Share

cover art for Onist with Brad Kotansky (CEO)| EP04

Fintech Impact

Onist with Brad Kotansky (CEO)| EP04

Ep. 4

Summary:

Welcome to the 4th episode of the Fintech Impact podcast, where Jason Pereira, award-winning financial planner, university lecturer, writer, and host interviews the CEO and Co-founder of Onist Technologies – Brad Kotansky. Onist Technologies is an Arizona-based online platform that allows users to aggregate all of their financial data and to be able to work with multiple professionals. Brad Kotansky breaks down exactly what Onist Technologies is and what they are creating for the financial technologies industry and consumers. 

Show Notes

●     01:32 – Onist connects households and family members with their financial data,

                    accounts, and documents and are allowing granular access. They are sort

                    of like the company Mint on steroids.

●     03:55 – Seed for Onist began with Brad’s Dad needing him to take care of his

                    finances.

●     06:04 – The business-to-consumer market is a focus, with 15-18% of current users

                    not being consumers.

●     06:56 – For financial advisors, it is not about beating the SMP, it is about risk

                    tolerance – especially with elderly clients that don’t need high risk options.

●     10:10 – Having the client map out who the key stakeholders are in the family offers

                    optimum insight. Corporate organizational charts can be created within

                    1-10 minutes that can be updated to save money.

●     11:38 – Onist thinks about collaboration in two parts: connect clients to the platform

                    and allowing for direct messaging – include clients and professionals.

●     12:52 – CTO has 20 years of machine learning and AI experience.

●     14:28 – One third of the United States population is over 50 years old. 20 million

                    people are going to be added to that group in the next 10 years.

●     15:08 – The 18-49 demographic will grow by 6 million in the next 10 years.

                    Fintech’s focus is on millennials who are less intimidated by technology.

                    The average age of a caregiver in the United States is 49.

●     17:31 – Security and privacy are two separate areas for Onist. Personal data and

                    asset data are stored in separate data bases.

●     20:23 – Onist isn’t trying to go after the Mint market. Out of the 50+ market, 45%

                   share their login info.

●     21:14 – Onist tries to prevent elder abuse of accounts by being a read-only site.

●     22:22 – Data access is a tricky topic and a major issue with different countries

                    trying to push the envelope in that area.

●     27:37 – Blockchain is a paradigm change that is in the process of happening. Chip

                    technology and tap-to-pay happened earlier in Canada than the United

                    States.

●     30:52 – Security standards take time to change across the board.

●     34:25 – Onist costs nothing for the platform for the moment, there will be a monthly

                    subscription and a per-household per month fee. .

3 Key Points:

1 The business-to-consumer market is a focus, with 15-18% of current users

  not being consumers.

2. The average age of a caregiver in the United States is 49.

3. Onist costs nothing for the platform for the moment, there will be a monthly subscription and a per-household per month fee.

Tweetable Quotes:

-     “Onist, spelled on-ist…we want Onist. Onist advice, Onist opinions, Onist 

      relationships.“ – Brad Kotansky.

-     “The world is connected a million different ways…but when it comes to finance, we

      still operate in the dark ages.“ – Brad Kotansky.

-     “Approximately 15-18% of our users right now are actually not consumers, they are

       enterprise firms.“ – Brad Kotansky.

Resources Mentioned:

● LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn

● Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook

● Woodgate Financial – Website for Woodgate Financial

● Brad Kotansky – Brad Kotansky's LinkedIn

● Onist Technologies – Website for Onist Technologies

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 421. CapIntel with James Rockwood | E421

    32:11||Ep. 421
    Host Jason Pereira welcomes back CapIntel CEO James Rockwood to discuss the firm’s massive growth, now supporting over 20,000 advisors across North America. Rockwood explains how CapIntel moves beyond static PDFs by using interactive, cloud-based presentations to make complex investment products feel tangible for clients. The conversation dives into how the platform embeds compliance controls to prevent proposal errors, the impact of regulatory shifts like Reg BI, and how CapIntel is navigating its expansion into the competitive U.S. and Mexican markets.This episode is a must-listen for wealth management executives and advisors interested in how "hyper-personalization" and integrated compliance are redefining the modern investment proposal.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorCapIntelLinkedIn - James Rockwood’s LinkedIn
  • 420. Knomee with Marla Sofer | E420

