Diversification – Advisor Mentorship Podcast

AI, Investing, and the Future of Financial Planning with Benjamin Shiller (Ep. 117)

By Advisor Mentorship Podcast | June 30, 2026

Technology is advancing quickly, and investors, business owners, and retirees are all trying to understand what it means for their future.

Will artificial intelligence create new opportunities, change career paths, reshape investing, or alter retirement planning? Understanding how innovation influences markets and personal finances may become increasingly important in the years ahead.

In this episode, Jeremy Houser welcomes Benjamin Shiller, Associate Professor of Economics at Brandeis University and Author. They explore how artificial intelligence could affect jobs, productivity, investing, and financial planning. Benjamin shares insights on market narratives, valuation concerns, the CAPE ratio, and the risks of chasing popular investments.

The conversation also examines retirement planning, global investment opportunities, AI-related market enthusiasm, and why disciplined decision-making may matter more than reacting to headlines and trends.

Key takeaways:

How AI may reshape careers, productivity expectations, and long-term job stability for many workers
Why market narratives often influence investment decisions more than company fundamentals
How valuation metrics can help identify opportunities overlooked by popular market trends
Why diversification remains important during periods of enthusiasm around emerging technologies
How financial planning helps connect investment decisions to personal goals and risk tolerance
And more!

Resources:

AI Economics: How Technology Transforms Jobs, Markets, Life, & Our Future by Benjamin Shiller

Connect with Benjamin Shiller:

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About Our Guest:

Benjamin Shiller is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Brandeis University and the author of AI Economics: How Technology Transforms Jobs, Markets, Life, & Our Future.

His research primarily focuses on the economic impacts of digitization and new technologies. Within this domain, he has analyzed questions relating to personalized pricing, resale, and supplier coordination. His research has been covered in notable publications including The Atlantic, The Conversation, The Economist, Forbes, Fortune, The Guardian, VOX EU, and The Washington Post.

Disclosure #: 5566633 – 0726

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Volatility Control Indexes: What Advisors Need to Know Now with Laurence Black (Ep. 102)

By Advisor Mentorship Podcast | December 9, 2025

Markets can shift quickly, and understanding the tools behind index design can help you guide clients with more clarity.

How do you sort through complex crediting strategies, and what can index ratings reveal about long-term performance potential?

In this episode, Jeremy Houser speaks with Laurence Black, Founder of The Index Standard®, about how his team evaluates index construction, why volatility control remains important, and how advisors can use clearer forecasting to support client conversations. He explains how metal ratings are assigned, what drives intraday volatility control, and why diversification protects clients as trends shift. Laurence also talks about forecasting methods, expected returns across regions, and the role that transparency plays in product due diligence.

Key takeaways:

Poor performance from some of these indexes explained
How index ratings are built using 35 metrics and grouped by peer category
Why excess return structures act differently in the current rate environment
How volatility control works as an early warning mechanism
Why diversified allocations help offset recency bias
How The Index Standard® is expanding tools for FIA and IUL due diligence
And more!

Connect With Laurence Black:

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About Our Guest:

Laurence Black is the founder of The Index Standard® and an index advisor to Robert J. Shiller, Sterling Professor Emeritus of Economics at Yale University.

Before founding The Index Standard®, Laurence was Managing Director and Head of Quantitative Indices and Strategies at Barclays, where he oversaw the development of the Barclays index family. In addition to designing some of the first smart beta/factor indices, Laurence spearheaded Barclays’ index partnerships with Professors Robert Shiller and Nouriel Roubini, as well as Novus Partners.

Before Barclays, Laurence was Head of Indices at ABN AMRO in London, where he successfully launched indices with well-known investors such as Jim Rogers and Joel Greenblatt. Before ABN AMRO, Laurence worked at Lehman Brothers, Deutsche Bank, and Credit Suisse.

Laurence holds an MBA from the University of Warwick and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cape Town. When not thinking about financial matters, he can mostly be found on a tennis court.

Disclosure #: 4998452 – 1225

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Innovation & Diligence in Index Selection with Tom Haines (Ep. 54)

By The Advisor Mentorship Podcast | January 9, 2024

Is your financial advisory strategy future-proof?

Discover innovative strategies in financial advising with insights from Jeremy Houser, AMP host and Vice President of InsurMark, as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Tom Haines, EVP of Capital Markets & Index Solution at Annexus. With a background that includes a significant tenure at UBS in New York City, Tom brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, particularly in index annuities and selecting indexes.

