Markets don't reveal risk tolerance during bull runs. They reveal it during uncertainty. When portfolios are climbing, nearly every client describes themselves as a long-term investor comfortable with short-term fluctuation. Then volatility hits in the form of tariff fears, rate adjustments, and recession headlines, and the same clients begin calling with urgent questions. That gap [...]
When AdvisorHub reported that Ameriprise had raised its recruiter bounty to 16% of trailing 12-month production – the highest in the industry, well ahead of the typical 6% to 12% range – the reaction was predictable. "Recruiters cashing in." "Fees run amok." But that narrative misses the bigger story entirely. The 16% headline is about [...]
America is standing at the edge of the most consequential financial shift it has ever seen. According to a June 2025 report by Cerulli Associates, nearly $124 trillion in assets will change hands over the next 25 years, moving from Baby Boomers and older Americans to their heirs, spouses, and charities by 2048. To put [...]
AI has moved from buzzword to business reality. For Advisors and RIAs, the question is no longer whether AI will matter. It’s how fast your practice can use it to remove friction, improve service, and stay focused on the work clients actually value. The smartest use cases aren’t flashy. They’re operational, repetitive, and everywhere. Those [...]
There's a paradox lurking in most advisory practices: business owners are among the wealthiest, most complex clients. And yet only 24% sought guidance from a financial professional in the past year, according to a 2025/26 Nationwide survey of small- and mid-sized business owners. Another 24% said Advisor guidance would simply give them peace of mind. [...]
The financial advisory space has never been more competitive, or more ripe for transformation. Fee compression, AI encroachment, tightening compliance, and clients with increasingly sophisticated expectations are pushing experienced Advisors to ask a fundamental question: Is it time to make a move? If you're considering a change, here's what most recruiting conversations miss: A higher [...]
It’s a familiar scene inside a fast-growing RIA: assets are up, referrals are strong, and new Advisors are being cultivated. Yet every week brings another tech headache: duplicate data entry, endless logins, and half-working integrations patched together with duct tape. Despite record AUM, teams still spend too much time troubleshooting instead of serving clients. As [...]
Volatility, tighter margins, and rising client expectations are prompting many Advisors to reassess whether their current broker-dealer or firm is still the best long-term fit. Industry studies show growing interest in independence, RIA and hybrid models, and Advisor-friendly platforms that offer more flexibility, technology, and better economics. Experienced Advisor Transition Consultants report that teams who [...]
Women are poised to inherit the majority of an estimated $84 trillion to $124 trillion in assets transferred by 2045, driven by longer life expectancies and intergenerational transfers. By 2030, women in the U.S. are expected to control $34 trillion in investable assets, and they increasingly act as primary financial decision-makers for their households and [...]
RIAs have solidified their role as a dominant growth engine in wealth management, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing in 2026. Fueled by shifting Advisor preferences, rapidly evolving client expectations, and transformative technology, the RIA sector continues to outpace traditional advisory channels in both innovation and market share. Institutional M&A activity remains vibrant [...]
