Month: September 2025

Breaking Free with AI and Smarter Tech for Advisors (Ep. 14)

Breaking Free with AI and Smarter Tech for Advisors (Ep. 14)

Advisors today must decide whether technology will hold them back or propel them forward. Big firms often utilize AI to reduce costs, while independent advisors can leverage it to enhance efficiency and the client experience.

How can AI empower advisors instead of replacing them? How do you build a tech stack that supports growth rather than restricts it?

In this episode of The Broken Dealer, Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski delve into how AI and automation are transforming the role of advisors. They share real examples of tools that work, discuss why independence offers more autonomy, and explain how technology can elevate both practice management and client service.

Key takeaways include:

  • How AI is giving small-town advisors the capabilities of big firms
  • Why large broker-dealers restrict innovation to protect the “lowest common denominator”
  • Practical examples of AI streamlining tax planning and client onboarding
  • How independence creates wider highways for adopting tech that benefits advisors and clients
  • Why even basic tools like online scheduling can dramatically improve efficiency
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Daren Blonski: 

Connect with Carmine Corino: 

Firm Speed Dating: Asking the Right Questions Before You Commit (Ep. 13)

Firm Speed Dating: Asking the Right Questions Before You Commit (Ep. 13)

Choosing the right firm isn’t just about payout numbers. 

It’s about alignment, vision, and transparency.

In this episode of The Broken Dealer, hosts Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski unpack the crucial questions advisors must ask before joining a new firm. From ownership incentives to fee structures and long-term vision, they reveal how to “peel the onion” and see what’s really driving a firm. 

Their stories and examples show the hidden costs of quick checks and the transformative power of working in an aligned environment.

Key Points:

  • Why ownership incentives shape firm behavior and advisor experience
  • The pitfalls of upfront money and hidden product requirements
  • How misaligned visions trap advisors in short-term decisions
  • A case study where alignment led to tripling assets under management
  • The difference between growth cultures and environments focused only on product sales
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Daren Blonski: 

Connect with Carmine Corino: