1. Can the Bull Keep Running? Why the Market’s Momentum Might Just Be Getting Started
Last week marked the three-year anniversary of the current bull market since the October 2022 lows. The S&P 500 has gained over 90% (total return) over the period; an impressive, annualized return of approximately 25%. To put that in perspective, looking at monthly returns over the last 30 years, the three-year period ending September 2025 ranks in the 91st percentile. — Jacob Johnston
2. Survive and Thrive: 5 Brutal Challenges Advisors Face in Market Volatility—and How To Win
If you haven’t experienced it, you’ve probably seen it—a sudden 10% plunge in the S&P500 over 48 hours, a gut-punch drop that sends headlines screaming and client inboxes buzzing. But what really goes through a financial advisor’s mind when markets turn chaotic? Beyond the dizzying charts and numbers, sudden extreme volatility exposes a gauntlet of challenges—some client-driven, some self-inflicted—that test even the most seasoned professionals. Here’s a deep dive into the five biggest challenges Financial Advisors face during market volatility, and how to navigate them. — Don Connelly
3. Are We Headed for a Seasonal Scare or a Structural Shift?
Spooktober has interrupted this bull market as the creepy combination of tech bubble blabber, Trump’s tariff tantrum, shutdown shutters and credit consternations have triggered technical and sentiment resets for the indices. If these scares amount to nothing more than shadows, this pullback should be bought. If they signal something more sinister, investors may need to hide. This week, we will assess whether the market’s seasonal fears are fictitious… or insidious. — David Waddell
4. Fight Club at 55: Gen X and the Once in a Lifetime Sucker Punch
I was at a local smoothie place when the Gen Z cashier said, “Sir, do you have our app? You can get lots of great rewards” “No thank you,” I said. But Smoothie App persisted. “It just takes a minute to download and with this QR code, and I can give you this smoothie FOR FREE. RIGHT NOW.” I am not against a free smoothie, but I also know the “free” smoothie is really about me getting text spammed from the smoothie place. Plus I was in a hurry. I declined again. — Tom West
5. Estate Planning: Emotional Anchor for Clients, Revenue Rock for Financial Advisors
Estate planning isn’t just a bundle of documents: it’s the antidote to clients’ worries. Advisors looking to deepen relationships with existing clients while diversifying their revenue stream and attracting new clients are pulling a new lever: estate planning as a service. Adding another high-value service module that addresses clients’ deepest anxieties head-on can serve as both a business development and stabilizing force. — Matt Morris
6. Demand Generation That Actually Works for Advisors with Alex Khassa
Alex Khassa, Founder and CEO of Clients Blackbox, joins us to discuss how financial advisors can grow more efficiently by shifting from demand capture to demand generation. He explains why traditional tactics—like buying leads or relying solely on referrals—limit scalability, and how educational marketing funnels help advisors connect with prospects earlier in their decision journey. — Power Your Advice
7. Why the Market Keeps Rising—Even With Sky-High Valuations
With the U.S. stock market up 15% YTD, markets seem unphased at any potential headwind on the horizon, but for investors, concerns about high valuations persist. The P/E ratio on the S&P 500 is 22.8x, just surpassing its post-COVID peak to the highest level in 25 years. Even outside of the top 10 stocks in the index, valuations are 19.7x, and value stocks alone are 17.3x vs. 14.2x over the long run. — Meera Pandit
8. Buy the Dip? Here’s Why the Year-End Rally Could Be Just Getting Started
This past week delivered a sharp pickup in volatility and quick reversals, underlining how fragile the tape has become. Early in the week, markets were pressured by renewed trade rhetoric from former President Trump. He threatened a 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports starting November 1 in response to China’s export controls on rare earths. While rare earth stocks soared on the news, it rattled investors, igniting fears of an escalating U.S.–China trade war just as bullish momentum had built. — Lance Roberts
9. Want To Grow as an Advisor? Stop Going It Alone
What if your next big breakthrough as a financial advisor didn’t come from a new strategy or software—but from the people you surround yourself with? In this episode, I’m sharing 10 best practices for networking and collaborating with like-minded advisors—the same principles I’ve used and taught for decades to help advisors grow faster and stay inspired. I’ll break down how to build powerful mastermind groups, choose the right industry events, and engage in meaningful online communities that actually move the needle. — Joseph Lukacs
10. Fine-Tune Your Risk Profile With Protected Bitcoin ETFs
As 2025 has progressed, bitcoin has continued to prove to be an asset worth keeping a close eye on. After all, the asset class continues to keep passing new highs with relative ease. Earlier in October, bitcoin passed the $125,000 threshold for the first time, buoyed by shutdown fears and global debt concerns. — Calamos
11. Women Aren’t Waiting for the Great Wealth Transfer—They’re Building Their Own
As advisors know, much has been made about the potency of the great wealth transfer in dollar terms. While estimates vary, it can be agreed upon that trillions upon of trillions of dollars will matriculate from baby boomers and the “silent” generation to younger demographics over the next few years. — Todd Shriber
