Category: Financial Planning
Rethinking Financial Planning for Childfree Clients with Dr. Jay Zigmont

Rethinking Financial Planning for Childfree Clients with Dr. Jay Zigmont

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Traditional financial planning assumes a familiar life path, but what happens when that doesn’t include children?

Many advisors unknowingly rely on planning frameworks built around legacy, inheritance and next-generation wealth transfer. For millions of people, those assumptions simply don’t fit.

In this episode, Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Dr. Jay Zigmont, founder and CEO of Childfree Wealth and Childfree Trust, about the unique planning needs of childfree and permanently childless individuals. They explore how financial planning, estate planning, charitable giving, retirement strategies and pet care decisions change when there are no children involved. 

Dr. Zigmont also shares why many traditional planning tools create blind spots, how advisors can better serve this growing population, and why deeper life planning conversations can transform the client experience.

Key takeaways:

  • Why traditional financial planning often overlooks the goals and priorities of childfree individuals
  • How estate planning becomes more challenging when there is no obvious next of kin available
  • Why pet trusts and long-term care planning deserve greater attention in financial conversations
  • How charitable giving strategies may differ for people focused on spending during their lifetime
  • Why advisors can create stronger relationships by understanding nontraditional life paths

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Dr. Jay Zigmont:

 About Our Guest:

Jay Zigmont is the Founder and CEO of Childfree Wealth, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping Childfree and Permanently Childless people. He and his wife are Childfree.

Dr. Jay is a Childfree Wealth Specialist and author of the book “Portraits of Childfree Wealth” and the upcoming book “The Childfree Guide to Life and Money.” Dr Jay is the co-host of the Childfree Wealth podcast. 

He has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, and many other publications. In 2023, he was named a “Rising Star” by Financial Planning.

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Why Advisors Are Rethinking Marketing for AI Search with Susan Theder and Samantha Russell

Why Advisors Are Rethinking Marketing for AI Search with Susan Theder and Samantha Russell

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Marketing is changing fast, and many advisors are wondering how to stay visible as artificial intelligence tools reshape the way people search for information.

How can firms stand out when clients are asking questions directly to AI platforms instead of clicking through websites? What signals actually help advisors get noticed online today?

In this episode of Focused on the Future, Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Susan Theder, chief marketing  and experience officer at FMG, and Samantha Russell, chief evangelist at FMG, about how advisors can adapt their marketing for AI-driven search. They share practical ideas around testimonials, authenticity, FAQ content, podcasts and third-party endorsements. 

The conversation also explores how AI tools are changing advisor workflows, improving client communication and creating more time for meaningful human connection.

Key takeaways:

  • Why authenticity and values-driven branding can help advisors attract stronger client relationships
  • How testimonials and third-party mentions influence AEO rankings and online visibility today
  • Why FAQ sections and transcript-based content help AI tools understand advisor expertise
  • How advisors can use LinkedIn events and webinars to generate leads without paid outreach
  • Why AI may create more space for human connection instead of replacing financial advisors

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Susan Theder and Samantha Russell:

About Susan Theder:

Susan Theder is the Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at FMG and a member of the company’s Senior Leadership Team. Susan places an emphasis on the importance of customer-focused strategies that leverage data and technology to deliver personalized and customized experiences that WOW.

She has a passion for helping financial professionals grow and market their businesses and is an active supporter of women and diversity initiatives. She was named CMO of the year by WealthManagement.com in 2019 and a Women to Watch by Investment News in 2019. Susan currently serves on the Board of Directors for SMARSH and ComplySci, both leading SaaS/RegTech companies serving the financial services industry.

Before joining FMG, Susan served as Chief Marketing Officer at both Advisor Group and Cetera Financial Group where she was responsible for all aspects of marketing and advisor marketing. Prior to that, she was a Managing Director at Pershing/BNY Mellon and held senior positions in marketing, product management and practice management at Fidelity Investments.

About Samantha Russell:

Samantha teaches financial advisors how to utilize digital marketing strategies to produce exponential growth through website development, content marketing, SEO, social media and video.

Her cutting-edge thought leadership is recognized throughout the financial services industry and has led to her being awarded an Investment News 40 Under 40, ThinkAdvisor “Luminary” and Wealth Management Ten to Watch.

In addition to being a trusted, go-to resource for advisors looking to grow through digital marketing strategies, Sam is also known as a voracious reader, avid runner and hiker, and master juggler of 3 kids under 6.

