1. Your Firm Is Growing—So Why Does It Feel Harder Every Year?

Your numbers look strong. Your calendar is packed. Your team is busy. New clients keep arriving. New technology gets introduced with good intentions. New services get added because “clients asked.” A hire who looked perfect on paper turns into a management project. A handful of smaller households slip into the book because they’re pleasant, local, or referred by someone important. — Jeff Thorsteinson

2. Where the Ultra-Wealth Is Going Next—and Why Women Will Control More of It Than Advisors Expect

Many advisors are always attempting to generate more business from the ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) segment, or those defined as having at least $30 million in investable assets and that definition explains why this is such a desirable demographic for wealth managers. — Todd Shriber

3. Where AI Is Cutting and Creating Jobs: Labor Demand Shifts from 2024–2034

AI and automation are reshaping the workforce— streamlining routine tasks while amplifying demand for roles requiring human judgment, creativity, and interpersonal skills. Early career and administrative positions face the largest displacement risk as AI may handle repetitive tasks more efficiently. However, this technological shift is also driving productivity gains that can create new opportunities, particularly in sectors where AI enhances human expertise rather than replacing. — Lincoln Financial

4. Mainstream Expectations Are Optimistic—But the Real Risk Is Being Ignored

Mainstream expectations, those from Wall Street, economists, and corporate strategists, have congealed around a bullish economic outlook for 2026. Most forecasts project stronger economic growth, with contained inflation, and continued investment in technology and capital expenditure. As such, many institutional investors interpret this as a year of opportunity for markets and corporate earnings.That was a point we discussed at this year’s Investment Summit with the following slide. — Lance Roberts

5. Higher Margins Should Mean Higher Stock Prices

Concerns over valuation have dogged US stocks for years, the idea being stocks can’t grind higher because they are richly priced and are due to either move sideways until corporate profits catch up with them (a best-case scenario) or tumble meaningfully until they catch up with corporate profits (a worst-case scenario). And it is true US equities, using the S&P 500 as a proxy for the broad market, are expensive relative to their own history, trading close to all-time highs on multiple earnings metrics, including trailing earnings, forecasted earnings and the Case / Schiller Cyclically Adjusted Price to Earnings ratio. —Tim Holland

6. Autocallable 101: Income That Keeps up With Inflation

Advisors and investors of all sizes know that fostering consistent income is the key to success for many portfolios. One way to do this is through autocallable ETFs.For many folks, yield comes through the more traditional avenues of fixed income, like bonds and bond ETFs. Certainly, it goes without saying that bonds have long been relied upon for both diversification and current income.That being said, the advantages that bond income brings tend to be cut down a notch when inflation enters the picture. With the cost of goods and services increasing, can the income that bonds bring to the table keep pace, especially as the Fed trims interest rates? — Nick Wodeshick

7. The One AI Trade I’m Most Confident in for 2026

There’s a repeatable secret to doubling your money in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. Buy the bottleneck. Every few months, AI slams into a new physical limit. And almost every time that constraint sits in some forgotten corner of the market… And turns that group of stocks into the hottest thing on Wall Street. — Stephen McBride

8. AI Isn’t Taking Over—It’s Learning To Work With Us

Many movies, media and headlines portray AI as frightening. It’s going to take out jobs, bring robocop to the streets and take over our lives. It’s going to be Ex Machina, The Terminator or worse. Very few give context of the positive future with AI, but a headline caught my eye today. — Chris Skinner

9. Introductions: The Softer Way To Request Referrals

Do clients have nightmares? Of course. In addition to the stock market falling off a cliff, they worry about feeling obligated to provide referrals. Does that sound improbable? Of course not. The advisor asks the client to refer a friend. The client approaches a friend. They say: “My advisor is looking for new clients. Will you talk with her?” The friend says: “Your advisor has you lining up new clients! How much do you get paid?” The friend is embarrassed and vows never to do this again. How can you make this easier for your client and still get some referrals flowing in your direction? — Bryce Sanders

10. Grow Your Practice by Helping Clients Leave a Legacy

Most clients – even the ultra-wealthy – need help vetting charities, strategizing tax-advantaged giving, and writing clear gift agreements. “It all came down to an interesting meeting when I was 22, having given just a small amount, but it forged an amazing relationship,” Jeffrey Chaddock recalls. Don’t assume clients already have the answers – become their guide. — Bill Cates

11. Gold Is No Longer an “Alternative”—It’s a Missing Strategic Allocation

For most investors, zero gold exposure is not neutral—it's an active ~10% underweight relative to global market portfolios. And that gap is growing harder to justify as new portfolio tools become available that can enhance portfolio efficiency, diversification and optimization. — Jeremy Schwartz