    35:25||Ep. 420
    Host Jason Pereira interviews Marla Sofer, Founder and CEO of Knomee, about her mission to bridge the "understanding gap" between wealth managers and their clients. Drawing on her leadership experience at JPMorgan, BlackRock, and Microsoft, Sofer explains how Knomee uses consumer-friendly "adventures" to capture a client’s true financial identity—defining what concepts like "security" actually mean to them. By turning this unique behavioural data into AI-synthesized insights, Knomee provides advisors with actionable conversation starters and next-best actions to deepen trust and accelerate conversions.This episode is a must-listen for advisors who want to move beyond generic financial planning and use behavioural intelligence to create more personalized, high-trust client relationships.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorKnomeeLinkedIn - Marla Sofer’s LinkedIn
  • 419. AdvisorCRM with Ryan Borer | E419

    23:54||Ep. 419
    On this episode of FinTech Impact host Jason Pereira interviews Ryan Borer, CEO of Advisor CRM, about his mission to transform the CRM from a static database into an "action engine" for financial and insurance professionals. Inspired by his experience building proprietary tech for a TAMP, Borer explains how his platform avoids the rigid, breakable workflows of traditional systems by focusing on flexibility and data-driven signals. The conversation explores the shift toward a more open tech ecosystem—supported by Advisor CRM’s APIs—and introduces Trove, a new AI-driven opportunity intelligence tool designed to surface growth leads automatically.This episode is a must-listen for advisors frustrated by "clunky" CRM workflows and firm owners looking to stay ahead of the curve with AI-integrated client management.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorAdvisorCRMLinkedIn - Ryan Borer’s LinkedIn
  • 418. Nexhelm AI with Brian Abatemarco | E418

    23:51||Ep. 418
    Host Jason Pereira interviews Brian Abatemarco, Head of Sales at Nexhelm AI, a platform launched in late 2025 to automate end-to-end financial workflows. Drawing on his 12 years as a CFP, Brian explains how Nexhelm connects existing tools—like CRMs, Outlook, and DocuSign—to execute complex tasks via simple prompts, ensuring advisors never "drop the ball" on client requests. The discussion covers the platform's ability to automate everything from onboarding to email filing, while touching on the broader challenges of scaling fintech and the vital role of CFP education in the AI era.This episode is a must-listen for forward-thinking advisors and operations leaders who are tired of manual data entry and want to see how "agentic AI" can finally bridge the gap between their disconnected software tools.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorNexhelm AILinkedIn - Brian Abatemarco’s LinkedIn
  • 417. Nitrogen with Dan Zitting | E417

    22:12||Ep. 417
    Host Jason Pereira joins Nitrogen Wealth CEO Dan Zitting to discuss the company’s evolution from a niche risk-scoring tool into a comprehensive AI platform. Dan outlines how Nitrogen is leveraging a new agentic AI engine to automate the advisor meeting lifecycle, effectively shrinking hours of manual preparation into minutes. Beyond technical updates, the conversation dives into Nitrogen’s expanded suite—covering everything from portfolio research to tax education—and Dan’s vision for overcoming the data and compliance hurdles that currently slow down AI adoption in wealth management.This episode is a must-listen for financial advisors and RIA owners looking to reclaim their schedules through automation, as well as fintech enthusiasts interested in how legacy brands successfully navigate a total AI-centric pivot.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorNitrogen WealthLinkedIn - Dan Zitting’s LinkedIn
  • 416. Hamachi.ai with Mike Wilson | E416

