The Hidden Infrastructure Powering Modern Advisory Firms with Aaron Wormus

How unified data, enterprise architecture, and AI-ready systems are reshaping the future of wealth management In this episode of Next Mile, host Kyle Van Pelt sits down with Aaron Wormus, Chief Technology Officer at SMArtX Advisory Solutions, to explore the hidden infrastructure powering modern advisory firms—and why the future belongs to advisors who think like enterprise builders. Aaron shares how unified data systems, portfolio accounting engines, UMA architecture, and AI-ready infrastructure are transforming wealth management from the ground up. He explains why operational efficiency is no longer just a back-office concern, how firms can eliminate “toil” through automation and orchestration, and why clean, reconciled data is becoming the most valuable asset in advisory businesses. 👉 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Why modern advisory firms are evolving into technology-enabled enterprises. • How UMA architecture changes the advisor and client experience. • Why portfolio accounting engines are the backbone of real-time innovation. • How AI can eliminate operational friction instead of replacing advisors. • Why clean, secure, and connected data creates long-term competitive advantage. 🔥 Key Highlights: • [01:13] Aaron’s money moment and the early evolution of SMArtX. • [04:37] What actually makes advisory technology enterprise-grade. • [06:24] Why UMA architecture changes everything. • [12:20] The rise of the advisor-built enterprise platform. • [22:24] AI orchestration layers and the future of connected systems. • [30:27] Eliminating operational “toil” inside advisory firms. ✨ Why Watch? This episode is essential for advisors, operators, and fintech leaders who want to understand the infrastructure driving the next generation of wealth management. Aaron offers a practical look at how enterprise architecture, AI, and unified systems can create scalable firms that move faster, operate smarter, and deliver better client experiences. 📌 Quotes That Resonate: 🗨️ “We're in a new space where the people who are open to technology, open to building, really are the ones who win.” ~ Aaron Wormus 🗨️ “Most advisors want to become advisors so they can help people. They don't want to spend all their time rebalancing stuff or using spreadsheets.” ~ Aaron Wormus 🗨️ “Being able to have that reconciled data, being able to know that the data is good, being able to provide that data into different systems, that's really where that key component is.” ~ Aaron Wormus 🎥 More Episodes: Explore more conversations with industry leaders redefining the future of advice at milemarker.co. 🔔 Subscribe for more insights from leading financial advisors. #ria #datalake #datawarehouse #wealthmanagement #dataintegration #nextmilepodcast