Osaic Finished Journey To One. ConnectED 2025 Showed What Comes Next
Osaic ConnectED 2025 was not just another advisor conference with keynote speeches, technology demos and networking events. It was the firm’s first major chance to show what comes after one of the largest integration pushes in the independent broker-dealer space.
For years, Osaic’s story has been tied to consolidation. The firm moved from a collection of broker-dealer brands toward one larger platform under the Osaic name. That effort, known as “Journey to One,” required technology work, operational change, cultural rebuilding and advisor communication. The hard part was not simply changing a logo. It was convincing advisors that a larger platform could still feel responsive, flexible and useful.
That is why the conference coverage matters.
Osaic’s leaders used ConnectED 2025 to move the message from integration to execution. The firm talked about scale, AI, advisor productivity, generational wealth transfer, client protection, engagement and flexible affiliation models. Those are big themes, but the real question is practical: can Osaic make its size feel like an advantage for advisors instead of another layer of complexity?
That is the test now.
TL;DR
Osaic ConnectED 2025 marked a post-integration moment: InvestmentNews framed the conference around Osaic’s future after the completion of “Journey to One.”
The conference was large and advisor-focused: Osaic said ConnectED brought together more than 5,000 participants in person and virtually, with more than 200 breakout sessions.
Jamie Price focused on industry change: Osaic’s CEO emphasized scale, technology, advisor productivity, generational wealth transfer and the need for advisors to adapt.
AI was central, but not the whole story: Osaic discussed tools such as Jump and Zocks, but the bigger message was about freeing advisors from administrative work.
Advisor trust remains the real measure: Osaic’s leaders said communication, relationship management and feedback loops are critical after the integration work.
The broader industry lesson is clear: Large independent broker-dealers must prove that scale can improve the advisor experience, not just simplify the corporate structure.
The Conference Was A Report Card, Not A Victory Lap
InvestmentNews’ Osaic ConnectED 2025 coverage described the annual conference as the place where Osaic leadership shared its vision for the future after completing “Journey to One.”
That framing is important. A firm can finish a consolidation project on paper and still face months or years of advisor skepticism. Advisors want to know whether service improves, whether technology becomes easier, whether support teams respond faster and whether the firm’s leadership actually understands what changed in the field.
Osaic’s leaders appeared to understand that ConnectED had to do more than celebrate completion. It had to show evidence.
The firm’s message was built around several ideas: scale, technology, flexibility, advisor engagement and client impact. Each one supports the same argument. Osaic wants advisors to believe that the painful integration stage has created a stronger platform, not just a bigger one.
That is why the conference should be read as a report card. Advisors were not only listening for vision. They were looking for proof that the firm can now execute.
What Osaic Put On The Main Stage
Osaic’s official ConnectED announcement said the conference brought together more than 5,000 participants, in person and virtually, for a three-day program with more than 200 breakout sessions.
The size of the event supports Osaic’s scale story. But the more important details were the messages Osaic chose to emphasize.
The firm unveiled a refreshed mission, a new “Empowering Wealth” tagline and a “Moments That Matter” campaign built around advisor-client stories. It also highlighted advisor productivity, service improvements, financial planning support, affiliation flexibility, custodial choice and AI-enabled capabilities such as intelligent search.
This tells us something about Osaic’s positioning. The firm is trying to avoid sounding like a broker-dealer that only offers back-office infrastructure. It wants to be seen as a platform that helps advisors build better businesses and deeper client relationships.
That is a smart message, but it is also a demanding one. Once a firm promises empowerment, advisors will judge it by daily workflow.
Scale Is The Strategy, But Also The Risk
Jamie Price’s keynote, as covered by InvestmentNews, focused heavily on where wealth management is heading. He pointed to consolidation, rapid technological change and generational wealth transfer as major forces reshaping the industry.
The scale argument is straightforward. Larger firms can invest more in compliance, technology, cybersecurity, planning tools, client experience and advisor support. Smaller firms may struggle to match that pace, especially as regulatory costs rise and client expectations become more digital.
