Diamond Podcast: Claro Advisors’ Ryan Belanger on Why AI Matters
Most firms view AI as another technology investment. Ryan Belanger sees it as a business strategy.
Louis Diamond sits down with the founder and CEO of Claro Advisors to discuss why his $1.5 billion RIA acquired a fintech company, built an AI-native operating platform, and believes the firms that gain the biggest advantage won’t simply adopt new technology—they’ll rethink how their businesses are built.
The conversation also explores the broader philosophy behind that decision. Ryan shares why he’s consistently chosen unconventional paths—from recruiting younger advisors and embracing a partnership model built around ownership to investing in proprietary technology instead of relying on third-party solutions. For advisors, the bigger question isn’t simply how AI will change their workflow. It’s how it may change what it takes to build a durable, differentiated advisory firm.
The Storyline
Every generation of wealth management has been shaped by a different competitive advantage.
For some, independence paved the way to build unique branding and a bespoke client experience. Inorganic growth and M&A gave many firms access to scale and growth.
Today, many believe the next advantage will come from artificial intelligence. But simply adopting AI may not be enough.
Ryan Belanger has spent his career challenging conventional thinking. He left Morgan Stanley in 2012, well before independence became mainstream. He built Claro Advisors by investing in younger advisors instead of competing for established producers. He embraced a partnership model centered on advisor ownership rather than restrictive employment structures. And when AI began reshaping the industry, he made another unconventional decision: instead of licensing another technology platform, Claro acquired a fintech company and built its own AI-native operating system.
Louis explores the reasoning behind each decision and the philosophy that connects them. Ryan explains why he believes proprietary technology will become a defining competitive advantage, how Claro’s AI platform, Claire, is changing advisor workflows, and why the biggest opportunity isn’t replacing advisors; it’s giving them more time to do the work clients value most.
The conversation also tackles practical questions facing every advisory firm: how to integrate AI responsibly, where human judgment continues to matter most, and why the firms best positioned for the future may be the ones willing to redesign their businesses instead of simply adding another layer of technology.
Topics Covered
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Acquiring a fintech versus licensing technology
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Building proprietary advisor technology
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Advisor productivity and workflow automation
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Recruiting and developing younger advisors
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1099 partnership model and advisor autonomy
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Enterprise building and long-term differentiation
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AI governance and advisor trust
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The future of wealth management technology
