The Playbook Behind the Fastest-Growing RIA in History with Jason Wenk
Episode 112: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Jason Wenk, Founder and CEO of Altruist. Jason has lived and breathed the financial services industry over the last 20 years as a financial advisor, investment systems developer, analyst, and founder.
Jason shares his journey from humble beginnings to building some of the fastest-growing RIAs. From his early days at Morgan Stanley to pioneering digital marketing for his own RIAs, Jason discusses the innovations that led to the founding of Altruist. Jason also explores the power of content and why social media platforms are today's hub for advisor growth.
In this episode:
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(00:00) - Intro
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(02:44) - Jason's money moment
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(05:21) - From intern to industry disruptor: Jason’s path to building two RIAs
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(13:56) - Jason's digital marketing playbook
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(17:38) - Where attention is won: YouTube, TikTok, referrals, and more
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(25:02) - Why offline marketing still crushes in 2025
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(28:05) - The pain points that led Jason to create Altruist
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(34:12) - How Altruist is using AI to transform advisor workflows
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(43:06) - Jason's Milemarker Minute
Key Takeaways
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Leverage digital marketing. Blogging and creating videos on social media build authority and trust.
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Play the long game. Social media platforms can drive billions in new business. But when they eventually get crowded, differentiation comes from client experience and outcomes, not just marketing tactics.
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Know your audience. AI and SEO shifts may impact younger investors, but retirement-age clients still search the old-fashioned way. Tailor your approach to the people you want to reach.
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Consistency wins. Whether it's local seminars, radio shows, or social media content, firms that pick a lane and execute with discipline tend to outpace the rest.
Quotes
"A lot of our fastest-growing advisors are using YouTube as their primary mechanism to be in front of new clients. We have a few who are using social media, so they're active on X, some are heavy on LinkedIn, and we're starting to see some who are actually doing decent volume from TikTok." ~ Jason Wenk
"Our generation is open about how and what we do. We all have an abundance mindset, and we share and love celebrating everybody else's wins." ~ Jason Wenk
"In a world where it'll be nearly impossible to be different and unique based on your content, what you actually deliver will matter a lot more. Driving the best outcomes and the best experience will become a differentiator. " ~ Jason Wenk
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