The Uncertainty E.D.G.E.

The Uncertainty E.D.G.E.

The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. Podcast reveals what judgment looks like when certainty doesn't exist—and waiting isn't an option. Hosted by Sam Sivarajan—former investment banker ($40B+ in M&A), three-time wealth firm leader ($80B+ AUM), and behavioral scientist—each episode explores how people navigate decisions when outcomes aren't clear, tradeoffs feel unavoidable, and responsibility can't easily be delegated—the kind of uncertainty leaders face in the real world. These aren't polished success stories. They're honest explorations of how people make high-stakes decisions when: The data is incomplete Stakeholders demand clarity Delay carries its own cost And acting feels just as risky as waiting Through conversations with executives, investors, and experts who've made and lived with consequential decisions, the podcast surfaces: What couldn't be known at the time What pressures shaped the decision What tradeoffs were actually on the table How judgment was exercised without guarantees This is decision-making as it actually happens—not as it's modeled in hindsight. The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. Podcast is for people accountable for decisions that matter: senior leaders, business unit heads, investors, and operators who must act with clarity when certainty is impossible. No best practices. No leadership slogans. No predictions. Just the reality of deciding when the stakes are real. Want practical tools for navigating uncertainty? Subscribe to The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. newsletter at www.theuncertaintyedge.com for frameworks you can use immediately.

Episodes

January 6, 2026 12 mins

Summary

The Uncertainty Edge Podcast explores the complexities of decision-making in uncertain environments, using the Everest disaster as a case study to highlight the challenges leaders face when certainty is absent. The podcast introduces the E.D.G.E. Framework, which aims to improve judgment under pressure and emphasizes the importance of understanding VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) in decision-making proc...

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How do financial brands win in a world where attention—not capital—is the scarcest resource?

In this episode, Sam Sivarajan is joined by Charlie Grinnell, co-founder and CEO of Right Metric and former global head of social at Red Bull, for a sharp, practical conversation on modern marketing in financial services. Charlie breaks down what disruptors like Chime and Wealthsimple understand about the attention economy that traditional i...

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Episode Summary

In this episode of The Future Ready Advisor, Sam Sivarajan speaks with Joseph Galli, entrepreneur and founder of a medical foundation that’s reshaping how life insurance can fund philanthropy.

Joseph shares his personal journey into charitable work, how he created a foundation to fund medical research, and how he’s built innovative life insurance donation programs that combine financial planning, philanthropy, and tax...

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November 25, 2025 20 mins

Episode Description:

In September 2008, Lehman Brothers—who survived the Civil War, two World Wars, and the Great Depression—collapsed in one of the largest bankruptcies in American history. They had Nobel laureates on staff, sophisticated models, and decades of market data. Yet they missed the critical difference between managing risk and navigating uncertainty.

In this solo episode three days before the book The Uncertainty E.D.G...

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Episode Overview

In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with JonRobert 'Tat' Tartaglione, a behavioral scientist and founder of Influence 51, to explore the fascinating intersection of psychology and financial advising. With a doctorate in psychology from Cambridge, Tat specializes in translating complex behavioral science insights into practical tools that financial professionals can impl...

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Episode Overview

In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Doug Gray, a business psychologist and executive coach with over 30 years of experience helping leaders navigate complex organizational and family dynamics. Doug is the founder of Action Learning Associates and author of "Objectives Plus Key Results Leadership."

They explore the critical intersection of psychology and wealth management, di...

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    Episode Overview

    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Ray Adamson, a seasoned coach and FinTech executive, to explore the evolving landscape of advisory practices. They dive into the critical shift from lifestyle practices to structured, scalable businesses and discuss how technology and AI can transform the advisory experience.

    Ray shares insights on succession planning challenges, the untap...

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    Episode Summary

    In this compelling conversation, Sam Sivarajan sits down with Guido Palazzo, a Professor of Business Ethics, to unpack the complex world of ethical decision-making in organizations. Together, they examine how well-intentioned people can make harmful decisions under pressure, the profound impact of corporate culture on ethical behavior, and why context often matters more than personal values when it comes to moral cho...