But scale can also create advisor anxiety.
Many advisors joined independent broker-dealers because they wanted flexibility, relationships and a feeling of local control. If a large platform becomes too centralized, too hard to navigate or too slow to respond, advisors may feel that independence has been diluted.
That is the tension Osaic has to manage.
Scale helps only if it removes friction. It hurts if it creates new layers between advisors and the support they need.
The Advisor Shortage Makes Productivity More Than A Tech Buzzword
Price also highlighted a major advisor-capacity problem. InvestmentNews reported that he discussed projections showing the number of financial advisors could fall sharply by 2035, even as private wealth continues to grow.
That matters because the advisor shortage changes how firms should think about technology. AI and workflow tools are not just shiny conference announcements. They are part of a capacity strategy.
If fewer advisors are expected to serve more wealthy clients, firms need tools that help advisors spend less time on administrative work and more time on advice. That includes meeting notes, follow-up tasks, planning workflows, data retrieval, client communication and internal service requests.
In that context, Osaic’s technology message becomes more serious. It is not only about innovation. It is about whether the firm can help advisors handle more complexity without burning out.
AI Was The Hook, But Workflow Was The Real Point
InvestmentNews reported that Price discussed AI tools such as Jump and Zocks and said Osaic had moved quickly to add them to the platform. He also described a future where technology gives advisors more time to serve clients rather than replacing the advisor relationship.
That is the right framing.
Advisors are not asking for AI because they want novelty. They want time back. They want fewer manual notes, faster answers, cleaner workflows and better client preparation. If AI does not reduce the daily drag of running a practice, it becomes another tool advisors have to learn instead of a solution they actually use.
A related NJ Financial News article on Osaic’s advisor technology strategy looked at how the firm’s technology leadership is now focused on advisor productivity, client engagement and the continued development of eQuipt.
That is the practical side of the ConnectED message. Osaic can talk about AI from the stage, but the real win comes when the technology makes account opening smoother, planning easier, meetings more productive and client service faster.
The Integration Work Still Matters
One of the most important details from the conference coverage came from Osaic’s operations and technology leadership. InvestmentNews reported that Matt Schlueter’s team had rebuilt core technology infrastructure, cut more than 1,000 redundant servers and retired more than 100 legacy applications.
That is not glamorous, but it matters.
Technology transformation in wealth management often fails when firms skip the plumbing. Advisors may see a new portal or tool, but underneath that front end are data systems, legacy applications, cybersecurity requirements, integrations, account records and service workflows. If the back end is messy, the advisor experience usually suffers.
Osaic’s server and application reductions suggest the firm is trying to simplify the infrastructure behind the platform. That can support faster deployment, fewer service disruptions and more consistent advisor experiences.
But advisors will not judge that work by the number of retired applications. They will judge it by what happens when they need help.
The Practical Test For Advisors
Faster service: Advisors should see fewer delays when resolving client or account issues.
Cleaner workflows: Daily tasks should require fewer systems, fewer duplicate entries and fewer manual workarounds.
Better communication: Advisors should receive timely updates when platform changes affect their practices.
Reliable tools: New technology should work consistently, not only in demos.
Visible accountability: Advisor feedback should lead to fixes that can be tracked and verified.
Infrastructure work is only valuable if it reaches the advisor’s desk.
Communication Became Part Of The Platform
InvestmentNews’ leadership coverage made one point especially clear: Osaic sees communication as part of the rebuild.
After a large integration, silence can become a problem. Advisors may assume that unanswered questions mean their concerns are not being heard. They may interpret delays as evidence that the firm is too large or too distracted. They may compare every service issue with the smaller firms they previously knew.
That is why communication becomes a business function, not just a public relations issue.
InvestmentNews reported that Osaic began using weekly tech updates, virtual town halls and digestible video and email briefings. The same report said advisor feedback was being tracked across business lines and that more than 150 advisor-identified pain points had already been fixed.
Those details matter because they show how Osaic is trying to rebuild trust after integration.
