Tag: compliance
How Financial Advisors Can Use Testimonials Without Compliance Trouble with Brian Thorp (Ep. 18)

How Financial Advisors Can Use Testimonials Without Compliance Trouble with Brian Thorp (Ep. 18)

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Online reviews can shape whether a prospect reaches out or keeps scrolling. But for financial advisors, testimonials come with compliance concerns, disclosure requirements, and questions about where reviews should live.

In this episode, Andrew Evans speaks with Brian Thorp, Founder and CEO of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief, about how advisors can use client testimonials while staying aligned with SEC marketing rules. They break down disclosure requirements, common compliance mistakes with Google reviews, and why many advisors still hesitate to ask for feedback. 

Brian also explains how SEO, AI search visibility, and review platforms are changing how advisors get found online.

Key takeaways:

  • Why advisors still hesitate to ask clients for reviews despite strong client relationships
  • The 3 disclosure requirements tied to publishing client testimonials online today
  • How review policies can help filter out non-client or outdated public feedback issues
  • Why Google reviews can create compliance concerns for financial advisory firms
  • How SEO and AI visibility can help advisors appear more often in online searches
  • And more!

Connect with Rossby Financial: 

Connect with Andrew Evans: 

Connect with Brian Thorp: 

About our Guest: 

Brian Thorp is the founder and CEO of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief.

Brian believes everyone deserves help with money matters from someone they can trust, no matter their income or stage of life.

Brian is a member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP) and its SEC Marketing Rule Working Group. Brian authored an article on the topic of advisor testimonials published by the NSCP in the February 28th, 2022, issue of Currents, the industry’s premier publication for 2,000+ compliance professionals. 

Brian was recognized by WealthManagement.com as one of its top 10 innovators and influencers set to change the wealth management industry in 2024.

Brian has positioned Wealthtender as the first financial advisor review platform designed to be compliant with the SEC Marketing Rule. Brian has also published a testimonial marketing playbook to help advisors and wealth management firms succeed with online reviews and has been featured on multiple podcasts and quoted in major publications discussing the topic.

Prior to founding Wealthtender, Brian spent nearly 22 years in multiple leadership roles at Invesco. In his most recent role, Brian served as Head of Financial Advisor Platforms with oversight for Invesco’s largest strategic partnerships with wealth management firms representing over $100 Billion in assets under management.

With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress.

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From WealthTech Chaos to Clarity with Larry Shumbres (Ep. 6)

From WealthTech Chaos to Clarity with Larry Shumbres (Ep. 6)

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The WealthTech space is bursting with options, but more choices don’t always mean better solutions.

Why are so many firms building one-off tools without considering the full advisor experience? And how can entrepreneurs design, grow, and even sell companies in this crowded market?

In this episode of The Outstanding Shift, Andrew Evans talks with Larry Shumbres, CEO and Founder of Archive Intel, about the state of WealthTech, the power of user stories, and the steps to successfully grow and exit a tech company. Larry also shares insights on AI adoption and the importance of iterative product development.

Larry discusses:

  • The evolution of WealthTech and why too many disconnected tools frustrate advisors and firms
  • How the lack of user stories and persona mapping leads to gaps in product functionality
  • The importance of building for smaller firms first, iterating, and scaling up to enterprise clients
  • Why advisory firms risk falling behind if they avoid AI and how to integrate it effectively
  • Key metrics, processes, and readiness steps for selling a tech company at a strong valuation
  • And more!

Connect with Rossby Financial: 

Connect with Andrew Evans: 

Connect with Larry Shumbres: 

About our Guest: 

Larry Shumbres is a seasoned entrepreneur and prominent figure in the FinTech sector, is dedicated to elevating the investment journey for both advisors and institutions through innovative and regulatory-compliant technology. With a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years and affiliations with industry giants like Charles Schwab, Morningstar, and New York Life Investments, Larry’s expertise is widely acknowledged. He recently founded, developed, and successfully exited Totum Risk, a pioneering risk tolerance platform, to TIFIN. Prior achievements include building SmartVision by eVestment, acquired by Nasdaq, and leading the sales team at eMoney, culminating in their acquisition by Fidelity. A sought-after advisor, Larry sits on multiple corporate boards, contributes to NASDAQ as a writer, publishes articles in industry journals, and has been featured in interviews on Bloomberg.

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