About This Episode

The advisory profession is sitting on the precipice of major cyber-related regulation set to impact advisors of all sizes. But RIAs are not cybersecurity experts; many are not prepared for the requirements expected to be released by the SEC, and it could negatively impact their businesses. The cost of a cyber incident and reputational damage is further amplified given the deeply personal nature of an advisor-client relationship, which is rooted in trust. My guests today will share advisors’ top concerns regarding cybersecurity, what cyber regulation looks like in 2024, and how advisors can calm client fears about the protection of their data.

About Our Guest

Gabriel Garcia is the managing director of RIA client experience at SEI. Mike Lefebvre is director of cybersecurity for SEI Sphere.

Gabriel Garcia leads the client experience, business development, and strategy efforts focused on registered investment advisors (RIAs) for SEI’s advisor business. His 30-year career reflects a focus on helping RIAs develop and grow their practices into enduring firms, and on designing technology solutions that meet the needs of an evolving RIA community. Gabe has held leadership positions in business consulting, sales and relationship management, and executive management roles with Schwab, BNY Mellon’s Pershing, and E*TRADE Advisor Services. He also was head of corporate development for Cresset Capital, and has been a frequent speaker at industry and national conferences. Gabe earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Radford University, holds several professional licenses, and completed the Securities Industry Institute at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Gabe is a former member of the Foundation for Financial Planning’s advisory board.

Mike Lefebvre is the director of cybersecurity for SEI Sphere, a managed security service provider (MSSP) built by a regulated financial institution providing cyber, network, and cloud services. He is responsible for the evolution of security architecture and services that are essential for clients to maintain their digital fiduciary responsibilities. Mike has over 14 years of experience in the security industry across incident response, threat intelligence, ops, and research in prior roles at Deloitte, Accenture, and the Department of Defense. He is a regular public speaker and Forbes contributor as part of the Forbes Technology Council. He is also a board member of the New Jersey Bankers Cyber Risk Committee and a non-profit for grief and loss. A former adjunct professor and co-author of four patents, Mike is currently pursuing a computer science PhD in the AT&T Center for Virtualization at Southern Methodist University.

Show Notes

Here are some links to learn more about Gabe, Mike and SEI:

• Overview of SEI's cybersecurity offerings
• Overview of SEI's offerings for RIAs
• Gabe Garcia and Shauna Mace on Emerging Trends in the RIA Profession (Nov 2022)

A message from Advisor Perspectives and VettaFi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.