Tag: Financial Journalism
Why Human Connection Is the Real AI Strategy with Reed Colley (Ep. 31)

Why Human Connection Is the Real AI Strategy with Reed Colley (Ep. 31)

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Summary:

In this special live episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, Elena Krasnow sits down with Orion Advisory Technology President Reed Colley at Orion Ascent in gorgeous San Diego, California.

Reed reflects on his more than 20-year journey in wealth technology, from building Black Diamond to helping scale Summit and guiding it through its merger with Orion. The conversation digs into what makes Orion Ascent a standout event, touching on real-time collaboration, community building and a genuine commitment to listening to advisors about what drives value. Reed speaks to the importance of empowering clients through technology while keeping the human element at the heart of financial advice. He also shares key announcements from Orion at Ascent, including an expanded collaboration with Anthropic and the rollout of the enterprise version of Denali AI.

We cover:

  • What makes Orion Ascent unique and the beauty of real-time collaboration
  • The major inflection point advisor technology is facing today 
  • Centering human connection in building an AI strategy 
  • How advisors can use AI to create deeper, more powerful client relationships 
  • Reed’s personal passions and love of the outdoors
  • …and much more!

Don’t miss this conversation on how technology and human connection are coming together to shape the future of advice.

Topics:

(0:27) Welcome to this special episode of PRess Play, live from Orion Ascent

(0:42) Sunny San Diego

(1:32) Reed’s 20+ year career in wealth technology

(1:57) Building Black Diamond

(2:27) Summit’s growth and eventual merger with Orion

(3:12) An almost baseball player turned wealthtech innovator

(3:57) What makes Orion Ascent unique as an event?

(4:02) The opportunity to collaborate in real time

(4:47) How Orion is building real community

(5:27) Understanding what drives value for financial advisors

(5:52) Listening to clients in order to empower them

(6:22) A major inflection point in the technology revolution and future of financial advice

(6:32) “A little thing called AI”

(6:47) How advisors can use AI to create deeper and more powerful relationships with clients

(7:27) Focus on the human connection and lean into that as a strategy

(7:57) “If you’re not already using AI, start using it”

(8:15) Orion’s enterprise level Denali AI

(8:35) AI is a very supportive companion, sometimes too supportive

(9:20) Orion’s expanded collaboration with Anthropic, the core engine behind the Denali platform

(10:12) Creating the right structure and compliance around data

(10:47) Human-first, AI-powered

(10:59) Time for our play segment!

(11:07) What Reed would be doing right now if he wasn’t at Orion

(11:49) Reed’s favorite things to do for fun: the importance of family and spending time outdoors

(12:46) Moment of gratitude

(13:47) There’s three versions of every scenario, your version, someone else’s version and the real version

 

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Connect with Reed Colley:

 

 

About our Guest: 

Reed Colley joined Orion in January 2025 as President of Orion Advisor Technology following Orion’s acquisition of Summit Wealth Systems. As co-founder and CEO of Summit, Reed recognized the need to humanize wealth management by creating a modern, digital and mobile experience for advisors and their clients. Prior to Summit, Reed founded and served as CEO of Black Diamond Performance Reporting. He also founded calendar analytics platform Copilot, Do Something Great Today, and FlightPath Inc. Reed holds a Bachelor of Science with degrees in Engineering and Economics from Vanderbilt University, where he was a starting pitcher on the baseball team.

Publishing Tags: PRess Play, StreetCred PR, Podcast, Financial Journalism, Financial Media, Elena Krasnow, Wealth Management, WealthTech, Advisor Technology, Financial Advisors, RIA Industry, Artificial Intelligence, AI in Wealth Management, Financial Technology, Future of Advice, Innovation in Finance, Orion Ascent

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How to Have A Disproportionately Positive Impact with Shannon Spotswood (Ep. 30)

How to Have A Disproportionately Positive Impact with Shannon Spotswood (Ep. 30)

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Summary:
In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock sit down with Shannon Spotswood, chief executive officer of RFG Advisory.

Shannon takes us on an incredible ride, from her early fascination with Wall Street at age 14 to the pivotal career and life decisions that ultimately led her to the helm of RFG Advisory. She reflects on learning to get comfortable being uncomfortable, her dynamic experiences across hedge funds and investment banks and the decision to step away from finance entirely before embarking on building the RIA of the future in Birmingham, Alabama. 

We cover:

  • How Shannon became so passionate about supported-independence for advisors
  • Shannon’s early formative experience working for a woman-led hedge fund
  • Her move to Birmingham, Alabama and how that led to her favorite chapter of her career 
  • What makes Shannon tick and why she loves building from the ground up
  • The importance of building a brand that is deeply tied to people’s values 
  • …and much more!

Don’t miss this captivating conversation which reveals how each of these chapters shaped Shannon’s leadership philosophy and her belief in building firms rooted in purpose, positivity and growth.

Topics:
(0:36) Meet Shannon Spotswood

(1:33) What’s for lunch?

