Description

It’s been a busy year. Zach Conway and Kelsey McKenna sit down to look back on everything that happened inside Seeds and across the advisory space. They talk about what they learned while growing the team, what surprised them, and what changed as more firms started using the platform.

They also look ahead to 2026. Not with predictions meant to sound bold, but with real questions they’re already hearing from advisors: hiring, team structure, client expectations, and how tech will shape the advisor-client relationship next year. It’s an honest conversation about what they’ve seen, what they’re still figuring out, and how Seeds plans to support advisors through all of it.

If you’re thinking about scaling your firm, improving your process, or building a team that feels aligned with your vision, this episode gives you a clear, grounded look at where the industry is heading and how you can prepare.

Here are the top three takeaways from the episode:

• We believe client experience is the competitive edge in 2026. Advisors need to step into their own client journey and see what it actually feels like. The firms that do this will deliver an experience clients remember and talk about.
• Operational excellence is no longer optional. One of the best ways to create consistent experiences is to fix the operational foundation. Rules-based frameworks will help advisors scale, reduce inconsistencies, and communicate more clearly with clients.
• AI is powerful, but intentional adoption matters more. 2025 was full of AI noise. Next year will reward firms that stay focused on clarity, humanity, and fast but thoughtful decision making. The right tools matter, but the strategy behind them matters even more.

Episode Chapters:

03:37 Reflecting on a Year of Growth and Change

10:30 Rebranding and Its Impact on the Business

17:33 Why the Future of Investing is Human

24:37 How Seeds Streamlines Operations for Advisors

27:15 Predictions for 2026: Experience Over Technology

27:42 Operational Excellence in Advisory Firms

31:06 The Chaos of Account-Level Management

33:53 Next-Gen Investor Expectations

36:07 The Competitive Landscape for Advisors

39:34 The Role of Technology in Client Experience

41:01 Strategic Decision-Making for 2026

Connect with us:

Zach Conway on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-conway

Kelsey McKenna on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kelseymckenna3

Seeds: www.useseeds.com

Our Blog: https://useseeds.com/blog/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seeds-investor

Disclosures: https://useseeds.com/terms/

Ready to scale the human side of advice with Seeds? Schedule your personalized demo today at www.useseeds.com/demo

Ask Zach and Kelsey a question!