--- title: "The Buddy System with Gary Russell" description: "At Helium Advisors, the buddy system isn't just a strategy—it's a core component of their wealth management approach." url: https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/the-buddy-system-with-gary-russell updated: 2024-10-01 --- [Now playing](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast) [Podcast**Next Mile**](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast) [Episodes](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast)[Guests](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/guests) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@milemarkerinc) [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-connected-advisor/id1691759257) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Lw8kHGnS1JJBMZLPYxc9S) Episode 62 · Oct 1, 2024 · 35 min # The Buddy System with Gary Russell [**Gary Russell***Partner & Co-Founder, Helium Advisors*](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/guests/gary-russell) [Apple Podcasts ↗](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-connected-advisor/id1691759257) [Spotify ↗](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Lw8kHGnS1JJBMZLPYxc9S) ## About this episode At Helium Advisors, the buddy system isn't just a strategy—it's a core component of their wealth management approach. By pairing advisors with shared goals and similar skill sets, they provide clients with more comprehensive and personalized solutions. In this episode, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Gary Russell, Partner and Co-Founder at Helium Advisors, about Helium's buddy system, how it works, and the benefits it provides. They also discuss holistic planning and how using the right technology creates a unique client experience. In this episode: - \[01:49\] - Gary's money moment - \[03:37\] - What inspired Gary to become a financial advisor - \[05:34\] - What influenced Helium's culture - \[07:39\] - Helium's buddy system - \[13:22\] - Holistic planning defined - \[18:19\] - Leveraging technology for better client service - \[23:40\] - Technology in holistic planning - \[26:02\] - Gary's outlook on the future of the industry - \[27:53\] - Gary's Milemarker Minute **Key Takeaways** - Helium's buddy system pairs advisors together to leverage their skill sets and provide more comprehensive advice to clients. - Holistic planning considers all aspects of a client's financial life, including taxes, estate, and business planning. - Technology is a critical part of financial planning. Advisors need to be selective about which technologies to adopt. - The future of financial planning involves more consolidation and integration of AI. **Quotes** \[24:30\] -"If you look at where other industries have gone before us, we don't want to be in the front one percent of that technology. But we want to be in that first five or 10 percent, right? We don't want to be the testers, but we want to be the early adopters for sure." ~ [Gary Russell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-russell-60baaa12/) \[26:50\] - "There's no way AI will seamlessly wipe us all out. You'll have a real human working in a buddy system with a few advisors and understanding what AI can do to help." ~ [Gary Russell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-russell-60baaa12/) \[31:22\] - "The integration of the decisions that you make and how you bring them to your team really matters. We have learned that by doing it poorly and failing our way up." ~ [Gary Russell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-russell-60baaa12/) **Links** - [Gary Russell on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-russell-60baaa12/) - [Helium Advisors](https://www.heliumadvisors.com/) - [Howard Morin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardmorin/) - [Jocko Willink](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocko-willink-260b289/) - [Extreme Ownership](https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057) - [Patrick Sweeny](https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-sweeny-0039667/) - [Oleg Tishkevich](https://www.linkedin.com/in/olegtishkevich/) - [Envestnet](https://www.envestnet.com/) - [J.J. Feldman](https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-j-feldman-5b512835/) - [Slow Productivity](https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Productivity-Accomplishment-Without-Burnout/dp/0593544854) **Connect with our hosts** - [Milemarker.co](https://www.milemarker.co/) - [Kyle on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylevanpelt/) - [Jud on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/judmackrill/) **Subscribe and stay in touch** - [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connected/id1691759257) - [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Lw8kHGnS1JJBMZLPYxc9S) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@milemarkerinc) ## **Produce game-changing content with Turncast** Turncast helps your company grow by producing top-quality content and fostering transformative conversations. We specialize in content generation, podcasting, digital