In this episode of Focused on the Future, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with Anna N’Jie Konte, president of Re-Envision Wealth, on the importance of taking a human first approach with clients, how every advisor can incorporate AI into their practices and why she is reframing the way first generation wealth builders think about money.
Specifically, Anna discusses:
Speaking on a “human” level to clients, especially the next generation of investors.
How her background influenced her decision to focus on serving women of color.
Why clients’ money behaviors and experiences affect her overall planning recommendations.
How she uses AI tools to provide advanced planning, automate manual tasks and elevate her marketing efforts
Her advice for firms considering merging or selling their practice
How she uses the DISK assessment in managing and developing her team.
Why underrepresented groups are leaving our industry at a higher rate and how we can combat it.
Anna N’Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® is the President and Director of Financial Planning for Re-Envision Wealth. As President, Anna manages the firm’s financial planning, advisory, and operations strategies. She is a proud Puerto Rican, Gambian-American who is committed to building a firm where access to excellent, values-aligned financial advice is the norm, not the exception. Having spent her childhood watching the strong women around her live lives dictated by their bank balances, she’s on a mission to rewrite the money stories of women of color.
She is a 3x winner of Investopedia’s “Top 100 Influential Financial Advisors” and has been named “10 Young Advisors to Watch” by Financial Advisor Magazine. She serves as a CFP Board Brand Ambassador; an advisory board member to Wealth.com; and a board member of the FInserv Foundation.
In the first episode of Season Two of the Focused on the Future podcast, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with Carina Diamond, CEO of Stella Secunda and Director of Diversitas, Expanding Diversity in Wealth Management. They discuss the importance of adopting a personal approach with every client and how that leads to more business. Carina also describes why talent development and retention is everybody’s job and how having a beginner’s mindset attributes to growth both personally and professionally.
Specifically, Carina details:
The critical areas firms and advisors need to consider for success now and in the future, as we navigate changing investor demographics
How programs such as Diversitas and the Externship play a role in attracting nextgen talent into our profession
Her top recommendations for firms on growing their client base; it starts with getting personal
An award-winning financial advisor, entrepreneur and executive, Carina Diamond is the founder and CEO of Stella Secunda, Latin for “Next Star,” which provides consultative organic growth strategies to a variety of companies in the financial services industry. Carina is the Director of Diversitas, Expanding Diversity in Wealth Management, a national initiative founded at The University of Akron. She also consults with a major insurance company on a financial wellness app, and is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences.
Throughout her 30-year career, Carina has built and scaled successful wealth management teams, including her own. Five years after launching her RIA, she sold the business to Dakota Wealth Management, where she joined the firm first as Chief Experience Officer and was later promoted to Chief Growth Officer.
In the latest episode of the Focused on the Future podcast, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with Teri Shepard, president of Carson Group, on the evolution of the role that a financial advisor plays, how she and her firm are investing in women and why constantly challenging oneself is the only way to evolve and grow.
Specifically, Teri discusses:
The key areas Carson Group is focused on to best serve current and future clients.
The evolving role of financial advisors; now more like coaches and therapists.
Why she and her firm are taking an active role in advancing women in our profession.
The top takeaways from her firms recently released Women in Wealth Management survey.
Her advice for men on how to be better allies and advocates for women.
Teri Shepherd currently serves as the President of Carson Group, where she plays a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency and advancing the company’s long-term vision. As the first female executive at the firm, Teri has become a prominent role model for women within Carson and the broader financial services industry.
Teri’s commitment to advancing gender diversity within the organization and the financial services sector has garnered widespread recognition. She has been acknowledged by organizations such as InvestmentNews’ Women to Watch, Financial Planning Magazine’s Top Women in Asset Management, the Stevie Awards for Female Executive of the Year and WatersTechnology’s Women in Technology & Data Awards Gender Equality Professional of the Year.
Before joining Carson, Teri held the position of Executive VP, CFO, and COO at an independent broker-dealer, RIA and insurance company for a decade. Additionally, she served as the corporate controller of a publicly traded biotech firm for two years. Teri is an alumna of the University of Nebraska–Kearney, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Teri finds joy in spending quality time with her husband and three sons. She and her family enjoy camping, water skiing, and playing sports.
In the latest episode of Focused on the Future, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with Mike LaMena, CEO of Wealthspire, on how he is ensuring his clients never outgrow his firm’s offering and advice, creating a DEIB strategy that works and why the future of advice is “human.”
