41 Top Influencers for Financial Advisors in 2023

| Indigo Marketing Agency
As a financial advisor, your job requires you to stay on top of leading industry information, the evolving ways to connect with clients, and new strategies for managing money. With so much going on, it can be challenging to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve identified the top 41 financial influencers we believe will greatly impact the industry in 2023. Check out the list below.
Bill Cates

1. Bill Cates

If you need help figuring out how to identify the best niche for your firm, Bill Cates is your guy.  He’s a referral coach for top advisors, a bestselling author, a hall-of-fame keynote speaker, and one of Indigo’s top mentors. He’s coached thousands of financial service professionals on how to identify and serve more ideal clients.

We recommend listening to his Top Advisor Podcast to hear some of his insights and recommendations. You can also sign up for the free workshop webinar, How to Choose Your Niche & Create a Radically Relevant Marketing Message, he hosted with Indigo founder, Claire Akin.

Steve Sanduski

2. Steve Sanduski

Steve Sanduski is a CFP® professional and personal coach to financial professionals. He hosts the ever-popular podcast Between Now and Success, where he brings in top achievers and visionaries in the financial services industry and invites them to share their journey to success. Check out his Twitter feed here.

Ron Carson

3. Ron Carson

Ron Carson…need we say more? Ron is a household name among financial advisors and one of our personal heroes and mentors. He founded Carson Group in 1983, which now has over $20 billion in assets under advisement. He’s also a New York Times bestselling author of Avalanche and The Sustainable Edge. You can follow him on Twitter here

Ron was also a guest on Claire Akin’s podcast, The Marketing Podcast for Financial Advisors. You can listen to their episode on Preparing to Sell Your Financial Advisory Firm here

Samantha Russell

4. Samantha Russell

Samantha Russell is the “Chief Evangelist” at FMG Suite and Twenty Over Ten. She’s a marketing queen who’s passionate about helping financial advisors switch their digital marketing mindset from an “outbound cold sales” to a “warm inbound” approach. She’s given over 600 presentations to more than 10,000 financial professionals since 2015. You can check Sam out on YouTube here

Michael Kitces

5. Michael Kitces

Michael Kitces is another household name among financial advisors who needs no introduction. He’s probably THE top influencer for financial advisors thanks to his blog, Nerd’s Eye View, and his Twitter—both of which have cult-like followings. 

Grace Gong

6. Grace Gong

Grace Gong is the founder and host of Smart Venture Podcast where she interviews top tech companies’ founders, C-level/VP-level leaders, and investors about career development. She has also written two books in which she interviewed some of the smartest minds in business, many of whom have been featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Learn more about Grace on LinkedIn.

Taylor Schulte

7. Taylor Schulte 

Taylor Schulte is a CFP professional and founder and CEO of Define Financial. He also hosts the Stay Wealthy Retirement Show, which has been ranked on Forbes Top 10 Retirement Podcasts. Taylor has also been named a Top 10 Financial Advisor by Investopedia for the last four years. You can keep up with Taylor on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Lazetta Braxton

8. Lazetta Braxton

Lazetta Braxton is a CFP® professional and co-founder and co-CEO of 2050 Wealth Partners. Together with Rianka R. Dorsainvil, CFP®, they are on a mission to provide access to financial planning for “the rest of us.” Lazetta believes that solid financial advice is not just for the 1%. She is an Investopedia Top 10 Financial Advisor since 2019 and a nationally recognized financial expert, with appearances on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Nightly Business Report, and CNBC’s Closing Bell

Lazetta is also a member of the CNBC Digital Financial Advisor Council and a contributor on Wealth Management to the WSJ Experts blog.

Joshua Brown

9. Joshua Brown

Joshua Brown is a financial advisor and the CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management. He also runs a successful blog, The Reformed Broker, where he uses facts, statistics, satire, and pop culture to discuss markets, finance, and economics. You can check out his podcast and books for more info.

Marguerita Cheng

10. Marguerita Cheng

Marguerita Cheng is the co-founder and CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth. With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, she is passionate about elevating women and individuals from underrepresented communities. In 2022, she was recognized for her efforts with the American College Women Working in Wealth Award. She was also named a Top 10 Financial Advisor by Investopedia.

As a CFP® professional and CFP® Board Ambassador, Marguerita also helps educate the public, policymakers, and media about the benefits of competent, ethical financial planning. Learn more​​ about Marguerita on LinkedIn.

Peter Lazaroff

11. Peter Lazaroff

Peter Lazaroff is the Chief Investment Officer at Plancorp, which currently manages over $5.5 billion in client assets. He was named a top 10 advisor on Investopedia’s 100 list for two years in a row. He is passionate about educating people about investing and financial planning and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNBC, and The New York Times. He published his first book, Making Money Simple, in 2019. Connect with Peter on LinkedIn to learn more.

Ellen Rogin

12. Ellen Rogin

Ellen Rogin is a CFP® professional and CFA who has made it her mission to educate, counsel, and guide people in growing their prosperity. She is a bestselling author, speaker, TEDx presenter, and thought leader with a podcast called Horsemouth Advisor Radio. Learn more about Ellen here.

