AI for Advisors Podcast

Conversations with the people actually changing how advice gets delivered: with AI, workflows, and a little healthy skepticism.

Where AI meets AUM

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Real advisor AI. No hype. Just what works.

Every week, Mark and James sit down with RIAs, WealthTech founders, and AI operators to talk about what's actually working in advisory firms right now. No futurist keynotes, no vendor slide decks. Just real use cases, what broke, what shipped, and what moved the needle.

Your Hosts

Mark builds products. James fixes implementations. Together they host a weekly show about what's actually working in advisor AI, and what definitely isn't.

“I feel like note-taking is like the gateway drug for AI and I want to talk about the hard drugs here.”

Mark Heynen

Co-Founder & CPO, Knapsack AI

Meet Mark

“AI won't replace the relationship, but it sure as shit can enhance the relationship”

James Cantwell

Founder, The Cantwell Advisory & WealthTechSelect

Meet James

Hosts Who've Done the Work

Built companies. Sat in investment committee meetings. Led implementations and seen where they fall apart. This isn't commentary from the sidelines. It's a front-row seat to how advisor tech actually gets built and adopted.

Builders, Not Pitchers

Guests range from RIA leaders and WealthTech founders to AI researchers and product builders who live in your workflows every day. Episodes cover real implementations and the sometimes‑messy process of getting AI into advisory firms.

Every Week, No Filler

New episode every week since September 2025. Conference recaps, LinkedIn hot takes, deep dives, and fun (occasionally uncomfortable) questions founders never hear on stage.

Latest Episodes

What we've been arguing about lately

All Episodes

EP 20

The Canuck Episode: Jason Pereira and Ken Lotocki on AI Adoption

Jason M. Pereira & Ken Lotocki · Woodgate Financial & Conquest Planning

1h 0mMar 31, 2026

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In this “Canuck episode” of AI for Advisors, Mark Heynen and James Cantwell are joined by Jason Pereira and Ken Lotocki for a distinctly Canadian perspective on AI in wealth management. From adoption and compliance to planning software and product design, they explain why the conversation north of the border is different — and where US firms may be getting distracted by hype. Jason brings the skeptical operator’s lens, arguing that most AI failures come from broken implementation, not broken technology. Ken brings the builder’s perspective from Conquest, sharing how auditable planning engines, next-best-action systems, and practical AI workflows are shaping adoption across Canada, the US, and the UK. Together, they unpack where AI is real, where it is table stakes, and where the industry is still fooling itself. 00:00 – Jar Jar, Star Wars, and the Machete cut (IYKYK) 03:55 – The Canadian Perspective on AI Adoption 06:40 – Why Most WealthTech AI Still Fails 10:40 – What Conquest Is Building Beyond LLM Hype 18:55 – Why “Next Best Action” Changes Planning 25:00 – MCP, Ask Sam, and Open Planning Systems 32:10 – Selling AI in Canada vs. the US vs. the UK 39:00 – Is Canada Really Ahead on AI Adoption? 45:15 – Privacy, Governance, and Compliance North of the Border 46:25 – The Big Nevis Raise and Silicon Valley in WealthTech 52:05 – Most Overhyped and Underhyped AI Use Cases 58:10 – Why Nobody Wants to Build a CRM 59:05 – Canada vs. America: Productivity and Hockey (NB: Recorded before the Olympics — Canadian pride remains intact.) Learn more about Jason Pereira | Woodgate Website: ⁠https://jasonpereira.ca⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonpereira⁠ Learn more about Ken Lotocki | Conquest Planning Website: ⁠https://www.conquestplanning.com⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-lotocki⁠ Learn more about Mark Heynen | James Cantwell | AI for Advisors Podcast LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/markheynen⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.knapsack.ai/⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescantwell⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.wealthtechselect.com⁠ YouTube: ⁠http://www.youtube.com/@AIforAdvisorsPodcast

EP 19

Full Stack or Best of Breed? Ritik Malhotra @ Savvy Wealth

Ritik Malhotra · Savvy Wealth

39 minFeb 20, 2026

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Ritik Malhotra shares insights on AI culture shock, his background, and the challenges of transitioning from tech entrepreneurship to wealth management. He discusses the advantages of an outsider's perspective in the industry and the challenges of implementing innovative solutions in the wealth management space. The conversation digs into the challenges of client transitions, the hybrid approach in RIA technology, the debate between best of breed and full stack solutions, AI integration in wealth management, and the impact of note takers and AI. The discussion highlights the complexities and limitations of AI integration, the evolving role of note takers, and the unsolved problems in wealth management AI. Takeaways Comparison of AI conversations in different metro areas The benefits of an outsider's perspective in the wealth management industry Challenges of client transitions involve legal, people, and custodian integration issues The hybrid approach in RIA technology addresses the needs of independent advisors The limitations of best of breed solutions and the value of customizability The complexities and challenges of AI integration in wealth management The evolving role and future implications of note takers and AI in wealth management Chapters 00:00 AI Culture Shock 24:08 Introduction to Ritik 31:08 Advantages of Being an Outsider 39:06 Navigating Client Transitions 45:00 Best of Breed vs. Full Stack 56:09 The Impact of Note Takers and AI

