In this episode of Focused on the Future, industry veteran Suzanne Siracuse talks with Rita Robbins, founder and president of Affiliated Advisors, about the evolving treatment of women in the financial industry, the importance of focusing on clients' grown children to capture the future. – generational wealth and the crucial role of networking in succession planning.

Specifically, Rita discusses:

• Her Journey: From starting out as a sales assistant to becoming one of the first female wholesalers and eventually founding her own firm to serve advisors.
• The influence of motherhood: How she inspired her daughter to start her own firm.
• The evolution of the industry: Changes in the way women are treated in the financial industry.
• Next Generation Wealth: How advisors can benefit by focusing on their clients' grown children to capture the next generation of wealth.
• Charitable Giving: Why Advisors Should Be Lean in Charitable Giving Discussions with Their Clients
• Limitations of AI: Key areas where AI cannot replace the human element.
• Continuity Planning: The Critical Role of Networking in Business Continuity Planning.

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About Rita Robbins:

Rita Robbins combines more than four decades of industry experience with a proactive and personalized approach to empowering her advisors. Since 1994, when she founded Affiliated Advisors, Rita's passion has been to support advisors to grow dynamic and efficient businesses.

Rita and her partners now lead over 100 advisors with more than $4.5 billion in assets under management. Rita has been with Osaic for 20 years. Her unique knowledge and experience in driving practice growth and advisor marketing have made her sought after at industry conferences.

Rita was honored by Investment News as a “Women to Watch” in 2019 for her outstanding leadership in advancing the business of providing advice with her passion, creativity and willingness to help others. In 2020, Crain's recognized Rita as a “Notable Women in Financial Services.” Last year she was awarded the Alexander Armstrong Lifetime Achievement Award.

A longtime resident of New York, Rita and her family enjoy taking advantage of all that the city has to offer. She is an avid fan of the New York City Ballet and proudly serves as a Trustee of the Town Hall, a significant National Historic Site. Rita sits on several industry advisory boards. She is a partner in Lavender Hill Farm, one of the largest commercial lavender farms in the United States.