This week, Jack Sharry talks with Garrett Beam, Head of Digital Solutions at Cetera Financial Group. Garrett drives the product vision, strategy, experience, design, and execution across various platforms and products to support Cetera's overarching strategic plan. He collaborates closely with the users and internal teams, including development and engineering, quality assurance, marketing, training, sales, and other groups, to deliver impactful solutions, go-to-market activities, adoption initiatives, and ongoing enhancements.

Garrett talks with Jack about how the asset and wealth management industry is moving toward the great convergence, where technology, operations, and investment solutions seamlessly blend to meet rising consumer expectations. He shares how firms can shift from siloed processes to integrated, user-centric experiences, and how AI enables these platforms and digital solutions to be simple, intuitive, and empowering.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro
(01:47) - Garrett's role at Cetera Financial Group
(04:45) - How the industry has evolved over the past 15 years
(08:50) - What the great convergence is all about
(12:40) - The own vs. rent strategy in fintech development
(14:30) - The role of human consultation and training in a digital-first world
(19:04) - Why client-service platforms should be intuitive
(22:23) - The power of AI in transforming financial services
(26:45) - Garrett's key takeaways
(29:15) - Garrett's interests outside of work

Quotes

"The need to respond to end consumers' expectations is why we, as businesses, exist. Without the end customer and the delivery of value, you don't have a viable business." ~ Garrett Beam

"Tech and AI are going to transform businesses, period. Wealth management and wealthtech are no different. Advisors and providers of capabilities must embrace tech and AI to better serve their clients and scale their businesses." ~ Garrett Beam

"From an industry and profession perspective, we have an opportunity to dramatically broaden access to high-quality financial advice. And that requires change. It requires being bold and innovative." ~ Garrett Beam

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