Episode 187 Future Proof Conversations: Mark Gatto & Derek Schwartz

Alternative investments for the private wealth channel have experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Mark Gatto, co-Founder and co-CEO of CION Investments, sat down with Derek Schwartz in the CION booth at Future Proof Citywide for a conversation on making alternatives accessible to advisors and their clients. They discuss the importance of structure, manager selection, and diversification when it comes to designing an alternative investment strategy built for the individual investor.

Alex Laipple is the Chief Growth Officer at Ethic, a tech-driven investment management platform that helps advisors deliver personalized, values-focused portfolios to their clients. We sat down with Alex at Future Proof Citywide to learn how advisors are differentiating their practices with portfolio customization and building deeper, more personal connections with clients.

We sat down with Larry Shumbres, Founder and CEO of Archive Intel, an AI-powered compliance software solution. Larry joins Mark Gatto, co-Founder and co-CEO of CION Investments, to discuss how AI technology is improving workflows in the wealth management space.

We sat down with Jeffrey Roach, Chief Economist at LPL Financial, for a 2026 outlook on the markets and economy. Jeffrey and Derek discuss inflation, tariffs, and market performance in relation to a K-shaped economy that's setting the stage for the year. Jeffrey provides a forecast for the labor market and actions of the Fed, and encourages advisors to favor long-term trends over the headlines as a basis for an investing strategy.

Tyson Ray is the CEO and Founding Partner of FORM Wealth Advisors, an independent practice with a holistic, relationship-based approach to financial planning. We sat down with Tyson to tap into his expertise in exit and succession planning for advisors, and discuss his forthcoming book, Total Succession: 5 Steps for Financial Advisors to Exit Confidently, Be Fully Compensated, and Keep Clients' Interests First.

Jason Wenk is the founder and CEO of Altruist, a fully-integrated digital brokerage platform and RIA custodian designed to help fiduciary advisors optimize and scale their practices. Jason joins host Mark Gatto, co-founder and co-CEO of CION Investments, to discuss how Altruist is re-envisioning the custodial space and improving the accessibility and outcomes of financial advice.

Brad Johnson is the Co-Founder of Triad Partners, a business development coach for financial advisors. We sat down with Brad to learn how Triad helps advisors scale their practices to nurture business growth while achieving freedom in their personal lives.

We sat down with John Roberts, Executive Vice President and Chief Field Officer of Northwestern Mutual, for a conversation on the role of the advisor-client relationship in financial planning. John shared his insight on how advisors are establishing niche specialties to differentiate their practices, and balancing modern technology with human connection in their relationships with clients.

From the beginning of his career, Gabriel Shahin, CFP®, set out to educate investors and serve aspiring wealth accumulators. As Founder and Principal of Falcon Wealth Planning, Gabriel now leads a fee-only RIA focused on financial planning, with an emphasis on tax and retirement structuring. We sat down with Gabriel to discuss his new book, How the Rich Get Richer: Your Ultimate Guide to Building Wealth. Gabriel dives into the financial planning principles and investing strategies that allow high-net-worth individuals to establish lasting wealth, and shares how understanding your clients' financial motivations is integral to successful, long-term client relationships.

Dimple Shah is Executive Vice President and Head of Strategy and Client Experience at Osaic. We sat down with Dimple at Future Proof Festival to discuss how the generational wealth transfer is creating a unique opportunity for advisors looking to grow their practices.