Insights

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing financial advisory. How will AI impact investors’ portfolios?   This week on Framework, Ana Trujillo Limón, Director, Coaching and Advisor Content, and Odaro Aisueni, Wealth Planner, speak with Peter Lazaroff, Chief Investment Officer at Plancorp, LLC, about the impact of AI on financial planning, and the importance of diversification in investment portfolios.    …

Famed Italian artist Michelangelo said, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” If you’re reading this, you’re likely in one of three categories: You love goal setting, and you’re constantly searching for new …

In her more than two decades in the financial services industry, Clara Sierra hasn’t had many sponsors. “I’ve had many, many, many mentors,” said Sierra, who is a senior director at Moody’s Analytics. “But I would say I have only had two sponsors.” As a woman and as an Afro-Latina, sponsors are few and far …

In late 2020, the SEC announced that it had finalized changes to its Marketing Rule for financial advisors. The amendments create a single rule that replaces the pre-existing advertising and cash solicitation rules. The rule’s broadly drawn limitations and principles-based provisions are designed to accommodate the continual change in technology and ever-expanding ways in which …

Changes to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “Marketing Rule” recently went into effect, and they impact everything from testimonials to the definition of an “advertisement.”  Staying in compliance with these rule changes can be challenging for advisors, but our on-demand webinar “Staying on Top of SEC Marketing Rule Changes” can help you stay on track.  …

The SECURE Act brought big changes to retirement planning when it was signed into law in 2019. Now, its sequel – dubbed SECURE 2.0 Act – has just passed as part of the 2023 budget. Though SECURE 2.0 Act’s changes to the retirement landscape aren’t quite as sweeping as the original, there’s still plenty advisors …

It’s been a puzzle as to why Americans seem to be in a funk, despite strong economic growth, low unemployment, rising incomes (even after adjusting for inflation), and even strong consumption trends. In other words, Americans were out and about spending, on the back of strong incomes, but confidence was plunging. The University of Michigan …

“If Santa should fail to call, bears may come to Broad and Wall.” —Yale Hirsh One of the little-known facts about the Santa Claus Rally (SCR) is that it isn’t the entire month of December; it’s actually only seven days. Discovered in 1972 by Yale Hirsch, creator of the Stock Trader’s Almanac (carried on now …

“Investing is like dieting. It is simple, but not easy.” Warren Buffett, Chairperson at Berkshire Hathaway It was a year ago this week that we moved to overweight equities and we’ve been there ever since. Obviously, this wasn’t a very popular call, as nearly everyone else on Wall Street was expecting a recession and the …

As you run your financial advisory practice, in the back of your mind you realize you’re building a valuable business. But do you know just how valuable? You could be pleasantly surprised. Market valuations of RIAs have roughly doubled over the past five years thanks to strong M&A demand from large-scale advisory practices, consolidators and …

 You tell your clients they shouldn’t leave retirement planning to the last minute. The same applies to your business – specifically, with succession planning for financial advisors. Ideally, when you leave, you smoothly transition your clients and staff to another advisor who fairly compensates you for the book of business. But this process doesn’t …

 The RIA landscape is enjoying historic valuations as bidding on these firms by other RIAs, broker-dealers, banks and private equity firms drives up prices. The interest is understandable. McKinsey reports RIAs have achieved 12% annual growth in assets since 2016, making them the fastest-growing category in the U.S. wealth management market. At Carson Group, …