Is money the most emotionally charged topic in your life? According to behavioral finance expert Brian Portnoy, the data says yes — more so than politics, mortality, or religion.

In this episode, Brian Portnoy, founder and CEO of Shaping Wealth and author of The Geometry of Wealth, joins us to unpack the psychology of money management and why emotional intelligence (EQ) — not IQ — is the real key to financial success. After 25+ years in investment and wealth management, Brian shares why he pivoted from picking stocks to studying human behavior, revealing that investing is "more of a psychology problem than a math problem."

We dive deep into:

• The critical difference between being rich (the endless pursuit of more) vs. being wealthy ("funded contentment" — the ability to underwrite a meaningful life)
• Why emotional intelligence — self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills — is the foundation every financial advisor needs, and why EQ (unlike IQ) can actually be trained
• The powerful happiness equation (Happiness = Reality − Expectations) and how to apply it to your portfolio, your marriage, and everyday life
• Why chasing "the next hot stock" or trying to time the market is a losing game — and what actually drives long-term investing success
• How to think about private investments, alternatives, and illiquidity premiums
• Why market crash predictions and 6-month forecasts are essentially guesswork — and what to focus on instead
• An inside look at Lydia AI, Shaping Wealth's AI behavioral coach built for financial advisors worldwide

Whether you're a financial advisor looking to better connect with clients, an investor trying to make sense of your own money psychology, or simply curious why "more" never seems to be enough, this conversation with Brian Portnoy offers a grounded, research-backed perspective on money, meaning, and mindset.

Guest: Brian Portnoy, Founder & CEO of Shaping Wealth, author of The Geometry of Wealth (translated into 15+ languages)

Learn more: Shaping Wealth | Try Lydia AI for free

What does modern wealth management actually look like beyond the traditional 60/40 portfolio?

In this episode of Wealth Unfiltered: Advising the Modern Allocator, Samantha Parrinello sits down with Anna N'Jie-Konte, CFP®, Founder & CEO of Poder Wealth Advisors, to explore how today's leading Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) are rethinking portfolio construction, alternative investments, and holistic financial planning for the next generation of high-net-worth clients.

With experience spanning Bernstein, RBC Wealth Management, and now her own nationally recognized RIA, Anna shares why she left the traditional wealth management model to build a practice focused on entrepreneurs, business owners, executives with equity compensation, and women navigating significant financial transitions.

The conversation explores why portfolio construction begins with understanding a client's values, legacy goals, and life vision—not simply selecting investments. Anna discusses how alternatives fit into sophisticated client portfolios, when private real estate becomes appropriate, the role of tax-efficient planning, and why advisors should move beyond standardized asset allocation toward personalized strategies aligned with each client's objectives.

The episode also examines:

• Why many high-income professionals are underserved before major liquidity events
• Building wealth around business exits, stock options, and concentrated equity positions
• When alternative investments belong in a portfolio
• Values-based investing and impact-focused portfolio construction
• Private real estate and affordable housing allocations
• Tax planning strategies for affluent investors
• How RIAs can deliver a more personalized client experience
• Why women are reshaping the future of wealth management
• Long-term financial planning beyond traditional investment advice

Whether you're an RIA, financial advisor, family office professional, institutional allocator, or accredited investor, this episode provides practical insights into building resilient portfolios and serving clients through increasingly complex financial lives.

About Anna N'Jie-Konte

Anna N'Jie-Konte is the Founder & CEO of Poder Wealth Advisors, a Baltimore-based Registered Investment Advisor serving high-net-worth individuals navigating business exits, inheritance, divorce, and other significant wealth transitions. She is a CFP® professional, three-time Investopedia Top 100 Financial Advisor, Financial Advisor Magazine "Young Advisor to Watch," and CFP Board Brand Ambassador.

Can retirement accounts invest in multifamily real estate, private equity, and other alternative investments?

In this episode of Wealth Unfiltered, Samantha Parrinello sits down with Ramez Fakhoury, Vice President of IRA Club, to explore how self-directed retirement accounts are reshaping access to alternative investments for financial advisors, accredited investors, and capital raisers.

While many investors assume retirement savings are limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, self-directed IRAs and solo 401(k)s can provide access to a much broader investment universe—including multifamily real estate, private equity, private credit, and other alternative assets. Ramez explains why education remains one of the industry's biggest challenges and how advisors can better serve clients by understanding the opportunities available within retirement accounts.

The conversation also examines how RIAs can strengthen client relationships by expanding access to alternative investments, the common misconceptions surrounding self-directed retirement accounts, and why diversification has become increasingly important in today's market environment. Ramez shares how IRA Club supports advisors, sponsors, and investors throughout the investment process while highlighting the role retirement capital can play in long-term wealth building.

• What a self-directed IRA is—and how it works
• Using retirement accounts to invest in multifamily real estate
• Alternative investments inside IRAs and solo 401(k)s
• Common misconceptions financial advisors encounter
• How RIAs can better serve clients seeking private market exposure
• The role of retirement capital in real estate investing
• AI-driven portfolio protection strategies and managing market volatility
• Resources available to investors, sponsors, and financial advisors through IRA Club

Whether you're a financial advisor, accredited investor, real estate sponsor, or simply exploring ways to diversify beyond traditional markets, this episode offers practical insights into using retirement capital as part of a long-term investment strategy.

Subscribe to Wealth Unfiltered for conversations with industry leaders on multifamily real estate, alternative investments, portfolio construction, wealth management, self-directed IRAs, retirement investing, and the future of private markets.