In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner sits down with Rick Burgess to explore the in's and outs of data models and workflows within the financial industry. Rick, who has been a partner with a company for nearly a decade, underscores the significance of a centralized data model and the challenges smaller firms face in accessing tools that larger companies utilize. He emphasizes the importance of a data warehouse approach and discusses the deceptive appearance of integration where multiple tech stacks are used without true integration. The conversation dives into streamlining account o ..read more

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner connects with recruitment expert Claire Vitale, focusing on strategies to optimize the recruitment process and attract top-tier talent. Claire emphasizes the importance of showcasing your company culture through social media, highlighting team activities and client successes to create a friendly and engaging online presence. She also stresses the necessity of having a strong, user-friendly company website with a clear careers button and maintaining an active LinkedIn page to draw in potential candidates. Personalizing the recruitment process wit ..read more

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner welcomes brand evangelist Diana Cabrices to explore the intersection of fintech and branding in the financial industry. Diana recounts her journey from teaching English in Europe to becoming a fintech marketing expert, emphasizing the importance of emotionally accessible marketing. She explains that a brand extends beyond logos and websites, encompassing every client interaction, whether online or in-person, to foster deeper connections. Diana addresses the challenges fintech companies face in engaging advisors, highlighting the competitive and ..read more

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner welcomes Dr. Marcia Reynolds, a figure in emotional intelligence and coaching. Marcia shares her journey from a challenging adolescence to becoming an authoritative voice on emotional intelligence and leadership. She emphasizes the critical role emotions play in decision-making and explains how our brain's primary function of protection often leads to quick, potentially faulty judgments. This perspective is great for leaders seeking to foster better decision-making within their teams. A key takeaway from Marcia’s insights is the importance of em ..read more

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner engages with Jo Wright, a distinguished coach and author, to explore the transformative power of creating space and learning to say no. Jo shares her insights on how these practices can lead to significant growth by investing in people and fostering a coaching culture. She stresses the importance of leaders evolving from task-oriented roles to relationship-focused figures by asking open-ended questions, building trust, and empowering their teams to take ownership of solutions. This shift, she argues, is crucial for creating a thriving workplace ..read more

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner sits down with Paul Armson, a financial advisor who has transitioned his approach to focus on lifestyle financial planning. Initially drawn to the industry by the potential income from selling financial products, Paul had a major wake-up call after his mother's sudden death. This event prompted him to reevaluate his career priorities and redirect his strategy towards helping clients live their lives to the fullest in the present, rather than deferring enjoyment to the future. Paul now emphasizes the importance of understanding clients' current l ..read more

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner and leadership coach Michael Bungay Stanier dive into the importance of curiosity and psychological safety within financial advising. Michael emphasizes the need for advisors to stay curious by asking open-ended questions like "And what else?" to better understand their clients' needs. This approach helps foster stronger client relationships and encourages deeper, more meaningful conversations. Michael also discusses the critical role of psychological safety in creating an environment where advisors feel secure to express ideas and take risks. B ..read more

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner and Robert Sofia cover an interesting side of our industry of innovative marketing strategies and technological advancements. They emphasize the importance of measuring marketing effectiveness using metrics like CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost), LTV (Lifetime Value), MQLs (Marketing Qualified Leads), and SQLs (Sales Qualified Leads). They highlight tools such as Snappy Kraken for comprehensive campaign tracking to ensure compliance and avoid fragmented efforts. The discussion jumps into how different content types build trust and foster client re ..read more

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner and Charles Green dive into the balance between human connection and metric-based management in professional service industries. Charles Green emphasizes the need for intimate, personal connections when building trust with clients, critiquing modern business practices that overly rely on quantitative metrics. Throughout their conversation, they explore how trustworthiness can be learned, the importance of taking risks in trust development, and how different temperaments affect organizational dynamics. Charles recounts his journey from aspiring b ..read more

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Matt Reiner and Steven Van Cohen delve into the importance of creating a psychologically safe and inclusive workplace. They explore the many elements that are crucial to fostering a supportive work environment, such as addressing feelings of loneliness among team members and emphasizing the need for genuine connections. Steven opens up about how loneliness at work manifests and how leaders can identify and address it through regular check-ins and clear communication. They stress the necessity of permitting young professionals to 'fail safely,' a concept tha ..read more