RIAs. From niche strategies and referral networks to the big M&A moves reshaping the industry, Ian shares insights from Citywire's 50 Growers Across America and why organic growth is the real differentiator. He also unpacks the pressures of private equity ownership, the challenges of succession, and what the endgame looks like for mega firms. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (01:46) - Ian's money moment (04:01) - What sets the fastest-growing RIAs apart (07:55) - The future of inorganic growth and M&A trends (10:45) - The challenges of the IPO market for large RIAs (17:15) - Why Ian compares the industry to a fancy beach house (22:06) - Innovative growth programs and strategies (24:19) - Challenges for America's fastest-growing RIAs (25:47) - Ian's thoughts about trends and the future of the industry (31:17) - Ian's Milemarker Minute Key Takeaways Organic growth is harder—but more sustainable—than most advisors realize. Many RIAs rely heavily on market appreciation to appear successful, but Ian underscores that true, organic growth takes significant investment and intentional strategy. The fastest-growing firms often succeed by identifying niche markets, building strong referral networks, and developing internal training programs to cultivate talent from within. Talent is the real differentiator (and how you develop and retain it). In a competitive, consolidating market, your ability to recruit, train, and retain top talent matters more than ever. Firms that provide clear career paths, equity ownership, and operational roles for junior staff—not just rainmakers—will be best positioned for long-term success. Quotes "Momentum generates momentum. Deals generate deals. Once you have a track record of being able to integrate a firm, keep clients on board, and keep the advisors happy, you're going to have those bankers who handle sell-side engagements trust you with more deals." ~ Ian Wenik "What's driving so much of the M&A in the industry right now is time. A lot of the big firms sell because they have succession planning needs. Or if you're already an institutionally-backed firm, you're in the market because you're a private equity owner, and you have an expiration on that play clock." ~ Ian Wenik "The dirty secret of the RIA industry is that many firms don't grow at all. They don't grow organically. It's the market appreciation that's propping them up." ~ Ian Wenik Links Ian Wenik on LinkedIn Citywire Newsday The Deal Alex Steger Alec Rich Carson Group Hightower Advisors Wealth Advisor Solutions Schwab Advisor Network FINTRX Ulrich Investment Consultants Allworth Financial Wealth Enhancement Creative Planning CI Financial Corient LPL Financial Cetera Financial Group Osaic The Unlock Michael Batnick Moneta Group Alaska Wealth Advisors Angie Herbers Cerity Partners Genstar Capital Steward Partners Morgan Stanley Merrill Lynch UBS Goldman Sachs Summit Trail Advisors BBR Partners Ameriprise Financial Edelman Financial Engines Mariner Wealth Advisors Savvy Wealth Dakota Wealth Management The Fund Great Leap Forward Mao's Great Famine Connect with our hosts Milemarker.co Kyle on LinkedIn Jud on LinkedIn Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube
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    36 min
  • Turning Tax Records into Wealth Management Strategies with Kevin Knull

    Turning Tax Records into Wealth Management Strategies with Kevin Knull
    Sep 16 2025
    Episode 110: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Kevin Knull, CEO of TaxStatus. With more than 30 years in financial services and fintech, Kevin has led growth and innovation at companies like MoneyGuidePro, YCharts, Symetra Financial, and Hartford Leaders. Throughout his career, he's been dedicated to advancing the industry by helping advisors deliver smarter, higher-quality advice to their clients. Kevin talks about how TaxStatus leverages access to IRS data to help financial advisors get a complete picture of a client's financial life. He explores the opportunities this presents for organic growth, building relationships with COIs, and providing better, more holistic advice. From his early days in the U.S. Coast Guard to leading FinTech and advisory firms, Kevin shares how his career has been fueled by one mission: delivering better advice and better outcomes. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (02:01) - Kevin's money moment (04:42) - Why "better advice, better outcomes" is harder than it looks (06:15) - How tax data can serve as the foundation for holistic advice (09:27) - How TaxStatus can access clients’ IRS data (11:13) - Consent, compliance, and how advisors can use IRS data responsibly (13:01) - Turning tax data into organic growth opportunities (16:20) - Partnering with CPAs and COIs through smarter data sharing (19:16) - The importance of a standardized process for data collection (24:28) - The role of AI in the future of the industry (31:22) - Kevin's Milemarker Minute Key Takeaways Advice is both an art and a science. Financial planning requires connecting multiple disciplines—tax, investments, estate planning, and risk management—rather than operating in silos. Start with the source of truth. The IRS holds the most complete financial picture of clients. Leveraging that data helps advisors deliver more accurate, holistic advice. Organic growth lives with existing clients. The fastest way to grow isn't always new leads. It's uncovering assets, businesses, and properties that clients already have but haven't disclosed. Data builds trust with COIs. CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals benefit from cleaner, real-time data. Advisors who bring value here strengthen partnerships and referrals. Quotes "There's science and there's art to this industry. And unfortunately, because the industry evolved, each discipline is operated separately." ~ Kevin Knull "The IRS is the source of truth. They have everything. So if you're going to render advice, that's the first place to start." ~ Kevin Knull "Financial planning, investment advice, and wealth management are art and science. Just like insurance and tax, there's a whole lot of gray. That gray is where firms, advisors, and professionals are going to differentiate themselves." ~ Kevin Knull Links Kevin Knull on LinkedIn TaxStatus Envestnet | MoneyGuide Plaid Yodlee NAPFA Catch-22 Connect with our hosts Milemarker.co Kyle on LinkedIn Jud on LinkedIn Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Produce game-changing content with Turncast Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at Turncast.com.
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    36 min
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