A few weeks ago, I published a critique of Questrade’s marketing and brand promise. As the post gained traction, several people publicly commented both in support and opposition to the article, and many more reached out privately.

More and more Financial Advisors are having to act as their own Chief Technology Officers. In order to help facilitate advisors’ efforts, I have complied a market survey of technology products that can help advisors to enable their practice.

There’s one company in Canada that financial advisors almost universally hate: Questrade. It’s no mystery as to why; after all, Questrade has – for years – focused its marketing efforts on ads attacking the advisory industry, questioning our value and above all else, our cost.

In recent years, podcasting has grown from its humble hobbyist origins to become a big, global business. It’s estimated that there are currently over 1 million active podcasts, featuring 30 million podcast episodes available in over 100 languages. Stats tell us that more than one in five Americans currently listen to podcasts weekly, and the numbers are only going in one direction: up.

In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira brings back Adam Holt, CEO and founder of Asset Map, to discuss the evolution of his company and the financial planning industry. They explore the development of Asset Map, a tool designed to simplify financial planning by visualizing complex financial data on a single page. The conversation touches on the importance of efficient client communication and how tech advancements like AI and digital tools can enhance client relationships and financial literacy. They also delve into the broader industry trends and challenges, and the shift towards more comprehensive and conversational financial planning.

The podcast features an interview with Patrick Gauthier, CEO of Convera Holdings, who discusses the organization's innovative approaches in the financial technology sector, focusing on cross-border commercial payments. Gauthier highlights the transformation and modernization efforts at Convera post-its acquisition from Western Union, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities embedded in this transition. The conversation revolves around the use of cloud technology, AI, and a significant focus on rendering advanced payment solutions in several market segments. Additionally, the episode explores the strategic direction of the company, underlining the critical importance of cooperation with financial institutions and the adoption of real-time payment systems.

In today’s episode, Jason interviews Rick Burgess, CEO of Forms Logic. They delve into the origin of Forms Logic, a platform designed to streamline data collection and form processing for financial advisors. Rick explains the challenges firms face with legacy systems and the inefficiencies that arise from inconsistent data management. They explore the potential improvements in client onboarding, data handling, and operational efficiency that Forms Logic aims to address. The conversation also touches on broader issues in financial services, such as the difficulties in achieving industry-wide data standardization and optimizing processes for better client experiences.

In today's episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira delve into the world of alternative investments and digital transformation with Rafay Farooqui, the Chairman Founder and CEO of Subscribe. Subscribe is a platform designed to address challenges in establishing enterprise solutions for subscription document technology and management of alternative products. The discussion covers the historical context and inspiration behind the creation of Subscribe, its contribution to digital transformation in private markets, and the innovative strategies employed to streamline operations within this industry.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira speaks with John O'Connell, CEO of the Oasis Group, about the current trends and challenges in the advisor technology sector, particularly focusing on the U.S. market. They explore topics such as technology integration, cybersecurity, the rise of AI, and the need for standardized tech stacks in financial advisory firms. John shares his experiences and insights while discussing the impact of technology on RIAs and the future role of AI in enhancing efficiency and client service in the industry.

In this episode, Jason Pereira discusses with Gavin Nachbar, CEO and Co-founder of Column Tax, about how they are revolutionizing tax filing by embedding tax services within financial applications. Gavin explains the origins of Column Tax, its mission to simplify tax filing for Americans, and the innovative approach of using API integrations to streamline the process. The conversation also delves into the challenges of tax filing, particularly for self-employed individuals, and the potential future of real-time tax management and planning.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Ryan Rosett, co-Founder and co-CEO of Credibly, a lending platform designed to facilitate small business loans ranging from $5,000 to $600,000. Ryan discusses the origins of Credibly and highlights their objective to address banking challenges faced by small businesses. He elaborates on the company's unique approach to assessing loan credibility, focusing on cash flow and customer service. The conversation further delves into Credibly's advances in technology, notably utilizing generative AI to enhance industry classification and loan processing efficiency.

