Tag: Financial Literacy
From Intern to Owner: Succession Planning for Financial Advisors with Jorge Padilla

From Intern to Owner: Succession Planning for Financial Advisors with Jorge Padilla

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For financial advisors who hope to become firm owners, succession planning involves more than transferring equity. It means navigating difficult conversations, earning a founder’s trust and preparing to lead before the ownership transition is complete.

In this episode of Focused on the Future, host Suzanne Siracuse speaks with Jorge Padilla, CEO of Meira Wealth, about his journey from intern to owner of an independent wealth management firm. They explore what makes internal succession successful, why the emotional side of ownership transitions deserves more attention, and how Jorge worked to preserve his founder’s legacy while shaping the firm’s next chapter. They also discuss cultural fluency, purpose-driven financial planning and how meaningful client experiences can support long-term growth.

Jorge discusses:

  • How his experience as a competitive tennis player shaped his approach to leadership, resilience and professional growth
  • What transitioning from intern to CEO taught him about ownership, communication and preparing the next generation
  • Why preserving a founder’s legacy requires honest conversations, mutual trust and a shared vision for the firm
  • How bilingual advisors and cultural understanding can strengthen relationships with families from different backgrounds
  • Why financial literacy, community involvement and purpose have become central to Meira Wealth’s long-term direction

Resources:

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

Connect With Jorge Padilla:

 About Our Guest:

Jorge Padilla is the CEO of Meira Wealth, an independent, employee-owned, fee-only wealth management firm based in Coral Gables, Florida. Originally from Spain, Jorge came to the United States on a tennis scholarship before discovering his passion for financial planning. He began his career as an intern at Meira Wealth and spent more than two decades developing his experience across client service, investment management, leadership, and business operations before becoming the firm’s owner. His approach to wealth management emphasizes building meaningful client relationships, aligning financial decisions with personal values, and helping individuals and families pursue their long-term goals. Jorge is also passionate about financial literacy, cultural understanding, and developing the next generation of financial advisors, with a focus on building a firm that honors its legacy while continuing to evolve.

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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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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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