Wealth management firms are drowning in technology, but which tools truly matter?

In this episode of In The Money, host Rusty Sommer talks with Chip Kispert, Managing Partner of Beacon Strategies, about separating hype from value in AI, compliance, and alternatives. They explore how firms can scale effectively, adopt tech without fatigue, and prepare for the next wave of client expectations.

Key Points:

• How advisors face tech overload and why plug-and-play solutions that simplify workflows are gaining traction
• Real AI use cases like estate planning, compliance surveillance, and portfolio monitoring versus “AI noise”
• The challenges of Rep-as-PM, the role of benchmarks, and how tech supports customized portfolios
• Compliance concerns around AI, the urgent need for firm-level AI policies, and regulatory expectations
• The growing demand for alternative investments, hurdles in adoption, and why scalability is the ultimate catalyst for firm-wide change
• And more!

Connect with Rusty Sommer:

• Rusty.sommer@flyerft.com
• LinkedIn: Rusty Sommer
• Flyer Financial Technologies
• LinkedIn: Flyer Financial Technologies
• Twitter: Flyer_FT

Connect with Chip Kispert:

• LinkedIn: Chip Kispert
• Beacon 100% Better Everyday Podcast
• Beacon Strategies, LLC

About Our Guest:

Chip Kispert is the Founder and Managing Partner of Beacon Strategies, LLC. He has over 20 years of experience in the broker-dealer and asset management industries. Chip specializes in developing and implementing data management-centric supply strategies, focusing on infrastructure evolution. Before founding Beacon, he was the Vice President of Sales at Trust Company of America and held senior sales and business development roles at Fidelity Investments for four years.