Few people have seen the story of SS&C Black Diamond^® Wealth Solutions unfold quite like John Milne. From intern to industry leader, he’s helped drive its technology, culture, and client experience through more than 15 years of innovation and growth.

In our Five Questions With blog series, John discusses how Black Diamond’s evolution, teamwork, and creativity have created new opportunities for advisors.

You’ve been with Black Diamond since the early days, both in your career and in the company’s history. What stands out to you most when you reflect on how far the platform has come?

For me, the most significant aspect is that we've preserved our culture and DNA. Despite growing from a small startup to over 800 people, we've maintained what makes this a special place to work. I'm as excited to come to work today as I was when I started 15 years ago, because I love both the work and the people I work with every day.

When you think back to your first year compared to today, what do you see as the biggest changes in how we serve advisors and their clients?

The most notable shift I’ve observed is that advisors are now expected to provide guidance on far more topics for their clients than when I started. In fact, in 2010, we were still trying to figure out how to improve fixed income reporting, as it was a major gap.

Now, advisors are asked to offer advice on more than traditional assets. They need to be able to talk about insurance, trusts, private investments, cryptocurrency, and financial planning, among so many other topics. And, at Black Diamond, our platform has had to evolve to meet those needs. Anything that impacts a client's financial life should be surfaced within Black Diamond so that advisors can effectively do their jobs.

I am certain there will be more to come, but we are prepared to meet the evolving needs of advisors.

What was the moment you knew Black Diamond was going to be big?

I realized Black Diamond's potential after we built the third generation of the platform, which we affectionately referred to as BD3. We took a big risk by overhauling our technology, but it was the right move for our future. It took us over 5 years to complete the build and retire our legacy application, BlueSky. It was a big bet, but we maintained our client base during that transition.

We now have a platform that enables us to grow and adapt, something impossible without that leap of faith. Thank you to those clients who stayed with us. We’re so grateful for your patience!

How would you describe your leadership style, and how has it evolved as the company and industry have grown more complex?

I focus on empowering leadership to drive their areas and deliver the right solutions for clients, even if it means resisting my own instincts to be more involved.

When we had 4 or 5 development teams, it was easy to dive into the work and take a more hands-on approach. However, as we have expanded to over 25 of these same teams, this has become almost impossible. I will always make myself available as a resource, but those leaders need to feel a sense of ownership and responsibility to deliver the most impactful items for our clients.

Are they going to make mistakes? Absolutely! But I wouldn't have it any other way, because that is how they'll learn and become stronger leaders. I'm proud of our team and have the utmost faith in them to solve increasingly hard problems for our clients and our business.

What excites you most about the future of Black Diamond Wealth Solutions, and where do you see the greatest opportunities for advisors in the years ahead?

Simply put, we have the expertise to tackle any challenge ahead. We’re fortunate to have a long-tenured team that understands this sector and can solve any problem. Additionally, having SS&C’s full backing gives me confidence that we can create unique solutions in wealth management. Whether connecting with internal teams or exploring acquisitions, we have the resources to act.

Looking forward, Artificial Intelligence stands out as a significant area of growth for Black Diamond. Our vision is to make AI a core pillar of our strategy, supporting advisors by unlocking greater efficiency and new capabilities. While there is much to refine, we are committed to leveraging these tools to address emerging needs and create new opportunities across the wealth management landscape.

John continues to lead with the same energy and curiosity as when he started, driving innovation from platform rebuilds to AI advancements, always prioritizing collaboration and client needs. As Black Diamond looks to the future, he is committed to ensuring continued progress and delivering lasting value for clients, advisors, and the industry.