Trending
1. Don’t Let the “Invisible Hand” Hit the Invisible Panic Button
Recently, I ran into an old colleague who's retired from financial services. We got to talking about some of the newer protection strategies on the market. I was shocked when she sighed and said, “Oh, something like this would have been so helpful back in 2020. I made a really bad decision.” Like so many investors, my friend had sold a considerable amount of her equity position when the market plunged. She panicked, and then she regretted it. — Amber Williams
2. Where to Invest as the Fed Cuts Rates
In this episode, hosts Lindsey Bell, Chris Versace, and Bob Lang discuss September market trends, focusing on the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq. They explore retail sales, especially digital shopping's holiday season impact, and analyze the Fed's shift to a rate-cutting cycle and its effects on housing, construction, and banking. — What Does It Mean
3. Forward Momentum: Elite Teams Take the Helm at RIA Firms
There’s no doubt that the independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) model is enticing. You control pricing. You keep 100% of what you earn. You serve your clients your way - without the pressure to cross-sell or meet sales quotas. Every day, more and more investment advisors are making the move to independence. — Schwab Advisor Services
4. The Kiss of Death: “I’d Like To Think About It”
You’ve come to the end of a meeting with a potential client, after an awkward pause, you hear: “I’d like to think about it. A wave of frustration and shock rolls over you like stepping into an ice bath, triggered by the fact that you were certain you did everything “by the book”, as you were taught by your mentors and elders (even your partners in your own firm!). — Ari Galper
5. The Hard-Coding of the US Electorate … and What It Means for Markets
There’s a long-standing viewpoint among investors that US elections don’t really matter to markets. But we would argue that today’s election results do matter. We’ll examine this topic from multiple dimensions, as well as the implications for investors, in our upcoming AB Disruptor Series webcast, “2024 US Election Outlook: Politics Don’t Matter?” — Richard Brink
6. Why the Markets Don’t Fear either Trump or Harris
THIS ELECTION IS STILL TOO CLOSE TO CALL, with only a point or two separating Trump and Harris in swing states like Pennsylvania. Trump often exceeds his polls slightly in actual voting, so an extremely tight finish is not good news for Harris. — Greg Valliere
7. How “Present You, Future You” Can Close Sales
“If you don’t have a good idea, steal someone else’s.” Shepeard Mead wrote the book “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” in 1952. It became a hit Broadway musical in 1961, won seven TONY awards and a film in 1967. You have seen the health insurance ads where “Present You and Future You” are both onscreen, with future you congratulating present you for decisions taken in the past, making life better for future you. This is an idea that can easily be adapted to your own business. — Bryce Sanders
8. Younger Americans Can’t Keep Funding Wealthier Older Generations
You know the expression “OK, boomer”? Better said as “Boomer OK.” That’s because the social safety net in the United States is increasingly favoring the old over the young. And this affects our political views and the security of future generations. Younger Americans have valid reason for disgruntlement: Big shifts in income and wealth are significantly favoring their elders. Under almost every president since 1980, 80 percent of the real growth in domestic spending has gone to Social Security and health care, with Medicare the most expensive health program, according to calculations based on federal data. As a share of G.D.P., all other domestic outlays combined have declined. — Eugene Steuerle and Glenn Kramon
9. Breaking through to Elusive Prospects
How often do you identify the ideal client prospect? They meet all your criteria, you might even have a referral from a mutual acquaintance, yet they don’t respond to your phone calls, texts and emails. They may have an assistant who politely takes a message, but they all seem to go into a black hole. — Dana Klein
10. Is It Worth It To Pay a Fee To Get a Higher Rate on an Indexed Annuity
You have to choose between several indexes and crediting terms lengths, and from an increasing number of products that offer the option of paying a fee for a higher participation cap or trigger rate. This option is found most often on a crediting strategy with a volatility-controlled index, but can also be on more common indexes such as the S&P 500. For example, as of June 24, 2024, one FIA offers a one-year point-to-point strategy on the S&P 500 with a 9.25% cap rate with no fee vs. 12.75% cap rate with a 1.25% fee. — Scott Stolz
11. Expect More Retirees to Unretire
It’s not uncommon for many retirees to have part-time jobs or do volunteer work. Either are fine ideas because for senior citizens, many of whom are retirees, keeping their minds sharp upon exiting the traditional workforce can be helpful in warding off Alzheimer's disease and dementia. — Todd Shriber