(1:45) The most perfect homemade granola 

(2:28) A creature of habit 

(2:59) You had me at hot honey

(3:30) Saving her spirit of innovation for the business realm

 (5:42) How Shannon entered the industry

(6:10) At age 14, she knew she wanted to be on Wall Street 

(8:25) The move to San Francisco to work at a hedge fund under one of the few female-led portfolio managers 

(9:00) Learning how to trade IPOs and model companies 

(9:40) The anti-Wallstreet Investment Bank, taking Netscape public 

(10:50) Dream job came knocking in her second hedge fund job 

(11:52) Learning how to get comfortable being uncomfortable

(13:00) Hitting the wall and needing a change 

(14:00) Pivot into luxury children’s clothing 

(14:45) Moving back to Birmingham, Alabama 

(15:40) What Shannon loves about building RFG

(16:00) Whoever would have thought the RIA of the future would be born and built in Birmingham, Alabama

(17:05) The thread that knit it all together 

(17:51) What makes her tick? 

(18:44) Seeking the intangible 

(19:49) “I am either all in or I’m out”

(20:11) What it was like when Netscape went public  

(22:15) “Everyone on your team has to be a driver” 

(25:25) The importance of building a brand that people can connect with 

(25:50) What clients are looking for in their advisors 

(28:50) The biggest opportunities for advisors who want to grow in today’s environment

(29:00) “Stop undervaluing your time” 

(29:55) Michael Kitces map 

(30:42) The financial advisor’s superpower 

(33:00) Lessons for those looking to find their voice and carve out their own path

(34:00) Get over the imposter syndrome 

(36:00) Having a disproportionately positive impact on the industry, her partners and the world 

(38:10) The detriment behind procrastination 

(39:40) Mindset has a 24 hour shot clock on it

(40:45) The power of momentum 

(41:58) Time for our Play segment!

(42:35) Shannon would have run a commercial construction company 

(43:20) “I love any -ing” 

(44:16) Moment of gratitude

 

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Connect with Shannon Spotswood:

 

 

About our Guest: 

Shannon Spotswood is a 25-year veteran of the financial services industry with experience spanning investment banking, hedge fund management, professional management and business development. As CEO of RFG Advisory, she leads RFG 2.0, the firm’s fully integrated platform for independent advisors, and drives the strategic initiatives that power advisor growth. Since joining RFG in 2015, Shannon has blended her entrepreneurial background with a passion for building an innovative, advisor-focused RIA of the future—helping grow the firm from $1.2 billion to more than $7 billion in AUM.

Publishing Tags: PRess Play, StreetCred PR, Podcast, Financial Journalism, Financial Media, Elena Krasnow, Jimmy Moock, Wealth Management, RIA, RIA of the Future, Supported Independence, Financial Advisors, Women in Leadership, Shannon Spotswood, RFG Advisory

 

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Never Stop Asking Questions: Inside Modern Financial Journalism with Sean Allocca (Ep. 29)

Never Stop Asking Questions: Inside Modern Financial Journalism with Sean Allocca (Ep. 29)

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In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock sit down with Sean Allocca, executive editor of The Daily Upside and veteran financial journalist.

Sean reflects on his path into financial journalism, what drew him to The Daily Upside and why curiosity remains central to strong reporting. Our conversation with him explores how modern financial media balances credibility with accessibility, and how editors think about storytelling in an increasingly crowded news landscape.

We cover:

  • How a passion for writing led Sean to a career in financial journalism
  • His experience at The Daily Upside and how the publication blends serious reporting with humor and pop culture
  • Key lessons from covering markets across multiple financial publications over the years
  • The rise of “new media” and the role AI is beginning to play in shaping financial news
  • Some of Sean’s most memorable interviews, including a conversation with John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted
  • …and more!

Tune in for a candid conversation on modern financial journalism, editorial decision-making and the questions that shape the stories readers see.

Topics:
(0:37) Meet Sean Allocca

(1:44) A New Jersey local

(2:38) Don’t miss out on Prospect Tavern!

(3:08) What’s for lunch?

(4:38) Joe Duran and a rotisserie chicken

(5:23) A disdain for mushrooms and a love for ravioli

(7:03) Sean’s journey into financial journalism through his passion for writing

(7:58) His crime investigative reporting era at Forensic Magazine

(8:35) Pivoting to CFO Magazine and the world of corporate finance

(10:33) Present day: what drew Sean to The Daily Upside

(12:38) The Daily Upside’s unique approach and venture into “new media”

(13:53) How AI is reshaping the way news is delivered

(14:43) A peek behind the curtain of the newsroom: balancing comedy and complex topics

(15:48) America’s Next Top Model (Portfolio)

(16:23) Lessons from covering markets and finance across multiple financial publications

(16:42) Never stop asking questions

(17:46) PR spins (debunked in StreetCred’s most recent blog by Jill Casey Pintor)

(18:38) A special interest in investing: options, derivatives and different asset classes

(20:15) Suitability vs. fiduciary

(21:49) A shift toward being more fiduciary and a corresponding shift in the way firms market themselves

(23:28) A few stories and interviews that have stood out to Sean over the years

(23:48) Sean shares his PR horror stories

(24:05) Interview with John Walsh from America’s Most Wanted

(24:34) Sitting down with Peter Mallouk, Josh Brown, Kunal Kapoor and others

(25:16) The process of preparing for interviews

(27:02) A fun game Sean’s brother likes to play when Sean is hosting an interview

(28:07) Have you heard of Harry Mack?

