Vaulted Views with Ray Lucia Jr.

Financial advisors don't have a technology problem. They have an infrastructure problem.You buy the CRM. The AI notetaker. The planning software. The dashboard. Another tool gets added because it's supposed to make the practice more efficient.Then you look up and you've got a dozen logins, systems that don't talk to each other and data scattered across your entire tech stack.Jessica Perez has spent more than 20 years in financial services, including senior leadership at Carson Group, and today works with advisory firms at MileMarker.I brought her on Vaulted Views because she spends a lot of time thinking about the infrastructure underneath a modern advisory firm.We get into what happens when your CRM, financial planning software, reporting tools and AI each have a different piece of the picture. Jessica explains why connected data matters, what a unified data infrastructure can look like, and how AI changes the conversation around what financial advisors should build, buy or partner for. That last part is important to me.I don't think the goal is for every financial advisor to become a technology company.The goal is to build the right systems around the advisor so the technology does what it's supposed to do: give you more time to advise, build relationships and grow the business.In this episode, we cover:How financial advisors should think about their AI tech stackWhy adding more fintech doesn't necessarily solve the underlying problemWhat unified data infrastructure actually meansWhy AI makes clean, connected data more importantHow disconnected AI tools can create new silosWhat advisors should build, buy or partner forHow connected technology can reduce operational workWhy data and infrastructure can matter to the enterprise value of an advisory firmHow AI agents could work across an entire advisory businessWhere growing financial advisors should start with AIJessica shares one example I thought was pretty incredible: one MileMarker partner reported saving 38 hours a month on basic reporting.That's the kind of number I care about.Not because reporting is exciting. Because that's 38 hours that can go somewhere else.I want my advisors advising. I want my marketing people marketing. I want my tech people doing tech.And if you're trying to grow an independent advisory firm, I think that's the bigger AI conversation.Not: What's the next tool I should buy?What infrastructure, systems and partnerships do I need to build the firm I actually want?That's something we're thinking about every day at Quotient.👉 Join the Quotient Advisor Community: quotientadvisor.com👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/rayluciajr

Every financial advisor is asking the same question:Will AI replace me... or make me better?That's the low view.The vaulted view is asking a different question:How do I use AI to become a better advisor?In this episode of Vaulted Views, I sit down with Chris Mendoza, Head of Research at 15 Equity and one of the few people I know who lives at the intersection of artificial intelligence, investment research, and financial advisory businesses.Chris holds a Master's in Applied Artificial Intelligence from the University of San Diego—before ChatGPT ever became mainstream—and spends his time helping advisors think differently about AI.Not as a shortcut.Not as a replacement.As leverage.Together we explore how financial advisors can use AI to improve investment research, strengthen client relationships, automate operational workflows, and build practices that become more valuable over time.One idea from this conversation really stood out to me.For decades, an advisor's competitive advantage was knowledge.Today, AI has access to knowledge too.The advisors who win won't simply know more.They'll use AI to sharpen their judgment while spending more time doing what only humans can do: building trust, providing context, and helping clients make better decisions.Why AI should challenge your thinking—not replace itThe Socratic method every financial advisor can use with AIHow to use AI to stress-test investment ideas and planning strategiesWhy your firm's systems matter more than the AI tools themselvesBuilding an AI-powered advisory practice without losing the human elementHow AI agents can streamline operations and improve advisor productivityWhy your judgment—not your prompts—is your competitive moatPractical first steps for advisors who want to start implementing AI todayThe firms that pull ahead over the next decade won't be the ones with access to better AI.They'll be the ones who build better systems, develop better judgment, and create more time for the conversations that matter most.That's the future we're building toward.Learn More👉 Join the Quotient Advisor Community:https://quotientadvisor.com👉 Subscribe to my newsletter:https://rayluciajr.com/newsletter👉 Subscribe for weekly Vaulted Views episodes:https://www.youtube.com/@rayluciajr👉 Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rayluciajr👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayluciajr👉 Follow me on X:https://x.com/rayluciajr

What happens if the SEC comes knocking on your door?Most financial advisors spend years mastering markets, client relationships, and business development.Far fewer spend time understanding the regulatory environment they're operating in until they're forced to.That's the low view.The vaulted view is understanding the terrain before you ever have to navigate it.In this episode of Vaulted Views, I sit down with Nick Morgan, former SEC Senior Trial Counsel, who spent seven years prosecuting SEC enforcement cases before spending nearly two decades defending investment advisors. Few people have seen the regulatory process from both sides the way Nick has.Together, we discuss how SEC examinations become enforcement investigations, why regulatory awareness matters for every independent advisor and RIA, and what advisors should understand about the system they're operating within.This conversation is also personal.My father, Ray Lucia Sr., challenged the SEC all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in Ray Sr. Lucia v. SEC, a landmark case that changed how administrative law judges are appointed. That experience shaped the way I think about regulation, leadership, and the responsibility advisors have to understand the profession they're building, not just the clients they serve.This episode isn't about fear.It's about awareness.Because building a great advisory business isn't just about growing AUM, improving operations, or implementing AI. It's also about understanding the rules, responsibilities, and realities that come with independence.What actually happens during an SEC examination and investigationLessons from someone who worked inside the SEC—and later defended advisors against itThe story behind Lucia v. SEC and why it still matters todayWhy compliance is about more than checking boxesWhat independent advisors and RIAs should know as they build their firmsHow the Investor Choice Advocates Network (ICAN) is working to support precedent-setting legal casesWhy understanding your regulatory environment is part of becoming a better business ownerIf you're serious about building a durable advisory practice, this is a conversation worth having.Because the advisors who build firms that last don't just understand markets.They understand the environment they operate in.

Join host Ray Lucia Jr. as he interviews Lucas Lujano from David August to discuss resilience and adaptability in business. Lucas shares how: - He navigated the challenges of the pandemic, pivoting his company’s focus to meet evolving client demands. - His journey from the ground up, building a high-profile client base - The strategies that helped him sustain and grow the business during unprecedented times.

Join host Ray Lucia Jr. as he dives into the fascinating world of whiskey with special guest Sarah Jeltema, a former 911 dispatcher turned whiskey educator and social media influencer. Highlights: Embrace Your Passions: Sarah's transition from a career in public service to the whiskey industry highlights the importance of following your passions. Continuous Learning is Key: Throughout our discussion, Sarah emphasized the value of education and mentorship in her journey. Community Matters: Sarah's involvement in the whiskey community, particularly her role as the president of Women Who Whiskey San Diego, showcases the importance of building and supporting networks.