Maribeth Kuzmeski

13. Maribeth Kuzmeski

Maribeth Kuzmeski is a powerhouse in the marketing consulting space. She is the founder of Red Zone Marketing and has worked with some of the top financial professionals in the nation, helping advisors grow their books through niche-based marketing strategies. Maribeth is a bestselling author, speaker, and professor with a PhD in business administration. Connect with Maribeth on LinkedIn.

Matt Reiner

14. Matt Reiner

Matt Reiner is a CFA, CFP professional, and partner at Capital Investment Advisors and Wela Strategies. After decades in the financial services industry, Matt founded Benjamin, an AI fintech company that serves the financial advisor industry. He is on a mission to help the industry grow and evolve. He is the host of the Bridging the Gap podcast and is frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Financial Advisor Magazine, Medium, ThinkAdvisor, and Advisor Perspectives. Recently Matt welcomed Indigo’s founder, Claire Akin, on his podcast (listen to the episode, “The Importance of Your Marketing Strategy,” here). Follow Matt on LinkedIn or Twitter for more of his insights. 

Jeff Rose

15. Jeff Rose

​​Back in 2008, CFP® professional Jeff Rose set out with one intention: create the best financial planner blog in the world. Guess what? He did it. In 2018, a company even offered to pay him $10 million for his website. His YouTube channel, equally entertaining and inspirational, has 374,000 subscribers and counting. Check out Jeff at Good Financial Cents and Wealth Hacker Labs to gain momentum for your own financial advisor blog. 

Dave Ramsey

16. Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey is known for helping thousands of families get out of debt and achieve financial freedom. The author of seven national bestsellers, he does an excellent job of breaking complex topics down into plain language. So check out his platform, Ramsey Solutions, if you need some inspiration. 

Rachel Cruze

17. Rachel Cruze

Rachel Cruze is the daughter of Dave Ramsey. She’s a #1 New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and financial expert who hosts her own show, The Rachel Cruz Show. She’s passionate about helping others take control of their money and build a life they love.

Jim Marous

18. Jim Marous

Jim Marous is a speaker, publisher, and one of the most influential people in banking. He advised the White House on banking policy and has been named one of the Top 5 Fintech Influencers to Follow. His podcast, Banking Transformed, is one of the top 10 banking podcasts available today. 

Dasarte Yarnway

19. Dasarte Yarnway 

Dasarte Yarnway is the founder of Yarnway Wealth Management and Head of Community at Altruist. He has been honored as an Investopedia Top 10 Advisor for the past three years. Dasarte recently launched the Onyx Advisor Network, which helps underrepresented advisors start to scale and sustain their practices. Desarte is a financial thought leader with a weekly podcast, The Young Money Podcast, three books, and weekly blog. Connect with him here.

Colin Williams

20. Colin Williams

Colin Williams is an Australian-based consultant who’s passionate about using data to help wealth and financial planning firms grow strategically. Follow him on Twitter or check out his website, Wealth Data, for more information.

Aaron Klein

21. Aaron Klein

Aaron Klein is the co-founder and CEO of Riskalyze—the company that invented Risk Number®, a financial risk management software used by many financial advisors, broker-dealers, and RIAs across the country. You can follow Aaron on LinkedIn for more information.

Bola Sokunbi

22. Bola Sokunbi

If you’re a financial advisor for women, Bola Sokunbi is an excellent person to follow in our industry. She’s a Certified Financial Education Instructor, money expert, bestselling author, and the CEO and founder of Clever Girl Finance. Bola’s mission is to empower women to achieve financial success, and it’s evident in every aspect of her online presence. She has a blog, a YouTube channel, books, free courses, and more to inspire you to make deeper connections with your female clientele.

Matt Holloran

23. Matt Halloran

Matt Halloran is a co-founder of Proudmouth, a podcast marketing agency for financial advisors. Matt believes that podcasts can be used to accelerate influence, allowing advisors to sell less and advise more by scaling their credibility and rising above the noise. Keep up with Matt on Twitter to learn more.

Douglas Boneparth

24. Douglas Boneparth

Douglas Boneparth is a New York-based CFP® professional and the president of Bone Fide Wealth, a wealth management firm that provides effective and relatable advice to New York’s hardest-working Millennials. He was named a Top Most Influential Financial Advisor by Investopedia four years in a row and sits on the CNBC Advisor Council. 

He’s also the author of The Millennial Money Fix, which teaches young professionals everything they need to know about budgeting, college debt, and finding financial freedom. Follow him on Twitter to see what he’s up to next. 

Lawrence Sprung

25. Lawrence Sprung 

Lawrence (Larry) Sprung is a CFP® professional and founder and wealth advisor of Mitlin Financial. He was named a Top 10 Advisor on Investopedia’s 100 list. With over two decades of industry experience, Larry leads many of the education programs at Mitlin, including the Mitlin Minute blog and Mitlin Money Mindset podcast. Larry is also passionate about raising awareness around mental health and spent more than 12 years on the National Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Learn more about Larry here.

Tony Vidler

26. Tony Vidler

Tony Vidler is best known as “The Advisor to Advisors.” As a New Zealand-based speaker, business advisor, and sales training coach, he spends most of his days helping advisors build better businesses. You can check out Tony’s website to learn more about him and what he does.

Mary Beth Storjohann

27. Mary Beth Storjohann 

Mary Beth Storjohann is an author, speaker, financial advisor, and co-CEO of Abacus Wealth Partners. She has been recognized on the Investopedia 100 list since 2020. Mary Beth is also the founder of the financial education site and podcast Workable Wealth, which provides financial education and empowerment to those in their 20s through 40s.

