Tag: AI in financial services
Why Financial Advisors Struggle With PR, and What Actually Gets Media Attention (Ep. 19)

Why Financial Advisors Struggle With PR, and What Actually Gets Media Attention (Ep. 19)

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Most financial advisors think they need better marketing. What they may actually need is better storytelling.

In this episode, Andrew Evans sits down with Alexandra Zendrian, founder of A to Z Communications, to talk about the real difference between marketing and public relations, and why so many advisors misunderstand both. Allie shares how she accidentally became an entrepreneur after a layoff, how to build strong media relationships, and why getting press coverage is about much more than promoting your firm.

Andrew and Allie also dive into some of the biggest conversations in the financial services industry right now, including AI, mergers and acquisitions, advisor succession planning, and why flexibility and culture remain major challenges for women in finance.

Andrew and Allie discuss: 

  • The difference between marketing and public relations
  • What reporters actually look for in financial stories
  • Why relationship-building matters in PR
  • How AI is changing financial media conversations
  • The reality behind advisor succession and M&A trends
  • And more!

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Connect with Alexandra Zendrian:

About our Guest: 

Alexandra Zendrian is the founder of A to Z Communications, a public relations firm focused on helping financial professionals and organizations strengthen their media presence and industry visibility. With a background in journalism and financial services communications, Allie works closely with advisors, firms, and industry leaders to craft meaningful stories, build reporter relationships, and create authentic visibility in a crowded marketplace.

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Staying Relevant in the Age of AI with David Evans and RJ Malyk (Ep. 9)

Staying Relevant in the Age of AI with David Evans and RJ Malyk (Ep. 9)

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Technology is advancing at lightning speed, leaving many professionals wondering how to adapt and thrive.

In this episode, Andrew Evans is joined by his brother David Evans and producer RJ Malyk for a candid discussion on AI, resilience, and finding new ways to stay relevant in rapidly changing industries.

RJ shares how his background in radio shaped his approach to AI, why embracing change matters, and how financial services can draw lessons from other fields facing disruption.

Key takeaways:

  • How RJ transitioned from radio to voiceover work and why AI pushed him to expand his skillset
  • The mindset shift needed to embrace change instead of resisting it
  • Parallels between AI’s disruption and past technological shifts like TurboTax and big-box retail
  • The importance of human interaction and personalization in industries threatened by automation
  • Why the 80/20 rule explains the balance between technology and human expertise across fields
  • And more!

Previous Episodes of Interest: 

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Connect with David Evans: 

Connect with RJ Malyk: 

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Practical AI for Real-World Use with David Evans (Ep. 5)

Practical AI for Real-World Use with David Evans (Ep. 5)

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What does artificial intelligence really mean for industries like finance, and why do so many get it wrong?

In this episode of The Outstanding Shift, Andrew Evans sits down with his brother, David Evans, Senior Machine Learning Model Developer at Duolingo, who had previous stints at Google and other major tech companies. Together, they dig into the myths, fears, and realities of AI, from its 70-year evolution to the transformative “Attention is All You Need” paper, and how today’s large language models (LLMs) can be powerful workflow tools rather than just flashy novelties.

Andrew and David discuss:

  • Why finance has been slow to adopt AI and what is really behind that hesitation
  • The surprising ways AI can (and cannot) think
  • Practical, compliance-conscious steps for integrating AI into your daily work
  • How to spot hype versus real utility in an AI tool
  • And more!

Connect with Rossby Financial: 

Connect with Andrew Evans: 

Connect with David Evans:

About Our Guest:

David Evans is a Senior Machine Learning Model Developer at Duolingo, specializing in large language model applications for language learning. With a career that spans Google, multiple tech startups, and cutting-edge AI research, David brings a unique perspective on how AI is built, deployed, and adapted to solve real-world problems. His current work focuses on creating high-quality, freeform conversation experiences for Duolingo Max users, blending technical expertise with an understanding of human learning.

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