In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Michael Rose, CFP®, MST, Director, Wealth Management at Cerulli Associates, a leading global research, consulting, and analytics firm specializing in asset management, wealth management, and financial services, to discuss Cerulli’s 117-page 2025 study on U.S. wealth management technology, zeroing in on how digital tools are transforming the independent advisory space and service delivery for both clients and advisors.

Rose dives deep into the evolving landscape of wealth management technology and its impact on financial advisors and shares insights from Cerulli’s extensive research, discussing how the rise of independent advisory channels is reshaping advisor technology needs. He explains the increasing responsibility advisors have in building and managing their own tech stacks outside of traditional broker-dealer infrastructures, while also dealing with the growing expectations investors have for personalized and comprehensive financial planning, which pressure advisors to do more with stable fees, making technology and productivity critical themes.

Rose emphasizes practical solutions, such as all-in-one technology platforms, and the pivotal role of educational conferences, like the T3 Technology Conference, in helping advisors keep pace and build competitive tech stacks. The conversation strikes a balance between excitement about AI-driven innovation and recognition of the ongoing challenges advisors face in maximizing technology’s benefits to deliver better client outcomes, providing a nuanced perspective on the opportunities and hurdles in technology adoption within the wealth management industry today.

Learn more about Michael Rose, CFP®, MST, and Cerulli Associates at www.Cerulli.com

In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Matt Morris, CEO and co-founder of EncorEstate Plans, a comprehensive, customizable estate planning and trust funding platform that empowers financial advisors to efficiently create, update, and fund estate plans for their clients, all backed by expert legal review and support—without requiring a subscription or direct-to-consumer access, for an in-depth conversation on how financial advisors can fundamentally elevate their client relationships through proactive, advisor-led estate planning.

Drawing from personal experience, Morris shares how the lack of an estate plan caused turmoil for his own family, which inspired the creation of Encore's streamlined platform. He explains how Encore allows advisors to easily review, update, and fund estate plans – without crossing into legal practice – supported by attorney and paralegal review for every document. The conversation also explores how estate planning becomes a true differentiator for advisory firms, sparks referrals, and leads to more meaningful client discussions about legacy, family, and values.

Morris shares insights on how Encore’s pay-as-you-go model lowers barriers for advisors and why this approach is quickly becoming an essential offering for growth-minded firms looking for ways to become the “trusted primary advisor” by solving a real pain point for today’s clients.

Learn more about EncorEstate Plans at www.EncorEstatePlans.com

In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with Claire Alexander, founder of The Arch’s Anvil, an operations and growth platform designed to help service-based businesses, particularly financial advisors, transform big visions into high-functioning businesses. Claire shares her journey from working in administrative roles to building and leading complex wealth management firms, culminating in the creation of her 10-week operational transformation program.

Designed to help professionals, such as financial advisors, CPAs, attorneys, real estate agents, insurance professionals, and trusted consultants, The Arch’s Anvil offers a structured dashboard with video modules, templates, and weekly strategy sessions directly with Alexander. She emphasizes practical tools, accountability, and customization to help entrepreneurs gain time, reduce stress, and achieve clarity in their vision. Alexander’s approach is rooted in hands-on experience across financial services, insurance, real estate, and project management.

The conversation highlights Alexander’s no-nonsense, high-impact style and her passion for helping others architect a better version of their business and life. Whether you're an independent advisor or a small professional team seeking operational excellence, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

Learn more about Claire Alexander and The Arch’s Anvil at www.TheArchsAnvil.com