Tag: Journalism
Storytelling, Trust & Financial Journalism with Diana Britton (Ep. 27)

Storytelling, Trust & Financial Journalism with Diana Britton (Ep. 27)

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In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, hosts Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock are joined by Diana Britton, executive editor of WealthManagement.com and host of the award-winning podcast The Healthy Advisor.

 

Diana shares her journey from growing up in Los Angeles to building a career in financial journalism. She reflects on her early days covering pension plans, some of the standout stories she’s covered at WealthManagement.com and why trust between journalists and publicists is essential.

We cover:

  • Diana’s early inspirations and what eventually drew her into financial journalism
  • her experience writing about defined benefit pension plans
  • the issues surrounding 403bs and their lack of regulatory scrutiny
  • analogies and insights from Philip Palaveev, author of “The Ensemble Practice”
  • her perspective on AI in journalism and whether she can spot a ChatGPT-written pitch
  • the origin story of The Healthy Advisor and its human-centered mission
  • her personal passions, including Star Wars and a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut
  • and much more!

Diana’s journey highlights the power of trust, curiosity and connection in wealth management—don’t miss it!

 

Topics:

 

(0:15) Meet Diana Britton

(1:12) What’s for lunch?

(2:49) Never heard of a boca ribeye

(4:10) In N Out Burger reviews

(6:28) Diana’s background and growing up in Palos Verdes, LA

(7:14) Three summers in Cairo working with Sudanese refugees

(8:15) Her first foray into documentary filmmaking

(9:04) Journalism school: NYU vs. USC

(10:08) Working for Institutional Investors newsletter division

(10:37) Her experience writing about defined benefit pension plans

(11:28) The bug for financial journalism that led her to WealthManagement.com

(12:10) The openness of financial advisors to tell their stories

(12:45) First week on the job…Bear Stearns went under

(14:05) 401k vs. pension plans

(15:25) What makes for a story on pension plans?

(16:22) Looking under the hood of a teacher’s defined benefit plan

(19:35) One of the most memorable stories Diana has ever covered on 403bs

(20:25) 403bs and how they escape regulatory scrutiny; how the retirement system is failing teachers

(23:00) Shout out to Tony Isola!

(23:35) Diana’s go to sources: Joe Duran, Doug Fritz, Brian McLaughlin and others

(24:28) Incredible analogies by Philip Palaveev: describing the industry as “a monkey in a banana trap”

(25:46) “The Ensemble Practice”

(26:25) What is the “banana”?

(28:10) Technology adoption

(29:02) Wealth Management’s internal AI engine

(30:55) Can you tell when pitches are written with ChatGPT?

(31:45) What makes a story stand out to Diana: “We thought it was one way, but it’s actually this way”

(35:52) Worst interaction with a PR person (it wasn’t anyone at StreetCred!)

(37:25) The importance of respecting boundaries with journalists

(38:55) Shout out to David Armstrong!

(39:52) It’s not all bad—real relationships with journalists and publicists

(40:10) The importance of trust

(43:47) The origin story of The Healthy Advisor podcast and its important human-centered mission

(45:28) Impactful episode with George Kinder “The Father of Life Planning” on the art of mindfulness

(46:35) How do you meditate?

(47:52) Time for our Play segment!

(48:09) Dreams of being an astronaut and writing a letter to NASA

(49:20) Star Wars fandom and favorite movie

(52:05) They don’t make ‘em like they used to

(54:39) Moment of gratitude for the Wealth Management team

(56:57) Thank you to our listeners!

 

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Connect with Diana Britton:

 

 

About our Guest: 

Diana Britton is the executive editor of WealthManagement.com, covering independent broker/dealers and RIAs from all angles. She’s also the host of the Jesse H. Neal Award Winning Podcast, The Healthy Advisor, focused on advisor health and wellbeing. All told, she’s been at WealthManagement for almost 15 years, and so it’s fair to say, she’s seen it all.  Diana is a Los Angeles native native, and now lives in Rocklin, California.

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Breaking Through Traditional Boundaries and Amplifying Women in Fintech with Nicole Casperson (Ep. 7)

Breaking Through Traditional Boundaries and Amplifying Women in Fintech with Nicole Casperson (Ep. 7)

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Why did Nicole Casperson start Fintech is Femme? Because there was no media brand solely focused on delivering exceptional fintech analysis while amplifying the voices and causes of women and other diverse industry participants. So, she created one. 

