1. Markets Rally Into Uncertainty as Investors Bet on Better Days Ahead
Great maxims are universal. An example is Wayne Gretzky’s “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been,” which works in hockey but also across any athletic or entrepreneurial endeavor – we should want to be anticipatory, proactive and forward-looking in all that we do. I would argue the maxim also works for markets, that equity prices will skate to where the puck (in this case the economy, earnings, interest rates and geo-political risk) is going. Said differently, markets can and will reflect where fundamentals will be in the future, not where they are today. — Tim Holland
2. Buying an Advisory Practice Can Build Your Future—or Break It
Acquiring a financial advisory practice isn’t just a deal—it’s a defining move that can launch your growth or quietly sink your momentum. Done right, it enhances your credibility, expands your client base, and fosters your future. But miss the critical steps, and the cost isn’t just financial—it’s your reputation. Discover what advisors don’t want to overlook when making their first big acquisition. — Grant Hicks
3. Tax Planning for Financial Advisors: How to Market Your Services for Growth
Tax planning is one of the most in-demand services advisors can offer. Here's how to communicate your value clearly, consistently, and compliantly. First, the good news: Almost half of all advisory firms now offer tax planning services. The bad news: Most firms still struggle to articulate the value of those services in a way that’s compelling to clients and attractive to prospects. The problem isn’t in the services themselves. Both financial advisors and their clients see value in proactive tax planning as part of a comprehensive client experience. The problem is the way firms deliver their message. This article will give you a practical communication framework so you can effectively market your tax planning services and use tax as a growth lever in your business. — Wealth.com
4. Post April 15th: What Did the Accountant Tell Your Client?
Tax day is behind us. Your client has filed their tax return. OK, some do but people with complicated lives probably work with an accountant. Let us assume their accountant does not offer wealth management services and you, their wealth manager, do not offer tax advice. Did the accountant make comments or suggestions to your client? What are they? So what are they? The simplest solution is to ask your client: “Did your accountant suggest anything you should do differently in this tax year?” Here are a few points they might have made. — Bryce Sanders
5. The New Retirement Math for Income and Legacy
It used to feel like retirement planning was built on a straightforward equation: save diligently, invest wisely, withdraw prudently and the math would take care of itself. But the assumptions that shaped these concepts — shorter retirements, steadier markets, predictable yields — have changed. — David Wood
6. People Don’t Buy Services—They Buy How You Make Them Feel
One of the most common mistakes in marketing isn’t a bad website, a weak logo, or even inconsistent messaging. It’s far more subtle than that. Most firms talk almost exclusively about what people need – and almost never about what people actually want.
They talk about services.
They talk about processes.
They talk about credentials.
They talk about tools, technology, and methodologies. — Maribeth Kuzmeski
7. From M&A to Technology: RIAs Shift Strategic Focus
A recent survey of Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) has revealed a shift in strategic priorities across the industry. Past surveys have indicated that RIA firms were most focused on growth through market expansion, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and succession planning. The latest survey, however, showed new trends. How is the RIA industry finding strategies to achieve growth and success in a fast-changing environment? — Alicia Chandler
8. Intentional Giving Through Donor-Advised Funds with Brian Howell
Brian Howell, Director of Charitable Consulting at DAFgiving360™, unpacks how donor-advised funds can move charitable giving from a year-end tax decision to a more deliberate part of long-term wealth planning. He walks through the core advantages of DAFs, from contributing appreciated and complex assets to investing for tax-free growth and building succession plans that can simplify charitable legacy decisions over time. — Power Your Advice
9. The Case for Advisors To Connect With Women Is Getting Clearer
Admittedly there’s some cherry picking going on here, but over the past three years the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) – the largest exchange traded fund (ETF) in the world and among the most basic – is up 79%, including paid dividends. That doesn’t mean all investors enjoyed comparable returns – some did better, others worse – but the point is stocks work over long holding periods. So it’s arguably alarming that according to a recent Civic Science survey, roughly half of the women polled said they rely on savings accounts as their primary savings or investing tools. That’s merely the beginning of why advisors and women need to find ways to connect and do so sooner than later. — Todd Shriber
10. Mastering Succession: How Mid-Career Advisors Can Secure Their Legacy
According to Cerulli Associates, nearly 40% of financial advisors plan to retire within the next decade. The average advisor is already in their mid-50s. What that means in practice: an enormous transfer of client relationships, recurring revenue, and institutional knowledge that the industry isn't ready for. If you're a mid-career advisor, that pressure creates two opportunities at once. You're positioned to acquire practices from advisors who are ready to step away. And whether you've acknowledged it yet or not, you're also starting to build the thing that will one day be your own legacy. — Jeff Judge
11. Why Most Advisors Pick the Wrong Clients
Here is an uncomfortable truth that nobody in the financial services industry wants to say out loud: most advisory firms are terrible at choosing clients. They will spend thousands on marketing funnels, sales training, and CRM platforms, all designed to convince more people to say yes. And then they wonder why half their book is full of clients who drain capacity, resist implementation, and quietly erode the firm’s ability to serve anyone well. — Mike Garrison