The Hidden Cost of Fragmented Data with Kailash Duraiswami
Episode 091: Kailash Duraiswami is the Chief Technology Officer at Milemarker, where he leads the development of data infrastructure and AI-powered solutions for modern advisory firms. With a unique blend of financial expertise and deep technical knowledge, Kailash brings his passion for innovation, data strategy, and scalable technology to help wealth management firms thrive in a multi-platform world.
In this episode, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Kailash about his unconventional path from launching an RIA straight out of college to building tech that transformed data operations for financial firms. They unpack the challenges firms face with fragmented data, the importance of centralized infrastructure, and how AI will reshape wealth management. They discuss why firms need to reclaim ownership of their data, how to avoid becoming an “accidental CTO,” and how Milemarker is building scalable, simplified tech solutions for advisors navigating a multi-platform, AI-enabled world.
In this episode:
- (00:00) - Intro
- (01:53) - Kailash's money moment
- (06:56) - What is Pantenix?
- (10:10) - The value of a data warehouse
- (12:31) - Kailash's thoughts on cloud-based infrastructure
- (14:16) - The importance of data platforms
- (18:29) - Why becoming a CTO should be intentional
- (22:30) - AI in wealth management
- (24:46) - The advantage of building your own language models
- (31:51) - Why CTOs in RIAs need to understand wealth management
- (36:02) - Why all-in-one platforms limit user experiences
- (39:03) - Kailash's Milemarker Minute
Key Takeaways
- Centralize your data to maximize AI and operational efficiency. Without consolidating your firm’s data into a single, accessible environment, it’s nearly impossible to generate meaningful insights or leverage AI effectively. Fragmented data limits your ability to scale and innovate.
- You don’t have to become an “accidental CTO”. Many firm leaders end up spending too much time wrestling with tech. Outsourcing specialized functions—like data architecture and infrastructure—can free up your time to focus on clients and growth, while still driving innovation.
- Owning your data is not the same as using cloud-based tools. Just because your systems are in the cloud doesn’t mean you own your data. True ownership means having control over how and where your data is stored, accessed, and used to make decisions.
- AI is only as smart as the data it has access to. For AI to deliver meaningful outcomes—like intelligent agents or predictive analytics—it needs clean, well-structured, and centralized data. Start with solid infrastructure before diving into advanced AI capabilities.
Quotes
"What we're doing here, as a help to your technology footprint, is enabling you to see and understand your business in ways you've never done before. And that requires very sophisticated technology." ~ Kailash Duraiswami
"You must have your data in one place to really make use of AI because the conclusions that the model can make or the recommendations are all subject to what data is presented to it." ~ Kailash Duraiswami
"The biggest thing we are making here is building a tool that is advisor-centric and executive-centric. And that means simplicity. Above all, the boldness of what we have here is to do less in an excellent way." ~ Kailash Duraiswami
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