They Didn’t Start with AI. They Started with People.

That might sound simple—but in today’s rush to automate, scale, and “transform,” it’s anything but.

Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. took a different path.

No pink slips.
No blown-up workflows.
No hollow promises about innovation.

Just a clear goal: reduce the time it takes to open an account from 20 minutes to seconds—without losing the quality, trust, or people that made the process work in the first place.

In this episode of Money Matters, I sit down with:

🟡 Valarie Vest, Chief Experience Officer
🟡 Sean Van Moorleghem, Chief Technology Officer

What I love about this story is that it's not theoretical.
It’s not “AI someday.”
It’s a real-world example of change done right—quietly, intentionally, and with the people in mind from day one.

📌 They trained their digital “associates” the same way they onboard human ones.
📌 They kept the existing workflow—and made it more resilient.
📌 They created new roles and opportunities instead of eliminating them.
📌 And they proved that you can scale without burning out your team or blowing up your culture.

One of my favorite lines from Val was this:
"Our secret sauce? It’s the people. No one got into this business to do paperwork."

This episode is for leaders who are serious about innovation but even more serious about getting it right.

🎧 Episode 337: Speed, Scale & Zero Layoffs
👉Click Below to Listen!

Huge thanks to Val and Sean for showing what it looks like to move fast and take care of your people.

#Leadership #FinancialServices #ProcessImprovement #TeamCulture #Innovation #Podcast #Cambridge #MoneyMatters #DigitalTransformation #AIinBusiness #ResponsibleAI #FintechInnovation #AutomationStrategy #FutureOfFinance #HumanCenteredTech

Is DEI really dead — or just misunderstood? In this episode of Money Matters, workplace culture experts Cornelia Gamlem and Barbara Mitchell, co-authors of Essentials of Employee Engagement, challenge the headlines and reframe the DEI conversation with clarity and strategy.

💥 Cold Open Preview:
“People started calling DEI bad, evil, even discriminatory… and it’s none of those things if you truly understand it.”
– Cornelia Gamlem

🎧 In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why DEI got distorted — and what it really means in today’s workplace

• How inclusion, not perks, drives employee engagement

• What Gen Z expects from company culture

• Why listening is the most underused leadership skill

• Real-world examples of companies winning (or losing) the culture game

• How disengagement silently shrinks your talent pool

• The one action any leader can take this week to re-engage their team

📘 Get the book → Essentials of Employee Engagement on Amazon

🔗 Connect with the guests:
👉 Cornelia Gamlem on LinkedIn
👉 Barbara Mitchell on LinkedIn
🌐 Website: https://bigbookofhr.com

💡 If you care about culture, retention, leadership, or HR strategy — this conversation is a must-listen.

🚨 Can AI actually make financial advisors feel more human—not less?
That’s the bold idea Robert J. Sofia, CEO of Snappy Kraken, shares in this week’s episode of Money Matters.

We break down what “human connection at scale” really looks like in today’s digital-first world—and why it might be the future of financial advising.
Here’s what we cover:

✅ Real AI implementation vs. ChatGPT tinkering
✅ Using data to personalize at scale (without losing your voice)
✅ How one firm doubled AUM from $20B → $40B with smarter marketing
✅ Why compliance + data strategy must come first
✅ How segmentation and timing can turn cold leads into real clients

💡 Key takeaway: AI isn’t here to replace financial advisors—it’s here to help you deliver trust, relevance, and authenticity consistently.

If you’ve ever wondered how to scale trust without losing your edge, this episode is your blueprint.

🎧 Listen now: Click Below

🔁 Tag a fellow advisor who’s “AI-curious”

🎙️ Episode #334 – The Man Behind the 4% Rule: Bill Bengen on Inflation, Flexibility, and a Richer Retirement

What if the greatest risk to your retirement portfolio isn't a market crash—but inflation?