Mary Beth makes frequent appearances on NBC as a financial expert and has been featured in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Women’s Health, CNBC, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and more. Follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Ilyce Glink

28. Ilyce Glink

Do a lot of your clients have questions about real estate or home buying? If so, you may want to follow Ilyce Glink of ThinkGlink. She’s a real estate and financial wellness expert, and the author of 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask

Delyanne Barros

29. Delyanne Barros 

Delyanne Barros is a nationally recognized money expert, podcast host, and millionaire Latina who is passionate about changing the conversation around how to build wealth. She used to believe it came only through hard work, sacrifice, and struggle—until she realized that investing is the key to wealth. She’s on a mission to spread the message through her Slay the Stock Market investing course. Learn more about Delyanne on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Dana Wilson

30. Dana Wilson 

Dana Wilson is the founder & CEO of CHIP (Changing How Individuals Prosper), a B2B financial services marketplace that makes it easy to find Black and Latinx financial professionals. With over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, she has received multiple awards for her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Follow Dana on LinkedIn to learn more.

Bob Reynolds

31. Bob Reynolds

Robert “Bob” Reynolds was the Vice Chairman and COO of Fidelity Investments for over 23 years! Today, he serves as the President and CEO of Putnam Investments He’s a pioneer in the financial services space and has had a direct hand in shaping America’s retirement saving system. You can follow Bob on LinkedIn or Twitter to see what he’s up to next.

Brittney Castro

32. Brittney Castro

Brittney Castro is a force to be reckoned with. She is a CFP® professional, leading speaker, host, and brand ambassador who spends most of her days promoting financial literacy via media interviews, YouTube videos, TV experiences, and more. Brittney also worked with top financial services companies like Chase, E-Trade, CNBC, and more. She was also named one of Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors in 2022.

You can learn more about the fabulous Brittney Castro on her website

Larry Fink

33. Larry Fink

Larry Fink is the Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, which he co-founded in 1988 and helped grow it into a global leader in investment and technology. Barron’s has named him one of the World’s Best CEOs for 15 consecutive years and Fortune has named him one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders. He has almost 1 million followers on LinkedIn

Steve Gresham

34. Steve Gresham

Steve Gresham is the CEO of The Execution Project, a consulting firm that helps financial companies rethink “retirement” and get better results. He’s worked with more than 50 financial services companies, including Fidelity Investments, Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, and is an incredible person to follow if you’re looking to rethink retirement and grow your revenue as a financial advisor.

Joseph Coughlin

35. Joseph Coughlin

Joseph Coughlin, PhD, is Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab. He conducts research on the impact of global demographic change and technology trends on consumer behavior and business strategy and advises a wide variety of global firms in financial services. In his book, The Longevity Economy, Joseph offers insights into how business leaders can better serve the older market. He is also a senior contributor to Forbes, MarketWatch, and The Wall Street Journal.

Rose Han

36. Rose Han

Rose Han is a former Wall Street trader turned financial educator. She teaches people how to “get good with money” through her investing courses and wildly popular YouTube channel, which has over 1 million views and counting. Rose’s website is BEAUTIFULLY constructed, so we encourage you to check it out if you need some design inspiration.

Tom Henschel

37. Tom Henschel

Tom Henschel is a business coach and host of the popular podcast, The Look and Sound of Leadership. If you’re looking for thoughts on corporate leadership and team building, Tom’s your guy. He also used to be an actor, so don’t be surprised if you see him in episodes of Matlock or Barney Miller

Christine Benz

38. Christine Benz

Christine Benz is the Director of Personal Financial and Retirement Planning at Morningstar and she also co-hosts The Long View podcast with Jeff Ptak. Together they interview influential financial leaders about investing, advice, and personal finance. Christine is also the author of 30-Minute Money Solutions and regularly writes for Morningstar. 

Michael Stelzner

39. Michael Stelzner

Michael Stelzner is the founder of Social Media Examiner, a marketing consulting firm that helps businesses and marketers learn how to best use social media and connect with customers. He is an author, podcast host, and founder of the Social Media Marketing Society. If you’re looking to take your social media presence to the next level in 2023, Michael is a great person to follow!

Zach Conway

40. Zach Conway

Zach Conway is the Managing Director of Conway Wealth and founder of Seeds, a company on a mission to better align clients’ personal values with their investments. Seeds was founded by financial advisors, for financial advisors, as a way to deliver more to their clients. To learn more about Zach, connect with him on LinkedIn.

Dr. Preston Cherry

41. Dr. Preston Cherry

Dr. Preston Cherry is a CFP® professional and CFT-I™ helping clients achieve Life Money Balance™ with his firm, Concurrent Financial Planning. He has over 15 years of experience in the industry and also serves as a coach for Carson Group Coaching, a leading national financial advisor coaching and resource program. He is a speaker, author, and podcast host who has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Magazine, The Cut, and more. Follow Dr. Cherry on LinkedIn and Twitter to see what he’s up to!

That’s a Wrap on Our 41 Top Influencers!

There’s a lot of technical aspects that go into marketing today—from setting up your website, social media, and email marketing to writing, content creation, and knowing your message. If you want to be known as an industry expert like one of these featured financial influencers but don’t have the time to work on your digital presence all by yourself, consider outsourcing your marketing to a firm like ours that specializes in financial advisor marketing.

