Subscribe to Big Picture in Practice anywhere you like to listen
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Stitcher
An Enterprise Wealth Podcast
Big Picture in Practice
Tune in every other week to explore the latest trends across the financial sector. Joined by industry-leading guests, Big Picture in Practice will help you innovate and stay abreast of the latest information that will enable listeners to create differentiated products and foster successful client relationships in a constantly evolving investment landscape.
Stay informed with the Big Picture in Practice Newsletter
Big Picture in Practice delivers new episodes and bonus content on wealth management, best investment processes, and the evolving investor straight to your inbox twice a month.
Featured Episode
Why AI Can’t Replace Human Financial Advisors
Brent Beardsley is the head of advisor solutions at Vanguard, which began working directly with advisors a quarter of a century ago. Since then, investors have gained access to the same investment information as the pros. With modern investment platforms, they can choose funds and see portfolio details on their own.
Where do financial advisors fit into today’s industry landscape?
In this episode, Brent explains how modern advisory firms can add value for clients and coexist with new technology.
- How financial advice has evolved over the last 25 years.
- What advisors can outsource to free up time for client engagement?
- What advisor activities truly add value for investors.
Related Content
Segments
Morningstar for asset managers
Investors’ needs and preferences are always evolving. Asset managers partner with Morningstar to evolve with the investors we serve together.
Segments
Morningstar for advisors and wealth managers
With more investment data at their fingertips, investors expect more from financial advisors and wealth managers. Show the value of your advice in turbulent markets and the expanding investment universe.
Meet the Hosts
Julie Willoughby
Head of Global Sales
Julie serves Morningstar’s largest clients across the asset management, advisor, and alliances segments.
Ben Johnson, CFA
Head of Client Solutions, Asset Management
Ben leads client solutions for Morningstar’s asset management clients, after an impressive tenure in passive funds research.
Personalization
Now, more than ever, investors expect personalized recommendations based on that individual's risk tolerance, total assets, and financial goals. What does personalization look like for investors today?
12/12/24
Why AI Can’t Replace Human Financial Advisors
Vanguard’s Brent Beardsley explains how modern advisory firms can add value for clients and coexist with new technology.
12/2/24
The Evolution of ETFs and How They’re Reshaping Investment Strategies
Discover how ETFs have evolved from passive investments to versatile, personalized solutions reshaping modern portfolios. Stay informed on the latest trends to enhance your strategies.
11/14/24
Conversation with Creative Planning’s Co-CIO
Creative Planning's Vision for the RIA Industry: Insights from Ramesh Poola
10/17/24
The Future of Investing: The Growing Importance of Alternative Assets
Are alternative assets the future of investing? Phil Huber, Cliffwater’s Head of Portfolio Solutions shares key insights.
09/19/24
Inside Unified Managed Accounts and the Future of Personalized Investing
Dimensional Fund Advisors’ Katie Hendrix and Bryce Skaff dive into the firm’s new UMA platform.
06/06/24
What Financial Advisors Don’t Know About Bitcoin ETFs
Bitcoin exchange-traded funds made a long-awaited splash in the market in early 2024. Has crypto finally arrived in the mainstream for financial advisors?
05/09/24
What Does Real-World Asset Tokenization Mean for Asset Managers?
WisdomTree’s Will Peck explains blockchain-enabled asset management and what it means for investors.
04/11/24
What Advisors Need to Know About Interval Funds
PIMCO’s Christian Clayton deciphers the benefits and risks of interval funds.
03/14/24
The Role of Private-Market Investments in Today’s Portfolios
Franklin Templeton’s Tony Davidow shares some of the latest developments in private-market investments.
02/01/24
2024 Trends in Retirement Savings and Spending With BlackRock
BlackRock’s KC Boas breaks down the latest trends in retirement savings and spending.
12/20/23
Decode AI Uses in Wealth Management With Fidelity’s Head of Data Strategy
How will AI change wealth management? Fidelity’s Andrew Brzezinski explains potential use cases and why AI is a friend, not a foe.
12/15/23
How mistakes and discoveries led ETFs to reshape capital markets
Do you know everything you should about ETFs? Nicole Hunter, Head of ETF Capital Markets at Dimensional Fund Advisors and Ugo Egbunike, Fixed Income Specialist at Jane Street, discuss the evolution and effectiveness of ETFs in today’s economy.