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    Episode Overview

    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Gary Sinderbrand, a former top-producing advisor turned strategic coach who now helps advisory firms across North America navigate leadership transitions, client continuity, and succession planning challenges.

    Gary shares his decades of experience on both sides of the advisory business, exploring the looming advisor shortage crisis and wha...

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    Episode Overview

    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with John Kailunas, a wealth advisor, author, and retirement mentor who brings a fresh perspective to one of life's most important transitions. John has spent decades helping clients build, preserve, and transition wealth, but noticed a troubling pattern: clients who had all the financial pieces in place were still floundering in retirement.

    Th...

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    Episode Overview

    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Barrie Cohen, founder of BC Public Relations, to explore how financial advisors can build authentic personal brands and cut through market noise. Barrie shares insights on overcoming common PR misconceptions, the power of storytelling in building trust, and strategies for engaging high-net-worth clients through targeted positioning.

    They d...

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    Episode Overview

    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Lauren Jeffery, a registered psychotherapist, certified executor advisor, and doctoral researcher who brings a fascinating perspective to the advisor-client relationship. Lauren's unique journey from compliance trainer in financial services to psychotherapist working with vulnerable populations has given her powerful insights into what tr...

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    Episode Overview

    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Kim Siegers-Robinson, a family business advisor, to explore the critical yet often overlooked aspects of family business dynamics. Kim shares powerful insights on the importance of communication in succession planning, the emotional challenges families face in wealth transitions, and why addressing the 'soft stuff' is essential for long-t...

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    Episode Overview

    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Matt Hicken, Senior Vice President at Bill Good Marketing, for an in-depth conversation about scaling advisory practices and building sustainable growth systems.

    Matt brings over two decades of experience working with financial advisors across North America, plus nearly 14 years as a licensed advisor where he helped grow one practice from ...

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    Episode Overview

    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with David Allison, founder of Value Graphics Research Company and author of The Death of Demographics. David challenges traditional assumptions about consumer behavior and reveals why demographics are only 10% accurate in predicting client behavior.

    This conversation explores the shift from demographic analysis to values-driven insights, uncov...

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    🎙️ Episode Overview

    In this second solo episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan introduces the 3A Framework—a practical model to help financial advisors lead with clarity in a world defined by volatility and change.

    Sam breaks down how to Assess situations objectively, Act decisively, and Adapt pragmatically. He explores how cognitive biases can distort perception, and why structure and empathy are key to helping cli...

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    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with behavioral scientist and author Nuala Walsh to explore the unseen forces that lead even smart people to make poor decisions. Together, they break down the common cognitive traps and biases that affect advisors and clients alike.

    Nuala shares her powerful “decision traps” framework and stresses the importance of reinterpreting—not just hearing—client commu...

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    In this episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Ryan Townsley, founder of Town Capital and former senior reactor operator in the nuclear power industry. Ryan shares his remarkable transition into financial advising and how building a niche practice focused on nuclear professionals helped him grow a $110M business.

    They explore the power of specialization, the importance of relatability in advisor-clien...

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    🎙️ Episode Overview

    In this first solo episode of The Future-Ready Advisor, host Sam Sivarajan shares a timely and transformative message on how advisors can lead themselves and their clients through volatility, uncertainty, and change.

    Drawing on decades of leadership in wealth management, behavioral finance, and real-life crisis moments—from the Great Recession to COVID—Sam introduces his powerful CASE Foundation: Control, Align, ...

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    Episode Summary

    In this episode, Sam Sivarajan is joined by Mary Schmid, expert in communication and creator of the Conversational Edge system. Together, they dive into the transformative power of communication in financial advising and explore how financial professionals can foster trust and deepen client relationships through more meaningful, emotionally intelligent conversations.

    Mary explains the neuroscience behind effe...

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