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1. The Need for Advisors Is Getting Stronger
Financial Literacy Month, which came to a close on Tuesday, was a reminder of multiple issues, including the point that states and municipalities should implement stronger financial education in schools. Owing to the fact that such education is lacking in many states, many children grow up to be adults that aren’t highly knowledgeable about investing, personal finance or both. — Todd Shriber
2. What Is Your #1 Value to Investors?
Financial advisors have the potential to offer significant value to investors. I say “potential” because any value must be something we are experienced in, execute well, and message that value effectively. It is in the latter that advisors often fail – the art of messaging. Oftentimes how we say something can be just as impactful as what we say. Unfortunately, little thought and effort is put into how we say things. — Jay Mooreland
3. Resurgence in Buybacks Reverses Bullish Sentiment Index
Over the last two weeks, the bullish sentiment index has reversed from extreme greed to fear. The composite net bullish sentiment index, comprised of professional and retail investors, fell from 38.15 to 9.9 in two weeks. The previous drop between July and October last year was similar and marked the bottom of the correction. — Lance Roberts
4. 12 Observations on HNW Networking From Friday’s Charity Gala
My wife and I give back to the community through involvement in a local nonprofit. Friday night was our annual gala. The event was a sellout at $250/head. We had a waiting list. My eliminating the dance floor we were able to fit more tables. It was a success. From the point of view of networking within the HNW community, here are ten observations. — Bryce Sanders
5. Cautionary Advice: Financial Advisors and the Pitfalls of Popularity
Most of us start in this profession by joining a lot of networking groups to build our careers. However, this can lead to overcommitment. A common pitfall for advisors is falling into the popularity trap. They mistake popularity for profitability, focusing their time and energy on the wrong things. — Joseph Lukacs
6. “Pie” Thinking: What You Must Know But Politicians Won’t Discuss
Successful spending, tax, and budget decision-making requires trade-offs. Acknowledging those who lose when making trade-offs has always been difficult for elected officials, advocates, and pundits alike. Yet, making course corrections for government policy means changing relative priorities and has never been more required than it is today. I’m not just talking about deficits and the rising debt being left to future generations. Over recent decades Congress has oriented spending less and less toward the needs of our time. — Eugene Steuerle
7. These Five Issues Will Determine the Election
CALL US OLD-FASHIONED, BUT WE THINK ISSUES MATTER, and there are five of them that will have a major impact on the presidential election. These are the ones that could move the needle as the campaign heats up. — Greg Valliere
8. Zuck Says the Quiet Part About AI Aloud
I know this might sound crazy, but today could be even worse than it is. The poor revenue guidance during yesterday’s earnings report from Meta Platforms (META) put stocks on a negative footing, then this morning’s GDP report piled on bad news. But it was Mark Zuckerberg’s comments about AI that trouble me most. — Steve Sosnick
9. Why Choose Us? Crafting Your Compelling Response
For every financial advisor, the question, “Why should I do business with you?” hangs heavy in the air during initial consultations, whether spoken or not. It’s a pivotal moment, a crossroads where trust and value must intersect to convince the potential client to take the next step. While tempting to launch into a self-promotional monologue, a nuanced, client-centric approach is critical to unlocking that coveted “yes.” – Don Connelly
10. The Key To Retaining Clients
Discover the essential strategies for retaining clients and what happens when they decide to manage their affairs independently. — Stewart Bell
11. How to De-Commoditize Yourself
A reduction in situational awareness occurs in a profession when everyone does the same thing and gets similar results. Successful mentors, who succeeded in a different decade, teach everyone else what they know. — Ari Galper