1. Beyond Investing: How Wealth Advisors Are Becoming Strategic Powerhouses
Once upon a time, being a wealth advisor was mostly about one thing: beating the market. You were the stock whisperer, the bond baron, the keeper of all things alpha. Clients came to you for returns. Full stop. But times have changed. Returns are now table stakes and often outsourced to automated platforms, third-party strategists, or a well-behaved index fund. So if you’re still trying to differentiate based on asset allocation alone… well, good luck competing with a low-cost ETF and ChatGPT. — Matt Beecher
2. Stop Chasing Clients: The Proven Way Experts Build Consistent Demand
Marketing is one of the most powerful tools experts have to grow their businesses, build authority, and foster trust. Yet, so many advisors fall into the trap of what we call "stop-and-start marketing"—a cycle of initiating marketing efforts only to abandon them when they don’t see immediate results, get too busy, or lose motivation. This inconsistency leads to "stop-and-start success," meaning real, sustainable growth never materializes. — Kirk Lowe
3. The Four Flows That Define Your Firm’s Future-and How to Turn the Tide
The wealth management industry is at a crossroads. Record M&A activity and high valuations may suggest robust health, but beneath the surface, structural headwinds threaten the very foundation of organic growth for advisory firms. For owners and principals, understanding the dynamics of the four critical client flows-and leveraging pivotal “Moments That Matter” – now essential to safeguarding enterprise value and ensuring future relevance. — Steve Gresham, Suzanne Schmitt and Sharad Srivastava
4. Balancing Innovation and Human Touch in Wealth Tech with Molly Weiss
On this episode, Doug speaks with Molly Weiss, President of the Wealth Management Platform at Envestnet, about how the firm balances innovation with simplicity across its platform. Molly shares Envestnet’s dual-track approach to development—advancing core systems while rapidly testing new features—and explains how modern APIs help integrate acquisitions without compromising user experience. — Power Your Advice
5. The One Graphic That Instantly Explains Your Value to Clients and Prospects
I've described the graphic overview as a powerful and persuasive way to articulate value to your clients, prospects, and centres-of-influence. By using graphics and illustrations to explain who you are, what you do, and what clients can expect, the graphic overview clearly and succinctly demonstrates how you are different from the competition. It is the most efficient way to explain what the client experience will be to your prospects. — Jeff Thorsteinson
6. What’s Really Driving Markets? Long-Term Forces Outweigh Trump’s Tariff Moves
As tempting as it is to attribute every good or bad turn in financial markets to the actions of a president, with such discussions divert attention from the longer-term and more significant changes taking place. Most of at people observe today in the bond and mortgage market—and, by implication, the stock market—likely reflects a return to normalcy after the ending of a prolonged, unusual, yet eventually unsustainable period of declining nominal (before-inflation) and real (after-inflation) interest rates and exceptionally high increases in asset prices. — Eugene Steuerle
7. Navigating Trust in the Influencer Economy
The influencer economy is like a crowded carnival. Everywhere you turn, someone is shouting about the next big thing, waving their hands to grab your attention. It is flashy, chaotic, and, let’s be honest, a little overwhelming. But here is the thing, in the middle of all this noise, trust is what cuts through. And trust, my friend, is your secret weapon. — Ari Galper
8. How To Incorporate Prenuptial Agreements Into Comprehensive Financial Plans
A prenuptial agreement is one of the most overlooked yet vital tools in comprehensive financial planning. While many clients may view it as uncomfortable or unnecessary, a well-crafted prenup can be a proactive, intelligent part of holistic financial security. — Devin Partida
9. The Real Reason the Fed Didn’t Cut Rates in May
At its May meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to leave the Federal funds rate unchanged at a target range of 4.25% to 4.50% for a third consecutive meeting. Despite some signs of policy-induced weakness emerging, the Fed remains committed to its “wait-and-see” approach and is in no hurry to make meaningful adjustments to policy until the ultimate form and impact of tariff policies become clearer. — Brandon Hall
10. The Challenger Sale: The Lone Wolf’s Path to Extinction
In this episode of The Family Financial Conversation, Tom and Suzanne revisit The Challenger Sale to explore why the Lone Wolf advisor is becoming a relic. As client expectations evolve, advisors are being pushed beyond portfolio management into deeper, more holistic roles—covering everything from mental health to workplace benefits. The message is clear: today’s clients want advisors who engage across the full spectrum of life, not just money. — The Family Financial Conversation
11. Smart Money vs. Dumb Money: Who’s Betting Right in Today’s Market?
The concepts of “smart money” versus “dumb money” refer to the level of investors’ information and experience. Smart money, typically institutional investors and often seasoned professionals, has extensive research and is more adept at data analysis. Therefore, they tend to have more disciplined strategies and are less impacted by negative behavioral traits. Conversely, dumb money, or non-professional investors, is often characterized by emotional decisions and trend/momentum-chasing. Historically, smart money tends to outperform dumb money. However, there are market periods like early 2021 when retail trading on platforms like WallStreetBets outmaneuvered hedge funds. — Michael Lebowitz