About Optimal AdvisorAI
We're on a mission to make AI practical, accessible, and actionable for professionals across financial services.
We simplify AI.
Our Mission
At Optimal AdvisorAI, we believe AI should serve professionals, not overwhelm them. Our mission is to equip financial services teams with the skills, tools, and confidence to apply AI in ways that are practical, compliant, and immediately useful.
Whether you're improving efficiency, deepening client relationships, or streamlining operations, we're here to support your AI learning journey every step of the way.
5k+ professionals
Across wealth, banking, compliance, and operations
Expertly-designed courses
Built for financial services use cases
Expert-led Instructors
Industry professionals
73% NPS Score
From learners applying our tools within 30 days
Meet Your Instructors
Our diverse team of educators, technologists, and innovators work together to create the best learning experience possible.
David Itzkovits
Co-founder
Craig Kirkpatrick
Co-founder
Karen Maccaro
Strategic Partner
Keagan Barnes
VP Research
David Itzkovits
Co-founder
David has +20 years of experience in the Financial Services industry and has worked in various senior roles at top tier financial institutions. He was also a founding member of a startup which was eventually acquired by a $50 Billion global investment firm.
David is an acknowledged thought-leader in the use of Artificial Intelligence in the investments industry and is an international key-note speaker on the subject. He has been instrumental in driving the use AI in investment management and launched multiple funds including the first UCITS Balanced Fund in 2017 utilizing AI exclusively in the decision-making process.
David is a CFA Charterholder, has a Bachelor of Science from McGill University and has an MBA from Ivey Business School at Western University.
Craig Kirkpatrick
Co-founder
Craig brings over three decades of experience in the financial services sector, focusing on educating financial professionals to enhance client service. At Optimal AdvisorAI, he has taught the use of Artificial Intelligence technologies across the country, demonstrating their practical applications in saving time, expanding knowledge, and improving client relationships. His efforts, backed by 1,000+ hours and over 10,000 prompts with AI models, have been well received within the financial community.
Prior to Optimal AdvisorAI, Craig co-founded two alternative mutual fund companies and served as a consultant to asset management firms and investment advisors, emphasizing innovation in the sector. A University of California, Berkeley alum, Craig holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, further solidifying his expertise and commitment to the financial advisory field
Karen Maccaro
Strategic Partner
Karen Hebert-Maccaro, Ph.D. has 25+ years experience in academic and corporate leadership roles focused on developing individuals and teams. Most recently she served as the GM of Education and Consumer Products at Morning Brew where she was responsible for the upstart edtech arm of this media entity as well as their direct-to-consumer products division. Prior to Morning Brew, Karen was Chief Executive Officer of Babson College’s Executive Education Division for corporate training programs and also including their 150 room executive conference center.
Karen holds a PhD from Boston College, an EdM from Boston University, and a BA from the University of Massachusetts. She is also a certified executive coach.
Keagan Barnes
VP Research
Keagan Barnes is the Vice President of Research at Optimal AdvisorAI, where he supports the design of advanced AI use cases tailored for financial professionals. With experience spanning investment operations, implementation strategy, and digital transformation in asset management, Keagan now focuses on helping advisors and institutions unlock growth through AI Driven Workflows.
He holds a BCom in Finance/Investments and Information Systems, and an Honours degree in Finance and Investments from the University of the Western Cape.