In this episode, Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock welcome Nicole Casperson, a well-known fintech journalist and founder of Fintech is Femme. Nicole shares her journey as a journalist, including her decision to leave the world of traditional financial media and start her own mission-driven media brand. She emphasizes the power of shaping the narrative and the importance of representation, especially for women and Black and Brown women in fintech. Nicole discusses her platform’s evolution, the value of building relationships with PR professionals, and the launch of her Real Talk community.

Nicole discusses: 

  • Her journey as a journalist and decision to start her own media brand
  • The importance of representation and highlighting the stories of women in fintech
  • How her platform has evolved and why she rebranded to Fintech is Femme
  • Why embracing change and evolving is so important in the industry
  • What she looks for in a strong PR partner
  • Why authenticity is the foundation of building relationships with PR professionals
  • The launch of the Real Talk community
  • And more

Resources:

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Connect with Nicole Casperson:

About our Guest: 

Nicole Casperson is the founder of Fintech is Femme, a media brand that provides the latest fintech analysis while championing the stories and insights of women and diverse voices. As a founder, Nicole has grown a multi-million-dollar brand from scratch. She creates the content, strategy, and voice of her brand by providing news coverage to over 50,000 subscribers via the Fintech is Femme newsletter and event series. She is also the host of the Humans of Fintech podcast, a podcast dedicated to highlighting the voices of women and other underrepresented groups, giving listeners insight into how they too can find belonging in the fintech space. As a part of her brand, Nicole also leads the Real Talk community, a ‘no BS’ community focused on connecting and advancing women in fintech. 

Nicole teaches financial management at the Parsons School of Design in New York City, and is a regular contributor to Forbes, writing about topics that intersect gender, equity, finance, and technology. In 2022, she was named a Top Inspiring Female in Fintech by NYC Fintech Women, as well as a Top Influencer in Financial Twitter by ETFtrends.com. She has also been recognized as a Fintech Nexus DEI Trailblazer award finalist. Nicole is an international public speaker, having spoken about fintech and equality at events like the 2023 Women’s World Banking Summit in Mumbai, Money 2020 Amsterdam and Las Vegas, Future Proof, Orion Ascent, and more.

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From Financial Journalist To Lead Dad with Paul Sullivan (Ep. 5)

From Financial Journalist To Lead Dad with Paul Sullivan (Ep. 5)

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Are you ready to dive into the evolution of journalism over the past 25 years? 

Gain insights into the changing landscape of journalism, the impact of social media, and the importance of nurturing connections.

In this episode, Elena Krasnow and Jimmy Moock are joined by Paul Sullivan, a financial journalist, author, and founder of the Company of Dads, to talk about his experience in the field. Discover how Paul’s journey led him to coin the term ‘Lead Dad’ and establish an inspiring platform. Tune in for engaging discussions on behavioral finance, personal finance books, and the selection of wiser choices.

Paul discusses: 

  • What it was like beginning his career at Bloomberg
  • How journalism has changed over the course of his 25-year career
  • How the changes in publishing have affected reporters’ work
  • How journalists connect with their network
  • A few of his favorite lessons learned while writing the Wealth Matters column, as gleaned from conversations with wealth planning and investment management executives
  • What a Lead Dad is, how he became one, and how that motto evolved into the philosophical underpinning of the Company of Dads platform
  • And more

Resources:

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Connect with Paul Sullivan:

About our Guest: 

Paul Sullivan is the founder of The Company of Dads, the first platform dedicated to creating a community for lead dads. Its mission is to help Lead Dads feel less isolated and more confident that they have made the correct choice to take on the bulk of the parenting and family duties, or at the very least, not embrace stereotypes around who does what at home. 

Previously, Paul wrote The New York Times’ Wealth Matters column for 13 years, and also was the mastermind behind the Money Game column in Golf Magazine. As a journalist for 25 years, Paul got his start as a reporter at Bloomberg and Institutional Investor. From 2000 to 2006, he was a reporter, editor, and columnist at the Financial Times, and has also written for publications like Fortune, Money, Conde Nast Portfolio, The International Herald Tribune, Barron’s, the Boston Globe, and Food Wine. Paul is the author of two books, Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don’t and The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of the Super Wealthy. He has been interviewed on podcasts, radio and television programs across America, including NPR Marketplace, CNN, and Fox News. Paul has also given keynotes to audiences ranging in size from 50 to 500 people, spanning the United States, Mexico, and Chile. Today, he lives in Connecticut with his wife and their three daughters and three dogs. When he is not running the company of dads, he is an obsessive golfer.