Schedule your free strategy call now and we’ll take a deep dive into your current marketing to figure out what’s working and what’s not. It’s totally free and is a great next step to get a custom approach to your own marketing.

Which of these top influencers for financial advisors will you follow first? Are there any we left off the list that you’d recommend? Email us and let us know! 

Katie Cress Digital Marketing Consultant, Sales & Client Strategist
Book A Call

Schedule Your FREE
Marketing strategy Call Now

If you have questions about your marketing, call us for a FREE strategy session where we’ll go over:
Introducing The New

Total Marketing Package
Now with tiers!

Say GOODBYE to one-size-fits-all!

GET $1000 OFF when you book your call today. Only until 4/30/2024

Jordan Pinelli

Account Manager
Denver, Colorado

A born strategist, Jordan always starts with “why” when brainstorming marketing tactics with her financial advisor clients. With recommendations rooted in data and industry best practices, she loves growing advisors’ awareness of their strategies’ positive impact on their business.

Jordan obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration (with an emphasis in marketing and management) and her master’s in communication and media management from Colorado State University. Before joining Indigo, Jordan already had 6+ years of financial services experience and 8+ years of marketing/project and campaign management experience under her belt—making her a powerhouse addition to the team! Outside of strategizing for her advisors, Jordan’s hobbies include pottery, hiking (when she’s in shape), and ordering delivery or takeout. She is happily married to her husband, Max, and a dedicated dog mom to her oversized golden retriever, Kai.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Anne Wheeler

Anne Wheeler

Marketing Assistant
Cincinnati, Ohio

Anne Wheeler is responsible for a variety of administrative tasks as well as updating social media pages for clients. Anne enjoys the creative side of her position and the ability to collaborate with the team to help advisors get started with Indigo.

Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Tennessee. Outside of work, she enjoys walking, baking, spending time with her husband, Rick (a structural engineer), and two sons, Thomas and Turner. Anne loves being a full-time mom, and appreciates that Indigo gives her the opportunity to work part-time while still caring for her boys.

Hugo Fernandez CEO of Indigo Marketing

Hugo Fernandez

CEO
Whispering Pines, North Carolina

Leading the Indigo team with heart, Hugo Fernandez is passionate about helping our financial advisors attract a flood of their A+ clients with sustainable marketing campaigns. He enjoys running companies that are wildly successful and wearing a black t-shirt every day of his life. When his two favorite things come together, you have an average day at Indigo.

Hugo Fernandez is also CEO of Indigo’s partner company, Just Digital, and author of The Client Acquisition Blueprint. He has personally helped hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their business through his proven blueprint for creating an EPIC marketing strategy and online presence.

Kelli McLeod Director of Client Services

Kelli McLeod

Director of Client Services
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Kelli McLeod plays an integral role at Indigo while overseeing the Account Services Team, providing customer service, getting financial advisors onboarded and in serving as their primary point of contact during that process. Her team looks to her for her leadership and decision-making abilities For Kelli, the most rewarding part of this role is working with clients one-on-one to ensure they’re happy and that their needs are met.

Kelli has a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from Pacific Lutheran University. More recently, she’s done extensive work in the corporate housing and property management industries.

Kelli currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her husband, Ian, who is an officer in the U.S. Army, and their two sons, Zachary and Cameron. When she’s not working, you can find her running or hiking, attending group fitness classes, and cooking. Kelli’s also an avid book club enthusiast, so be sure to reach out to her if you’re looking for a new read.

Sara Dressler

Director of Operations

DuPont, Washington

Sara Dressler manages all systems and operating processes while overseeing several departments. Sara is responsible for supervising many activities within Indigo and identifying areas of improvement to better meet company goals. She functions as the bridge connecting management to every department.

Sara has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in communications from Pacific Lutheran University. She leverages this degree, along with her years of experience as a virtual assistant, to keep our company running like a well-oiled machine. Sara is happiest when spending time with her family. Her three young boys and life as a military spouse keep her busy, but she wouldn’t trade it for the world. She lives an active lifestyle and loves working out, getting outside, and watching sports with her family (whether it’s on TV, at her kids’ games, or in the backyard).

Indigo Marketing Team Member Elizabeth Reider Director of Marketing

Elizabeth Reider

Director of Marketing
Clearwater, Florida

Elizabeth Reider is a woman of many talents. She spent 10 years as a Chief Marketing Officer for a top-level independent financial advisor, and since her entry into financial services, she has networked and become friends with many advisors. Elizabeth admires their empathy, knowledge, and passion for their work, and has seen how independent advisors are more than professionals providing investment and planning advice; they are trusted confidants, life coaches, and guides. Over time, they become a part of their clients’ extended family—and she loves coming alongside that. (Check out this video to hear directly from Elizabeth about why she loves working with financial advisors.)

As Director of Marketing, Elizabeth helps get the word out about how partnering with Indigo can take an advisor’s marketing to the next level and beyond to grow their business and increase their productivity.