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How AI Is Expanding Advisor Capacity and Elevating Human Connection with Dani Fava

How AI Is Expanding Advisor Capacity and Elevating Human Connection with Dani Fava

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What happens when technology removes friction instead of adding to it?

And how does that shift reshape the value of human advice?

In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse interviews Dani Fava, chief strategy officer at Carson Group, about how artificial intelligence is transforming financial advice by increasing advisor capacity and enhancing client relationships. Dani shares how Carson’s proprietary AI assistant is helping advisors streamline workflows, prepare for meetings and access client insights instantly. 

She also explains why the demand for human connection is rising, how advisors can scale without losing personalization and why the future of advice is more relationship-driven than ever.

Key takeaways:

  • How early automation shaped her career and led to a focus on efficiency through technology innovation
  • Why natural language interfaces are removing barriers and changing how advisors interact with systems
  • How AI tools are boosting advisor capacity and allowing them to serve more households effectively
  • Why human connection is becoming more valuable as automation increases across industries
  • How firms can integrate technology while still relying on expertise to serve high-net-worth clients

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Dani Fava:

About Our Guest:

Dani Fava serves the pivotal role of Chief Strategy Officer at Carson Group, wielding over two decades of experience in wealth management to drive our strategic direction. Charged with enhancing the client experience through differentiated products and services, Dani’s leadership is instrumental in shaping innovative growth strategies and advancing the industry on financial advice and the use of AI.

Before joining Carson Group, Dani held influential positions at Envestnet and TD Ameritrade, where she spearheaded initiatives such as digital onboarding, strategic partnerships, and AI integration. Dani’s contributions include the development of advisor technologies like iRebal and the Model Market Center, reflecting her commitment to empowering advisors with cutting-edge tools and insights. Her impact and forward-thinking vision earned her a spot on FinTech Magazine’s Top 100 Women in FinTech (2021), InvestmentNews’ Women to Watch (2020), and ThinkAdvisor’s 2020 IA25, underscoring her status as a trailblazer in wealth management innovation.

In addition to her professional achievements, Dani is recognized for her thought leadership in the industry, often speaking at conferences and contributing to discussions on the future of financial technology. Dani also serves on the board of Language & Culture Worldwide (LCW), a culture consulting company. This work is an extension of her commitment to see more inclusion in the wealth management industry.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Dani finds joy in the company of her loved ones, including her life partner, Julie, and their two children, Camryn and Frankie. Their family is completed by three beloved dogs—Slim Shady, Ghostface and Dolly Parton. When not immersed in strategy, Dani indulges her obsessive passion for pickleball, a testament to her commitment to both work and play. Embracing the guiding principle of “Per aspera ad astra” (from the ashes to the stars), Dani embraces resilience and determination in her pursuit of transformative opportunities for advisors in an ever-evolving market landscape.

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Building a Relationship-First Advisory Business with Dany Martin

Building a Relationship-First Advisory Business with Dany Martin

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What truly drives long-term growth in a financial advisory business?

Is it better tools, stronger strategies, or something far more human at the core?

In this first episode of season 4 of the Focused on the Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse interviews Dany Martin, partner and wealth advisor at WFA, about how relationship-first thinking shapes a sustainable advisory business. He shares how early exposure to residual income led him into financial planning, and how serving athletes and women became a natural extension of his values. 

Dany also explains how artificial intelligence is enhancing efficiency without replacing human connection, and why hiring career changers has strengthened his firm’s culture and client experience.

Key takeaways:

  • Why working with athletes revealed the need for structure, guidance, and long-term financial protection
  • How focusing on women clients led to stronger relationships and deeper, more meaningful planning conversations
  • How AI improves efficiency and service delivery without replacing human connection and trust
  • Why hiring career changers builds stronger teams through trust, curiosity, and real-life experience

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Dany Martin:

 About Our Guest:

Dany Martin, a south Louisiana native but Shreveport resident, was in search of a service-oriented, innovative, and proactive wealth management organization. He wanted a team that focused on exceeding clients’ needs and upholding the highest standard of service. His mission is to be a student of life and educate others about the profound, positive impact that sound financial planning will have on peoples’ lives and on their families. He is also a huge advocate of positive thinking and leadership.

