1. Why AI Won’t Replace Financial Advisors—But Could Make You Indispensable
From ChatGPT to niche tools, artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly visible in our industry. But here’s the question on many advisors’ minds: Will AI replace us? In this episode, I unpack why the answer is no. After spending the past year or two closely observing the slow but steady rise of AI in the financial services space, I’ve gathered my thoughts—and today, I’m sharing them with you. — Joseph Lukacs
2. How To Talk to Families About Estate Planning
Estate planning starts with conversations – not documents. And too often, those conversations leave out key people. Many times, it’s just one spouse or one generation making the decisions. That’s a mistake. The strongest estate plans include everyone who will be affected. — FMG
3. The Digital Edge: Top Tactics to Boost Your Lead Pipeline Fast
It took a while, but the financial advisory industry has finally caught up with the technology transformation that has been underway for more than a decade. That means digital lead generation is no longer optional; it is now indispensable to successful advisory practices. — Don Connelly
4. Why the Smartest RIAs Are Choosing Organic Growth Over Acquisitions
Acquisition-based growth is seductive. It feels monumental. There's a clear event, a celebration, a tangible milestone. But is it sustainable growth, or simply a costly shortcut? In the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) industry, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) often dominate growth discussions because they create visible, immediate excitement. However, beneath this excitement lurks a critical risk: buying growth is fundamentally different from growing organically, and misunderstanding this can harm an RIA's long-term prospects. — Kirk Lowe
5. America’s Wealth Tsunami Is Here—Will You Catch It or Get Crushed?
Baby boomers aren’t sprinting to the endzone – they’re strolling there, and they’re carrying roughly $84 trillion in assets with them. Because today’s retirees are healthier, living longer and spending more slowly, the fabled “Great Wealth Transfer” will likely unfold over 25–30 years, not ten. That leisurely pace can lull advisors into complacency – until they remember that money is already leaking out of their books at a half-trillion dollars a year. — Bill Cates
6. How to Attract Ideal Clients You Love—From Newcomer to Veteran
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned, successful advisor, the realities of client acquisition remain both deceptively simple and deeply complex. I’ve spent my career helping advisors like you build practices that not only thrive, but become the obvious choice in your market. The secret? Never lose your active, intentional mindset around referrals and business growth—no matter how full your calendar gets. — Mike Garrison
7. The End of Referral Dependence: 3 Strategies That Bring Clients to You
Most financial advisors rely on referrals for growth, but hoping for referrals isn’t a strategy. The most successful advisors have a proactive referral process that generates a steady stream of ideal clients. I’ve seen advisors double their business in just a few years by creating a structured approach to referrals. It’s not about asking clients, “Do you know anyone who needs a financial advisor?”—that rarely works. Instead, it’s about positioning yourself as a resource people naturally want to introduce to others. — Maribeth Kuzmeski
8. From Washing Machines to Wages: The Real Inflation Fallout from Tariffs
One of the key questions market participants want and need to better understand is the impact tariffs will have on inflation. On Wednesday, we will get at least a partial read into those impacts with the release of the May CPI data. The consensus of Wall Street economists estimates that we will see the beginning of tariff impacts in the May report and expect to see inflation rising sequentially through the summer months. — Tom Pierotti
9. Did Two Complementary Strategies Create a Better Core So Far in 2025?
Markets have staged a remarkable whipsaw since the start of the second quarter, with volatility itself becoming the most consistent signal. From a sharp 12% S&P 500 Index drawdown in early April following "Liberation Day" tariff news to a near-complete snapback by early May, investors are being challenged to distinguish noise from signal. Much of the recovery was driven by retail investors "buying the dip" in size—$5 billion in a single day at one point—suggesting behavioral anchors remain firmly rooted in the post-COVID-19 liquidity playbook. — Christopher Gannatti
10. The Quiet Surge: Who’s Really Driving the U.S. Equity Rally?
The S&P 500 has erased its year-to-date losses, overcoming a nearly 20% drawdown. With it, valuations have vaulted to 21x forward earnings, well above the 30-year average valuation of 17x. Although April may have been the high-water mark for volatility in terms of intensity and magnitude, risks have been mitigated but not eliminated. Earnings growth expectations still sit at an unrealistic 9% y/y for 2025, despite an anticipated slowdown in growth and headwinds from higher tariffs. The 10-year Treasury yield seems to be hugging 4.5% with risks skewed to the upside, while the Fed remains in wait-and-see mode. This is still an environment marked by pervasive uncertainty. So what is driving the rally? — Meera Pandit
11. Why Bitcoin Could More Than Double
Follow bitcoin long enough and it becomes clear that one of the traits of this asset is that it draws outlandish price targets at a pace not seen with any other mainstream investable security. — Todd Shriber