Specifically, Mike and Suzanne discuss:
His unique journey from a volunteer teacher in the Bronx, to working for a top advisor at Morgan Stanley to CEO at an RIA
Why going from a front office to a back-office role shaped who he is as a leader
His firm’s focus on offering specialized services and specific areas of expertise
Why family office services, especially trust and estate areas, are key to his growth strategy
How he is addressing mutli-generational planning with a “matching” program
His three-pillar DEIB strategy and why he’s made this a priority
Why a giving back mindset will attract and retain both team members and clients.
Mike LaMena is the Chief Executive Officer of Wealthspire Advisors, having joined the firm in September 2017. He has 27+ years of experience building, operating and leading global wealth management organizations. His commitment to service excellence and his fundamental belief in the power of the firm’s independent, conflict-free model of financial advice inspires his enthusiasm to serve clients and expand the business. Throughout his time at Wealthspire, Mike has helped grow the organization to over $20 billion in AUM with 22 offices across the country and more than 300 employees.
Prior to joining the firm, Mike spent seven years at HighTower, serving as president and chief operating officer, playing an instrumental leadership role in scaling the business from a start-up organization to a nationally recognized financial services firm. He began his career in financial services with a 14-year tenure at Morgan Stanley, where he served as executive director of Private Wealth Management Operations in New York, as well as executive director of Private Wealth Management for Asia in Hong Kong.
Before entering the financial services profession, Mike did a year of service as a volunteer high school teacher at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx, NY.
In the latest episode of Focused on the Future, industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with Dr. Sylvia Rose, assistant dean, James T. George School of Business at Hampton University, and Dr. Curtis Kidd Telemaque, director, HBS Center for Financial Excellence and Adjunct Professor at the School of Business at Howard University. Their thoughtful insights into what their students are looking for in a career and in an employer should be a must listen for any firm seeking to hire for the future. They also provide advice to firms on how to best partner with a HBCU and what they can do differently to better engage with the growing diverse talent pool.
Specifically, Dr Rose and Dr Kidd discuss:
What their students are looking for in an internship program
How they advise their students on pursuing the best employer for them
What works and what doesn’t when seeking to partner with a HBCU
Key challenges in attracting HBCU students to a career in wealth management.
How firms, both large and small, can attract and engage with a diverse talent base.
Dr Rose isthe Interim Dean and Assistant Professor of Finance in the School of Business at Hampton University. Dean Rose received her B.S. in Finance from Hampton University and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law School. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar. A few professional activities at Hampton University (HU) have included Faculty Representative to the HU Board of Trustees, Chairperson of Committee on the Financial and Physical Resources of SACS, Member of a University Grant team responsible for a $500K Financial Literacy Grant, Advisor to MBA Case Competition Teams and Primary Advisor to Undergraduate Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is published in The Journal of Business and Finance Research; and a recipient of the Hampton University E.L. Hamm Distinguished Teaching Award. Dean Rose annually participates as guest speaker for numerous student sponsored activities and panel discussions; Honors College Capstone faculty participant; and serves on various other university activities as requested. Prior work experience includes being a licensed Financial Advisor/Broker at Merrill Lynch. Dean Rose was also the former General Counsel for Hampton University, wherein she handled legal affairs of the University. Dean Rose served as an Attorney for law firms in Washington, DC and in Newport News, VA. Dean Rose is a member of several professional and civic organizations.
Dr Curtis Kidd Telemaque
Dr. Kidd Telemaque embarked on his professional journey after graduating from the University of Michigan in May 2000, initiating his career as an Institutional Equity Trader with a boutique firm in June of the same year. His trajectory in the financial sector continued as he assumed the role of General Securities and Registered Options Principal at a mid-tier brokerage in 2004. Concurrently, Dr. Telemaque pursued higher education and obtained a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from Howard University. Notably, during this period, he served as an adjunct instructor of Advanced Algebra at Prince George’s Community College.
In 2008, driven by a passion for research and a commitment to Africana Studies, Dr. Kidd Telemaque commenced his journey toward a research degree at Howard University. Drawing from his robust economic and financial background, his research interests converged on economic development and financial policy analysis in Africa.
Presently, Dr. Kidd Telemaque occupies several significant roles, reflecting his diverse expertise. He serves as a subject matter expert with several private and public clients, where his analytical skills contribute to informed decision-making. Additionally, he holds the position of Managing Partner at Visions Consulting Group, actively participating in strategic consultancy for higher education. As an Executive of Lwazi Transportation Services, LLC, Dr. Telemaque spearheads initiatives in the transportation sector, specifically electric vehicles. Furthermore, he imparts his knowledge as an adjunct professor in management consulting, applied economics, and global management.
