John O’Connell on Values-based Investing, the Cybersecurity Education and the Future of AI in Fintech

In our final episode of this season’s On the Circuit, we’re sitting down with John O’Connell of Oasis Group to discuss values-based investing, the Great Wealth Transfer, cybersecurity education and the future of AI in fintech. 

As Founder of Oasis Group and author of Rise of the Activist Investor, John O’Connell is putting his 30+ years of experience to use in helping financial professionals find services and solutions that truly fit their clients’ needs. 

For example, he notes that the movement for values-based investing, or investing based on personal values, is a growing trend among younger investors who have experienced several social movements in recent years. 

“These young investors want their money to generate returns and match a risk profile that they’ve got and a time horizon for when they need the money,” O’Connell explains. “But they really deeply believe that they would like their money to reflect their values.”

Beyond values-based investing, this episode explores unique cybersecurity challenges facing modern advisors and clients, including the growing use of AI-fueled “deep fake” technology. O’Connell notes that those in the financial services industry will need to take increased measures against such scams, including increased education and a push for two-factor authentication.

“Having a multifactor authentication is going to require that the client also gets a text message to authorize that transfer. And if the client gets a text message that they didn’t recognize because you’ve been talking to a bad actor and not realizing it, the client’s going to call you up and say, ‘Hey, wait a second, I got this weird text message. I didn’t ask for a funds transfer,’” O’Connell says. 

Listen in to hear more tips and insights from O’Connell, and be sure to check out our other On the Circuit episodes!

Key Takeaways

1. Discover the importance of values-based investing for the new generation of investors.
2. Obtain crucial insights into why cybersecurity education is paramount in the ever-evolving financial industry.
3. Grasp the risks and challenges that AI presents, particularly the threat of deep fake abilities.

Key Timestamps and Topics

• 00:00:09 – Johnny Sandquist introduces John O’Connell, founder of the Oasis group, and they discuss the topic of values-based investing.
• 00:00:52 – O’Connell explains that values-based investing is becoming increasingly important due to the great wealth transfer and the changing values of young investors. 
• 00:05:33 – Johnny Sandquist and John O’Connell discuss the benefits of direct indexing, including the ability to tailor investments to individual values. 
• 00:09:44 – O’Connell suggests attracting younger investors through coaching programs and personalized investment strategies. He emphasizes the importance of focus and understanding the demographics and preferences of the target market.
• 00:14:33 – Educating clients about multi-factor authentication can help protect against phishing and smishing schemes.
• 00:19:30 – Direct indexing and SMA accounts are emerging trends that advisors should understand to meet clients’ values-based investing needs.
• 00:21:27 – AI encompasses various computing disciplines, including neural networks and machine learning – Chat GPT is just a small part of AI’s potential impact on the industry.
• 00:23:10 – Continuous education and staying informed about new products and market trends will help advisors serve their clients effectively.

Relevant Links

• Download our free ebook, The Advisor’s Guide to Starting a Podcast
• Connect with a member of our podcasting team
• Learn more about starting your own podcast
• Oasis Group

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