Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that Vanguard is planning to acquire RIA custodian Altruist and how it is likely to send ripples across the wealth management and asset management spectrum. While it immediately provides Altruist with the backing of an enormous asset management firm and Vanguard inroads into the RIA custodial space with a tech-forward offering, it could also put pressure on the largest RIA custodians Charles Schwab and Fidelity to up their level of service in the competition for RIA business and provide a boost to certain ETF providers looking to distribute their products to RIAs while avoiding fees charged by the major incumbent custodians.
Also in industry news this week:
- Consumers are prioritizing trust when it comes to selecting a wealth management provider, according to a recent survey, with service and fee transparency, as well as identity and account security, being key contributors to demonstrating this attribute
- Member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans dipped for the second straight year, according to a recent survey, highlighting the value of financial advisors in helping clients select the best Medicare option for their needs (and in making a change when necessary)
From there, we have several articles on investment planning:
- Evaluating the types of clients who could benefit the most from investments in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) at a time when long TIPS offer real yields greater than 3%
- Why it’s important to keep a client’s investment time horizon in mind to avoid surprises when choosing individual TIPS or investing in a TIPS fund
- How advisors can incorporate inflation trends into portfolio management conversations with clients
We also have a number of articles on advisor marketing:
- How Facebook advertising campaigns can provide flexibility and data to inform a firm’s broader marketing approach (but might not produce instant leads)
- How firms can use geographic market data to determine whether to emphasize a local SEO strategy or one focused on an ideal client type
- Four ways advisors can appear more often (and authoritatively) in AI answer engine search results
We wrap up with three final articles, all about next-generation wealth:
- Why some wealthy parents are sending their young adult children to retreats where they can learn about wealth stewardship and compare experiences with peers
- The growing popularity of (sometimes high-cost) ‘gap years’ and how they fit alongside college plans
- While many parents are worried that financial transfers to adult children might reduce their motivation, creating an income ‘floor’ could help them pursue a meaningful life path
Enjoy the ‘light’ reading!
