Episode 214: From Apple to FinTech: Balancing Automation & Customer Trust with David Myszewski

Product Thinking

In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, Melissa Perri sits down with David Myszewski, VP of Product at Wealthfront. David shares his transition from working on the groundbreaking iPhone at Apple to leading product innovation in the fintech space. He dives into how Wealthfront's approach to fintech has been shaped by lessons learned at Apple, particularly the power of small, talented teams and high standards.

David discusses Wealthfront’s strategy of integrating consumer research and customer support into product development, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs through both qualitative and quantitative data. He also highlights the significance of building a technology infrastructure that supports innovative financial products and services tailored to evolving market needs.

Tune in to explore how Wealthfront is redefining fintech with a focus on reducing client costs, enhancing tax efficiency, and fostering better financial behaviors through technology-driven solutions. Want to learn how to leverage tech for financial innovation? Listen to the full conversation with David Myszewski.

You'll hear us talk about:

• 10:33 - The Role of Consumer Technology Experience in Fintech

David explains why consumer technology skills are more valuable than financial knowledge in fintech. He shares how Wealthfront prioritizes creating excellent user experiences over specific domain expertise.

• 19:28 - Introducing New Financial Products

David outlines Wealthfront’s strategy for evolving and introducing new products over time, focusing on reducing costs, saving taxes, and fostering behavioral change. He discusses the automation of processes to enhance client outcomes.

• 29:06 - Prioritizing Innovation and Roadmap Planning

Melissa and David discuss the balance between strategic top-down priorities and bottom-up decision-making in setting the product roadmap. David describes how they align business and client needs to drive product innovation.

Episode Resources:

• David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmyszewski/
• David on X: https://x.com/davewikipedia
• Wealthfront: https://www.wealthfront.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Coming Up

00:56 Introduction

02:48 Dear Melissa

05:28 Career Journey from Apple to Wealthfront

14:09 The Evolution of Wealthfront’s Mission

19:28 Introducing New Financial Products

29:06 Prioritizing Innovation and Roadmap Planning

35:54 Finding Product-Market Fit at Wealthfront

43:08 FinTech’s Future & Advice for Product Leaders