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1. Three Key Factors in Choosing a Financial Advisor
When mom and dad sit down with you for the first time, they want to get to know you. They want to do business with someone they like and trust and someone who is making the right suggestions. They don’t want to do business with the Mr. or Ms. Financial Advisor you. They want to do business with the real you. — Don Connelly
2. What Are the Top 3 Traits of Any Successful Advisor?
In any advisory role, certain traits distinguish the most effective and impactful advisors from the rest. Over my decades-long career running a global firm, I believe that I’ve whittled down my top three that contribute to an advisor’s long-term success in our increasingly competitive and continually changing industry. — Nigel Green
3. Why Do You Care What Cathie Woods Thinks?
Wealth Creator or Destroyer? Cathie Woods gained notoriety in 2020 when she posted very strong returns. Her flagship ETF was up over 150% that year. The market is very inconsistent and unpredictable, but one thing that is very consistent and predictable is that investors will chase strong performance, as they did after 2020. And they got in just in time to experience significant losses. Her fund was down 23% in 2021 and 67% in 2022. Ouch! — Jay Mooreland
4. The Future of Mortgage Rates: What to Expect
The residential housing market may never experience a boom quite like it did during the pandemic driven by a lack of housing supply after over a decade of under-building relative to population growth, strong demand across consumers thanks to fiscal support and the desire for more living space, and rock bottom interest rates. Since then, and as highlighted in a recent post, the rise in mortgage rates and home prices has crushed housing affordability, making achieving the American dream of home ownership unattainable for many people. — Jordan Jackson
5. Handcuffed By Compliance? A New Marketing Approach For Growth
Your value as a financial advisor is based on your ability to leave someone’s net worth in a better position than if they had managed it themselves. Therefore, the value proposition at the heart of your business is very clear – hiring you will result in protection and/or growth, depending on the specific needs of your client. — Ari Galper
6. How to Position Client Confidentiality as a Benefit
Many businesses talk about their clients. Famous restaurants in New York put their pictures on the wall. Others feature ambassadors or spokespeople. Celebrities are seen wearing luxury brands. In most cases they are hired or have given their permission. The logic is association. “I want to be more like that person, so I will use the same products.” Financial services does not work like that. People value their privacy. — Bryce Sanders
7. Nvidia's Surge: How High Can It Climb?
The artificial intelligence (AI) chip king has been on a tear this year (+128%)—after surging 239% last year—with no sign of slowing down. Crushed earnings (again). Smashed through a record high... And look at this: Since the October 2022 market bottom, it’s made the group of big, high-performing tech stocks known as the “Mag 7” look more like “Mag 1 and the other 6”... — Chris Reilly
8. Creating Your Own Formula for the Modern Office
The ability to call your own shots is a powerful reason to start your own independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm. You can create and run a business with complete freedom and make decisions in the best interest of your clients. Today, a new breed of independent firm—the modern office—is on the rise. Find out how these firms are leveraging technology, reimagined workspaces, and more to serve clients better, anticipate their needs, save time, and hyper-personalize services. Discover how your firm can do the same. — Schwab Advisor Services
9. 5 Advantages of Fast-Growing Firms
Earlier this year, we released our annual High Growth Study, including a special report on the accounting & financial services industry. Today, we’d like to share a few key findings from this industry report, as well as insights into what the data means for your firm. 2023 (the year we collected the data) was a hopeful one: After a slowdown in 2022, growth picked up, averaging 12.3% across the industry. Market uncertainty, which has been a top concern for the past few years, moderated somewhat, though it remains an underlying worry. — Elizabeth Harr and Will Casserly
10. Why Is Crude Oil Dropping?
Crude oil prices have fallen by 10% over the last five days and nearly 20% since early April. As we will share, a few factors are negatively impacting the price of crude oil. First, OPEC surprised the markets this past weekend. They agreed to extend most of its production cuts to next year but are phasing out voluntary cuts. The deal appears to be an underhanded way of increasing production. Further pushing crude oil lower is a growing likelihood of a cease-fire agreement in Gaza. Importantly, an agreement could include broader peace agreements extending through the Middle East. Lastly, the recent slowing of economic activity in the U.S. and continued poor economic growth in China are weakening the demand for crude oil. Along those lines, the EIA recently shared that U.S. demand for diesel fell to its lowest seasonal level in over 25 years. — Lance Roberts
11. Handling Reluctance and Overcoming Objections
Objections. Concerns. Resistance. Reluctance. No matter how you label someone’s hesitation to discuss introductions, not every prospect or client likes to make them — especially when personal finances are involved. Some people are very private, while others have had bad experiences they don’t care to replicate. In all cases, they want to be careful not to damage their relationships. — Bill Cates