Author: trtnetwork
Episode 088: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Kristen Oziemkowski, COO at The Mather Group. With a background in economics, Kristen brings deep expertise in operational strategy, M&A integration, and organizational growth. Since joining TMG, she has led the firm through 20 successful acquisitions and helped build a values-driven, process-oriented culture.
Kyle and Kristen explore what sets TMG apart in the competitive world of wealth management. Kristen reveals how a team-based model, disciplined acquisition strategy, and robust internship pipeline have powered the firm’s consistent growth and five-year run on Barron’s Top 100 list. They also discuss the future of the industry—from data strategy and AI integration to attracting the next generation of advisors.
In this episode:
(00:00) – Intro
(01:22) – Kristen’s money moment
(03:44) – The secret to TMG’s consistent success
(05:02) – The challenges of leading a growing team
(07:59) – Inside TMG’s acquisition and integration playbook
(11:08) – Tackling the advisor shortage and attracting future talent
(13:18) – Turning interns into leaders: TMG’s talent pipeline
(19:51) – Stewart Mather and his legacy
(21:20) – The one skill that accelerates career growth
(22:56) – What’s next for wealth management
(25:55) – Milemarker Minute
Key Takeaways
Successful M&A requires both a robust integration plan and the ability to adapt to unforeseen challenges and emotional factors.
Investing in technology and data management is crucial for scalability and efficiency in the wealth management industry.
TMG’s internship program isn’t just about summer help—it’s an intentional talent pipeline that has produced some of the firm’s top leaders. When thoughtfully designed, internships can be one of the best long-term growth strategies for your team.
Networking is key to building meaningful relationships and is essential for career advancement and industry growth. Meaningful connections can open doors to opportunities, partnerships, and career advancements.
Quotes
“Wealth management is a unique industry, and we’re truly helping people. So, I don’t think AI, technology, automation, and all these things becoming the forefront of every industry can replace the human touch.” ~ Kristen Oziemkowski
“The biggest value-adding skill I’ve learned and has become increasingly important throughout my career is networking. It can open doors to opportunities, partnerships, and projects. It helps you exchange ideas and insights and can be an avenue for advice and support, career guidance, and knowledge building.” ~ Kristen Oziemkowski
“There’s no proxy for building meaningful relationships with people. And you have to be very intentional about going out of your way to network and get to know people.” ~ Kristen Oziemkowski
Links
Kristen Oziemkowski on LinkedIn
The Mather Group
Merrill Lynch
Stewart Mather
Fe league
The Obstacle Is The Way
Connect with our hosts
Milemarker.co
Kyle on LinkedIn
Jud on LinkedIn
Subscribe and stay in touch
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Marketing & Data Webinar, Behind the Scenes at Fidelis Capital Partners and Should You Really Have That Meeting?
This week, Jack Sharry talks with Brooke Elliott, Dean of Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Brooke leads the college in developing a compelling, strategic vision while continuing to build upon its distinctive brand and identity.They discuss how the college empowers future leaders through transformative education, research, and innovation. Brooke shares how their purpose-driven approach is embedded in the curriculum, the impact of technology and AI in shaping this mission, and how experiential learning bridges the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world opportunities.In this episode: (00:00) – Intro (02:27) – Helping students discover their purpose (07:59)…
Episode 087: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Rick Simonetti, CEO and Head of Wealth Planning of Fidelis Capital Partners, to explore what it takes to serve ultra-high-net-worth families with excellence. Rick shares how Fidelis was built on the foundation of faithfulness—delivering on promises through deep collaboration, proactive planning, and personalized service. They discuss the importance of mentorship, family meetings, interdisciplinary teams, and how true success lies in preparing future generations. From structuring internal teams to navigating external partnerships, Rick offers practical wisdom for firms looking to elevate their service model and create lasting impact for their clients.