12/02/22 | 28min
Diving Deep into Direct Indexing and Separately Managed Accounts
These strategies offer advisors a way
to achieve personalization at scale – but are they right for your clients? We interviewed Dimensional Fund Advisors to find
11/18/22 | 28min
The Power of Behavioral Finance on Decision-Making
Financial advice is more than a numbers game. Learn how behavioral finance can help advisors understand and support their clients.
11/04/22 | 26min
Future-Proofing Your Business: The Next Generation of Advice
How can advisors reach the next generation of investors?
The future of advice is about relatability and accessibility.
10/06/22 | 30min
Winter Is Coming, but Cryptocurrency Isn't Going Anywhere
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to cryptocurrency. Unpack the future of digital financial assets despite a crypto winter.
09/09/22 | 27min
It’s Time to Have the Talk ... About Sustainability
New tools and data empower advisors to have meaningful client conversations around sustainability.
09/01/22 | 29min
Interviewing Tanja Hester: Advising a New Generation of Wallet Activists
Author and activist Tanja Hester discusses early retirement, ESG, debt funds, and the next generation of investors.
07/27/22 | 29min
Making Portfolios Personal
What’s driving demand for direct indexing and how advisors are embracing technology to balance personalization at scale.
Efficiency and Scale
How are advisors embracing technology to balance efficient personalization at scale? Advisors can differentiate themselves by seizing opportunities to adopt emerging technology and automation.
10/03/24
Lessons on Adaptability and Client-Focused Solutions
Gain insights from a leader in finance about the many roles an advisor must embrace in the evolving financial landscape to be a top resource for clients.
09/05/24
Tax-Managed Separate Accounts, Explained
Schwab’s Jason Diefenthaler breaks down the inner workings of tax-exempt investment strategies.
08/28/24
Understanding and Meeting the Unique Needs of Different Investor Segments
Discover insights on tailoring financial services to the unique needs of diverse investor segments with Brie Williams, Head of Practice Management at State Street Global Advisors.
08/08/24
Hightower’s Bob Oros: RIA Rollups and the Future of Financial Advising
Is consolidation the answer for RIAs who want to compete in a fragmented field? Hightower’s Bob Oros talks about the industry’s future and what investors want from their advisors.
06/20/24
The Evolution and Popularity of Model Portfolios: A Conversation with BlackRock
What’s up with model portfolios these days? Eve Cout, BlackRock’s Model Portfolio Pillar Head for US Wealth Advisory, tells us all.
05/23/24
Demystifying the Escalating Cost of Education and the Power of 529 Plans with Tricia Scarlata
Head of Education Savings at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Tricia Scarlata, shares her insights about the costs and benefits of higher education and tips for financial planning.
04/25/24
The Ever-Changing Face of Finance
How has the finance industry evolved? Lazard’s Jennifer Abate shares what’s changed the most and what’s coming next.
03/28/24
The Future of Investments: A Conversation with New Edge Wealth
Navigate a path to successful investments by aligning strategies with individual goals, staying disciplined, considering alternatives, and adapting to changes.
02/15/24
How to Grow a Family Office Without Losing the Personal Touch
A growing practice or excellent client service? Christopher Dupuy of the Rockefeller Family Office explains how firms can have both.
01/18/24
How Have Broker-Dealer Practices Evolved, and What’s Coming Next?
Then, Now, and the Future: What Has the Role of Technology Been in Investor-Advisor Relationships? LPL’s Rob Pettman Explains What Has Been and What Will be.
11/13/23 | 28min
The three common factors driving the highest-growth advisor practices
How should advisors approach long-term scalability? Capital Group’s Mike Van Wyk explains the three common factors that influence high growth.
12/16/22 | 28min
Rise of the Machines: Disruptive Technology and Advice
Disruptive technology like artificial intelligence and digital assets provide unique opportunities for advisors.
08/11/2022 | 22min
Omnichannel Engagement, Because One Channel Is Never Enough
Harness the power of data and analytics to deliver a consistent and personalized experience across different mediums.
Regulation
As advisors and asset managers look to grow their books of business, they must also be mindful of new and evolving regulations that dictate the way they function and report on their impact.
11/20/23
The SEC’s 2024 Rulemaking Agenda: What’s Ahead for Climate and AI Proposals
Morningstar’s Aron Szapiro explains what's ahead for climate
and AI proposals.
10/21/22 | 27min
ESG Regulation: Coming Up or Catching Up?
ESG regulations are catching
up to investor interest. Our
guests break down what works, what doesn’t, and what’s next.
08/24/22 | 28min
Not Your Grandfather's Advertising Rule
Impacts of the SEC marketing
rule and how advisors
can position transparency as
a competitive advantage.