Elizabeth earned her bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business. She also holds a life, health, and variable annuity license, which gives her a special understanding of the many products and services advisors offer. Originally from Clearwater, FL, Elizabeth loves to travel and has visited 12 countries, including extended visits to eSwatini, Africa, to visit family and assist with humanitarian relief programs. She has seen firsthand how independent financial advisors are providing advice to their clients that outpours into the lives of their own families, staff, community, and sometimes across the globe. When she’s not working, Elizabeth enjoys attending orchestral and theater productions with her husband, David, and taking their son, Julian, to art museums, as well as family evenings in the backyard playing baseball with her son and shih-tzu poodle, Wrigley. She is also an active participant in overseas humanitarian work—using her skills to make a difference in the lives of others.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Katie Cress

Katie Cress

Digital Marketing Consultant, Sales & Client Strategist
Cincinnati, Ohio

It’s Katie Cress’s mission to help financial advisors reach their ideal prospects through custom digital marketing. On any given day, you can find Katie meeting with new financial advisors to learn more about their marketing goals, who they love working with, and why they’re passionate about helping others. Her favorite part of her job is meeting new advisors every day and continuing to learn how each firm and individual advisor is different, and using her marketing and small business background to help them craft a game plan that empowers them to grow their business and enhance their services. Often described by loved ones as a “helper” and “caretaker,” Katie is passionate about advocating for her advisors’ needs and supporting her coworkers to help them succeed.

Katie holds an MBA from Xavier University and a BA in Economics from Ohio University. A Midwest girl for life, she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband, Brandon (who’s also a marketing guru), and their three kids, Charli, Lucy, and Teddy. She and her husband also own Clean Eatz Cafe, where they use their collective marketing prowess and love of food to create a welcoming space for employees and hungry customers alike. Katie is passionate about and for small business owners, being raised by her father who was an entrepreneur, being one herself with her husband, and working with them every day at Indigo. She loves the spirit, creativity, and drive of entrepreneurs. When Katie’s not working or helping run the family business, she enjoys working out with her husband at Orange Theory, loving on her three kids, and cooking delicious food.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Lori Koepke

Lori Koepke

Account Manager
Boise, Idaho

Lori Koepke plays a major role as a liaison between Indigo Marketing Agency and its wonderful clients. She works directly with our advisor clients on their marketing strategies, marketing calendars, article creation, editing processes, compliance approvals, deployment of their content, and more. Lori enjoys helping strategize and be a support to her clients, and loves the camaraderie among the Indigo team members.

Before joining the Indigo team, Lori was a schoolteacher for 10 years. She has a Master of Education and Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Concordia University in Portland, OR. She was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., and lived in Vancouver, WA, for 25 years before moving to Boise, Idaho, where she currently resides with her husband, Jeremy, and four wonderful kids, Sophie, Tanner, Jonas, and Violet. In her free time, you can find Lori reading, watching football, and driving her kids to all their activities.

Watch this video to hear why Lori loves working with Indigo.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Heidi Wilson

Heidi Wilson

Account Manager

Alexandria, Virginia

Heidi Wilson thrives on helping advisors create an online voice and streamline their marketing efforts. With her mother being a retired financial advisor and her brother-in-law currently a CFP® professional, she’s passionate about taking the marketing pressure off of advisors so they are able to focus on their clients. She loves when advisors tell her something we did for them helped; it can be as simple as taking something off their very busy plate or helping them land a new client with one of the articles we wrote. With broad-based consumer and B2B marketing experience, Heidi is constantly thinking outside the box and brings a fresh perspective to the Indigo team.

Heidi holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Florida State University and hails from Tampa, Florida. Her husband, Chris, is in the U.S. Army, and as they are constantly moving, they take every opportunity to explore the new areas where they’re living. Some of their favorite places they’ve called home include Hawaii and New Orleans. Heidi is thankful for the opportunity to work remotely with Indigo, which allows her to take her job with her, no matter where the Army moves her family next.

Watch this video to hear why Heidi loves working with Indigo.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Jillian Segrue

Jillian Segrue

Account Manager
Columbus, Georgia

Jillian Segrue acts as a liaison between clients and the Indigo team, using her 12 years of customer service experience in fields such as healthcare, financial services, and risk management to help hone their message and deploy it effectively and efficiently. Jillian enjoys building unique relationships with each of her clients as she uniquely helps them reach their ideal target audience.

Jillian has a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration and a minor in business administration from SUNY Brockport. Originally from Rochester, NY, she currently lives in Columbus, GA, with her husband, Tim (an Army captain), daughter, Macie, son, Henry, and two cats. As a military spouse, Jillian appreciates the flexibility Indigo provides—allowing her to juggle motherhood and excelling in her career—and its unmatched positive, supportive, and uplifting company culture. In her free time, Jillian loves to read, shop, and go running outdoors (just not in the Georgia heat!).

Indigo Marketing Team Member Amanda Laskey

Amanda Laskey

Account Manager
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Amanda Laskey works with clients one-on-one to develop and implement marketing strategies that help spread the word about who they are and how they help. In her role, Amanda strives to deliver outstanding customer service to our clients. She is tech-savvy, an independent problem-solver, extremely organized, an excellent communicator, and thrives on helping others. She appreciates the ability to work remotely in a collaborative team environment while supporting her family.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Inclusive Education from Seton Hill University and has over 10 years of experience in secondary classroom teaching and over 3 years as an Executive Assistant. A proud Army spouse, Amanda resides in Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband, Brandon, their two sons, Jackson and Harrison, and their sheepadoodle, Waylon, and goldendoodle, Cash. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing at the beach, traveling to new places, dessert, and all things Disney.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Beverly Anderson

Beverly Anderson

Account Manager
Portland, Oregon

Beverly Anderson is the go-to contact point for advisors to create a targeted and cohesive marketing strategy that is unique to their specific goals. She loves seeing her clients experience positive results from their marketing efforts, and as a world traveler, she appreciates the ability to work remotely and connect with clients from any country.

