Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that amid economic and market headwinds, the pace of RIA M&A activity was slower in January and February compared to the same period last year. If this trend continues, 2023 would be the first year in more than a decade to see fewer transactions than the year before, though some industry observers continue to see significant appetite for deals.
Also in industry news this week:
- A recent FINRA arbitration ruling reaffirmed the ability of brokers operating in the independent broker-dealer model to take their clients with them when they change firms
- A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators is considering potential ways to shore up Social Security, from raising the retirement age to 70 to creating a sovereign wealth fund
From there, we have several articles on practice management:
- How advisory firms can leverage their CRM software to run a more efficient practice
- Best practices for firms to consider when choosing training programs
- Why getting back to basics, particularly when it comes to decision making, can help firms overcome challenging market conditions
We also have a number of articles on wealth:
- What being ‘upper-middle class’ actually means in dollar terms
- Why many consumers overestimate the size of the nest egg they will need to have a comfortable retirement
- How advisors and clients might change their expectations for fixed-income investments as interest rates and yields have risen
We wrap up with three final articles, all about taking action:
- Why trying to live a life with ‘no regrets’ can hinder self-improvement
- Why it is important to not let major ‘events’ distract from the overall ‘journey’, whether it is an interpersonal relationship or a client’s retirement
- How a willingness to take imperfect actions can help drive advisory firm growth
Enjoy the ‘light’ reading!
