Month: December 2024

Professionalizing Your Advisory Firm for Future Success

Professionalizing Your Advisory Firm for Future Success

In this episode, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse hosts the dynamic duo of Shannon Spotswood, CEO, and Abby Salameh, chief growth officer, from RFG Advisory. Listen as they wrap up Season 2 with an insightful discussion on what it takes to build the RIA of the future. From effective strategies for driving organic growth to fostering a thriving firm culture and community, this is a must-listen episode.

They discuss:

  • Key strategies for advisors to thrive in a rapidly changing industry
  • The pivotal role of technology in enhancing advisor efficiency
  • RFG’s StrongHer Money initiative and how it aims to empower female clients in financial decision-making
  • The importance of professionalizing and operationalizing your business to be successful in the future. 
  • Why ensuring everyone on your team is in the right role is critical to growth

Resources:

 Connect with Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect with Shannon Spotswood:

Connect with Abby Salameh:

About Our Guests:

Shannon Spotswood is a 25+ year industry veteran in financial services with an outstanding reputation built on leadership roles in professional management, investment banking, hedge fund management, and business development. 

Joining RFG Advisory in 2015, Shannon recognized the opportunity to combine her entrepreneurial experience with her passion to build an innovative, Advisor-focused RIA of the future. At RFG Advisory, Shannon of RFG 2.0, a fully integrated platform for independent Financial Advisors and the implementation of strategic initiatives contributing to advisor success

Abby Salameh serves as RFG Advisory’s Chief Growth Officer, where she heads the firm’s growth activities spanning marketing, recruiting, onboarding, and transitions. With over 25 years spearheading growth support and services for independent advisors, Ms. Salameh has demonstrated excellence across multiple disciplines. Most recently, she served in multiple C-suite roles at CAIS, including chief marketing officer, managing director of CAIS IQ, and head of strategic partnerships.

Prior to that, Ms. Salameh held a variety of leadership positions at multiple billion-dollar-plus RIA firms like Hightower Advisors, Private Advisor Network, and Fusion Advisor Network (now Kestra). She received the 2023 WealthManagement.com Industry Award for CMO of the year, and in 2022 won a Wealthie for Thought Leader of the Year.

Ms. Salameh serves on the Board of Invest in Others, a non-profit organization that celebrates the charitable work of financial advisors, has led the FSI Growth & Marketing Council, is a vetted industry speaker and a regular volunteer at her local animal shelter. She holds an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Hofstra University.

Aligning Wealth with Purpose with Jon Jones

Aligning Wealth with Purpose with Jon Jones

What does it take to build a future-proof financial advisory business? 

Veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse sits down with Jon Jones, CEO and co-founder of Brighton Jones, to explore his incredible journey from small-town beginnings to leading a $30 billion RIA. 

In this episode of the Focused on the Future podcast, Jon reveals how a client-centric, holistic approach has propelled his firm to the forefront of the wealth management industry.

Jon dives into:

  • The “Personal CFO” model that seamlessly integrates life goals with financial planning
  • Redefining wealth management to thrive through industry changes
  • Using strategic giving to enrich client relationships and advisor satisfaction
  • His vision for corporate responsibility through the Net Positive Consortium
  • Organic growth strategies that balance culture with accountability for long-term success

 Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Jon Jones:

About Our Guest:

Jon Jones, co-founder of Brighton Jones, helped pioneer the Personal CFO approach to wealth management alongside Charles. While many firms focused solely on managing clients’ investment accounts, Brighton Jones took a holistic approach by overseeing clients’ entire balance sheets. Financial well-being and acting as a Personal CFO remain at the core of the firm’s services. However, Jon believes that truly helping clients live richer lives requires going beyond traditional financial management.

Standing at the intersection of life and wealth, Jon and his team recognize the importance of influencing clients’ emotional and social well-being. They celebrate life’s joys—marriages, new homes, births, and retirements—and provide guidance during challenges like job loss, divorce, illness, or loss. Jon values the opportunity to encourage clients to embrace the bigger picture, focus on their whole selves, and understand that true happiness extends far beyond financial success.