Advisors do not need every answer immediately. But they do need to believe the firm is listening, prioritizing and closing the loop.
Flexible Affiliation Is Central To Osaic’s Pitch
Osaic’s ConnectED announcement emphasized flexible ways for advisors to partner with the firm, including supported independence, the addition of fee-only RIA CW Advisors and integrated custodial choice options.
That flexibility is important because advisor business models are no longer simple.
Some advisors want independence. Some want W-2 support. Some want fee-only RIA options. Some work with banks or credit unions. Some serve mass affluent clients. Others serve ultra-high-net-worth households that require more complex planning, lending, trust, insurance or investment solutions.
A large platform has to support those differences without forcing every advisor into the same model.
This is where Osaic’s size could become useful. If the firm can offer multiple affiliation paths and still keep the experience coherent, it can meet advisors where they are. If the choices become confusing or unevenly supported, flexibility can become another source of complexity.
That is the balance Osaic has to get right.
Generational Wealth Transfer Changes The Advisor Job
Price’s keynote also focused on generational wealth transfer. InvestmentNews reported that he pointed to a looming $124 trillion wealth transfer through 2048, with much of it expected to go to Gen X investors.
That topic belongs in the same conversation as technology and scale.
Next-generation clients often expect more digital access, more transparency, more planning involvement and more holistic advice. They may not automatically keep their parents’ advisor unless that advisor has built a relationship with them directly.
For Osaic advisors, this creates both risk and opportunity. The risk is losing assets when wealth moves from one generation to another. The opportunity is using planning, technology and deeper family engagement to become more relevant to heirs before the transfer happens.
The platform’s job is to help advisors make that shift.
A firm can provide tools for family meetings, estate planning conversations, beneficiary reviews, digital collaboration, client segmentation and communication. But advisors still have to do the relationship work. Technology can support that process, but it cannot replace trust.
Client Protection Was A Different Kind Of Conference Message
Not every important ConnectED topic was about scale or AI. InvestmentNews also covered a romance-scam panel featuring Michigan-based Osaic advisor Clayton Winkler, who described how he helped protect a client from a suspected scam after unusual withdrawal requests.
That story belongs in the broader conference analysis because it shows what advisors still do that technology cannot fully automate.
Fraud prevention often depends on judgment, empathy and knowing a client’s normal behavior. A sudden withdrawal request, a vague explanation, a new relationship, pressure to send money quickly or the use of cryptocurrency can all raise red flags. But the advisor must handle the conversation carefully because clients may feel embarrassed, defensive or emotionally attached to the scammer.
This is where the “human advisor” message becomes real. A platform can provide training, policies and escalation procedures. The advisor still has to listen, ask questions and protect the client without destroying trust.
That kind of work is not a side issue. It is part of the value proposition for advice.
A Current Caveat: Leadership Continuity Will Be Watched
There is one newer development that readers should keep in mind. InvestmentNews reported in July 2026 that Osaic confirmed CFO Kristy Britt and EVP of Wealth Management Solutions Greg Cornick would depart the firm, with no reasons or timelines provided at the time.
That update does not erase the ConnectED 2025 strategy. But it does add a question.
When a firm’s conference message depends heavily on leadership vision, advisor engagement and post-integration execution, later executive turnover can make advisors watch continuity more closely. They may ask whether the strategy remains the same, who owns the next phase and whether service and technology priorities will stay on track.
Osaic said in that later report that it had a strong leadership team in place and remained focused on executing its strategy, investing in solutions, support and client experience.
For advisors, the proof will again be practical. If the platform keeps improving, the leadership changes may fade into the background. If execution slows, the departures may become part of a larger advisor-confidence conversation.
The Bigger Industry Signal From ConnectED
Osaic’s conference matters because other large independent broker-dealers face the same challenge.
The independent channel is consolidating. Advisors want technology, support, flexibility and better service. Clients want more holistic advice. Next-generation investors want more involvement. AI is moving quickly. Compliance and cybersecurity demands continue to rise.