In today's episode, Jason Pereira hosts Parker Ence, CEO and Co-Founder of Jump, a generative AI-based meeting transcription and note-taking service. They discuss the innovations in AI technology, particularly for financial advisors, and how Jump helps automate and assist in meeting preparations and follow-ups to make financial advisors' lives easier. Parker elaborates on the company's unique offerings, how they address the essential but cumbersome parts of financial advising, and the roadmap for the future of Jump.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, Jason interviews Ali Zahedi, CEO of Infinite Systems, about their comprehensive portfolio management software, Harmony, and its impact on the Canadian wealth management industry. Allie shares the origins of Infinite Systems, emphasizing the company's commitment to providing end to-end, integrated solutions for wealth managers and their move towards exploring inorganic growth opportunities through acquisitions. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of building a tech based solution from the ground up, the importance of team cohesion, and the company's future visions focusing on both enhancing existing services and exploring adjacent opportunities.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Michael Watson, head of Axos Advisor Services, on how Axos aims to revolutionize the traditional custodial and banking services for RIAs (Registered Investment Advisors). Axos, a digital bank established in 2000, evolved from a consumer-focused bank to a comprehensive provider offering commercial banking, securities business, and custodial services. The acquisition of E-Trade's custody business is highlighted as a strategic move to diversify and solidify Axos' position in the market. Watson details the company's commitment to providing high-touch, personalized services and the integration of digital banking solutions catering to RIAs and their clients, emphasizing the importance of service quality, efficiency, and not competing with advisors for clients.

In this episode, Jason talks to Jon Shell about the advent of employee ownership trusts in Canada, a game-changing legislation that addresses previous concerns and paves the way for a more inclusive and equitable business ownership structure. Through a deep dive into the intricacies of this model, listeners are offered a comprehensive understanding of its benefits, implications, and transformative potential for both business owners and employees alike.

In this episode, Jason Pereira discusses the world of virtual assistants for financial advisors, featuring insights from Andrew Evans, Founder of ROffice. Through their conversation, listeners gain valuable knowledge on how virtual assistants can revolutionize the way financial advisors operate, ensuring efficiency and effective client service. This episode is a deep dive into outsourcing certain business operations to optimize service delivery and business growth.

Jason talks to Richard Parker, owner of the Diomo Corporation. They delve into the critical aspects of buying and selling businesses, focusing on the complexities around what sellers might not disclose and how buyers can navigate these challenges for a successful acquisition. The conversation offers a wealth of insights, drawing from Parker's extensive experience in helping individuals acquire businesses in the lower market.

On today’s episode of Financial Planning for Canadian Business Owners, Jason Pereira interviews Tim Hewson, CEO of LegalWills, an online platform providing millions of users with a simple and accessible solution for creating legal and compliant wills. Tim discusses the importance of having a will, the challenges of estate planning, and how Legal Wills aims to demystify the process.

Today on the wisdom of wealth, we're going to talk about donating to charity. There are several ways to donate to charity. There's the direct method by just giving them money, there's automated methods, there's something called donor advised funds and foundations, and there's through your estate. We're going to talk a little bit about each of those options.

Jason Pereira makes a guest appearance on “Legacy You: Evolution of Estate Planning” for their episode: "Don't Plan in Silos Integrate Legacy Planning into your Financial Plan".

Today we're going to talk about coping with financial difficulty. So let's face it. Life happens. The best laid plans often go to waste because essentially, things get in the way unexpected expenses crop up, maybe job loss or something more severe, but life has a way of changing course quite frequently. And today we're going to talk about coping with that, specifically about a few things. How to plan for it in advance, adjusting when it happens, and what to do when you need help.

Today, on The Wisdom of Wealth, we're going to talk about socially responsible investing. So, it comes as no surprise to anyone that sometimes companies do bad things, and sometimes they're not even bad, just things you don't agree with. Social responsible investing is all about taking into consideration different factors like environmental, social, and governance factors when deciding whether or not you should invest in a company.