EP 18

Kitces on AI, Productivity, and the 10 yr Outlook

Michael Kitces · Kitces.com

1h 35mJan 22, 2026

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In this conversation, Michael Kitces discusses various themes surrounding the intersection of AI, social media, and financial advisory. The discussion begins with light-hearted banter about blue shirts and transitions into serious topics such as LinkedIn's connection limits, the future of social media, and the impact of AI on the advisory industry. Kitces shares insights on productivity in financial advisory, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics and client affluence. He also expresses skepticism about the rapid displacement of LinkedIn and the hype surrounding AI, advocating for a more measured approach to technology adoption in advisory firms. In this conversation, Michael Kitces, Mark Heynen, and James Cantwell discuss the evolving role of AI in financial advisory, emphasizing the balance between quality and time savings. They explore the implications of client affluence on advisory capacity, the ethical considerations of client selection, and the future of technology in the industry. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the true value of technology, the challenges of client relationships, and the potential for advisors to adapt to changing market dynamics. Takeaways Michael Kitces emphasizes the importance of team dynamics in financial advisory productivity. LinkedIn's connection cap limits engagement for high-profile users like Kitces. AI's current capabilities are often overhyped, with many practical limitations. The productivity of advisory firms is significantly influenced by client affluence. Kitces advocates for a cautious approach to adopting new technologies in advisory firms. The conversation highlights the shift from Twitter to LinkedIn for financial advisors. AI tools can enhance productivity but may not replace the need for human advisors. The importance of analyzing data to understand productivity trends in advisory firms. Kitces shares insights on the challenges of managing client relationships effectively. The discussion reflects on the potential economic implications of AI in various industries. AI can improve the quality of notes but may not save time. Advisors often switch tools instead of maximizing current ones. Client affluence significantly impacts advisory capacity. Technology can enhance the quality of advice provided to clients. The average advisor age is increasing, leading to a potential talent shortage. Firms that focus on technology may not be as efficient as those that prioritize human relationships. The demand for financial advisors is growing, but supply is limited. Advisors can still thrive by serving the mass affluent market. The evolution of technology has historically led to increased fees and service quality. Ethical considerations arise when advising clients of varying affluence. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Blue Shirt Banter 02:57 LinkedIn Connection Challenges 05:45 The Shift from Twitter to LinkedIn 08:58 The Role of AI in Social Media Engagement 11:44 The Origin of the Blue Shirt 14:49 Entrepreneurial Mindset and Risk Aversion 21:35 The Evolution of Technology in Advisory Firms 23:49 AI: Hype vs. Reality 29:46 The Cost of AI and Its Implications 39:48 Investing in Human Infrastructure 51:41 Maximizing Productivity with Technology 52:32 The Impact of AI on Note-Taking Efficiency 55:11 Quality vs. Time Savings in Advisory Work 59:57 Client Affluence and Its Role in Advisory Capacity 01:05:43 The Ethical Dilemma of Client Selection 01:12:52 The Future of Technology in Financial Advisory 01:20:26 The Evolution of Financial Planning Software 01:23:34 Creating New Value Propositions in Financial Advisory 01:26:00 The Future of Financial Advisory Services 01:29:14 Engaging Younger Clients for the Great Wealth Transfer 01:31:31 Specialization in Financial Advisory 01:34:57 Leveraging Technology for Client Engagement 01:38:36 Navigating the Talent Shortage in Financial Advisory 01:44:03 The Future of Staffing in Advisory Firms Keywords AI, LinkedIn, financial advisory, productivity, entrepreneurship, technology, social media, risk aversion, innovation, advisory firms, AI, financial advisory, note-taking, client affluence, technology, productivity, ethical considerations, future of finance, advisory capacity, technology adoption

EP 17

Jason Wenk on Altruist's Playbook for AI + Custody

Jason Wenk · Altruist

1h 30mJan 12, 2026

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In this episode of AI for Advisors, Mark Heynen and James Cantwell talk with Jason Wenk, founder and CEO of Altruist, about building a modern custody platform from scratch and why infrastructure matters more than software. They discuss Jason’s journey from FormulaFolios’ 14,000% growth to raising nearly half a billion dollars for Altruist, his early (failed) attempts to pitch AI to advisors in 2018, and the strategic acquisition of Thyme to build Hazel. The conversation covers the economics of custody, why being multi-custodial creates unnecessary pain, data ownership debates, and whether note-taking is already commoditized. They also dive into Robinhood’s TradePMR acquisition and what makes a successful wealth tech company in 2025. Key Takeaways: Custodial infrastructure is the bottleneck—great AI on bad infrastructure just creates faster pain as you scale. Advisors unanimously rejected AI in 2018; ChatGPT changed everything by making AI feel accessible and trustworthy. Note-taking is commoditizing fast; differentiation comes from agentic workflows and deep custodial integration. Data should belong to advisors, but open APIs need thoughtful controls to maintain platform reliability. Technical moats in AI are minimal—go-to-market execution and distribution matter more than product features. Learn more about Jason Wenk | Altruist Website: https://altruist.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwenk Learn more about Mark Heynen | James Cantwell | AI for Advisors Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markheynen Website: https://www.knapsack.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescantwell Website: https://www.wealthtechselect.com YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@AIforAdvisorsPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4z1NMErEJ5lxMe0aaO5w8W

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