In this episode of Money Matters, Christopher Hensley, RICP®, sits down with Bill Bengen, the creator of the legendary 4% Rule for safe withdrawal rates. Now, 30 years later, Bengen reflects on what still holds up, what’s changed, and how retirees and advisors can adapt withdrawal strategies in a world of sticky inflation, volatile markets, and longer life expectancies.

Whether you're planning your own retirement or advising clients on income strategies, this conversation delivers clarity, context, and practical insights from one of the most influential figures in modern financial planning.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Why inflation is the true enemy of retirement

• How Bengen’s thinking on the 4% Rule has evolved in 2025

• The importance of flexibility in withdrawal rates

• Guardrails, gifting, and building a more human retirement

• Why diversification now includes 7 asset classes

• A behind-the-scenes look at how the 4% Rule research went viral

📘 Get the Book:
A Richer Retirement by Bill Bengen — available now on Amazon and major booksellers.

🎧 Host: Christopher Hensley, RICP®, CES®

🔍 Why Your Next Best Client May Never Call You First — And What To Do About It

In this episode of Money Matters, I sit down with Brian Thorp, founder and CEO of Wealthtender, to unpack a radical shift in how clients find financial advisors. AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews are now mediating the first impression—before clients ever visit your website or pick up the phone.

We discuss:

• The “Visibility Crisis” facing independent advisors

• How AI tools prioritize structured data and schema

• Why testimonials and reviews are your new secret weapon

• The power of AI-Optimized FAQs for advisor discovery

• Practical ways to stay human-first in an AI-led search world

Whether you're a financial advisor trying to stay ahead of digital trends or just curious about how AI is changing professional services, this episode is a must-listen.

🎯 Want early access to my upcoming book Digital Kaizen for Financial Advisors?
👉 Grab your spot on the list here: https://digital-kaizen-book.kit.com

#AIforAdvisors #FinancialPlanning #Wealthtender #AdvisorMarketing #ChatGPT #DigitalKaizen

What if the real problem isn't that advisors hate prospecting—it's that the system we gave them to do it is broken?

Most tools treat advisors like marketers. Spray-and-pray. Mass messaging. Cold lists.

But the best advisors?
They don’t want to scale spam.
They want to scale presence.

That’s what Eden Ovadia and Victoria Toli built with FINNY:
✅ An AI engine that understands who you actually connect with
✅ A matchmaking algorithm (yes, really) that gets better the more you use it
✅ Outreach that’s compliant, personalized—and human

This conversation blew me away.
And if you're building your practice with intention (not noise), it might do the same for you.

🎧 Money Matters Episode 332: The AI Matchmaker Changing How Advisors Grow
📖 Part of the Digital Kaizen for Financial Advisors series—exploring the future of human-first, tech-assisted growth

👉 Listen to the full episode & join the Digital Kaizen community (link in comments)

#FinancialAdvisor #WealthManagement #AdvisorTech #FINNYAI #ProspectingTools #LeadGeneration #DigitalKaizen #Podcast #AIForAdvisors #AdvisorMarketing #RelationshipBasedGrowth

500 hours. That’s how much time some advisors are getting back—every single year.

Not from working harder.
From removing the invisible work that's slowly draining them.

In this week’s Money Matters Podcast, I sat down with Arnulf Hsu, founder of GReminders, to talk about what happens when AI becomes your invisible partner—not your replacement.

We covered:

• How voice-aware AI reduces "cognitive clutter"

• Why compliance is the real barrier (and how GReminders solves for it)

• And what it really means to scale presence, not spam

This isn’t about hype. It’s about freedom.
Freedom to show up for your clients.
Freedom to stop carrying your business in your head.

If you're ready to reclaim time, reduce friction, and re-center the human side of your practice…

🎧 Episode 331 is live now.
📩 Link to join the Digital Kaizen email series is in the comments.

Because technology should help you become more human, not less.

