Bank on Wipfli

How to reduce your tax burden when selling an RIA firm

In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, host Robert Zondag sits down with Dan Pastron and Cory Vargo, tax partners at Wipfli, to discuss how registered investment advisors can structure the sale of their firm to maximize after-tax value. Together, they explore critical tax and structuring considerations for RIA transactions, including:The impact of legal entity structure — asset vs. stock sales, and why most RIA deals are treated as asset sales for tax purposes.Key tax planning considerations around rollover equity, including how to preserve tax deferral and avoid unexpected liquidity issues.Challenges related to allocating proceeds among shareholders at different career stages, and how entity structure can limit or enable flexibility.The importance of early planning, state tax considerations, and involving experienced advisors well before taking a firm to market.

Building strong compliance programs

In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we discuss how financial institutions can strengthen their compliance programs in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Wipfli’s Robert H. Zondag and Tracy Bush explore practical approaches to compliance management, including:The role of outsourced and fractional compliance support, and how institutions can leverage outside expertise to fill gaps, manage turnover, or scale effectively.A clear breakdown of the three lines of defense — business lines, compliance/risk, and audit — and how they work together to manage risk.The five pillars of compliance managementKey signals that may indicate it’s time to seek additional compliance support, including staffing strain, communication breakdowns, or program maturity challenges.

How will wealth management change in 2026?

How will wealth management change in 2026? In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, join Wipfli’s Robert Zondag for a conversation with Diamond Consultants CEO Louis Diamond and Wipfli partner Ron Niemasyk about the evolving dynamics of the industry in areas like recruitment, tech and private equity partnerships — plus how wealth management advisory firms are adapting to keep up.Listen for a rundown on key trends that will shape wealth management over the next 12 months, including:Firms moving towards advisory-focused business models, including why tax and estate planning have become expected service offerings.Wealth advisors leaning heavily on technology to drive growth, including AI, CRM integration and a focus on operational efficiency.Private equity’s growing interest in the registered investment advisor (RIA) sector, what’s driving record 10-12x EBITDA valuations, and why long-term success can depend on capital decisions.Key recruiting and retention strategies, including a holistic approach that embraces flexibility, culture, technology and succession planning.Major recruiting red flags, like compensation changes, limited growth support and a lack of integration into the team.

Segmented Service, Stronger Impact

Is your financial institution doing all it can to build and maintain strong, long-term ties with key customer groups? Her Bank tailored specific experiences to reach women customers who lacked a strong banking relationship.Discover what’s behind launching a niche brand:How Her Bank was born during the pandemic to meet the unmet needs of women who lacked strong banking relationships and faced financial uncertainty.Why authentic conversations — not just data — are key to understanding customer pain points and building trust across diverse demographics.Why success is measured not just in growth, but in integrity, intention and the ability to improve lives.

Smarter insurance filing — Maximize tech and talent

Insurance companies face significant challenges in keeping up with changes in statutory requirements amid intensifying workforce pressures. Learn about key evolving issues affecting your filings:The growing talent gap in statutory accounting, driven by retirements and limited new entrants to the fieldThe role of technology in streamlining workflows, improving collaboration and delivering contextual guidance for complex filingsWhy successful filings require more than software — how support and education are critical to reducing stress and improving outcomesTune in to the episode and subscribe.

Podcast: Breaking the Security-Convenience Seesaw

How can companies deliver secure digital customer experiences without sacrificing customer convenience? In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we explore how organizations can break the traditional trade-off between security and ease of use in digital workflows.Wipfli’s Robert Zondag, partner, talks with Tracy Fox, co-founder and chief revenue officer of Botdoc, about the future of secure customer engagement, including:• The 72% disconnect between companies’ perceived customer experience andactual customer satisfaction.• The impact of friction-filled security processes on customer drop-off and delays.• How COVID accelerated digital transformation and created demand for remote, seamless workflows.• The role of fluid, modular workflow automation in reducing friction and improving outcomes.• Why companies must rethink “sharing” vs. “sending” data to meet customer expectations.

Navigating Private Equity: Trends, Challenges, and Future Outlook in 2025

Harnessing AI in Financial Services: Insights from Wescom Credit Union

When should financial institutions look to integrate AI into their operations, and how should they do it? In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we explore practical considerations for AI use in the industry, with a focus on security and user experience.Wipfli’s Robert Zondag, partner, and Matt Sabo, director, talk with Joseph Pellissery, Chief Information Officer at Wescom Credit Union, about AI adoption strategy, including:The use of AI in quality assurance for financial institutions.The importance of balancing security measures with user experience considerations.The growing need for digital access for credit union members.

Farm Finance Focus: Leveraging Data in Agricultural Lending

With many agricultural lenders aging out, there is a talent shortage within agricultural lending. This shortage emphasizes the need for more automation and AI to reduce support tasks and allow lenders to focus on true risk management and better productivity.In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we dig into the role of AI and automation in modernizing the world of agricultural lending. Special guest Croptell Founder Scott Sartor joined Wipfli Partner Robert Zondag to discuss:• The role of communication between farmers and lenders in financial decision-making.• The use of AI to automate loan approval processes.• Enhancing efficiency in agricultural lending.Listen in to learn how data utilization can improve a lender’s loan portfolio in agricultural lending.

Revolutionizing FS: AI, Personalization, and Security

How can financial services organizations integrate AI into their operations to enhance customer experience while ensuring safety and compliance? In this episode of Bank on Wipfli, we explore the rise of AI in the financial sector, with a focus on delivering seamless client interactions while maintaining data security.Special guest Ben Nichols, co-founder and head of product at Directlink and data science professor at Syracuse University, joined Robert Zondag, partner at Wipfli, to discuss:AI integration strategies for financial services organizations.The importance of providing customers with a seamless experience across platforms and channels.Approaches for ensuring data security and compliance while integrating with AI platforms.