Dr. Kidd Telemaque’s multifaceted career showcases his commitment to continuous learning, expertise in finance and economics, and a dedication to making impactful contributions to students in various areas of finance.
In the latest episode of Focused on the Future, veteran industry leader, Suzanne Siracuse, talks with Jimmy Lee , Founder and CEO of Wealth Consulting Group, on focusing on “where the puck is going”, the debate around ESG and its future, and the many applications and use cases on AI in financial planning.
Specifically, Jimmy discusses:
The shift in the way clients want to be communicated with
Why and how his firm is attracting top female advisor talent
His important advice to firms looking to acquire other firms
The various ways AI will transform the wealth management industry
How his firm’s new ESG screened portfolios will help capture the investor of the future.
His philosophy on providing financial planning as an added value
Understanding what your “genius” is not just for yourself but also for your team
Jimmy Lee is the Jimmy is the Founder and CEO of The Wealth Consulting Group (WCG). He began his career in 1995 and has been self-employed from the very beginning and has grown WCG as an entrepreneur into a wealth management firm with a national presence. After almost two decades of managing branch offices and supervising other financial advisors for two Fortune 100 financial companies, Jimmy founded WCG’s current business as a SEC Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in Oct. 2014 and also became affiliated with LPL Financial for brokerage services. Financial Advisor Magazine recognized WCG as the 5th fastest growing RIA in 2016 and WCG was awarded the InvestmentNews for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in 2018*
The financial media call on Jimmy for his knowledge in investing and the advisory industry. He appears regularly on CNBC, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, and TD Ameritrade. He has been profiled and quoted in the Wall St. Journal, Marketwatch, Bloomberg, Financial Planning, Forbes, and many other financial publications.
In the latest episode of Focused on the Future, veteran industry leader, Suzanne Siracuse, talks with Kay Lynn Mayhue, President of Merit Financial Advisors, on the importance of cultivating top talent and creating a strong company culture, organic growth tactics that work, and the many ways to attract and support women in financial services.
Specifically, Kay Lynn discusses:
Why Merit’s Servant leadership style has been instrumental in creating a firm culture where team members thrive.
How to meet and exceed client expectations as they continue to evolve
Effective organic growth strategies including digital marketing initiatives and revenue share programs.
Why setting personal boundaries and being transparent are critical when it comes to attracting and supporting women in financial advice.
The significance of having an adaptable tech stack to meet future business needs
Kay Lynn Mayhue is the President of Merit Financial Advisors, a national wealth management firm that supports advisors affiliated with independent broker-dealers, as well as those who are registered investment advisors
Kay Lynn has played many roles in the financial advisory industry: as a successor, partner, seller, and buyer. This unique and diverse background allows her to be able to relate to advisors in all phases of their careers and mergers and acquisitions. With a background in financial planning and leadership, her career expands over several areas, including advising clients, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic growth.
She holds her CFP®, AEP®, and RFC® and has been a critical decision-maker for two firms over the past twenty years. Kay Lynn has overseen the majority of Merit’s mergers and acquisitions and has been recognized for that by winning the 2023 WealthManagment.com M&A Leader of the Year.
She is passionate about helping people take their careers – and themselves – to exceptional levels. Kay Lynn’s influence in the industry and her drive for success is a driving factor in Merit’s ongoing growth and appeal to growth-oriented advisors.
In the latest episode of Focused on the Future, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with Maurice Miller, CFP, Managing Director of The Miller’s Wealth Management on reevaluating how new advisors are compensated, assisting your clients in talking about money with their children, and why there is no better time than now to be in the wealth management industry.
Specifically, Maurice discusses:
Why, in order to broaden the talent pool into wealth management, we need to challenge the current structure of how new advisors are compensated.
How advisors can advise their clients on talking to their children about money
Why embracing technology and understanding the impact of social media is key to achieving success for the future
In order to capture younger investors, advisors need to meet them where they are now, AND GROW WITH THEM
As people are becoming more comfortable with sharing their personal beliefs it is also impacting their investment selection
Maurice is driven, consistent, compassionate, and an educator at heart.
He positions clients to take a big picture approach by helping them achieve their financial goals in a concise, sensible manner. Educating clientele on the “why” behind every financial decision along the way, he simplifies their complex needs and goals. The clientele who works with Maurice leave with a clear, written roadmap to their financial future, which focuses on six key areas of wealth management.