That environment favors firms with scale, but only if scale is translated into advisor value.
ConnectED 2025 showed Osaic trying to make that translation. The firm is saying that Journey to One created the foundation for a faster, more flexible and more advisor-centered platform. The next phase is proving that message in daily use.
For advisors, that means the most important question is not whether Osaic is large. It is whether Osaic can make large feel easier.
Frequently Asked Questions About Osaic ConnectED 2025
What Was Osaic ConnectED 2025?
Osaic ConnectED 2025 was the firm’s flagship advisor conference, held as Osaic was trying to show what comes after the completion of its “Journey to One” integration effort. The event brought together advisors, staff, home-office leaders, partners and industry participants for programming around technology, growth, engagement, planning and platform flexibility.
The conference mattered because it was not only a networking event. It was a chance for Osaic to explain how its consolidation work is supposed to benefit advisors. After a large integration, advisors want evidence that the platform is more efficient, more responsive and easier to use. ConnectED gave Osaic a stage to make that case.
Why Did Journey To One Matter For Osaic?
Journey to One mattered because Osaic had to bring multiple broker-dealer brands, systems and cultures into a more unified platform. That kind of integration can create long-term efficiencies, but it can also create short-term advisor frustration if service, communication or technology feel disrupted.
For Osaic, completing Journey to One was only the first step. The bigger test is whether advisors now see the benefits. If the firm can deliver faster technology, better service, clearer communication and stronger support, the integration can become a competitive advantage. If advisors still feel complexity, the brand consolidation alone will not be enough.
What Did Jamie Price Emphasize At ConnectED 2025?
Jamie Price emphasized several major forces reshaping wealth management, including scale, technology, consolidation, advisor productivity and generational wealth transfer. His message was that independent advisors can thrive if they have the right platform, enough flexibility and the ability to adapt quickly as technology changes.
The most important part of that message is the connection between technology and capacity. As wealth grows and the advisor workforce faces pressure, firms need to help advisors serve more complex client needs without losing the human relationship that makes advice valuable. That is why Osaic’s AI and workflow tools were presented as productivity tools, not replacements for advisors.
Why Was AI Such A Big Part Of The Conference Coverage?
AI was a major part of the conference coverage because Osaic is trying to show that it can add technology quickly and use it to reduce administrative work for advisors. Tools such as Jump and Zocks were discussed as examples of how AI can help with meeting summaries, planning workflows and productivity.
The key issue is whether these tools actually make daily work easier. Advisors do not need more disconnected technology. They need systems that reduce manual tasks, improve preparation, speed up service and create more time for clients. If Osaic’s AI strategy delivers that, it can support both retention and recruiting.
What Should Advisors Take Away From Osaic ConnectED 2025?
Advisors should take away that Osaic is trying to shift from integration to execution. The firm’s message is no longer only about becoming one platform. It is about using that platform to deliver better technology, clearer support, stronger engagement and more flexible affiliation choices.
The practical takeaway is to watch execution. Advisors should look at whether service improves, whether technology adoption becomes easier, whether feedback leads to real fixes and whether leadership continues to communicate clearly. The conference gave Osaic a clear strategy. The next test is whether advisors feel the difference in their practices.
Further Reading
Osaic ConnectED 2025 Conference Coverage: InvestmentNews’ full hub for coverage of Osaic’s ConnectED 2025 conference and post-Journey to One messaging.
Osaic Raises Curtain On ConnectED 2025: Osaic’s official announcement on conference attendance, breakout sessions, mission refresh, tagline and advisor-focused programming.
Osaic CEO Jamie Price: Speed Of Tech Integration Will Disrupt Wealth Management Industry: InvestmentNews’ article on Price’s comments about AI, cloud technology, advisor productivity and the speed of platform integration.
Osaic’s New Tech Hire Shows The Next Advisor Fight Is Workflow: Related NJ Financial News coverage on Osaic’s advisor and client technology strategy, including eQuipt, productivity and platform development.
