In this episode of The Purpose-Focused Advisor, I’m joined by a former advisor turned innovator who understands both sides of the table. Daniel Yoo left behind a career overseeing over $800 million in client assets to build solutions that serve—not replace—financial advisors.
His journey into AI wasn’t about chasing trends. It was about solving a problem he lived through: how to be fully present with clients while meeting the demands of compliance and documentation.
We talk about the right way to use AI in an advisory practice, why simplicity and security matter more than flashy features, and what advisors must do with the time technology gives back. Daniel doesn’t just bring a technologist’s brain… he brings an advisor’s heart.
If you’re navigating where AI fits into your practice, this episode offers more than answers. It offers direction grounded in purpose.
Key Takeaways:
- Choosing to Fix What Hurts (06:15) – Leaving a successful advisory career, Daniel set out to fix the everyday pain advisors face with disorganized or delayed note taking.
- Adopting Tools That Truly Help (08:58) – The best AI solutions are simple, intuitive, and designed to integrate seamlessly into how advisors already work.
- Making Privacy a Priority (10:47) – Some platforms choose to wipe all data by default, putting security and compliance first by treating data as a risk, not an asset.
- Meeting Clients Where It Counts (18:46) – In-person client interactions remain a deeply valuable experience that technology cannot fully replicate.
- Investing Time Where It Matters (22:52) – When AI takes over routine tasks, it’s essential for advisors to reinvest that time into high-value client conversations, not just automated output.
Daniel Yoo: “AI should automate the things you don’t want to do and enhance the things only you can.”
Rob Brown: “If you’re just inputting data and delivering a plan, you’ve become a human robo-advisor.”
About Daniel Yoo: Daniel Yoo is the founder and CEO of FinMate AI, the first AI note-taking assistant built specifically for financial advisors. Drawing from his experience as a senior advisor at TD Ameritrade and Schwab, where he oversaw $800M in client assets, Daniel launched FinMate in 2023 to eliminate the burden of manual documentation. The platform now supports over 1,500 advisors, helping them save time while staying compliant and client-focused. He holds FINRA licenses and insurance credentials and earned a Master’s in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins, specializing in AI and machine learning for asset price prediction.
Connect with Daniel Yoo:
Website: https://www.finmate.ai/
Email: daniel@finmate.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smyoo/
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Connect with Rob Brown:
Website: https://truestfan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/truestfan/
Email: robb@truestfan.com