    33:52||Ep. 416
    In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Mike Wilson, CEO and co-founder of Hamachi, an AI governance layer for financial advisors that unifies data from systems like CRMs and portfolio platforms to power workflow “bots” such as a daily dossier and household brief. Wilson explains Hamachi’s origin, its compliance-first guardrails, and its strategy to embed via integrations and API rather than compete for the advisor desktop. They also discuss roadmap integrations and partners, including TaxStatus, FP Pathfinder, Financial’s client portal distribution, and potential research data sources like Morningstar and Zacks.Episode Highlights:00:00 Welcome to FinTech Impact + Meet Mike Wilson (Hamachi)00:30 What Hamachi Does: An AI ‘Governing Intelligence Layer’ for Advisors01:09 Origin Story: From Orion Alumni to Compliant Advisor AI02:52 From Email Add‑On to Guardrailed Chat: Early Product Evolution04:38 Real Advisor Workflows: Daily Dossier & Household Brief in Action08:58 Integration Roadmap: CRM, Portfolio Platforms, and Tax Data (TaxStatus)10:52 Where Hamachi Fits: Embedded AI, API Strategy, and Bot Marketplace14:25 What’s Next: Pathfinder Workflows, Client Portals, and Research Feeds23:28 Why Governance Matters: PII Redaction, Audit Trails, SEC/FINRA Compliance27:21 Rapid‑Fire Wrap‑Up: Industry Wish, Biggest Challenge, and What Excites Mike33:01 Closing Remarks, Call to Action, and Sponsor MessageResources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorHamachi.aiLinkedIn - Mike Wilson’s LinkedIn
  • 416. Sovos with Kevin Akeroyd | E415

    33:41||Ep. 416
    In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Kevin Akeroyd, CEO of Sovos, a leading tax compliance software company. Kevin shares the history and evolution of Sovos, its critical role in global tax compliance, and the company’s integration of AI and technology. He also discusses the challenges and future of tax compliance, including the impact of crypto reporting and e-invoicing mandates worldwide. This episode delves into how Sovos helps businesses seamlessly navigate complex tax landscapes and maintain compliance across various countries and tax laws.Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction to FinTech Impact00:29 Meet Kevin Akeroyd, CEO of Sovos01:26 The Evolution of Sovos03:27 Challenges and Integration05:18 Tax Compliance Complexity09:27 Mid-Market and Down-Market Strategies14:18 Global Tax Compliance Trends16:34 Crypto Reporting and Innovations21:40 AI and Future Prospects28:07 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsResources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorSovosLinkedIn - Kevin Akeroyd’s LinkedIn
  • 414. Troutwood with Gene Natali | E414

    29:09||Ep. 414
    In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Gene Natali, CEO and founder of Troutwood, an online financial planning and engagement platform aimed at helping advisors and enterprises empower individuals financially. They discuss the inception of Troutwood, its goals, and the unique features that help bridge the gap between individuals and financial experts. The conversation also delves into the challenges of financial literacy and how Troutwood's platform is designed to address these issues at scale, ultimately aiming to narrow the wealth gap and ensure financial empowerment for all. If you're looking to enhance the way you manage your clients and offer greater value, especially at scale, this episode is a must-watch.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorTroutwoodLinkedIn - Gene Natali’s LinkedIn
  • 413. Latour AI with Khe Hy | E413

    38:50||Ep. 413
    In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Khe Hy, founder of Latour AI. Khe shares his journey of starting Latour AI, a company that helps businesses integrate artificial intelligence into their workflows. They discuss how AI, particularly through vibe coding, can transform daily operations and strategize within companies, especially hedge funds and buy-side firms. Khe provides insights into the various stages of AI implementation, and the challenges and potentials of AI-driven solutions. They also explore practical tips for getting started with vibe coding and how leveraging AI can lead to innovative outcomes. Tune in to learn how to embrace AI to enhance efficiency and solve complex problems in your business.Resources:Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorLatour AILinkedIn - Khe Hy’s LinkedIn