strategy, and audience growth for fintech and financial services companies. Learn more at [Turncast.com](https://www.turncast.com/). ## The write-up Listen to this week’s episode ## Episode 062 On this week’s episode of The Connected Advisor, I talk with [Gary Russell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-russell-60baaa12/), Partner and Co-Founder at [Helium Advisors](https://www.heliumadvisors.com/). At [Helium Advisors](https://www.heliumadvisors.com/), the buddy system isn’t just a strategy—it’s a core component of their wealth management approach. By pairing advisors with shared goals and similar skill sets, they provide clients with more comprehensive and personalized solutions. In this episode, We talk about Helium’s buddy system, how it works, and the benefits it provides. We also discuss holistic planning and how using the right technology creates a unique client experience. #### **Key Takeaways** Helium’s buddy system pairs advisors together to leverage their skill sets and provide more comprehensive advice to clients. Holistic planning considers all aspects of a client’s financial life, including taxes, estate, and business planning. Technology is a critical part of financial planning. Advisors need to be selective about which technologies to adopt. The future of financial planning involves more consolidation and integration of AI. #### **Quotes** \[24:30\] -“If you look at where other industries have gone before us, we don’t want to be in the front one percent of that technology. But we want to be in that first five or 10 percent, right? We don’t want to be the testers, but we want to be the early adopters for sure.” ~ [Gary Russell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-russell-60baaa12/) \[26:50\] - “There’s no way AI will seamlessly wipe us all out. You’ll have a real human working in a buddy system with a few advisors and understanding what AI can do to help.” ~ [Gary Russell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-russell-60baaa12/) \[31:22\] - “The integration of the decisions that you make and how you bring them to your team really matters. We have learned that by doing it poorly and failing our way up.” ~ [Gary Russell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-russell-60baaa12/) #### **Links** [Gary Russell on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-russell-60baaa12/) [Helium Advisors](https://www.heliumadvisors.com/) [Howard Morin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardmorin/) [Jocko Willink](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocko-willink-260b289/) [Extreme Ownership](https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057) [Patrick Sweeny](https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-sweeny-0039667/) [Oleg Tishkevich](https://www.linkedin.com/in/olegtishkevich/) [Envestnet](https://www.envestnet.com/) [J.J. Feldman](https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-j-feldman-5b512835/) [Slow Productivity](https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Productivity-Accomplishment-Without-Burnout/dp/0593544854) #### **Connect with our hosts** #### [Milemarker.co](https://www.milemarker.co/) [Kyle on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylevanpelt/) [Jud on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/judmackrill/) #### **Subscribe and stay in touch** [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connected/id1691759257) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Lw8kHGnS1JJBMZLPYxc9S) [YouTube](https://youtu.be/E2ByXzjWX-Q) **While there, please don’t forget to Download, Like, and Subscribe.** If you’d like to schedule a time to talk with me about anything we cover on our podcast or [Milemarker](https://www.milemarker.co/), [click here for 15 minutes](https://meetings.hubspot.com/kyle-van-pelt). Kyle Van Pelt [**Gary Russell***Partner & Co-Founder, Helium Advisors*](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/guests/gary-russell) Next Mile Conversations with the people building the next era of wealth management, hosted by Kyle Van Pelt. New episodes every Tuesday. [Get the newsletter →](https://www.milemarker.co/resources/newsletter) [Talk to Milemarker →](https://www.milemarker.co/contact) ## Keep listening Ep. 169 · Nov 3, 2026 · 45 min ### [How to Turn Client Reviews Into Better Client Experiences with Brendan Frazier](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/how-to-turn-client-reviews-into-better-client-experiences-with-brendan-frazier) Brendan Frazier, The Human Side of Money Podcast Ep. 168 · Oct 27, 2026 · 32 min ### [The Difference Between a Family Office and an RIA with More Services with Matt Celenza](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/the-difference-between-a-family-office-and-an-ria-with-more-services-with-matt-celenza) Matt Celenza, Americana Partners Ep. 165 · Oct 6, 2026 · 27 min ### [Scaling with Soul: Growing an Advisory Firm Without Losing What Matters with Grace Balestrieri](https://www.milemarker.co/podcast/scaling-with-soul-growing-an-advisory-firm-without-losing-what-matters-with-grace-balestrieri) Grace Balestrieri, Brighton Jones