Episode 218: Bringing the Digital Information Age to Wealth Management with Thomas Samuelson

homas Samuelson, founder of BRON Investor Network, is a seasoned professional in the finance and capital markets industry with over 30 years of experience. Thomas has an impressive background in finance and capital markets, with experience in asset management and investment banking, and is known as an expert in developing market economies, having traveled extensively throughout Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

Growing up, he shared a funny story about how he recommended his grandfather to buy stock in Exxon when he was just eight or nine years old, and talked about how he always had an interest in stocks and investing, even though his dream was to become a pro-football player.

THE DISCONNECT IN WALL STREET

Thomas’ background is in finance and Wall Street, where he worked as a hedge fund manager and portfolio manager for an international fund, mainly focusing on emerging markets. He soon realized that there was a disconnect between companies and investors, and that the process of connecting them was an exhausting manual process that relied on gatekeepers, mainly banks. This realization made him determined to find a better way, and that's how he came up with the idea of creating a social network community. This social network community would serve as a bridge between companies and investors, avoiding the middleman and opting to use technology for a more precisely curated match.

DEMOCRATIZING INFORMATION

Founded in 2017, BRON is a revolutionary platform that was designed with the intent to make it easy for investors of all sizes to access content produced by public companies that is otherwise not easily accessible to them. Focused on publicly listed companies and catering to both large institutions and individual investors, BRON is a pure information platform, and its goal is to democratize access to information.

The internet has already democratized a lot of information, but the problem is that the gatekeepers don't want the information to be readily accessible. BRON's goal is to aggregate information from various sources and make it easy for people to make decisions on investments. They want to create a system that is much easier to access the information that investors really need.

By taking this aggregation platform approach to information, it becomes easier for people to make informed decisions on investments. The platform's compliant message system is of great value to large institutions and funds, but it also offers great value to individuals, especially in light of the explosion of wealth management in recent years.

BRON's unique value proposition is that it is a time saver for investors, as it is easy to access the information that investors really need. With its innovative approach and dedication to democratizing access to information, BRON is set to revolutionize the way investors and companies connect and make decisions.

WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND BRON

Thomas has seen an increase in the number of registered investment advisors joining the platform. He opines that the wealth management and RIA space has grown in importance dramatically. BRON onboards investors directly, also having a section for RIAs, and they have observed that the public companies have increased their engagement with the RIAs.

BRON has various partnerships and joint ventures with exchanges. This is what separates BRON from other platforms; BRON's background and relationships with these exchanges play a huge role in making these deals happen. Thomas explains that it takes a lot of perseverance and patience to make a deal with these exchanges, but if BRON can prove that it is solving a problem for the issuers, then they will listen.

BUIDLING CHARACTER AND REPUTATION IN BUSINESS

Starting a company from scratch can be a challenging and risky journey. Thomas initially made the personal mistake of self-funding his company, but eventually took in some seed capital to help with growth. Self-funding a new company can be a double-edged sword, as it comes with more risks and headaches but also allows for more control over the company's direction and valuation.

Thomas emphasized is the importance of credibility and character in the business world. He mentions that his past reputation played a significant role in the deals and joint ventures he was able to secure, as well as the initial funding he received.

Young entrepreneurs need to be mindful of how they present themselves. It’s important for them to maintain a good character. Having good character and reputation can open doors; however, a poor character or reputation can have long-term consequences. Maintaining a good character and reputation is just as important – if not more so – as starting with it, as once a poor reputation spreads, it can and does close many doors.

Persistence and perseverance is also incredibly important to all entrepreneurs, but especially those just starting out. Starting a new company requires persistence and perseverance to:

• Overcome obstacles
• Manage risk and uncertainty
• Put in the required time and effort
• Build a strong foundation for long-term success

These qualities help entrepreneurs to build a more resilient and successful business, and stay focused on their goals.

RISK ASSESMENT & PLAN B

Having different mindsets on various topics from other entrepreneurs is nothing new. Different people approach different things in vastly different ways. The topic of having a Plan B is no different. While some may argue that having a Plan B is wise, there is also the opposing view of "burning the boats" where one is fully committed to their venture, and there is no going back.

Thomas shares that he was fully committed to his venture, and how it has helped him push through the tough times as an entrepreneur. He emphasizes the importance of being so committed that doubts do not sink in and affect decision-making.

Every entrepreneur has their own level of risk tolerance. What one might consider too risky, another might not. The key is to identify potential risks and develop a plan to mitigate them in order to increase the chances of success. Ultimately, being successful in business is important, but it is also crucial to find a path to success that aligns with not only one's goals, but their comfort levels and safety, as well.

FOR MORE ON THOMAS SAMUELSON:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC7lYj1rupFnHamQhTrgqQw

http://broninvestornetwork.com

Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.

If you want to find out how deal-ready you are, take the Deal-Ready Assessment today!