Beverly holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Oregon State University. In addition to traveling, she enjoys making music as a singer/songwriter and anything outdoors (she’s an avid snowboarder and rock climber). She and her partner have a rescue pup, Toro, a former street dog in Cabo, Mexico, before they adopted him. Beverly has three older sisters, with whom she is very close, and they all, along with her mother, live in the Portland area. Although she spent the first half of her childhood in Fountain Hills, Arizona, Beverly considers Portland to be home.

Watch this video to hear why Beverly loves working with Indigo.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Kasey Yhap

Kasey Yhap

Account Manager
Ellicott City, MD

Kasey Yhap’s commitment to her clients is the driving force behind her work. Her diverse educational background (a bachelor’s and master’s degree in vocal performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree in communications from Syracuse University) has equipped her with the unique skill set required for success. Kasey’s strong communication skills and creative mindset, combined with her passion for helping her clients, make her a valuable asset to the team.

In her free time, Kasey stays active and maintains a healthy lifestyle through yoga, CrossFit, and spending time outdoors. These hobbies complement her professional life by allowing her to recharge and bring new ideas to her work at Indigo.

Indgio Team Member Dan Corcoran

Dan Corcoran

Account Manager
Madison, Wisconsin

Dan Corcoran enjoys being on the front lines of financial advisor marketing, working directly with advisors to help them build a strong marketing plan to get their firm’s message out. Working remotely can be a challenge as talking to others, brainstorming, and sharing experiences recharges him; he maximizes touchpoints to connect with others to make every day at Indigo rewarding.

Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He enjoys drone photography and videography (he owns his own drone business, Forward Focus Photography), sports broadcasting (he was a hockey broadcaster for four years prior to COVID), spending time with family, camping/hiking, running, swimming, and road biking.

Originally from Sun Prairie, WI, Dan has three siblings, and prior to joining Indigo’s team, he worked for an RIA in Madison for two years.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Jennifer Farrior

Jennifer Farrior

Lead Writer & Proofreader
Louisville, Kentucky

Jennifer Farrior is Indigo’s go-to for all things proofreading and editing. Her attention to detail is unmatched, and she takes pride in making sure every article is clean and concise before it heads out to our financial advisors. She says, “Even a single typo can affect an advisor’s credibility, and we strive for perfection when it comes to how they’re presented online.” As Lead Writer, Jennifer trains and manages the team of writers, and also writes and collaborates with team members to create Indigo’s blog posts and promotional material.

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UCLA. In addition to her role at Indigo, she runs her own copy editing and proofreading business, She Proofreads LLC. Jennifer hails from San Diego, California, but now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her three kids, Joshua, Julia, and Joel, and goldendoodle, Dexter. She loves working at Indigo because it provides her with the income, flexibility, and the community she needs as a stay-at-home mom. Outside of work, you can find her spending time with her kids, friends, boyfriend, or working on a puzzle while watching Netflix.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Lisa Gaines

Lisa Gaines

Content Deployment Manager
Fort Hood, Texas

Lisa Gaines spends her work days uploading blog posts to our clients’ websites and LinkedIn profiles, drafting emails, and making adjustments to content as advisors request. Lisa has learned a lot as a long-time member of the Indigo family and has enjoyed seeing the processes evolve to become more streamlined and efficient over time. And she loves working with the amazing Indigo team! 

Lisa is a proud alum of Texas A&M University, where she received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. As a military child, Lisa feels as though she grew up everywhere; however, she claims central Texas as home where most of her family is originally from. She currently lives in Fort Hood, Texas, with her husband, Korey (an active-duty Army officer), and two kids, Madelyne and Jameson. As a military family, Lisa moves quite a bit—often to areas where the job market is small. She loves that Indigo provides her with a steady job she can take with her wherever she goes. When she’s not working, Lisa enjoys dabbling in interior design, binging a good Netflix series, and spending time with friends and family.

Read more about why Lisa loves working with Indigo.

Andrea Chinapen

Marketing Consultant
Long Island, New York

Joining the Indigo team after more than eight years of experience working with advisory and fintech firms, Andrea is passionate about helping advisors across the country use digital marketing strategies to grow their business in innovative and effective ways. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Berkeley College in New York.

Originally from Guyana, South America, Andrea now lives in the Long Island, NY, area with her husband, beautiful daughter, Sophia, and their puggle, Rex. When she’s not tackling her marketing duties, Andrea enjoys practicing yoga, taking long walks, watching thriller movies, and spending time outdoors with her family. An animal lover (specifically dogs), she spends time raising funds or supplies for shelters when she can.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Sarah Robichaud

Sarah Robichaud

Social Media Manager
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Sarah Robichaud uses her love of spreadsheets to create engaging content calendars for our clients’ social media pages. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Salisbury University and a master’s degree in marriage and family counseling from Liberty University. In addition to her role at Indigo, Sarah volunteers as a virtual administrator for Army Wife Network, a nonprofit organization that aims to empower and educate military spouses through blogs, podcasts, and various other resources.