Dany’s passion for helping others strive for financial health started during his high school years when residual income and the idea of having money work for you crossed his desk. He further pursued his enthusiasm for business and finance during college, where he attended Northwestern State University. During those 4 years in Natchitoches, he achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and was an active member and treasurer of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He continued his education by obtaining a Master’s in Business Administration degree from Louisiana Tech University.

Prior to becoming part of the WFA team in January of 2015, Dany spent 8.5 years at Capital One Bank, where in a very short time he worked his way up from a teller to a Financial Advisor covering 10+ branches in the Shreveport, LA area.

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Leading With Empathy and Financial Vision with Cary Carbonaro

Leading With Empathy and Financial Vision with Cary Carbonaro

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Many people want guidance that truly supports their goals, yet the way advice is delivered can shape how confident they feel.

How do you create space for every voice at the table? How do you build a client experience that reflects communication, care and long-term thinking?

In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Cary Carbonaro, CFP, MBA, author, fee-only financial advisor, and CFP Board ambassador, about her early industry realizations, her mission to elevate the experience for women clients, and her approach to building a practice with a clear purpose. 

Cary explains how she built her firm from the ground up, why communication gaps still exist across the profession, and how empathy, education and emotional intelligence foster lasting relationships. She also discusses what advisors can do now to prepare for the great wealth transfer and better serve the clients who will soon lead it.

Key points:

  • How women were routinely left out of early client conversations and how this shaped Cary’s mission
  • The importance of empathy, education and emotional intelligence with women clients
  • Why the great wealth transfer demands changes in communication and client experience
  • How Cary maintained trust through four practice transitions
  • How media presence and clear messaging help advisors expand influence

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Cary Carbonaro:

 About Our Guest:

Cary Carbonaro, CFP, MBA, is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner Professional with over 25 years of experience in financial services. She is the Managing Wealth Advisor and Women and Wealth Ambassador at Ashton Thomas, where she leads a multimillion-dollar financial planning practice focused on empowering women.

Cary is the bestselling author of The Money Queen’s Guide and Women and Wealth: A Playbook to Empower Clients and Unlock Their Fortune (Wiley 2025), which offers actionable strategies for better serving women in financial services. Through her writing, speaking, and advocacy, she is helping reshape the industry to better support its fastest-growing client segment.

She has been honored as a CFP Board Ambassador for over a decade, named a “Women to Watch” by Investment News, and ranked six times among Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors. In 2024, Cary was appointed as the first female member of the NASDAQ Advisor Council, further cementing her leadership in the field.

Before building her advisory practice, Cary held leadership roles at JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Lord Abbett Investment. Today, she is a respected industry voice and frequent media contributor, with appearances on dozens of TV stations. 

Through her decades of experience, Cary remains a passionate champion for financial literacy, gender equity, and empowering women to take control of their financial futures.

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Leading With Values, Growing With Intention with Julia Carlson

Leading With Values, Growing With Intention with Julia Carlson

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Building a firm that reflects your values does not happen by accident.

In this episode of Focused on the Future, host  Suzanne Siracuse talks with Julia Carlson, founder and CEO of Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group, about creating an inclusive culture, serving clients without traditional minimums and using technology to strengthen relationships. Julia also shares insights from her new book, Let’s Get You Fired, which helps entrepreneurs step back so their companies can grow.

Julia also describes how she built Financial Freedom from the ground up, why she hires from her client base, how the Inspired Wealth program supports emerging investors, and how AI is reshaping client service and advisor training.

Key takeaways:

  • How Julia went from a 19-year-old bank teller to launching Financial Freedom Wealth Management at age 23
  • The way her own “misfit” experience sparked an inclusive, values-driven culture that hires from unexpected places
  • How the Inspired Wealth program lets the firm serve people below traditional asset minimums while staying profitable through revenue-based design and focused coaching
  • Why her upcoming book Let’s Get You Fired helps entrepreneurs step back, build strong teams, and grow values-based and valuable companies with a strong lens on generosity
  • How JUMP AI, Salesforce and Microsoft Copilot are reshaping notetaking, prep, training and client experience while freeing advisors to focus on real conversations

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Julia Carlson:

 About Our Guest:

Julia Carlson is the Founder and CEO of Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group, LLC. She founded the firm at the turn of the century, and with its successes, she has become a thought leader in the financial industry. Julia is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, educator and expert on the investment landscape. She is recognized as being especially knowledgeable on topics relating to tax strategies for retirement and distribution planning, as well as exit planning for business owners.

