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1. The Industry Blindspot: How To Acquire High-Net Worth Clients
I am at odds with the traditional sales process used by the advisory industry. The discovery meeting, waiting for the prospect to send or upload their financial documents, creating a free financial plan, then having another review meeting -- is long and complicated process -- and assumes everyone will make it to the final last paid step. — Ari Galper
2. Walmart Gives Investors a Ray of Hope
Walmart’s earnings report gives investors hope that weakening retail spending trends may be ending. Walmart’s earnings and sales exceeded expectations. Furthermore, Walmart gave increased earnings guidance for the year ahead. Investors loved the news, as witnessed by Walmart shares initially trading 8% higher on the news. — Michael P. Lebowitz
3. Is More Volatility Expected From Here?
Markets have largely rebounded from the volatility of the past two weeks. The S&P 500 has recovered 3.0% after a 4.8% decline, U.S. Growth equities have risen 4.3% following a 5.5% drop, and the VIX has settled at 20.7, after spiking to 55.1, its highest level since March 2020. However, investors are still pondering what caused the sudden sell-off and if more volatility is expected. — Mary Park Durham
4. Market Decline Over as Investors Buy the Dip
The market’s 8.5% decline during August sent shockwaves through the media and investors. The drop raised concerns about whether this was the start of a larger correction or a temporary pullback. However, a powerful reversal, driven by investor buying and corporate share repurchases, halted the decline, leading many to wonder if the worst is behind us. — Lance Roberts
5. Three Market Factors Everyone’s Overlooking
In this episode, our hosts discuss retailer earnings, Federal Reserve Chair Powell's upcoming Jackson Hole speech, and the potential impact of a Canadian rail strike on inflation. They also explore the implications of Vice President Kamala Harris' proposal to raise corporate tax rates and its effect on market EPS projections. — What Does It Mean?
6. Gen X Women Deserve Elevated Service from Advisors
Advisors absorb a deluge of demographic data and information – some of it credible in terms of identifying client groups of emphasis and areas for potentially valuable segmentation. There are myriad ways to slice and dice the demographic equation and for advisors/wealth management firms, age/generation is a sound starting point. From there, advisors can delve into higher levels of segmentation such as Asian millennials, Latino baby boomers, and so on. It can also pay to take broad demographic approaches and with that in mind, advisors should consider the benefits in immediately bolstering the level of service provided to Gen X women. — Todd Shriber
7. How Advisors Are Helping Clients Unretire
How advisors are helping clients rediscover purpose and passion beyond retirement. After years of guiding clients toward financial freedom, many wealth advisors are now facing a new challenge: helping those same clients return to work—not out of necessity, but to fulfill a deeper need for connection, purpose, and structure. — David Conti
8. Who Turned the Stock Market Upside Down?
If you’re a Disruption Investor member, I hope you read and acted upon last week’s issue: The Hedging Issue. In it, Chris Wood and I walked through several ways to “buy insurance” on your stock portfolio, in order to blunt losses and preserve the substantial gains we’ve enjoyed. — Stephen McBride
9. Will July 2024 Be a Harbinger of Small-Cap Strength in U.S. Equities?
In July 2024, U.S. small-cap stocks outperformed large-cap stocks after lagging for the first half of the year, driven by a cooler inflation report and improved market sentiment. Small caps are trading at a discount compared to the S&P 500 Index, and the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Quality Dividend Growth Fund (DGRS) focuses on valuation control and profitability to screen out speculative, unprofitable companies. — Christopher Gannatti
10. Engaging the Next Generation of Wealth Inheritors
As many of you know, the financial industry is in the beginning stages of one of the most talked about and anticipated events of our time, The Great Wealth Transfer. According to the New York Times, over the next few decades, beginning in 2022 and continuing until 2045, it’s estimated that $84 trillion in total assets is to be transferred from the baby boomers and the silent generation to their heirs. Of the $84 trillion, it’s projected Gen X (born 1965-1980) and millennials (1981-1996) will inherit $72 trillion, which is no small sum of assets. — Jack Giardino
11. How Highly Successful Advisors Drive Organic Growth
How many times have we heard that advisors aren’t growing? Year in and year out we hear the stats about the lack of organic growth in the industry. We’re told that most advisors aren’t bringing on new clients with any kind of velocity or consistency; instead, they’re growing AUM by virtue of rising markets, or leveraging M&A strategies to drive inorganic growth. — Penny Phillips