In this episode of Gray to Great, Kristine Meyer of Stiles Financial Services joins Dan Dal Degan to explore what adaptability looks like as workforce demographics continue to shift. She discusses the importance of understanding client needs, communicating effectively, and adjusting to generational differences. Kristine reflects on the realities of Gen Z entering the workforce and how advisors can align with evolving expectations and new plan demographics. She also shares her path into the field, how she builds client relationships, and why adaptability matters as plan demographics shift. Kristine's insights provide valuable takeaways for both plan advisors and participants looking to better understand their financial futures.

More About Kristine Meyer:
Kristine Meyer is a Retirement Plan Specialist at Stiles Financial Services, where she has delivered tailored guidance to employers and participants for more than six years. She began her career at a small trust company as a Trust Operations Specialist and later became Operations Supervisor as the firm expanded. Her work has focused on high-quality service and helping plan sponsors maintain compliant, well-designed plans that support both organizations and employees.

Kristine is known for building strong client relationships and her dedication to improving financial literacy through participant education. Beyond her client work, she serves as Chair of the Minneapolis Pension Council and leads a study group for industry professionals that encourages collaboration and shared learning across ERISA attorneys, actuaries, accountants, and advisors. Kristine has always called the Twin Cities home and enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new recipes and restaurants, and spending quality time with her husband and daughter.

In this episode of Gray to Great, Dan Dal Degan interviews Scott Colangelo, chairman of Prime Capital, discussing his journey from starting at Edward Jones to establishing the first RIA in Kansas. Scott shares insights on building a scalable retirement advisory firm, the convergence of wealth management and retirement advising, and his advocacy efforts in the industry. He emphasizes the importance of finding passion in one's work and the impact of education on participants' financial futures.

More About Scott Colangelo:
Scott Colangelo is the Chairman of Prime Capital, where he has been instrumental in pioneering fee-based asset management and establishing the first Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in Kansas. With a career spanning over two decades, Scott has been a trailblazer in the convergence of wealth management and retirement advising. He began his career at Edward Jones, where he was recognized as a top producer, and later co-founded Prime Capital with Tim Hakes.

Scott's innovative approach includes managing risk-based portfolios and advocating for participant education and wellness in retirement plans. He has been actively involved in legislative advocacy, focusing on issues like collective trusts for 403(b) plans. Scott resides in Kansas, where he is committed to giving back to the community that has supported his career and family.

In this episode of "Gray to Great," host Dan Dal Degan and guest Lloyd Engleman, a Managing Director of Alkeme Financial Services of Accelerate Retirement, discuss the intricacies of scaling efficiently as a retirement plan advisor. They explore strategies for success, the importance of building trust with clients, the power of the RPAG platform, and the evolving landscape of retirement planning. Lloyd shares personal stories of growth, mentorship, and the impact of effective communication in the industry. Engleman reflects on the profound impact of his work, emphasizing the life-changing potential of effective retirement planning.

More About Lloyd Engleman:
Lloyd Engleman has worked in the Financial Services sector for 18 years. As a Retirement Plan Specialist, Lloyd serves clients throughout the western United States and was awarded as Plan Adviser of the Year by Plan Sponsor Magazine. Based on nominations from industry peers and quantitative factors, including number of plans and dollar value of plan assets under advisement.

Prior to joining Accelerate Retirement, Lloyd worked as a Registered Representative/401K plan consultant for Total Retirement Solutions. Additionally, he worked at Investor Solutions, Inc., also serving the western region. Prior to entering the Financial Services field in 2000, Lloyd worked in hardware technology resales, as the owner of Surcom Technology. Lloyd holds his Series 6, 63, and 65 licenses.

Interests

Lloyd is a board member of Moreno Valley Optimist Foundation and volunteers on their fund raisers. Lloyd is well-known for his love of golf. He also considers himself an RV enthusiast. Lloyd currently resides in Riverside with his family.

Disclosures:
Retirement Plan Advisory Group, LLC (“RPAG”) provides technology, solutions and services for a fee to its customers, who are primarily retirement plan advisors and associated institutions. The services include ratings of various third-party investment vehicles based on RPAG’s proprietary quantitative and qualitative scoring methodology. The investment vehicles do not pay to be evaluated and scored; nor do the companies that provide services to the investment vehicles pay for them to be evaluated and scored, but those companies may have commercial relationships and affiliations with RPAG. In addition, RPAG’s affiliate, Great Gray Trust Company, LLC, offers CITs, some of which include fee classes with customized pricing that it makes available to RPAG subscribers.

Great Gray Trust Company, LLC (“Great Gray”) serves as trustee and provides administrative services for collective investment trust funds (“Great Gray CITs”) that are scored by RPAG. Great Gray and RPAG are wholly owned by Great Gray Group, LLC (“Great Gray Group”). Great Gray has a commercial relationship with RPAG that does not involve the evaluation and scoring of Great Gray CITs.