Podcast
Advisor Revelations
Hosted by DPL Financial Partners · EN
DPL’s popular podcast series for financial advisors featuring growth strategies and best practices shared through engaging conversation and storytelling. Gain insights from your peers in the industry, DPL’s team, David Lau, and other thought leaders driving innovation to improve outcomes for clients and grow RIA practices.
*This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. All opinions expressed are their own and may not reflect those at their firm.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Academic Rigor, Fiduciary Innovation, and the Future of Advice
2w ago00:40:07Tap to summarizeThis week, David Lau talks with Bryce Skaff, Co-Head of the Global Client Group at Dimensional Fund Advisors. Since 1998, Bryce has played a key role in shaping Dimensional’s client experience, leading teams and initiatives that support advisors, intermediaries, and institutional investors worldwide.Bryce talks with David about evidence-based investing and how financial science defines modern investment strategies. He shares Dimensional's decades-long philosophy rooted in disciplined investing, academic research, and commitment to improving investor outcomes. From the early days of institutional investors to the modern era of tech-integrated insurance and fee-based annuities, Bryce connects the dots between theory, practice, and real-world financial advice.
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How Orion is Meeting Demand for Fee-Based Insurance Solutions
Mar 2400:29:04Tap to summarizeThis week, Kameron McRay talks with George Svagera, Senior Vice President of Institutional Sales at Orion Advisor Solutions. George leads a talented team of sales professionals to deliver Orion's industry-leading technology and wealth management solutions to broker-dealers, banks, trust companies, and custodians.George talks with Kameron about how Orion meets the growing demand for fee-based annuities and insurance. He discusses the integration of DPL's discovery tools into Orion Connect, the launch of Orion's RIA Accelerator program for breakaway advisors, and how firms can transition without sacrificing assets or revenue. George also explains why insurance solutions are becoming a revenue-driving force for modern RIAs and why adding commission-free annuities directly into advisors' workflows is a game-changer for both client outcomes and firm profitability.
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The Macro Forces Reshaping Retirement
Mar 1000:33:26Tap to summarizeThis week, David Lau talks with Galen Shaffer, Principal at Eos Venture Partners, about the macro forces reshaping retirement. Galen offers a rare inside view into how insurers think about annuities, innovation, and the future of wealth management. From solving the income challenge for 70 million Americans retiring this decade and the rise of the fiduciary RIA model to the AI gold rush and long-term care needs, she discusses why the next frontier of holistic advice must bridge the gap between investment management and sophisticated insurance protection. Learn more at https://www.dplfp.com/series/advisor-revelations-podcast.
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The RIA Landscape from a Private Equity Perspective
Feb 2400:30:41Tap to summarizeThis week, David Lau talks with Brian Saunders, Managing Director and Head of Private Equity at Atlas Merchant Capital, about how private equity investors are adopting innovation across financial services and why infrastructure, technology, and better client outcomes are driving the next wave of growth. They also discuss the evolving RIA landscape, the shift toward holistic advice, and how technology is reshaping everything from insurance and retirement planning to crypto and digital assets. Learn more at https://www.dplfp.com/series/advisor-revelations-podcast.
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Rethinking the Annuity Paradigm
Feb 1000:32:13Tap to summarizeThis week, David Lau talks with Tom Smith, Chief Growth Officer at DPL Financial Partners, about the evolution of the 401(k) market and the current shift toward commission-free, advisory insurance. From deconstructing outdated commission structures to modernizing technology, workflows, and advisor experience, they discuss how DPL is bridging the gap for RIAs and hybrid advisors, turning insurance and annuities into a core component of modern, holistic advice. Learn more at https://www.dplfp.com/series/advisor-revelations-podcast.
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Risk Management's Role in Holistic Financial Planning
Jan 2700:19:45Tap to summarizeThis week, Amy Arnett talks with Brad Mendenhall, Executive Vice President for Insurance Solutions at DPL. They discuss why insurance matters in holistic financial planning and how modern RIAs can integrate it into the planning process without becoming insurance experts. They also share how technology, product innovation, and a partnership with DPL can serve as a roadmap for leaders looking to enhance their clients' experience, increase AUM, and bridge the gap between asset management and protection. Learn more at https://www.dplfp.com/series/advisor-revelations-podcast.
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Solving the Income Gap with Modern Annuities
Jan 1300:36:52Tap to summarizeThis week, David Lau talks with Tom McCarthy, Chief Distribution Officer at DPL Financial Partners, about the evolution of the advice model, industry stigmas, and how commission-free annuities can be powerful income differentiators for RIAs. From his early fight to shift from a commission-based to a fee-only model, Tom shares his journey from fee-based startups to the explosion of the RIA channel. He also discusses how technology and strategic partnerships enable financial advisors to provide holistic financial well-being rather than just stock picking. Learn more at https://www.dplfp.com/series/advisor-revelations-podcast.
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Best of 2025: Episode 2 - Annuities and the Planning Process
Dec 3000:14:32Tap to summarizeIn this “Best of 2025” episode, David Lau brings together Daniel Crosby, Matt Regan, and John Thiel to explore how annuities fit into modern financial planning—bridging behavioral finance, retirement income, and risk management to help advisors build plans clients can actually stick with.Learn more at https://www.dplfp.com/series/advisor-revelations-podcast
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Best of 2025: Episode 1 - Growth Opportunities for RIAs
Dec 1600:13:41Tap to summarizeIn this special “Best of 2025” episode, David Lau David Lau revisits powerful insights from John Thiel, Matt Regan, and Megan Carpenter on the evolving RIA landscape. Together, they unpack consolidation, succession challenges, organic growth strategies, and why modern advisory firms must treat marketing as a measurable engine—not just brand awareness. Learn more at https://www.dplfp.com/series/advisor-revelations-podcast.
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How DPL Supported a Firm’s Journey from Breakaway to Enterprise.
Dec 200:15:34Tap to summarizeThis week, Patrick Perry, Regional Vice President of Member Success at DPL, talks with Sam Marrella, Regional Director at Apella Wealth. Sam shares the story of how his family firm successfully transitioned from a broker-dealer to an independent RIA. He discusses the significant role that DPL's technology and commission-free annuity platform played in streamlining their process, enhancing the client experience, and enabling a powerful alignment of interests that fuels trust and organic growth. Learn more at https://www.dplfp.com/series/advisor-revelations-podcast.
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