Three Key Takeaways from Our Eric Clarke Interview

Rusty Vanneman

11 Aug 2025 — 1 min read

Eric Clarke isn’t just a former boss of mine—he’s a hiking buddy, a dear friend, and one of the most intentional leaders I know. As the founder and former CEO of Orion, Eric is a legend in the fintech and wealthtech worlds, and he still has a long way to go in his career to keep making a difference.

It was a real treat to have him on the podcast and get his insights on topics ranging from fintech to behavioral finance to living well. Given Eric’s multi-decade run as an industry thought leader (with decades still ahead), the interview was packed with lessons on right thinking and right action.

Here are my three key takeaways:

1. Humility and Servant Leadership Drive Success
Talking to Eric, it’s clear how strongly he believes humility and servant leadership were critical to his success. Gratitude runs through everything he says—gratitude for the people he worked alongside at Orion, and for the financial advisors he served. He openly acknowledged the challenges of entrepreneurship, including the frustrations of technology development. But he views challenges as opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage. In Eric’s words, challenges are chances to solve problems.

2. Solving the “Investor Problem” with Behavioral Finance
Eric often says the investment problem has been solved—now it’s the investor problem that needs attention. The solution, he believes, lies in behavioral finance. That means pairing empathy and emotional intelligence with traditional financial expertise. While technology can help, human connection remains key. Advisors who strengthen their behavioral finance skills will be better equipped to add value for clients. To underscore his passion for the topic, Eric highly recommended The Soul of Wealth by Dr. Daniel Crosby, a prior Invest Well, Be Well guest.

3. Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Advisory Work
Eric sees artificial intelligence as a game changer for the financial industry. Over the next decade, AI will reshape the advisor’s role, making them both more efficient and more effective. By integrating AI, advisors will be able to upgrade client interactions, offering deeper personalization and a better overall experience. Investors will always need human advice—but those who leverage AI will serve their clients at an even higher level.

Enjoy the podcast—and let me know what you think.
Listen here

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