The Trusted Adviser

In this episode, Rob Pyne sits down with Zac Leeson, Senior Financial Adviser and HPH Solutions Next-Generation Leader, to explore how the client experience has evolved from being investment-centric to truly life-centred. Zac shares the practical tools, processes, and conversations that help clients connect their financial decisions to what really matters, and reflects on what makes great advice both meaningful and sustainable.

In this special roundtable episode of The Trusted Adviser Podcast, Rob Pyne is joined by four technologists who are transforming the way advice firms approach technology and AI:
Pat Gardner (Collins SBA / Rubica) – on avoiding the “Salesforce plus-plus fallacy” and how Whisper Flow is changing the way advisers interact with AI.
Nick Downey (Direct Wealth / Halosoft) – on building Meeting Ally and Advice Ally, the secret to managing 40+ acquisitions, and why process and accountability are the true foundations for AI adoption.
Stephen Bell (Captegra) – on using process mining to cut through “workflow spaghetti” and how Zoom has become a powerful all-in-one hub for communication, documents, and automation.
Glenn Elliott (Meldus) – on using Cursor to accelerate proposals, presentations, and branded content, and the one killer question firms should ask every vendor: “How has AI transformed your own business in the past three years?”
Together, they unpack what’s working, where advice firms are getting stuck, and the practical steps to take when adopting new technology. From AI-powered file notes to full-scale workflow redesigns, this episode is a deep dive into the future of advice tech.

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser podcast, Rob Pyne speaks with Rob Jones, co-founder of Peloton Partners and a leading authority on pricing and profitability in financial advice. Rob shares why many firms leave money on the table, the limitations of traditional benchmarking surveys, and what his unique data reveals about capacity, adviser pay, and the real drivers of profitability.
If you want to understand how to price advice fairly and build a more sustainable, profitable business, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, Rob Pyne speaks with Ben Calder, Managing Director of Calder Wealth Management, about the recent merger with Coastal Advice Group. Ben shares the backstory of how years of collaboration and cultural alignment with Dan Brown led to one of Australia’s fastest-growing financial advice businesses. They discuss the role Merchant Investment Management played in bringing the deal to life, the challenges of integration, and the opportunities the merger creates for clients, staff, and the future of the business

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, Rob Pyne speaks with Glenn Elliott, co-founder of Practifi and founder of Meldus, about how AI and automation are reshaping the advice profession. Glenn shares insights from his journey building Practifi, the importance of open platforms and APIs, and the practical ways agentic AI is already transforming CRM data, compliance, and client engagement. A must-listen for advice firms wanting to future-proof their technology and unlock new levels of productivity.

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, Rob Pyne sits down with Nick Perrett, CEO at Yarra Lane Group, to explore how his firm is leveraging AI agents and robotic process automation (RPA) to transform operations across financial planning, tax, and professional services. Nick shares how bots like “Henry” and “Grace” are automating everything from review prep to data entry, running 24/7 inside their Microsoft environment and freeing up valuable human time.
They dig into the real numbers, implementation process, cultural impacts, and what this all means for the future of advice delivery. Whether you’re curious about getting started or wondering how far automation can go in a professional advice firm, this is a must-listen episode.

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, Rob Pyne speaks with Andrew Dunbar and Abbie Gellatly from Apt Wealth Partners—an award-winning advice firm known for its strong culture and focus on talent development. They unpack how Apt is preparing for the future of financial advice through structured graduate pathways, transparent career progression, leadership development, employee ownership, and a flexible benefits program that drives engagement and retention. If you’re looking to build a future-ready advice business, this conversation is full of practical takeaways.

What does it take to grow a financial planning firm beyond the founder? In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, Rob Pyne speaks with Philip Palaveev, CEO of The Ensemble Practice, about what it really means to lead a team-based advice business.
Philip unpacks why leadership is more burden than privilege, how to shift from founder-led to team-driven models, and what it takes to embed vision and trust into culture.
👉 Listen as Philip shares:
Why the best leaders stop seeking personal validation and start coaching others
How to make the leap from individual to team performance
The difference between ownership, leadership and management — and why titles don’t define influence
This conversation is a masterclass in next-generation leadership, succession planning, and building a firm that outlasts any one person.

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, Rob Pyne speaks with Terri Reid—business coach, consultant, and former financial planner—about the human side of leadership in advice firms. They explore the tensions advice principals face as they grow their businesses, from stepping back as the chief problem solver to building strong team cultures. Terri shares practical tools for empowering staff, improving communication, and reframing leadership at all levels. A valuable conversation for any advice leader wanting to build a business that performs well and feels good to be part of.

In this episode of The Trusted Adviser, Rob Pyne speaks with Stephen Bell — former adviser, Enzumo founder, and now the driving force behind Captegra and Hivrs. They explore how financial advice firms can shift from clunky tech stacks to streamlined process-driven systems, the power of Salesforce as a source of truth, and the realistic role of AI in advice delivery. Stephen shares his vision for real-time, electronic SOA generation and how automation can free up advisers to do more of what matters — all while staying compliant. A must-listen for any firm ready to modernise their workflows.