Podcast
AFO|Wealth Management Forward
Hosted by For Entrepreneurs, Financial Advisors and Accountants · EN
AFO|Wealth Management Forward is a podcast at the intersection of accounting, wealth management, behavioral finance, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Designed for CPAs and financial advisors to help them grow their practice by going beyond the numbers. Each episode features conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts who share the secrets to their success. From the transformative power of AI to the human-first principles of behavioral finance, we dive into the emotional and psychological aspects of money and meaning.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Opportunity Zones and the Future of Economic Development
2w ago00:24:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory speaks with Blake Christian, tax partner at HCVT, about Opportunity Zones 2.0 and why renewed legislation is creating fresh momentum around tax-advantaged investing, rural development, operating businesses, and infrastructure projects. Blake breaks down how the Opportunity Zone program works, including tax deferral, basis step-ups, and the potential for tax-free appreciation after a 10-year hold. They discuss why OZ 2.0 is attracting increasing interest from private equity, venture capital, family offices, and entrepreneurs, particularly around operating businesses and AI infrastructure projects. Blake also explains the growing emphasis on rural communities, how Opportunity Zones are being used to support housing and manufacturing, and why proper structuring and CPA guidance are critical before triggering a capital gain. Want to understand how Opportunity Zones may shape the future of economic development, infrastructure, and tax planning? Curious why AI data centers and operating businesses could become the next major OZ opportunity? Find out in this episode.
Transcribe →Alohana Moments: Better Conversations Around Money and Life
4w ago00:40:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory speaks with Ohan Kayikchyan, PhD in Economics, CFP®, Registered Life Planner®, Enrolled Agent, and founder of Alohana Financial, about the deeper relationship between money, meaning, and purposeful living. Ohan shares his journey from immigrating to the United States from Armenia with limited English to building a life planning focused advisory practice centered on helping clients uncover what truly matters to them. Drawing from George Kinder’s EVOKE® Life Planning process, he explains why traditional financial planning often misses the emotional and behavioral side of money and how meaningful conversations can help clients align their finances with their values, relationships, and aspirations. They discuss the difference between meaning and purpose, why so many successful people still feel something is missing, and how practices like improv, reflection, and mindful spending can help individuals reconnect with themselves. Ohan also explores why “pay yourself first” is more behavioral than financial and how budgeting can become a mirror of our values rather than just a spreadsheet exercise. Want to know how better conversations can lead to a more fulfilling financial life? Curious how life planning can help clients move beyond achievement and toward alignment and purpose? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this thoughtful conversation with Ohan Kayikchyan. Alohana Movements Blog: https://alohanafinancial.com/what-is-an-alohana-moment/*Rory Henry is a registered investment adviser representative of Arrowroot Family Office. This podcast is published independently through Advis-ROR®, an outside business activity, and does not represent the views of Arrowroot Family Office. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Ohan Kayikchyan is not a client of Arrowroot nor was there any compensation for his inclusion in this podcast.
Transcribe →The Advisory Execution Model: Building Structure Around High-Value Services
Apr 2400:30:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory speaks with Mark Martukovich, Executive Director and Managing Partner of Business Advisory and Accounting Partners powered by Harness, about how CPA firms can shift from compliance-driven practices to high-value advisory services. Mark shares how he evolved his own firm over 12 years using the Practice Forward model, moving from a highly transactional tax practice to an advisory-centric operation with over 200 advisory engagements. He explains why the first conversation with any business owner should be about their exit, how to build a structured and scalable execution model from prospect screening to delivery, and why value-based pricing matters in an AI-driven world. They explore how Mark uses AI to run prospect tax strategy screeners against a curated database of strategies, why advisory is not additional work but a repackaging of knowledge firms already have, and how building structure around advisory conversations can strengthen both client outcomes and firm positioning. Want to know how to build a duplicatable advisory model that deepens client relationships and elevates your practice? Curious how AI and structured execution can move your firm from reactive to proactive? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this practical conversation with Mark Martukovich."Rory Henry is a registered investment adviser representative of Arrowroot Family Office. This podcast is published independently through Advis-ROR®, an outside business activity, and does not represent the views of Arrowroot Family Office. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Mark Martukovich is not a client of Arrowroot nor was there any compensation for his inclusion in this podcast."
Transcribe →How to Craft Your Project X w/ Michael Kay
Apr 1000:41:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory speaks with Michael Kay, former CPA, CFP®, certified life planner, and author of How to Craft Your Chapter X, about why the most important retirement planning has nothing to do with money and everything to do with identity, purpose, and joy. Michael shares how decades of advising high-performing professionals revealed a consistent pattern: most people have no plan for who they'll be once the title is gone. He explains why curiosity is the antidote to identity loss, how embracing discomfort in retirement is a zero-risk proposition, and why grieving the end of a career is a necessary step most people skip. They explore the Wheel of Life as a diagnostic tool, why George Kinder's famous "third question" helps connect values to action, and how retirement reshapes relationships, not just individuals. Michael also shares how his monthly Zoom community gives men a safe space for vulnerability and why he replaced achievement-driven purpose with the Three G's: groundedness, growth, and generativity. Want to know how advisors can help clients, and themselves, craft a meaningful next chapter? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this deeply personal conversation with Michael Kay."Rory Henry is a registered investment adviser representative of Arrowroot Family Office. This podcast is published independently through Advis-ROR®, an outside business activity, and does not represent the views of Arrowroot Family Office. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Michael Kay is not a client of Arrowroot nor was there any compensation for his inclusion in this podcast."
Transcribe →Trust, Talent, and Transformation w/ CALCPA's Denise LeDuc Froemming
Mar 2700:26:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory sits down with Denise LeDuc Froemming, President and CEO of CalCPA, to explore how the accounting profession can modernize without losing the core foundation that makes it trusted. Discover why trust remains the non-negotiable center of the CPA profession even as private equity, AI, and evolving business models reshape the landscape. Denise shares a powerful call to action around storytelling, urging professionals to expand the narrative beyond tax and audit to showcase the diverse opportunities the CPA path unlocks—from entrepreneurship to wealth management and beyond. Learn why community is becoming strategic infrastructure in a hybrid world, how firms should think about private equity as “different, not binary,” and why the profession must ensure standards keep pace with innovation. Denise also challenges leaders to “lean into being bold and uncomfortable” as the industry evolves in real time. Are you telling a big enough story about what it means to be a CPA? And are you ready to modernize your practice without compromising the trust that defines it? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this timely and forward-looking conversation with Denise Froemming."Rory Henry is a registered investment adviser representative of Arrowroot Family Office. This podcast is published independently through Advis-ROR®, an outside business activity, and does not represent the views of Arrowroot Family Office. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Denise Froemming is not a client of Arrowroot nor was there any compensation for her inclusion in this podcast"
Transcribe →AI Simulation and Behavioral Science w/ EY’s Sameer Munshi
Mar 1200:43:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory speaks with Sameer Munshi, America’s Behavioral Science and Simulation Leader at EY, about how behavioral science and AI-powered simulation are transforming the way financial firms test ideas, understand client behavior, and make strategic decisions. Sameer shares his journey from product development at Merrill Lynch to building applied behavioral science teams at EY, where he helps organizations design experiments that improve adoption, engagement, and real-world outcomes. He explains how AI simulation can recreate synthetic populations to test messaging, pricing strategies, and client interactions before they are deployed, shifting firms from guessing what clients might do to predicting how they will actually behave. They also explore the growing gap between what people say and what they do, why traditional research methods often fall short, and how behavioral insights can help advisors communicate more effectively in a rapidly changing world. Want to know how AI simulation could help advisors test strategies before implementing them with real clients? Curious how behavioral science can help financial professionals design better conversations and decisions? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this fascinating conversation with Sameer Munshi.