(28:37) Shout out to Sean’s brother

(28:47) The revival of Jimmy the Moock!

(29:24) Time for our Play segment!

(29:46) An alternate life as a musician

(31:07) The benefits of classical music, for humans, cats and plants

(33:34) Sean’s favorite things to do for fun: museums, exploring new places

(34:07) A plug for the bounties of Philadelphia

(35:20) Moment of gratitude

(36:42) Look out for a joke on circumventing mushrooms in the next newsletter!

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Connect with Sean Allocca:

 

 

About our Guest: 

Sean Allocca is Executive Editor of The Daily Upside and an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of finance experience. He was formerly the editor-in-chief of ETF.com where he led business development and editorial strategies. He also served as managing editor of the wealth management publications InvestmentNews and Financial Planning, and as editor of the corporate finance publication CFO Magazine. 

Publishing Tags: PRess Play, StreetCred PR, Podcast, Financial Journalism, Financial Media, The Daily Upside, Sean Allocca, Elena Krasnow, Jimmy Moock, Wealth Management, Media Relations, Newsroom Insights, Behavioral Finance, New Media, AI in Journalism, Personal Stories, Editorial Strategy, Financial News, Behind the Scenes

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Behind the Headlines with Greg Bartalos of Barron’s Advisor (Ep. 25)

Behind the Headlines with Greg Bartalos of Barron’s Advisor (Ep. 25)

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In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock are joined by Greg Bartalos, editor-in-chief of Barron’s Wealth & Asset Management Group. Greg tells our listeners the story of how he landed at Barron’s—not once, but three times—and offers valuable advice on how to foster relationships with journalists in the financial services space.

We cover:

  • the entire arc of Greg’s career
  • what makes a pitch standout in his inbox 
  • the trends he is most excited about exploring right now 
  • Greg’s role in Barron’s legendary summits and events
  • the importance of active listening when it comes to building relationships with journalists
  • Greg’s personal passions
  • …and much more!

Don’t miss this conversation packed with insider perspective from one of the most respected editors in the industry! 

Topics:

(0:38) Meet Greg Bartalos
(1:00) What’s for lunch?
(3:00) Ketchup and eggs, yes or no?
(5:00) Greg’s childhood and early background
(5:30) Mark, give back the sound effect machine!
(6:00) Greg’s experience with the world of advertising and Mike Greenwell
(8:00) His pivot from advertising to journalism
(9:10) Throwback to Radio TV Reports
(10:20) Landed at WNYC Radio
(10:30) The journey: Institutional Investor, Bloomberg, Individual Investor, Barron’s, Yahoo! Finance, Barron’s, RIA Intel, and then back to Barron’s a third time
(12:00) No, Mark, really…give it back
(12:45) Jimmy story time! Remember Loose Press Clippings?
(16:18) The draw of Barron’s standard of journalism and culture
(18:48) PR people faux pas (and how to avoid them)
(22:00) The value of face to face time with the media
(23:00) What makes a pitch stand out to
(26:00) The importance of personalized pitches and finding common ground
(29:15) Think like a journalist
(31:25) Barron’s Advisor events and legendary summits
(33:32) Tips for making podcasts guests more comfortable
(35:40) The value of active listening
(38:58) Practice management and wealth management, and the pros and cons of writing about each one
(41:50) Time for our Play segment!
(42:04) Dream jobs as a kid
(42:47) Go Baltimore Orioles!
(47:00) Greg’s love of music and impressive record collection
(49:28) Moment of gratitude
(53:55) Thank you to our listeners

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Website

LinkedIn: Elena Krasnow
X (Twitter): Elena Krasnow

LinkedIn: Jimmy Moock
X (Twitter): Jimmy Moock

LinkedIn: StreetCred
PR X (Twitter): StreetCred PR

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Connect with Greg Bartalos:
Website: Barron’s Advisor
LinkedIn: Greg Bartalos

About our Guest: Greg Bartalos is editor in chief of Barron’s Wealth & Asset Management Group. He previously was editor of Institutional Investor’s RIA Intel, which he helped launch in 2019. He also was editor in chief of Barrons.com and has worked at Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg News.

Publishing Tags: StreetCred PR, Press Play, Podcast, Elena Krasnow, Jimmy Moock, Public Relations, Financial Services, Barron’s Advisor, Barron’s, Greg Bartalos, Alternative Investments, Financial Journalism, Active Listening

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