In this episode:
(00:00) – Intro
(02:54) – Rick’s money moment
(05:50) – CPA firms vs. wealth management: business model breakdown
[10:45] – Building collaborative relationships with experts
(16:35) – Why “faithfulness” became the foundation of Fidelis
(19:40) – Succession by design: mentorship and developing next-gen advisors
(26:55) – Crafting custom solutions for ultra-high-net-worth families
(32:24) – The power of integration: inside Fidelis’ team-based model
(36:30) – How Fidelis earns trust and referrals from ultra-high-net-worth clients
(42:32) – Rick’s outlook on the future of serving ultra-high-net-worth clients
(46:29) – Milemarker Minute
Key Takeaways
Financial plans don’t fail because they were poorly designed—they fail because they weren’t maintained, optimized, or passed on well. Advisors should prioritize family meetings and mentorship to ensure heirs are ready to step into leadership when the time comes.
Wealth managers don’t have to do it all in-house. In fact, creating strong, collaborative relationships with attorneys and CPAs leads to better outcomes for clients and smoother execution. The key is showing you’re there to make everyone’s job easier—not replace them.
At Fidelis, planning and investment professionals sit in the same meetings with clients. This integrated approach allows for real-time problem-solving, clearer communication, and a seamless experience for families. It’s a model built on visibility, not silos.
Mentorship creates real succession—not disruption. Fidelis intentionally develops “next-up” advisors by embedding them in client relationships long before a transition is needed. It’s a model that preserves institutional knowledge, builds trust, and gives clients peace of mind about who’s carrying the torch next.
Quotes
“One of the foundational elements of our firm was that we wanted to be faithful to the promise of serving multiple generations.” ~ Rick Simonetti
“There’s just no better endorsement, nothing more humbling and nothing for which we’re more grateful than being able to serve families the way that we do, which results in them being thrilled to the point of saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to entrust someone I care deeply about to you.’” ~ Rick Simonetti
“Nothing replaces sitting with clients and talking through issues, hosting family meetings, having all these questions come up and then figuring out how to explain them in a way that makes the complex simple or understandable.” ~ Rick Simonetti
Links
Rick Simonetti on LinkedIn
Fidelis Capital Partners
Wells Fargo
Joe Diffley
Merrill Lynch
Christopher Gunster
Neale Ellis
Connect with our hosts
Milemarker.co
Kyle on LinkedIn
Jud on LinkedIn
Subscribe and stay in touch
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Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at Turncast.com.
Counting Crows, Dollars & Data Workshop & Goldstein Advisors
In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Steven Miyao, an Executive Coach at Coaching Metta. Steven equips executives, entrepreneurs, and startups with the skills, strategies, and mindset needed for sustainable success. He helps professionals navigate career transitions, balance family and personal goals, and discover lasting fulfillment.Jack and Steven explore the challenges and opportunities of midlife career transitions, offering insights on how leaders can redefine their purpose and direction. Steven shares his coaching philosophy, the crucial role of understanding one’s ‘why’ before making a career shift, and how he helps financial services executives build a fulfilling second act in their careersIn…
Episode 086: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Andy Peters, Partner at Goldstein Advisors. Andy’s CPA license is a rarity in financial planning, allowing him to lend a unique business and tax focus to his Financial Planner and Partner role at Goldstein. He stewards the Goldstein team, managing operations and setting the firm’s overall vision and strategy.
Kyle and Andy discuss the unique path and impressive organic growth of Goldstein Advisors. Andy emphasizes the significance of building genuine client relationships, community involvement, and a relentless focus on client-centric service. He also shares the firm’s strategic approach to growth, its commitment to maintaining its culture, and its outlook on the evolving landscape of the financial advisory industry, including the role of AI and the increasing demand for tax expertise.
In this episode:
(00:00) – Intro
(01:32) – Andy’s money moment
(05:07) – The lessons Andy learned from Epic
(06:31) – Goldstein Advisors’ organic growth strategy
(09:56) – The role of relationships and trust in the age of AI
(11:40) – Intentional growth strategies
(16:43) – The abundance mindset in managing wealth
(20:02) – Delivering value while staying true to your competencies
(26:00) – Goldstein Advisors’ tech stack
(28:54) – The future of the industry
(31:10) – Andy’s advice for maintaining a relentless focus on client service
(32:50) – Andy’s Milemarker Minute
Quotes
“The connectedness plus the focus on our clients has been our growth engine, and we’ve never felt the need to go outside of that because we have all the growth we can handle as it is.” ~ Andy Peters
“At the end of the day, this is a relationship business. We take care of clients, and clients trust us to take care of them. Technology is important. AI will probably become increasingly important in some ways, but I don’t think any of that replaces the need for the personal connection we have with our clients.” ~ Andy Peters
“We can’t be everything to everyone. If we do that, we’re simply going to fail in everything that we try to do. So, we try to stick to those core competencies where we have the deep skill set and where it’s not going to be automated away by AI or other types of tech tools.” ~ Andy Peters
Links
Andy Peters on LinkedIn
Goldstein Advisors
Epic
Adam Peters
Fisher Investments
Annex Wealth Management
Carbone Cancer Center
RightCapital
Holistiplan
Jon Goldstein
The Hot Hand
Connect with our hosts
Milemarker.co
Kyle on LinkedIn
Jud on LinkedIn
Subscribe and stay in touch
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
Produce game-changing content with Turncast
Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at Turncast.com.