Key Highlights:

The secrets of Annexus’s index selection, where academic insights meet Wall Street ingenuity to revolutionize investing
How innovative design and strategic diversification are transforming retirement planning, challenging conventional market trends
Peek into Annexus’s journey to the top, uncovering the visionary strategies that set their products apart
How Annexus masterfully balances steadfast processes with dynamic market changes to redefine success standards
Witness how Annexus stays ahead by harnessing wisdom from academic giants, carving a niche in the competitive financial arena
Gain insights into the evolving bond market and the rising potential of Fixed Index Annuities as we enter 2024
Enter a groundbreaking phase of financial advising, focusing on the strategic integration of Fixed Index Annuities for robust portfolio management
And much more!

Resources:

Episode 20: Annexus: Your Innovative Annuities & Insurance Solutions Platform with Ron Shurts

Connect With Tom Haines:

Book Time with Jeremy Houser:

Schedule a Call

Connect with Jeremy Houser:

About Tom Haines:

Tom leads the index diligence and selection process at Annexus and coordinates the firm’s relationships with asset managers, academic experts, and investment banks. He also plays a pivotal role at Annexus Retirement Solutions, working closely with insurers and asset managers. Prior to Annexus, Tom led Equity Solutions Structuring at UBS Investment Bank and has a rich history in financial markets, including roles at BNP Paribas and NYSE Group. A member of FINRA’s Investment Management Committee and a holder of a bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Finance from James Madison University, Tom’s expertise is well-recognized in the industry.

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Dimensional on Fixed Income, Volatility, and Long-Term Investing with Rob Harvey, CFA (Ep. 50)

By The Advisor Mentorship Podcast | November 7, 2023

The Advisor Mentorship Podcast has reached a new milestone! 50 Episodes!

Milestone episodes deserve milestone guests, which is why this week, Jeremy Houser welcomes Rob Harvey, CFA, Co-Head of Product Specialists and Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors.

In this special episode, Jeremy and Rob sit together to chat about the work being done at Dimensional for their clients, as well as the importance of long-term thinking and consistency in investment strategies. Additionally, Rob explains Dimensional’s positioning in the fixed income space, the potential for higher yields in markets outside the US, and the importance of data driven decision making.

Rob discusses:

His background and role at Dimensional
The significance of advisors and asset managers aligning their long-term investment strategies
The importance of positioning in the fixed income space based on yield curve movements and the need for active management
Global fixed income opportunities
How Dimensional’s approach to index construction relies on the insights of leading academics
The importance of having a complete understanding of volatility and how it can help capture more returns in asset classes
The movie “Tune Out the Noise” and its focus on the foundation and origins of Dimensional
And more!

Connect With Rob Harvey:

Book Time with Jeremy Houser:

Schedule a Call

Connect with Jeremy Houser:

About Our Guest:

Rob Harvey, Co-Head of Product Specialists and Vice President, serves as a subject matter expert for Dimensional’s equity portfolios and performance. He joined Dimensional in 2016 as an Associate Portfolio Manager and has managed international, emerging markets, and domestic equity portfolios. Rob also worked in the firm’s London office, managing international and global equity strategies within the Portfolio Management team.

Prior to joining Dimensional, Rob worked in the treasury department of Cisco Systems, trading foreign exchange, managing fixed income portfolios, and conducting the company’s share repurchase program.

Rob earned his MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He received a bachelor of science in finance and international business and a bachelor of arts in German from Villanova University and is a CFA® Charterholder.

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Athene’s Strategy for Innovation and Customer Satisfaction with Mitch Anderson, CLU®, RICP®, CSSCS® (Ep. 40)

By The Advisor Mentorship Podcast | May 23, 2023

We all know that the insurance industry is facing challenges in the current market environment, but what are the solutions, and what does the future look like?

In this episode, Jeremy Houser speaks with Mitch Anderson, the VP/ Senior Relationship Manager at Athene USA. Mitch talks about Athene’s growth within the annuities space and their portfolio of volatility-controlled indexes. Additionally, Mitch shares the firm’s mission to continue providing innovative product solutions to their clients.

Mitch discusses:

What you should know about Athene’s partnership with InsurMark
The awards that Athene won in 2022
The importance of volatility control indices and ways the firm selects their index partners
Some of the challenges Athene faced in scaling up their business and how they overcame them
Athene’s Roth conversion program
The value of educating clients on the differences between banks and insurance companies
What the future holds for the company
The importance of fixed index annuities in volatile markets and the benefits they offer for clients in drawdown situations
And more!

Connect with Mitch Anderson:

Book Time with Jeremy Houser:

Schedule a Call

Connect with Jeremy Houser:

About Our Guest:

Mitch Anderson is a VP/Senior Relationship Manager for Athene USA and works with a number of our Key Distribution Partners. Besides managing NMO relationships, Mitch frequently speaks at training events and helps educate advisors on the benefits of Fixed Indexed Annuities.

For over 30 years, Mitch has worked in the insurance and financial services industry in a number of different roles, from wholesaling to sales management.

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