1. Are Investors Ignoring the Signals? Why the U.S. Economy May Be Slowing Under the Surface
Lately, there’s been a growing sense of confidence among investors that the U.S. economy has dodged the proverbial bullet. Despite a historic rate-hiking cycle by the Federal Reserve, two years of stubborn inflation, and signs of strain in global trade, the dominant Wall Street narrative is now a curious mix of “soft landing,” “no landing,” and even “re-acceleration.” — Lance Roberts
2. Shutdown Showdown: How a Government Stalemate Could Hit Stocks, Bonds, and Confidence
The U.S. government is facing a funding deadline on September 30, risking a potential shutdown. The Senate recently rejected the House’s funding bill, with many Senate Democrats opposing its exclusion of certain provisions, such as extensions for Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of 2025. — Mary Park Durham
3. Beyond the Numbers: How To Create Client Experiences They’ll Never Forget
Advisors often ask me, “How do I create unique client experiences that feel less transactional and more transformational?” It’s not about handing out another branded pen or sending a holiday fruit basket—it’s about designing moments that connect on a profoundly human level. — Jeff Thorsteinson
4. Elon’s Colossus, Big Tech’s Power Grab, and the Hidden Stocks Driving the AI Revolution
The world’s richest man just outdid himself, again. Last year, Elon Musk and his xAI team turned an empty warehouse the size of 13 football fields into the largest artificial intelligence (AI) training cluster in the world in just 122 days. The average American family home takes 234 days to build. Elon and xAI built an AI fortress the size of a small town in about half the time. — Stephen McBride
5. Back Office Automation: The Competitive Edge for Growing Firms
When you work in financial advisory, every hour counts, especially for firms navigating growth, M&A activity or evolving client expectations. While many firms focus on scaling through advisor recruitment or service expansion, the real lever for differentiation is often behind the scenes with back office automation. — Ashley Treangen
6. Don’t Sell Your Services — Tell the Story That Makes People Trust You
Do you know someone who tells the most long-winded stories and often fails to get to the point? Or maybe they have a bad habit of leaving out the most interesting parts until the very end? Hiding the most relevant pieces of a story within other distracting information is called burying the lede and can be fatal in advisor marketing. The phrase “don’t bury the lede” was originally used in journalism to teach writers how to grab the attention of their audience, but today I’m using it in marketing for the same reason. — Maribeth Kuzmeski
7. Why Clients Won’t Buy Your Advice Until They Buy Into You
There is a first sale that advisers have to make, before they make the sale they want to make. The first sale that has to be made is YOU. Advisers often tell me they are struggling to get potential clients to engage. The increasing compliance and documentation of advice, and the need to establish professional credentials and spell out all the advice and help and guidance we can provide, seems to have led many advisers away from a basic professional relationship rule: People will not buy what you can do until they trust you, or rather, trust the process. — Tony Vidler
8. Why Accepting Help May Be the Hardest—and Bravest—Thing You’ll Ever Do
General “Dotson,” 81, had been my client for more than 20 years. He has always been a model for me when thinking about intentional best outcomes for my clients and their families. He’s also a model for who I want to be like. He’d been widowed for two years and was taking a hard, honest look at what was coming next when I heard him say to his adult children: “I’m going to try, and I’m probably going to fail, but I promise I’ll try to accept more help. I won’t like it. I don’t like being treated like I can’t do something. Actually I hate it. I’ve always been the captain of my own ship. Unless you outrank me, which you don’t, I’m usually the one giving the orders, not taking them. Your mom outranked me, of course. “But here’s the thing. I love you more than I love being the captain. I promise I’ll try. I guess I’ll need some practice.” He turned his eyes from his two adult kids and towards me – “Any suggestions, Tom?” — Tom West
9. Autocallable ETFs: The Next Big Leap in Income Investing
In the booming income ETF category, autocallable ETFs might just be the next major advancement. They seek double-digit yields, price stability and tax efficiency. And unlike options-income ETFs, which are considered dividend-income replacements, autocallable ETFs are pure income plays tied to equity performance. While they offer compelling monthly payouts, investors should be aware of tail risks from sharp, sustained equity declines. — Calamos
10. Why Advisors Are Turning to Wealth.com to Deliver a Family Office Experience at Scale
In a crowded wealth management tech landscape, genuine innovation rarely comes from the expected sources. Rafael Loureiro, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wealth.com, epitomizes this disruption: an engineer at heart who turned his frustration with fragmented estate planning into a powerful mission for advisors. His journey and vision—along with Wealth.com’s unique platform capabilities—are reshaping how financial advisors deliver holistic service, maximize efficiency, and deepen client relationships. — Douglas Heikkinen
11. Markets Rally Despite Trade Tensions: 5 Stocks Still Worth Watching for Q4 2025
As the final quarter of 2025 approaches, stock markets have brushed aside the initial panic brought about by Trump’s aggressive stance on global trade and are sitting near all-time highs. Lower interest rates are providing a strong tailwind for sentiment towards share investing, but stubborn inflation and a tricky outlook mean that businesses need to stay nimble. — Derren Nathan, Matt Britzman and Aaron Chiekrie