Born and raised in Maryland, Sarah currently lives in Rochester Hills, Michigan, with her husband, Andrew, two children, Emily and Logan, and two fur babies, Penny and Chewbacca. As a military spouse and mother, Sarah loves working for Indigo because of the flexibility it affords her, allowing her to continue to build her career while frequently relocating around the globe and working on her own schedule to accommodate a busy lifestyle. Sarah also loves Indigo’s supportive team atmosphere. Outside of work and volunteering, you can find Sarah enjoying time outdoors with her family, typically running, camping, or traveling. An avid traveler, she’s visited 16 countries and is always planning her family’s next great adventure.

Peter Wardenaar

Peter Wardenaar

SEO Specialist & IT Lead
Cali, Colombia

As a natural problem-solver, Peter Wardenaar uses his skills to help financial advisors find new ways to grow their site traffic and attract more clients they love. Peter enjoys the dynamic nature of his role; the challenges are never the same as every situation is unique and requires a different approach. But don’t let Peter’s technical prowess fool you—he also has quite the creative side! Before joining the Indigo team, he worked as a first-grade teacher and university English professor in Cali, Colombia.

Peter has bachelor’s degrees in education and in music from Portland Bible College and a master’s degree in music production and technology from Berklee College of Music. In his spare time, he loves writing and recording music, graphic design, engaging with people, and studying leadership and theology. Peter is also one of the most well-traveled people you’ll ever meet! He was born and raised in the Netherlands but lived in the Pacific Northwest for over 12 years. Today, he resides in Cali, Colombia, with his wife, Gloria Isabel, and their three kids, Emanuel, Paloma, and Violet.

Indigo Marketing Team Member Kourtney Kearney

Kourtney Kearney

Tech Support
Antelope, California

Kourtney Kearney is a data-driven woman with a knack for coding. On any typical day, you can find her building web pages, troubleshooting bugs in code, and setting up automations to make life easier for our clients. Thanks to her technical background, Kourtney has a vast understanding of the inner workings of websites and the data associated with them. She’s always on the lookout for new technology that will help us improve our workflows so we can focus on what we do best—helping financial advisors grow their business. Kourtney enjoys the variation of tasks and loves the challenge of taking an existing website and making it better without completely rebuilding it.

Kourtney is originally from Newark, CA (Bay Area), but currently resides in Antelope, a suburb of Sacramento, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Curatorial Studies. Outside of work, Kourtney spends her free time reading, playing volleyball, baking with her two sons, and hanging out with family.

Indigo Marketing Agency Adrian Bachini

Adrian Bachini

Web Developer & Tech Support
Manila, Philippines

Adrian Bachini works on tasks requiring technical knowledge and other various administrative tasks. A software developer by day, prior to joining Indigo, Adrian had very little knowledge on how nontechnical positions operate. His position at Indigo allows him to both learn and experience a variety of platforms and gain more knowledge about how to maximize marketing initiatives.

Adrian holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a specialization in software technology from De La Salle University Manila. Adrian considers himself somewhat of a workaholic, with a full-time day job in addition to working with Indigo. When he’s not working, he enjoys watching documentaries, action movies, and anime, and also loves cycling on muddy downhill trails or cross-country rides, playing video games, and simply resting when he can. He is also a licensed commercial pilot and flies in his free time; he obviously also enjoys traveling. Adrian lives with his family and more than a few pets (11 dogs, 6 cats, a few birds, and fish)—he has more pets than humans in his home!

Claire Akin

Claire Akin

Founder
San Diego, California
Claire Akin founded Indigo Marketing Agency with the mission to help financial advisors leverage marketing to grow their businesses. As a former Investment Advisor Representative and proud daughter of an independent advisor, she’s seen first-hand the value advisors bring to their clients and community. Claire transferred ownership of Indigo Marketing Agency to Hugo Fernandez in 2022 to spend more time with her family.
Indigo Marketing Team Member Adriana

Adriana Escalante

Website Project Manager
San Antonio, Texas

Adriana Escalante thrives on creating an online representation that looks and feels true to our financial advisor clients as she builds their websites to best represent them and their businesses. Her experience working on travel and tourism websites motivates her to make sure every site she works on is exciting and engaging to web visitors. A graduate of University of Texas in Austin, Adriana double-majored in International Relations and a Liberal Arts program called Plan II. She also received a certification for front-end development from a coding academy in Austin, which has equipped her to serve as a great liaison between developers and clients.

After living in Austin, TX, for most of her adult life, Adriana now resides in San Antonio, TX (a city with a ton of history and many things to do), with her partner, Russell, and their dog, Abbey. She also has a brother and sister with whom she’s very close and tries to see a few times a year. Most of Adriana’s hobbies revolve around nature. She grew up spending lots of time on a sailboat or at a beach, and her family has a small cabin in Creede, CO, where she spends half the year hiking, camping, skiing, or snowshoeing (depending on the season). When she’s in Texas, she tries to get out most weekends to kayak. A Texas Master Naturalist, Adriana loves learning about all the plants, birds, and animals in her home state. She also dabbles in making stained-glass suncatchers!

Profile picture of our marketing assistant - Kaitlin Thornal.