Maurice Miller has served small business owners, executives, professionals, and retirees through the financial services industry since 2005. Maurice also holds the Series 7 & 66 Securities License, health and life insurance agent license, State of Michigan continuing education instructor’s license for CPAs, and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM), Chartered Financial Consultant®, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor® professional designations.
Maurice is an advisory Board member of C.H.I.P (Changing How Individuals Prosper,) The American College of Financial Services Alumni Network, and is also a member of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER’S (TM) NATIONAL DISCIPLINARY AND ETHICS COMMISSION.
Maurice is a 2021-2023 Five Star Wealth Manager Award Recipient, a 2022 InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 Honoree, and was inducted into the John Hay High School (Cleveland, OH) Hall of fame in 2023. He is also the co-creator of a financial literacy curriculum designed for middle and high school students and is also the author of two published books; Navigator Your Way To and Through Retirement, and When The Word Meets The Wallet; a Biblical guide to money management.
In the latest episode of Focused on the Future, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with Luis Rosa the founder of Build a Better Financial Future LLC, on the importance of authenticity in your approach and your business model, changing the status quo on pricing models, and how his BLX Internship program is cultivating the advisor of the future.
Specifically, Luis discusses:
How, by sharing his own personal experiences with money, translates into new clients
His strategy on serving first generation wealth creators.
Why leading with financial planning is key to capturing the client of the future
The ground breaking program he co-Founded, The BLX Internship
Why having a specialty will set a practice better up for success
Luis is the founder of Build a Better Financial Future LLC. He came to the U.S. at age 11 from the Dominican Republic. Growing up in New York City and now living in California, Luis noticed the lack of financial literacy in his community and was inspired by his parents to work hard and pursue an education.
Luis uses his platform to help spread financial literacy via media outreach as well as encourage younger and diverse planners to join and thrive in the industry.
He is the host of the “On My Way to Wealth” podcast, and co-founder of the BlatinX (BLX) Internship Program and co-founder of the SER Latino Advisor Summit. Luis was named one of InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 in 2019 and Financial Advisor Magazine’s 10 Young Advisors to Watch, as well as Investopedia Top 100 Financial Advisors in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and 2023 and named one of 8 Hispanic Personal Finance Influencers to Follow for Money Advice by The Penny Hoarder and NerdWallet.
About BLX:
The BLX Internship Program provides an entryway into the financial planning profession for aspiring Black and Latinx financial planners by helping them obtain paid summer internships with financial planning focused firms.
In the latest episode of the new podcast series, Focused on the Future, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with JC Abusaid, CEO of Halbert Hargrove, on the importance of purposeful collaboration, being fearless on culture, clients and teams, and capturing a client’s loyalty for the long term.
Specifically, JC discusses:
How fate and persistence landed his dream job
How his “no fences” approach led him to building successful teams
Handling conflict through consistent communication and role clarity
The importance of documenting your firm’s culture strategy
His firm’s unique approach to working with clients.
As CEO and President of Halbert Hargrove, JC is guiding the firm confidently into the future. Execution and operational excellence are his bywords; we consider him our glue. He formally took the helm of CEO in December 2021. For many years, working alongside Chairman and HH founder Russ Hill, JC has had the privilege to be involved in most facets of the firm, and has enjoyed being part of HH’s growth and success.
JC enjoys the dynamic nature of his role: “I like solving big challenges,” he says. He joined HH as Operations Manager in 1996 and was named President and Chief Operating Officer in 2010.
JC earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Finance emphasis from the Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administracion in Bogota, Colombia, and his MBA from University of Redlands School of Business. He was awarded the ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY™ designation by the University of Pittsburgh-affiliated Center for Fiduciary Studies.
In 2016, JC was part of Stanford University’s pioneer cohort in earning a LEAD Certificate in Corporate Innovation from Stanford Graduate School of Business. In 2021, he was again part of an inaugural class, this time in taking part in BlackRock’s first Emerging Leader Lab.
Married to Ruth for more than 30 years, JC is dad to Nico and Isabella – and a Boston Terrier named Lola. After a decade-long odyssey of breaking ground and overcoming an absurd number of obstacles, JC is happy to report that the Abusaid family finally took up residence in their Laguna Beach home in 2021. JC’s commitment to exercising and eating healthy is legendary; call him a health freak, and he’ll take it as a compliment. Outside of the office, you’ll find him running, mountain biking, wakeboarding, and snowboarding.
