1. How To Be the Advisor Clients Never Leave

Clients don’t stay with you because of your credentials or the size of their portfolio. They stay because of how you make them feel. And if you want to be the advisor clients never leave, you need to focus on building a relationship that goes far beyond numbers. — Ari Galper

2. The GoFundMe Generation: Getting Caught in the Gears of a Pro-Dependence Anti-System

We just passed Giving Tuesday, the largest day of philanthropy every year. This year saw $4 billion in donations from over 38 million donors. It’s an impressive indicator of how generous people can be and as well as how the modern toolkit of social media, digital transactions, and gamification can amplify that generosity. — Tom West

3. Big Sales, Weak Labor Market: Why This Holiday Season Could Fool Investors

Based solely on Black Friday sales data, the holiday shopping season may be decent despite poor consumer sentiment.  According to Adobe Analytics, which draws data from over one trillion retail site visits, Black Friday online sales hit a record $11.8 billion, up 9.1% from last year. Per MasterCard’s SpendingPulse, retail sales, including online and in-store transactions, rose 4.1% year-over-year. Such outpaces 2024’s Black Friday’s 3.4% growth. — Lance Roberts

4. Americans Say They’re Worried—but Their Spending Tells a Very Different Story

If you listened solely to the mainstream media or consumer sentiment polls this week, you might believe the U.S. economy was grinding to a halt. The Consumer Confidence Index fell nearly 7 points in November, a byproduct of the record-long government shutdown, while 57% of Americans anticipate a weaker economy in 2026, according to a recent Deloitte survey. — Frank Holmes

5. A Bull Market for Advice: Why RFG Advisory Is Betting Everything on Independence and Culture

In an industry defined by accelerating change, Shannon Spotswood believes the real differentiator for RIAs is not just technology or product—but culture, community, and an uncompromising commitment to independence. As CEO of RFG Advisory, she is building what she calls an “RIA of the future,” a platform designed so entrepreneurial advisors can build the businesses they truly want, without compromise. — Douglas Heikkinen

6. The Case for Owning Small Cap U.S. Stocks

Since 1929, the performance of large cap U.S. stocks versus small caps has run in cycles lasting about seven years, on average, making the current cycle of U.S. large cap outperformance an outlier. — Forrest St. Clair and Benjamin Treacy

7. Eight Examples of RIAs Raising Visibility Upmarket

Wealth management firms seeking to move upmarket—from high-net-worth to ultra-high-net-worth and family office audiences—can raise their visibility by prioritizing focused content, niche events and specialized media outlets. Here are eight examples drawn from plans we have helped RIAs implement. — Talia Dunyak and Ben Bishop

8. Buy the Dip. Skip the Risk.

Bitcoin has become one of the world’s largest assets, but for many investors, one question persists: how do you capture its potential without the notorious volatility? Protected Bitcoin ETFs may offer the solution you’ve been seeking. — Calamos

9. Black Friday Slump: The Real Reason Americans Are Pulling Back — And Markets Aren’t

Year-end looms on the horizon, and for many, excitement around the holiday season is mixing with curiosity around financial markets. Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season and the busiest single shopping day of the year, makes for an apt intersection of these two feelings. Recent surveys suggest that this Black Friday will be a disappointment, with consumers set to tighten their purse strings and spend less than they did in 2024. If realized, it would mark the first contraction in holiday spending since 2021. — Jack Manley

10. 15 Client Gift Ideas Straight From Our Advisor Workshop

During a recent advisor workshop, “Your Human Advantage – Do What AI Can’t!”, attendees shared their most creative and effective client appreciation ideas. From thoughtful gifts that make clients feel valued to memorable experiences that bring communities together, these advisor-tested ideas work year after year. — FMG

11. How To Meet Your Future Clients Over the Holidays

Are you targeting the HNW or UHNW segment of your local market? Do your competitors have the same idea? Are these people, who probably have great personalities, walled in behind either actual gates or gatekeeper staff most of the year? Don’t lose hope. Your opportunity is about to present itself. — Bryce Sanders