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From Cold Call Sales to Crime Reporting: The Unconventional Journey of Justin Mack (Ep.3)

From Cold Call Sales to Crime Reporting: The Unconventional Journey of Justin Mack (Ep.3)

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In this episode of PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, the hosts interview Justin Mack, wealthtech reporter at Financial Planning, a well-established industry publication that serves an engaged audience of financial advisors and wealth managers. He discusses his journey into journalism, his approach to collaborating with public relations professionals, and his current work. Justin also shares valuable insights into the importance of kindness, journalistic integrity, and the role of technology in the financial services industry. 

One of the most valuable lessons from this podcast is the importance of approaching every interaction with kindness and understanding, regardless of the industry. Justin emphasizes the need to remember that behind every email or missed call is a person, and that interactions may not always be perfect. 

Justin discusses: 

  • How he found his area of expertise as a reporter–and how he stays competitive!
  • How he established his creative voice as a journalist
  • How he weeds out the “bad” stories–finding reliable sources, working with anonymous contributors, and preserving his reputation
  • His interests outside journalism and how they inspire his work
  • …and more

Resources:

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Connect with Justin Mack:

About Justin Mack:

Justin is the wealth tech reporter for financial planning as well as the host and lead editorial producer of the Financial Planning Podcast.

The Cleveland, Ohio native earned his bachelor’s degree in communication and political science from Purdue University before spending more than a decade as a USA Today network journalist with the Lafayette Journal and Courier and the Indianapolis Star. His work as a reporter, anchor, moderator, and host has earned him awards for coverage across a multitude of verticals, including crime, politics, pop culture, business breaking news and investigations.

Justin also serves as a board member for the Indiana Professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. In addition to exploring the role technology plays in the lives of advisors on a daily basis, Justin also covers efforts to address the diversity and cultural issues that have plagued financial services for generations.

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Welcome to PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast! (Ep. 1)

Welcome to PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast! (Ep. 1)

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Welcome to PRess Play: The StreetCred Podcast, where financial services meet credibility marketing!

Get ready for captivating conversations with industry leaders, journalists, and top influencers — including the various twists and turns that led them to where they are today.

In this inaugural episode, Elena Krasnow, Jason Lahita, and Jimmy Moock unravel StreetCred PR’s fascinating origin story, shed light on their biggest learnings from decades of PR experience, and set the stage for what listeners can expect from future episodes.

Elena, Jason, and Jimmy discuss: 

  • PR missteps from early in their career — and the wisdom gained from those experiences
  • What ignited their passion for financial services PR
  • StreetCred PR’s core values, vibrant company culture, and future plans
  • Their personal hobbies and interests (a glimpse into the individuals behind the expertise!)
  • And more

Resources:

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About our Guests: 

Elena Krasnow is a dynamic member of the StreetCred PR team who plays an essential role in several key aspects of the day-to-day agency activities. As an experienced writer and editor, she utilizes her written communication abilities to help manage the production and output of high-quality editorial content for clients. With her high degree of emotional intelligence and unwavering commitment to StreetCred’s high standard of client service, she is adept at making clients and teams feel valued while establishing strong, lasting relationships.

Jason Lahita, with a background in PR at United Capital Financial Advisors and an MBA from UC Irvine, took the leap and established his first PR agency in 2012. In 2018, he returned to his roots of working within RIAs when he joined Integrated Partners—a fantastic financial firm that evoked memories of his time at United Capital. Jason spearheaded their PR efforts for two years before venturing into a new phase in 2020. Thus, StreetCred PR was born, with Integrated Partners as its inaugural client. With the addition of new clients and a team of exceptional professionals, StreetCred PR has since gone from strength to strength. 

Jimmy Moock has, for the past 17 years, led campaigns for a diverse range of clients in the financial services ecosystem, including registered investment advisory firms, mutual fund complexes, hedge funds, ETFs, family offices, and more. As the legend goes, Jimmy’s prowess in public relations was apparent during his summer internship in 1998 when he secured a client appearance on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” within his very first week on the job. Building on this early success, he immersed himself in the fast-paced and highly creative public relations landscape of New York City. Jimmy has since played a pivotal role in shaping countless C-level executives’ critical business communications initiatives.

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