Month: October 2023

Transform Your Life with Applied Improvisation with Ryan Sullivan, CFP®, CRPC®, RCC™ (Ep. 21)

Transform Your Life with Applied Improvisation with Ryan Sullivan, CFP®, CRPC®, RCC™ (Ep. 21)

One of the most valuable skills in today’s world is the ability to improvise. 

Improvisation is not just about making things up on the spot but also about adapting to changing situations, finding creative solutions, and collaborating with others.

In this episode, Billy and Shaun Peterson sit down with Ryan Sullivan, CFP®, CRPC®, RCC™, Vice President and Managing Director, Applied Insights for Hartford Funds.

They explore the power of applied improvisation in finance, health, and mindset. They highlight the concept of “Yes, And” and its impact on problem-solving and creativity. Additionally, Ryan explains how improvisation can be applied in everyday life, shares brain-boosting exercises, and explores the art of explanation and active listening.

Together, they discuss: 

  • The origins and uses of applied improvisation in various fields such as business, leadership, and caregiving
  • How the “Yes, And” mindset can be applied to business and communication
  • An improvisation exercise and how it can be used in various scenarios
  • The importance of challenging the brain in new ways to create new connections and reduce the risk of cognitive decline
  • How to use a simple exercise to improve communication skills at work and in personal relationships
  • Studies showing the positive effects of applied improvisation on brain health, communication, and overall well-being
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Billy Peterson:

Connect with Shaun Peterson: 

Connect with Ryan Sullivan:

About Our Guest: 

Ryan Sullivan is a vice president and managing director of applied insights for Hartford Funds.  He leads communication workshops around the country and speaks on a variety of financial and practice management topics, with a focus on retirement research from the MIT AgeLab. To date, Ryan has provided insights to audiences in 46 states and Puerto Rico, as well as led over a  thousand webinars. 

Ryan originally joined Hartford Funds in 1996, holding various roles of increasing responsibility.  He left the company in 2012 as a vice president of advanced markets. Prior to rejoining Hartford  Funds, Ryan founded a business to coach professionals on public speaking and impactful communication. He was later hired by his largest client, financial-planning software company  Envestnet MoneyGuide, where he was vice president and head of investor education. 

In addition to his role at Hartford Funds, Ryan volunteers his time and communication expertise to help others. Since 2012, he’s led communication workshops at UNC Charlotte’s Center for  Leadership and Community Engagement. He also volunteers to help empower athletes with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.  Ryan serves on Hartford Funds’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council. 

Ryan is a registered representative of Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC, and is FINRA Series  7 and 63 registered. He holds his Life, Health, and Variable Products licenses and has earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), Chartered Financial  Consultant (ChFC®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), and Chartered Mutual  Fund Counselor (CMFC®) designations. He’s a Fellow of LOMA’s® Life Management Institute and is also a Registered Corporate Coach (RCC™).  

Originally from Hartford, Connecticut, Ryan attended Bucknell University, where he earned a  bachelor’s degree in business administration. He currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina,  with his wife, Katie.  

Economics and Technology with Bob Kaynor of Hartford Schroders (Ep. 20)

Economics and Technology with Bob Kaynor of Hartford Schroders (Ep. 20)

Staying informed about the economy, market trends, and emerging technologies is crucial for investors and professionals. 

Will artificial intelligence guide a new era of job creation? 

In this episode, Billy and Shaun are joined by Bob Kaynor, Portfolio Manager at Hartford Schroders to hear his insights on the current market, the impact of higher interest rates on small and mid-sized companies, and his approach to portfolio building in the technology sector. Together they also discuss the potential impact of AI on the workforce, including potential scenarios of job creation or elimination.

Throughout the episode Bob shares:

  • His background, education, and experience in small and mid-cap equities, as well as his role at Hartford Schroders
  • Current market conditions and the potential for broadening growth opportunities
  • Perspective surrounding AI and how it may impact the employment rate
  • The potential in real estate, including single-family rental home REITs, and the challenges in the energy sector
  • And more!

Connect with Billy Peterson:

Connect with Shaun Peterson:

Connect with Bob Kaynor: 

About Our Guest: 

Robert “Bob” Kaynor, CFA, is the Portfolio Manager for the Hartford Schroders US Small Cap Opportunities Fund and Hartford Schroders US MidCap Opportunities Fund. He joined Schroders as a Senior Equity Analyst in 2013 and became Research Director in 2014.

Prior to joining Schroders, Bob was the Chief Investment Officer and Managing Member at Ballast Capital Group from 2010 to 2013, which involved managing a fundamental long/short portfolio.

Bob was a Managing Director/Portfolio Manager at Ramius Capital Group from 2003 to 2010, which involved co-managing a hedged equity product.

He was a Partner/Analyst at Barbary Coast Capital Management from 2000 to 2003, which involved co-managing a long/short equity hedge fund focused on small and mid-cap equities.

Bob began his investment career in 1994 when he joined RCM Capital Management as an Analyst/Assistant Portfolio, which involved working exclusively on a domestic long-only small-cap product recommending and covering equities.