AI, Human Connection & The Future of Wealth Management | Heather Fortner

Macon Atlanta with Brent

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly insights on better living in Atlanta and discover more ways of mindful living, delivered straight to your inbox: https://www.maconatlanta.com/🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Mq5SiHKkU48⭐ Featured Guest: Heather FortnerHeather is the CEO of SignatureFD, an integrated wealth management firm with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. During her twenty-year tenure at SignatureFD, Heather has executed strategies that have grown SignatureFD's AUM from $250M to more than $9.1B. Her ability to combine strategic oversight in alignment with financial goals and enterprise risk mitigation has led the firm to maintain enterprise valuations, annual growth rates and client retention rates that consistently exceed industry averages. Beyond operational expertise, Heather leverages her graduate degree in professional counseling to help uncover and connect people's passions and talents to build teams that deliver excellent and inspiring client experiences. Heather is a nationally recognized thought leader and is widely sought after for her expertise. Her belief that every person has a purpose in life, which wealth properly aligned can help support, is the cornerstone of SignatureFD's client promise, Net Worthwhile®.Connect with Heather:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SIGNATUREFD_WEALTH/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherfortner/Company: https://signaturefd.com/🎙️ Host: Brent MaconBrent Macon is an Atlanta-based entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host. As a dad and spiritual seeker, he's passionate about exploring how technology can help us live better, more connected lives. Through his podcast Macon Atlanta, Brent talks with interesting people about big ideas, personal growth, and building a thriving community. He believes in balancing ambition with wellbeing, and using business as a force for good.Connect With Brent:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maconatlanta/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbyBo_7H2OpMjJ2m3mRBDng/Twitter/X: ⁠https://x.com/MaconAtlanta/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Macon-Atlanta-61560549557983/?_rdr/📺 About the Show:Macon Atlanta is a podcast exploring big questions, bold ideas, and better living with inspiring Atlantans. Host Brent Macon sits down with innovators and thought leaders from diverse fields to delve into their stories, insights, and visions for creating a better world with more thriving.If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a 5-star review / like & comment to help others discover the show. You can also tweet @MaconAtlanta with your feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes, and we'll personally thank you for tuning in 🙏.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction and overview of the episode00:00:45 - Current economic landscape and wealth transfer00:01:04 - Heather's approach to macro-economic changes00:03:41 - Heather's background and early life00:04:08 - Career journey in financial services00:05:30 - Finding purpose and avoiding boredom00:06:48 - Philosophy on "net worthwhile" approach00:08:44 - Role of advisors in wealth management00:10:03 - Personal money anxieties and handling them00:12:16 - Growth from 250 million to 9 billion in assets00:12:56 - Prioritizing people and wellbeing in business00:14:25 - Maintaining independence and purpose in decision-making00:15:44 - Perspective on AI and technological innovation00:17:34 - Importance of human connection amidst technology00:19:21 - Concerns about younger generations and technology00:21:54 - Discussion on the great wealth transfer00:23:08 - Women's role in wealth transfer decisions00:24:32 - Challenges for the "sandwich generation"00:26:52 - Personal experience with family financial conversations00:28:18 - Advice on having difficult wealth succession conversations00:29:49 - Book recommendations and resources00:30:32 - Hopes for Atlanta's future - education focus00:31:14 - Closing remarks