Transcribe →From Door-to-Door Bookkeeping to a 1,000-Client Cloud Firm w/ Nick Pasquarosa
Feb 2700:19:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory speaks with Nick Pasquarosa, Founder and CEO of Bookkeeper360, about building a modern accounting firm from the ground up and why innovation starts with listening to small business owners. Nick shares how a door-to-door side hustle in high school evolved into a nationwide cloud accounting firm serving nearly 1,000 clients with a fully remote team across 26 states. He explains how his role shifted from boots-on-the-ground bookkeeper to strategic CEO, and why leadership communities like EO, YPO, and Hampton helped accelerate that growth. The conversation dives into the firm’s technology roadmap, including the development of its proprietary AI tool BOLT, designed to deliver CFO-level insights at scale while preserving the human relationship. Nick also unpacks how AI is being used internally to surface advisory insights, streamline month-end analysis, and reduce burnout without sacrificing value. Want to know how firms can leverage technology without losing their human edge? Curious how AI can enhance advisory conversations rather than replace them? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this forward-looking conversation with Bookkeeper360's CEO Nick Pasquarosa.
Transcribe →The Transformation Economy w/ Joe Pine
Feb 1300:46:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory speaks with Joe Pine, co-author of The Experience Economy and author of the new book The Transformation Economy, about the progression of economic value and why financial professionals are uniquely positioned to guide lasting change. Joe explains how we’ve moved from commodities to goods, services, and experiences and now into the Transformation Economy, where the true value lies in helping clients achieve their aspirations across health, wealth, wisdom, and purpose. He introduces the concept of the “aspirant,” explores why all transformation is identity change, and shares how preparation, reflection, and integration can turn ordinary client interactions into meaningful breakthroughs. They discuss why charging for outcomes aligns incentives, how AI can augment coaching, and why the future of advice is about guiding human flourishing, not just delivering a product or service. Want to know how to design client journeys that move beyond experiences and into true transformation? Curious how to become the guide to a clients’ hero’s journeys? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this forward-looking conversation with Joe Pine.
Transcribe →Carl Richards on Conversations, Capital, and the Real Work of Financial Planning
Jan 2900:38:09Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory speaks with Carl Richards, creator of the Sketch Guy column and author of Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches, about why the real work of financial planning starts with better conversations, not better spreadsheets. Carl shares how his simple sketches became tools for clarity, helping clients rethink money through the lenses of attention, time, energy, and values, not just dollars. They explore why “enough” is not a number but a state of being, how spending awareness can replace shame with intention, and why small behavioral shifts often matter more than sophisticated strategies. Carl also explains why planning is not about predicting the future but about becoming less wrong over time, especially in a world where uncertainty is the norm. Want to know how advisors can help clients align their money with what truly matters? Curious how better questions lead to better outcomes than better answers? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this thoughtful and practical conversation with Carl Richards.• The link to order Carl's book on Amazon, or folks can head to their favorite local bookstore• The link to place a bulk order of Carl's book. Listeners can save an additional 5% by using the code YourMoney5 at checkout.• Social media links if you'd like to tag Carl: LinkedIn, X, Instagram.
Transcribe →Break the Mold in Action: Alan Whitman Leads a New Multidisciplinary Firm
Jan 1400:37:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Rory speaks with Alan Whitman, former CEO and Chairman of Baker Tilly, new CEO of Nichols Cauley, and author of Break the Mold: How to Achieve Transformational Change, Scale, and Growth Simultaneously. Discover how Alan led Baker Tilly through 3x revenue growth and over 20 acquisitions—not by chasing numbers, but by changing mindsets. Learn why strategy isn’t about activity, but about clarity of direction, and how firms can grow by building “communication, sales, and talent engines” that scale through systems, not individual effort. Alan outlines why “bigger isn’t better—better is better,” how language creates alignment, and why discipline equals freedom in partner-led firms. He also reveals insights from his new role leading a private equity–backed multidisciplinary platform focused on serving SMBs in the Southeast. Want to know what Alan means by “fist to five,” “sugar highs,” and freedom within a framework? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this Break the Mold conversation with Alan Whitman.
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