Sr. Operations Consultant - Business Excellence

From the judges' table: why financial advisors' stories of service matter. September 25, 2026 Each year, the Invest in Others Awards bring forward remarkable stories of financial advisors whose commitment to serving others extends far beyond their professional lives. For the judges tasked with reviewing those stories, the experience offers a unique window into the deeply personal motivations behind advisors' charitable work, and the extraordinary impact that work can have on communities. Marianne Rivera (pictured left in the photo with longtime Invest in Others supporter and industry executive Kate Healy and Board member Brian Hamburger) served as a judge for the 2026 Invest in Others Awards, helping to evaluate this year's nominees before joining the Invest in Others community in Boston for the 20th Anniversary Awards Gala on September 17. What stood out to her most was not simply the scale of the advisors' impact, but the personal challenges many have overcome while continuing to show up for others. "What strikes me most is how advisors keep making a difference even while facing their own challenges, from illness to the loss of a loved one to cancer or rare diseases," Marianne said. "Seeing these advisors' work touch so many families gives me real hope, and their stories inspire me to keep giving back." Stories that stay with you. Those stories took on even greater meaning when Marianne saw the advisors and nonprofits celebrated in person at the 20th Anniversary Gala. For Marianne, one moment in particular captured the perseverance behind so much of the charitable work Invest in Others seeks to recognize. Amy Weinberger, of Green Earth Financial Professionals and Osaic, was named the 2026 Volunteer of the Year Award recipient for her work with Soft Bones, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by hypophosphatasia, a rare metabolic bone disease. When Amy took the stage, she reflected on having been recognized as an Invest in Others finalist multiple times before receiving the top honor this year. "All advisors' stories are impactful, and there's never a dry eye in the room," Marianne said. "However, when Amy Weinberger went on stage, she mentioned she has been an Invest in Others finalist for multiple years. She shows persistence, resilience and commitment, all great qualities we should all strive to cultivate in ourselves." That persistence reflects something larger about the advisors recognized through the Invest in Others Awards. Their charitable involvement is not defined by a single moment, grant or recognition. For many, it represents years, or even decades, of sustained commitment to causes that have become deeply personal to them. Shining a light on the cause. That is also why sharing these stories matters. The advisors recognized by Invest in Others are not pursuing charitable work for recognition. But by amplifying their efforts, Invest in Others can bring greater visibility to the nonprofits they serve while inspiring others throughout the financial services community to consider how they, too, can make a difference. "It's important to recognize these advisors because they're not doing this for the spotlight," Marianne said. "They're driven by real passion for their charities. Recognition puts a light on them and their causes. It's infectious and it inspires others to do more." That idea sits at the heart of the Invest in Others mission: to amplify, celebrate and inspire the charitable work of financial advisors. For 20 years, the Invest in Others Awards have provided a platform for advisors to tell the stories of the causes that matter to them, helping those organizations reach new audiences and demonstrating what is possible when financial professionals bring their time, talents and resources to the communities around them. And as Marianne's experience as a judge illustrates, those stories have an impact well beyond the individuals being honored. They can move people, create connections and inspire others to find their own ways to give back. That ripple effect is precisely why these stories deserve to be told.

Osaic hires chief AI and technology officer. Sayee Bellamkonda joins from Vialto Partners and will report to CEO Jamie Price. The move follows several executive departures and a $2 billion recapitalization. Diana Britton, Executive Editor, Wealth Management August 27, 2026 Osaic has hired Sayee Bellamkonda as its new chief artificial intelligence and technology officer. He joins from Vialto Partners, a global provider of tax and mobility solutions, where he was executive vice president and chief digital and technology officer, and will report directly to CEO Jamie Price. He replaces Ed Obuchowski, who served as chief technology officer until his departure from the firm last year, according to public filings. Since then, Matt Schlueter has overseen the technology function in his role as chief product and operations officer. The broker/dealer is adding the chief AI title to the role, as Osaic continues to integrate AI into its technology platform. "Bellamkonda's recruitment marks a strategic investment in Osaic's integrated technology capabilities as the firm advances its short- and long-term technology and AI roadmap," the firm said in a statement. He'll focus on improving the company's tech, data and AI infrastructure and scaling the tech platform across the enterprise. "Sayee has spent his career connecting technology strategy with business outcomes, and he knows how to build the organizations, capabilities and culture needed to turn that strategy into action," said Price, in a statement. "Bringing a leader of Sayee's caliber to Osaic reflects the opportunity we have to build something consequential and underscores how important these enhancements are to our future." This follows the departure of several top Osaic executives, including Greg Cornick, executive vice president of wealth management solutions, and Kristy Britt, chief financial officer, last month. Kristen Kimmell, who had served as Osaic's head of business development since 2021, left in June to rejoin RBC Wealth Management, her former employer. Two other senior Osaic executives stepped down from their roles in May, including Dimple Shah, head of strategy and client experience, and Sudhakar Kanagarajan, head of application engineering and architecture. Shah joined Humanity Labs, while Kanagarajan joined Fidelity Investments. In December, the firm hired Shannon Reid as president and head of advisor growth and engagement, a newly created position. Also, in April, Osaic's private equity owner, Reverence Capital Partners, closed on a recapitalization of the broker/dealer, with Bain Capital entering as a new investor. The deal raised more than $2 billion in fresh capital for Osaic and allowed Reverence to retain majority ownership. LPL also announced a new tech executive this week, hiring Jonathan Lewis as managing director and chief technology and information officer from competitor Wells Fargo. In the new role, Lewis will lead technology architecture, engineering, infrastructure and development, while reporting to Greg Gates, who has been promoted to group managing director, chief product and technology officer. Executive Editor, Wealth Management Diana Britton is the Executive Editor of Wealth Management, covering independent broker/dealers and RIAs from all angles. She's also the host of the Jesse H. Neal Award Winning Podcast, The Healthy Advisor, focused on advisor health and wellbeing. A native of Los Angeles, she now lives in Rocklin, Calif.