Julia has been identified as an InvestmentNews 2020 Women to Watch honoree. She was also recognized as one of Forbes’ 2018-2022 Top Women Wealth Advisors as well as a 2018-2021 Top Wealth Advisor Mom by Working Mother magazine and SHOOK Research. Furthermore, Julia provides her knowledge through a financial column in a local newspaper. She actively participates in her community as a Rotary member, Chamber of Commerce member and Vice President for the Pacific Communities Health District Foundation Board. Julia works from our office in the beautiful coastal community of Newport, Oregon, where she resides with her husband and their three children.

Julia has been interviewed by Barron’s, Forbes, Financial Advisor Magazine, CIO Views, MSN, Reuters, InvestmentNews, USA Today, yahoo! Finance, TD Ameritrade Network and Nasdaq.

Julia is an Investment Advisor Representative and Registered Principal with LPL Financial. She has her Series 24, 7, 63 and 66 Securities registrations held with LPL Financial, as well as her state Life and Health Insurance licenses.

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How Douglas and Heather Boneparth Combine Love, Money and Purpose

How Douglas and Heather Boneparth Combine Love, Money and Purpose

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Partnership in life and business takes communication, balance and understanding, and when money enters the mix, the stakes are even higher.

In this episode of the Focused on The Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Douglas and Heather Boneparth, the husband-and-wife team behind Bone Fide Wealth, about how their personal and professional lives intersect, the inspiration behind their new book Money Together, and the lessons they’ve learned about partnership and purpose.

Douglas and Heather share how real-life challenges shaped their firm’s people-first mission, why emotional awareness matters as much as financial planning, and how open communication can strengthen both relationships and client connections.

Key takeaways:

  • How Doug’s second-generation financial background shaped Bone Fide Wealth’s people-first philosophy
  • Heather’s transition from corporate law to financial services and how her outsider perspective strengthens the firm
  • How their experiences with debt, economic uncertainty and family life help them connect authentically with clients
  • Insights from their new book Money Together on fairness, communication and partnership in financial relationships
  • Practical advice for advisors on engaging both partners in client conversations and using digital platforms effectively

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Douglas & Heather Boneparth:

About Douglas & Heather:

Douglas Boneparth is the founder of Bone Fide Wealth, a wealth management firm in New York City. Recognized as one of the nation’s most influential financial advisors, Douglas serves on the advisory councils for CNBC and Investopedia. He has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and more. He is also a CFP Board Ambassador for New York. Douglas received his B.S. from the University of Florida and his M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business. When he’s not making jokes on the internet, he enjoys brewing coffee, though he can do both at the same time. 

Heather Boneparth is used to wearing many hats. On her first maternity leave, she co-authored the couple’s first book on helping millennials achieve financial freedom. Since then, she has become a rising voice at the intersection of love, money, and family. She has written for CNBC, theSkimm, Insider, Scary Mommy, and more. As a lawyer, she spent more than a decade in the insurance industry before joining the family business as Bone Fide Wealth’s director of business and legal affairs. She received her B.S. from the University of Florida and her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. 

Heather and Douglas met in college and consider themselves Gators for life. They now live in New Jersey with their two daughters.

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Culture, Collaboration and Career Change with Cerity Partners’ Claire O’Keefe

Culture, Collaboration and Career Change with Cerity Partners’ Claire O’Keefe

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What happens when a schoolteacher from Ireland follows her curiosity halfway across the world and ends up helping shape one of the nation’s largest wealth management firms?

In this episode of the Focused on the Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Claire O’Keefe, partner and head of partner development at Cerity Partners, about her unconventional journey from education to wealth management and the people-first culture that drives firm growth.

Claire shares insights on career transitions, cultural alignment in mergers and acquisitions, the importance of organic growth and how investing in people powers the future of wealth management.

Claire discusses:

  • How her travels from Ireland to the U.S. led to a career in wealth management
  • The key trends shaping M&A decisions for RIAs, from succession planning to client experience
  • Why cultural alignment and shared values determine successful partnerships
  • How top-performing firms prioritize training, development, and broad ownership structures
  • Her perspective on the future of small and solo firms in a rapidly evolving, AI-driven industry

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Claire O’Keefe:

About Our Guest:

Claire O’Keefe serves as Partner, Head of Partner Development, and member of the Leadership Team at Cerity Partners. She has a deep appreciation for the unique fabric of our firm which she regularly refers to as her “forever home”.