Kaitlin Thornal

Marketing Assistant
Fort Moore, Georgia

Kaitlin Thornal helps clients onboard as they begin their marketing journey with Indigo, and she loves meeting new people and learning new things. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication/Public Relations, International Studies, and a minor in French from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University.

Kaitlin was born at Fort Lewis, Washington, but she moved around a lot growing up, spending the most time in North Carolina. She now resides in Fort Moore, Georgia, with her husband, Mason, and their four children, Caroline, Mason, Jack, and Bo. Kaitlin’s favorite place to live has been Europe (Italy, Ireland, and Belgium) and she would go back in a heartbeat! In her spare time, she enjoys long-distance running, reading, and spending time in the mountains of western North Carolina.

Profile picture of our marketing assistant - Samantha Triglia.

Samantha Triglia

Marketing Assistant
Queens, New York

In her integral role, Samantha Triglia schedules social media posts, deploys email campaigns, and updates Google Business Profile pages for clients’ new blog posts. She also assists with lead generation/tracking and other administrative tasks. Helping out wherever she’s needed, Samantha appreciates the opportunities she has to learn and grow in her position. She says, “I love being a part of the team, especially when content deployment involves many moving parts and collaboration to get done and ready to go.”

A former teacher for 14 years, Samantha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Childhood Education from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. She also holds a Master of Arts in Middle School Earth Science Education from CUNY Brooklyn College and a Master of Science in Educational Administration and Leadership from the University of Scranton. (Yes, TWO master’s degrees!) While in college, Samantha was the assistant to the Chief Compliance Officer of a brokerage firm on Madison Avenue in New York City for high-net-worth individuals and families, so she’s quite familiar with the types of clients Indigo serves.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Samantha currently lives in Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York (the place the Ramones song is about!), with her husband, Matt (a Navy veteran and currently a New York City Firefighter), and their three sons, Matthew, Thomas, and James. Outside of work, Samantha enjoys spending time with her family riding bikes on their neighborhood boardwalk and going to the beach. They love to travel, including yearly family trips to Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Universal Studios in Florida (they’re big Harry Potter fans!). Samantha also stays active exercising and playing on a women’s softball team and a co-ed beach volleyball team with her husband.

Profile picture of our marketing assistant - Amanda Bicknese.

Amanda Bicknese

Marketing Assistant
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Amanda wears a few hats at Indigo, bringing value to the team by creating custom social media posts for advisors, assisting with the onboarding process of new team members, and tackling behind-the-scenes team tasks. She loves to collaborate with our amazing clients and supportive team members.

Born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida, Amanda holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in education from North Carolina State University. She worked as an educator for about a decade before pivoting to a career in writing and marketing. A Space Force military spouse (former army), Amanda and her husband, Michael, are currently located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with their two children, Mikayla and William, and two fur babies (a cat and a dog). When she’s not reading or writing fiction in her spare time, Amanda enjoys hanging out with family, hiking, trying new foods, and traveling.

Profile picture of our account manager Adam Spera.

Adam Spera

Account Manager
Astoria, New York

A marketer at heart, Adam finds satisfaction when consulting, strategizing, and implementing strategies to improve his clients’ business. He specializes in organic and paid social campaigns, as well as email and SEO optimization.

Adam holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Central Florida and a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Raised in Boca Raton, Florida, by his mom (an event planner) and dad (a private boat charter captain), Adam currently lives in Astoria, New York, with his wife, Olivia, who works in pet care. When he’s not cooking up killer marketing strategies, he enjoys role-playing games, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and reading non-fiction and philosophy books.

Profile picture of our account manager Melanie Valdez.

Melanie Valdez

Account Manager
Vancouver, Washington

With her marketing expertise, Melanie Valdez leaves no stone unturned when helping clients hone their marketing strategy. She loves interacting with clients and brainstorming new ideas to enhance their marketing results. No two days are ever the same, and that’s the way Melanie likes it!

Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Washington University as well as an MBA from Western Governors University. When she’s not rocking her role at Indigo, she enjoys cooking (trying out new recipes every week), painting, and discovering new restaurants with friends. She and her husband, Dat, love to travel and go on walks with their dog, Brutus, a pomeranian-chihuahua whose personality is definitely not proportionate to his small size!

Profile picture of our web developer - Joshua Yanson.

Joshua Yanson

Web Developer
Negros Occidental, Philippines

Joshua spends his days developing client websites, implementing automations, and troubleshooting website issues. He enjoys the challenge of working with websites while simultaneously learning new tips and tricks to optimize them for maximum efficiency.

Originally from Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, Philippines, Joshua holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and in his free time enjoys playing computer games and watching anime and movies.

Hugo Fernandez CEO of Indigo Marketing

Hugo Fernandez

CEO
Los Angeles, California

Hugo Fernandez acquired ownership of Indigo Marketing Agency from founder Claire Akin in 2022. Leading the Indigo team with heart, Hugo is passionate about helping our financial advisors attract a flood of their A+ clients with sustainable marketing campaigns. He enjoys running companies that are wildly successful and wearing a black t-shirt every day of his life. When his two favorite things come together, you have an average day at Indigo.

Hugo Fernandez is also CEO of Indigo’s partner company, Just Digital, and author of The Client Acquisition Blueprint. He has personally helped hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their businesses through his proven blueprint for creating an EPIC marketing strategy and online presence.

To get in touch with Hugo, email him or connect with him on LinkedIn.