The Buddy System with Gary Russell

Episode 062: At Helium Advisors, the buddy system isn't just a strategy—it's a core component of their wealth management approach. By pairing advisors with shared goals and similar skill sets, they provide clients with more comprehensive and personalized solutions. 

In this episode, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Gary Russell, Partner and Co-Founder at Helium Advisors, about Helium's buddy system, how it works, and the benefits it provides. They also discuss holistic planning and how using the right technology creates a unique client experience.

In this episode:

• [01:49] - Gary's money moment
• [03:37] - What inspired Gary to become a financial advisor
• [05:34] - What influenced Helium's culture
• [07:39] - Helium's buddy system
• [13:22] - Holistic planning defined
• [18:19] - Leveraging technology for better client service
• [23:40] - Technology in holistic planning
• [26:02] - Gary's outlook on the future of the industry
• [27:53] - Gary's Milemarker Minute

Key Takeaways

• Helium's buddy system pairs advisors together to leverage their skill sets and provide more comprehensive advice to clients.
• Holistic planning considers all aspects of a client's financial life, including taxes, estate, and business planning.
• Technology is a critical part of financial planning. Advisors need to be selective about which technologies to adopt.
• The future of financial planning involves more consolidation and integration of AI. 

Quotes

[24:30] -"If you look at where other industries have gone before us, we don't want to be in the front one percent of that technology. But we want to be in that first five or 10 percent, right? We don't want to be the testers, but we want to be the early adopters for sure." ~ Gary Russell

[26:50] - "There's no way AI will seamlessly wipe us all out. You'll have a real human working in a buddy system with a few advisors and understanding what AI can do to help." ~ Gary Russell

[31:22] - "The integration of the decisions that you make and how you bring them to your team really matters. We have learned that by doing it poorly and failing our way up." ~ Gary Russell

Links 

• Gary Russell on LinkedIn
• Helium Advisors
• Howard Morin
• Jocko Willink
• Extreme Ownership
• Patrick Sweeny
• Oleg Tishkevich
• Envestnet
• J.J. Feldman
• Slow Productivity

Connect with our hosts

• Milemarker.co
• Kyle on LinkedIn
• Jud on LinkedIn

Subscribe and stay in touch

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

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