Switzerland Sets a New Standard, Commonwealth Financial & The Best Shows of All Time
Edward Jones is redefining what it means to provide personalized advice. The firm is creating a signature experience where personalized service is not a luxury but an expectation and where the best financial advisors have the tools, capabilities, and technology needed to provide a seamless, sophisticated, and impactful advisory experience.In this episode, Jack Sharry talks with Russ Tipper, General Partner at Edward Jones. Russ leads more than 300 professionals across North America and drives the firm’s advisory offerings, including SMAs and UMAs, alternatives, retirement products, and more.Jack and Russ discuss how Edward Jones is doubling down on comprehensive, personalized financial…
Episode 085: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Daniel Spurgeon, Managing Partner at Commonwealth Financial Services. They discuss building a thriving RIA in a small market, how to overcome the challenge of establishing trust as a young advisor, and how focusing on specific niches can fuel dramatic growth. Daniel also shares the journey of Commonwealth Financial Services from its humble beginnings to becoming one of the two fastest-growing firms in West Virginia, along with the technology strategy that helped scale operations and enhance client service.
In this episode:
(00:00) – Intro
(01:07) – The story behind Commonwealth Financial Services’ name
(02:45) – Daniel’s money moment
(04:03) – How Daniel got into the financial services industry
(07:03) – The lab rat experience
(08:43) – Daniel’s career journey and growth
(11:37) – Establishing trust as a young advisor
(13:42) – The influence of college basketball on Daniel’s work ethic
(15:54) – The secret to Commonwealth’s success and growth
(17:46) – Commonwealth’s niche markets
(19:25) – The Wealth Wednesday program
(23:14) – Commonwealth’s technology strategy
(26:33) – Daniel’s outlook on the future of the industry
(34:53) – Daniel’s Milemarker Minute
Key Takeaways
In close-knit communities, word-of-mouth referrals are extremely effective.
Genuine care for clients, building trust, and operating with integrity are instrumental in a firm’s growth and success.
Honesty and vulnerability are important, especially when working with clients who may be hesitant to trust younger advisors.
Focusing on a specific niche has allowed Commonwealth to uniquely cater to their clients’ needs and build a loyal following.
Building an intentional tech stack has allowed Commonwealth to serve more clients efficiently and streamline operations.
Quotes
“The biggest thing you can do as a young person or just a new person in this industry is to own the fact that you don’t have experience but make up for it in a knowledge base.” ~ Daniel Spurgeon
“When things are hard in the business, and you’re new, and you’re not getting clients left and right, the willingness to pick yourself back up and just keep taking the next step forward is paramount because it’s not for the weak of heart.” ~ Daniel Spurgeon
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. If you’re willing to go the extra step and take care of people, even though it may not immediately make a financial difference for you, people remember that.” ~ Daniel Spurgeon
“This world’s always changing. So you have to be willing to adapt, and technology’s an easy way to make things more efficient and scalable.” ~ Daniel Spurgeon
Links
Daniel Spurgeon on LinkedIn
Commonwealth Financial Services
Raymond James
LPL Financial
Edward Jones
Merrill Lynch
DuPont
Wealth Wednesday | Podcast on Spotify
Shanell Jeffrey
Alyssa Williams
Orion Advisor Solutions
eMoney Advisor
Joe Duran
Quantitative Value
Connect with our hosts
Milemarker.co
Kyle on LinkedIn
Jud on LinkedIn
Subscribe and stay in touch
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
Produce game-changing content with Turncast
Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at Turncast.com.