Tax Planning – Behind the Curtain Finance With Thomas Manetta

How AI Is Changing the Future of Financial Advice with Fernando San Martin (Ep. 21)

By Behind The Curtain Finance | June 5, 2026

AI gets talked about everywhere these days, but what does it actually look like when it becomes a practical tool for financial planning?

In this episode, Thomas Manetta welcomes Fernando San Martin, Senior Product Manager of Hazel by Altruist, for a conversation about the rapid changes taking place in financial planning. Fernando shares his journey from co-founding Thyme to joining Altruist, along with insights into how AI-powered tools are helping advisors uncover planning opportunities, save time, and deliver a better client experience.

Thomas and Fernando discuss:

How Hazel’s AI-powered tax planning tool identifies planning opportunities
Why tax planning has become an essential part of financial advice
The impact of AI on advisor productivity and client service
The future of financial planning technology
And more!

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Connect with Fernando San Martin:

About our Guest:

Fernando San Martin is the Senior Product Manager of Hazel at Altruist. Originally from Spain, Fernando has built his career at the intersection of finance, software, data, and artificial intelligence. Before joining Altruist, he co-founded Thyme, an AI-powered financial planning platform designed to help advisors deliver more efficient and impactful advice. Following Altruist’s acquisition of Thyme, Fernando joined the team to lead the development of Hazel, helping advisors leverage AI-driven insights across tax planning, financial planning, and client engagement. He is passionate about using technology to improve financial outcomes while preserving the human relationships that make advice meaningful.

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Rethinking Taxes: How Year-Round Planning and AI Are Changing the Game (Ep. 8)

By Behind The Curtain Finance | August 5, 2025

What if taxes didn’t have to be so stressful?

This week, Thomas Manetta shares how real-time tax planning and new tech tools are transforming the advisor-client relationship. He also opens up about his own education journey and how AI is rewriting the rules, both in school and in finance.

From Holistiplan to ChatGPT, this episode uncovers how integrated planning is the future of financial services.

Thomas discusses:

How Holistiplan software enables year-round conversations that reduce tax-time stress
Why he requires three years of tax returns from every new client
How AI and automation could reshape both IRS operations and client planning workflows
The dramatic shift in education around AI tools, including his graduate school experience
The vision of a fully integrated planning platform at the custodial level
And more!

Connect with Thomas Manetta:

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