Ryan is honored to serve as CEO as F2 Strategy where he works with the top industry leading consultants and thought leaders in wealth management and WealthTech. He is passionate about leveraging disruptive technologies to redefine the financial services landscape, driving efficiency, and creating value for clients and stakeholders. Ryan spent 13 years at Orion in various positions including President of Orion Wealth. His approach to leadership and business strategy emphasizes ethical practices, transparency, and a client-centric focus, ensuring that we not only achieve our financial goals, but also contribute positively to the broader community. Ryan lives in Omaha, Nebraska with his wife and two grade schooler daughters. When he's not working with wealth firms or WealthTech providers, you can find him on a hiking trail or on the water.

What would you tell someone just starting out in the industry right now?

First, embrace curiosity. This industry sits at the intersection of finance, technology, and human behavior, and it evolves quickly. Stay informed—not just about what’s happening today but about the future trends.  Second, focus on relationships.Third, don’t underestimate the power of specialization. Developing expertise in a niche, whether that be a client niche, skills niche, or product niche sets you apart.

What does the phrase, “Do Good with Tech” mean to you?

“Do good with tech” embodies the responsibility to use technology to enhance the lives of others. In our space, it means creating solutions that simplify complex financial tasks, improve client outcomes, and empower advisors to focus on what matters most: building trust and delivering personalized advice. It also means prioritizing ethical considerations, such as data privacy, inclusivity, and accessibility, in every decision we make.

What do you think WealthTech will allow advisors to do in five years that they can’t do now?

Technology will allow advisors to serve mass amounts of clients at a hyper-personalized scale.  Advances in AI and machine learning will allow advisors to anticipate client needs with precision, such as identifying when clients might benefit from specific tax strategies or portfolio reallocations. Natural language processing will make it easier for advisors to analyze client conversations and sentiment, improving engagement strategies.

What has changed the most since you started out in the industry?

The sheer amount of technology options that are available to choose from.  There are infinite possibilities and permutations for how firms and advisors can organize their tech stack.