Central to Claire’s philosophy is human connection. As Head of Partner Development, she is passionate about building relationships with both current and prospective partners and colleagues who are excited by the vision of our firm, share our cultural values, and are committed to serving the best interests of clients, colleagues, and the communities in which we operate. She believes that authenticity, empathy, active listening, high emotional intelligence, and genuine curiosity, form the bedrock of effective communication and trusted relationships. In her words, “The magic of our partnership is our people.”

Cerity Partners is more than just a firm; it’s a community. A community where everyone’s voice counts, where an entrepreneurial spirit thrives, and where decisions prioritize our clients, free from external pressures.

Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Claire served as Chief Operating Officer and client advisor for two wealth management firms. In these roles, Claire’s responsibilities included strategic planning, client and colleague development, and client advisory for affluent individuals, business owners, executives, and nonprofit organizations.

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Corporate Citizenship in Action

Corporate Citizenship in Action

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In this episode of Focused on The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Pammi Bhullar, senior director of corporate citizenship at Edelman Financial Engines, about how the firm integrates purpose into its culture and client impact.

Pammi shares her career journey across multiple sectors and why she chose Edelman to align her passion for helping others with financial planning. She explains how corporate citizenship at Edelman combines inclusion, philanthropy, and environmental responsibility, supported by data-driven insights and community engagement.

The “We Aspire” program, which develops the next generation of financial planners, is also highlighted, as is the grassroots “Dollar Cents” financial literacy initiative, which now serves youth, parents, and veterans. Pammi also discusses how storytelling and vulnerability around mental health create stronger workplace communities and lasting change.

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Pammi Bhullar:

 About Our Guest:

Pammi Bhullar leads Corporate Citizenship at Edelman Financial Engines, inclusive of an award-winning Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy, charitable giving, and volunteerism. Throughout Pammi’s career, she has focused on elevating the voices around her, embedding authenticity and care into corporate cultures, and building community and bridges among people from different backgrounds.

Previously at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Pammi partnered with businesses globally on advancing DE&I best practices and managed and led the growth of early talent leadership development programs. Her experience spans the nonprofit space as well. After obtaining her MBA at Boston University, Pammi led the global nonprofit consulting program called ChangeTheWorld at the University of Maryland.

In her free time, Pammi enjoys going on adventures with her husband and kids, including train excursions, museums, and building obstacle courses. Pammi gets her energy from new experiences, travel, fresh air, and dancing with all her heart.

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From Advising Clients to Assisting Communities: The Ripple Effect of Advice

From Advising Clients to Assisting Communities: The Ripple Effect of Advice

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In this episode of Focused on The Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Michael Brady, founder and president of Generosity Wealth Management, about how he built a firm dedicated to aligning wealth with purpose and possibility.

Michael shares how his early mentors shaped his people-first approach to advising, and the client story that inspired him to create a values-driven practice centered on generosity. He also opens up about his personal adoption journey, explaining how it influenced his decision to serve families navigating adoption and foster care planning.

The conversation expands to Michael’s humanitarian work in Ukraine, where he helps support orphans through camps and trauma care, demonstrating the ripple effect of financial advice. He also discusses how AI tools enhance efficiency in his practice while allowing him to stay fully present with clients.

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Michael Brady:

 About Our Guest:

Michael Brady is the founder of Generosity Wealth Management, where he blends decades of financial expertise with a people-first approach to help clients live meaningful, abundant lives. With over 30 years in the finance industry, Michael has earned a reputation for delivering clear, actionable strategies that simplify complex financial decisions and provide lasting peace of mind.

Michael partners with individuals and families to create tailored, tax-efficient investment plans that not only secure their financial futures but also reflect their unique values and aspirations. His mission is rooted in empowering clients to focus on what matters most while he manages the financial details.

Drawing on a robust leadership background, including roles in brokerage services and hedge fund management, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge to every client relationship. At Generosity Wealth Management, he is dedicated to creating a culture of trust, empowerment, and integrity that extends beyond financial success to making a positive impact in the community.

With a focus on excellence and joyful service, Michael helps clients align their wealth with their purpose, turning financial clarity into a tool for living fully and giving generously.

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