Page 34 - Investment Advisor September 2022

is human-first financial guidance. Some advisors lead with Matt Reiner, MattReiner.com
investments, others lead with financial planning. Now, advi- Matt Reiner, CFA, CFP, created MattReiner.com
sors need to lead with life. Helping clients respond to life based on his “passion to help other financial
events is just as, if not more important than setting some future advisors grow in their knowledge of practice
goal,” he explained. management, help them evaluate their technol-
ogy needs and inform them on what’s new in the industry,” he
Sarah Musante, Hightower Advisors said. In addition, Reiner hosts the “Bridging the Gap” podcast
As Hightower’s chief human resources officer, series and is the author of “Dr. Cole Cash Will See You Now.”
Sarah Musante has “fostered a collaborative Reiner wants the wealth management industry — specifical-
and supportive workplace, where employ- ly the RIA vertical — to become one of the world’s most inno-
ees benefit from a thriving culture that offers vative, forward-thinking industries and believes that “with
career development and work-life balance,” according to the true innovation, RIAs will attract top-tier talent, create prac-
firm. “Through the programs she puts in place … [she] is help- tices that are efficient and scalable, and offer higher-quality
ing to redefine workplace culture in the financial services personal service to clients at all levels of wealth.”
industry for the modern era … [and] proving that a supportive,
nurturing environment is best for business, as it produces hap- Nitin Seth, Incedo
pier, more productive employees.” Incedo CEO Nitin Seth has “been influential in
Last year, Musante helped the firm launch HIGHFlex, and a vocal advocate of the industry’s need to
which offers employees “a hybrid work environment that pri- adapt to the changes that have disrupted many
oritizes collaboration, with unlimited paid time-off, expand- other well-established industries,” according
ed maternity and paternity benefits, as well as the ability to to his firm. Seth explains why and how the industry “must
work from any location for up to four weeks per year and take a two-speed approach, leaving behind old ways and
more,” it said. focusing on client experience and data modernization to make
incremental improvements.”
Penny Phillips, Journey Strategic Wealth He wrote the book “Winning in the Digital Age: Seven
Penny Phillips, president and co-founder of Building Blocks of a Successful Transformation” and aims to
RIA Journey Strategic Wealth, contributes help the industry as a recognized digital transformation expert.
to the financial services industry in the Under his leadership, Incedo grew its 2021 revenues by 18%
area of advisor practice management at from the prior year, opened three offices in Mexico, Canada
conferences and in the media via keynote speeches, panel and India, and achieved a headcount growth of 43%.
discussions, unique content and programs, articles and
business ventures. Matt Sonnen, PFI Advisors
Her “outspoken nature about the challenges and gaps Matt Sonnen is the founder and CEO of PFI
she sees in this industry for advisors (and for women in all Advisors and worked to “introduce the indus-
roles) has established her as an industry expert,” according try’s first and only RIA-operations educational
to the firm. platform,” according to his firm. “This platform,
the COO Society, is a repository for Matt’s wealth of knowledge
Meghan Railey, Optas Capital and experience and is a comprehensive learning space geared
Meghan Railey, co-founder of Optas Capital, towards operational professionals at all levels of the firm from
designs “customized roadmaps for high-net- new client service associates to veteran COOs.”
worth and self-made earners who are new to Plus, the platform facilitates discussion and collaboration
wealth — to instill them with confidence as via a forum and monthly video calls, “helping refine best prac-
they navigate life changing events,” Optas said. These road- tices which are vital to maturing the role of the operations
maps “often include elements for addressing equity compen- department in the RIA industry,” the firm explained. “The
sation, tax planning, cash flow, investment, philanthropic, creation of this robust coaching and community platform has
and estate planning — and are structured comprehensively to been years in the making and was pioneered from Matt’s desire
help clients and their families improve proficiency in these to elevate the RIA firm from practice to business.”
areas over time.”
Railey founded Optas to “fulfill her vision of becoming Lawrence Sprung, Mitlin Financial Inc.
a financial advocate for her clients and steward of their Larry Sprung, CFP, is founder and wealth advi-
capital,” it added. She works on “preventing, combating sor at Mitlin Financial. Spring “took the loss
and alleviating the many complications that self-made of his brother-in-law Keith [Milano] to suicide
earners encounter.” in 2004 and turned it into a mission to raise

30 INVESTMENT ADVISOR SEPTEMBER 2022 | ThinkAdvisor.com