How Envestnet Is Redefining Scale and Accessibility with Molly Weiss
Episode 089: Molly Weiss, Group President of Wealth Platforms at Envestnet, is a 20-year financial services veteran who drives Envestnet’s end-to-end technology and solutions ranging from portfolio management, financial planning, performance reporting, and digital account management tools. Over her tenure at Envestnet, she has played a pivotal role in shaping scalable solutions that empower advisors to serve clients more effectively.
In this episode, Kyle and Molly explore the critical role of configurability in building scalable tech, the evolving landscape of UMA, and how advisors are blending custom portfolio construction with third-party management. Molly shares what’s ahead at Envestnet’s Elevate conference, how AI will empower—not replace—advisors, and why personalization and access to alternatives are shaping the future of wealth management.
In this episode:
- (00:00) - Intro
- (01:48) - Molly's money moment
- (04:20) - Common challenges faced by firms of all sizes
- (06:09) - Molly's perspective on “scale” in the financial industry
- (07:50) - What to expect at Envestnet Elevate 2025
- (11:48) - How Envestnet leverages third-party asset management
- (14:52) - The multifaceted role of advisors
- (18:17) - Managing diverse investment solutions
- (22:14) - Speakers at the Envestnet Elevate 2025 conference
- (24:19) - Envestnet's focus on ultra-high-net-worth clients
- (25:48) - The future of financial advice
- (30:23) - Molly's thoughts on alternative investments
- (33:36) - Molly's Milemarker Minute
Key Takeaways
- True scalability in advisory tech isn’t about one-size-fits-all solutions or endless customization. Instead, it’s about creating configurable systems that can adapt to a firm’s unique needs without added complexity—allowing both large institutions and small RIAs to grow efficiently.
- AI won’t diminish the advisor’s value—it will amplify it. By automating routine tasks and surfacing meaningful insights, AI can free advisors to focus more on high-impact, human-centered work like client relationships, planning, and trust-building.
- Clients don’t just want a 60/40 portfolio; they need guidance through complex life decisions. Advisors are part coach, part therapist, and part strategist. The tech behind the scenes should support that full spectrum of client service.
- Just as SMAs and UMAs became accessible to more clients over time, the future is about lowering barriers to non-traditional assets. Advisors should prepare to integrate alternatives and illiquid investments into broader portfolios, especially as client demand for diversification and behavioral discipline grows.
Quotes
"If everything you do is either about customization or one size has to fit all, you can't scale. But if you think about technology as a really configurable set of capabilities, a firm can grow because as they need more, it's already there. It just needs to be configured." ~ Molly Weiss
"Part of an advisor's job is translating human problems into something that helps solve those problems. And that includes technology that helps the portfolio management process, taxes, performance, and life events that might change all that and throw it all up in the air." ~ Molly Weiss
Links
- Molly Weiss on LinkedIn
- Envestnet
- Bill Crager
- Envestnet Elevate 2025
- Katty Kay
- Dennis Moseley-Williams
- Allistair McCaw
- Chris Todd
- Margo's Got Money Troubles
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