#FinancialAdvisor #Fintech #VoiceAI #AdvisorTech #DigitalKaizen #WealthManagement #TimeFreedom #ClientExperience #CRM #AutomationTools #MoneyMattersPodcast

The audio sounded perfect. Too perfect.

That’s what Whitney Joy Smith—one of Canada’s top private investigators—told me when we sat down to talk about AI, trust, and the future of voice.

In this special edition of the Money Matters podcast, we go deep into one of the most uncomfortable truths in today’s tech landscape:

You can no longer assume a voice recording is real.

Whitney shares real-world cases where AI-generated voices nearly destroyed lives, and how investigators are adjusting—not just their tools, but their intuition.

And here’s where it connects to financial advising:
In a profession built on trust, how do we navigate a world where even authenticity can be faked?

We talked about:

• The rise of deepfake scams and how to spot what’s missing

• The emotional cost of over-automation in human relationships

• Why the future isn’t about out-teching fraud—but out-humaning it

This episode is part of the research series for my upcoming book, Digital Kaizen for Financial Advisors—where we explore small, sustainable shifts that keep relationships at the heart of everything, even in an AI-driven world.

🎧 Give it a listen. It’s only 13 minutes, and it might change the way you think about your own voice, your own presence, and how you show up.

👇 Join the Digital Kaizen email list in the comments for early access to interviews, tools, and insights from the book.

#DigitalKaizen #MoneyMattersPodcast #FinancialAdvisors #VoiceDeepfakes #AIandTrust #PrivateInvestigation #BehavioralFinance #HumanCenteredAI #WhitneyJoySmith #Cybersecurity #AdvisorGrowth #EmpathyInTech #Authenticity

Federal employees are facing one of the most disruptive years in modern history.

Over 275,000 positions have been impacted through layoffs, buyouts, and reclassifications — and many workers are left wondering: What now?

To help us make sense of it all, I welcomed back Brian Kuhn, a seasoned financial advisor and federal benefits expert who first appeared on Money Matters in 2014.

We discuss:
✅ What the current administration’s restructuring means for public sector workers
✅ How to evaluate early retirement or exit offers
✅ What steps to take before you make a decision
✅ How to protect your pension, healthcare, and financial future

Whether you're nearing retirement or just trying to stay afloat, this episode is packed with insight and practical advice.

📌 Know someone in the federal space who needs to hear this? Tag or share this with them.

#MoneyMattersPodcast #FederalEmployees #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #BrianKuhn #GovernmentJobs #PublicService #YouTubePodcast #CareerTransitions #Episode329

🎥 NEW EPISODE: The Hidden Currency of Data — with Justin Evans

Is data the new oil… or is it something even more valuable?

In this episode of Money Matters, I sit down with Justin Evans, author of the upcoming Little Book of Data (dropping this June), to unpack how data is reshaping money, business, and your everyday life.

💡 You’ll learn:

• Why data is the overlooked asset class of the 21st century

• How businesses are using data to gain an unfair advantage

• The hidden risks of bad data and how it can mislead decision-makers

• Justin’s simple, human-centered approach to telling better stories with data

• Why YOU need to start treating your personal and business data like gold

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by data or doubted its impact on your financial life—this is the episode for you.

📚 The Little Book of Data will be available everywhere in June. Make sure to check it out and level up your data game.

🔥 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that help you make smarter money moves.

#MoneyMatters #DataIsGold #JustinEvans #DataStorytelling #FinancialLiteracy #TheLittleBookOfData #ChrisHensley

What if more money wasn’t the end goal—but the beginning of your bigger purpose?

In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, host Christopher Hensley sits down with Derrick Kinney, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of Good Money Revolution and host of the Good Money Podcast.

Derrick shares why traditional money advice is broken—and how you can rewrite your money story, ditch guilt, and build wealth with purpose. From asking for a raise to redefining what it means to be successful, this conversation is packed with practical tools and inspiring stories.

🔑 Topics Covered:

• Why money isn’t bad—and why wanting more doesn’t make you selfish

• The power of a Generosity Purpose and how it can unlock your income

• How to crush debt, save more, and earn more using the 3 Levers of Money

• The biggest money mindset mistakes people carry from childhood

• A framework to confidently ask for the raise you deserve

Whether you're climbing out of debt, stuck in a job that underpays you, or ready to give your money more meaning—this episode will flip your mindset and fuel your financial journey.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Derrick’s Website: https://derrickkinney.com

• Book: Good Money Revolution

• Get the Raise You Want Toolkit: gettheraiseyouwant.com

Navigating Caregiving Challenges with Isabel Melgarejo | Money Matters Podcast

In this episode of Money Matters with Christopher Hensley, we dive deep into the emotional and financial challenges of caregiving with special guest Isabel Melgarejo, caregiving planner and host of Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast.

What You’ll Learn:
🔹 The financial burdens caregivers face and how to plan ahead
🔹 Building a support system to avoid burnout and maintain balance
🔹 Navigating difficult conversations about aging and end-of-life care
🔹 Practical self-care strategies for caregivers
🔹 How Isabel’s personal caregiving journey shaped her mission to empower others

Isabel shares powerful insights and actionable advice to help caregivers feel more empowered and prepared. Whether you’re currently a caregiver or planning to support a loved one in the future, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

Connect with Isabel:

• LinkedIn: Isabel Melgarejo
• Website: atumcoeur.com
• Podcast: Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast

Listen now and discover how to navigate caregiving challenges with resilience and grace!

#Caregiving #FamilyCaregivers #FinancialPlanning #SelfCare #AgingInPlace #CaregiverSupport #MoneyMattersPodcast #ChristopherHensley #IsabelMelgarejo #TimeToCarePodcast

Want to make your podcast interviews unforgettable? 🚀 In this episode of Money Matters 325, host Chris sits down with Matt Halloran, expert podcast coach and author of Shut the F Up and Listen, to reveal the secrets of powerful conversations, audience engagement, and podcast growth.

🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why listening, not talking is the key to an engaging podcast 🎙️
✅ The biggest interviewing mistake podcasters make—and how to fix it
✅ How to use storytelling to captivate your audience 📖
✅ The Google SEO hack for growing your podcast audience 🚀
✅ How to turn podcasting into a business growth tool

🔥 Whether you're a podcaster, entrepreneur, or financial advisor, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you stand out in a crowded space!

🎧 Listen now and level up your podcasting game!

Resources & Links:
📕 Get Matt’s book
🌐 Follow Matt Halloran
🔗 Visit ProudMouth: [proudmouth.com]

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights on podcasting, business growth, and storytelling!

Tags: #Podcasting #InterviewTips #Storytelling #Marketing #MoneyMatters325 #AuthorityBuilding #PodcastGrowth #BusinessDevelopment

💤 Is Sleep the Missing Piece in Your Financial & Career Success? 💤

In this episode of Money Matters Podcast, sleep expert Dr. Meeta Singh, MD breaks down the science behind sleep, decision-making, and peak performance. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or investor, optimizing your sleep could be the key to better financial decisions, productivity, and overall well-being.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How sleep deprivation leads to poor financial & business decisions
✅ The hidden dangers of "internet loafing" at work
✅ How elite athletes & C-suite executives optimize sleep for peak performance
✅ Simple sleep hacks to improve focus, energy & success
✅ The latest innovations in sleep science & what’s next for high performers

🎧 Listen Now

🔗 Connect with Dr. Meeta Singh:
🌍 Website: MeetaSinghMD.com
📩 Sign up for her free weekly newsletter for expert sleep tips!
💬 Follow her on LinkedIn, Twitter & Instagram

💡 Like this episode? Be sure to subscribe, rate & review the podcast! Your feedback helps us bring you more expert insights on money, mindset, and success.

#SleepOptimization #Productivity #FinancialSuccess #PeakPerformance #MoneyMattersPodcast #Entrepreneurship