Gaining Perspective

Saving for college and other educational needs is one of the most pressing financial planning concerns. Investors are looking to their financial advisors for guidance. In this episode, we’re going to look at the role 529 plans play and why they’re so important in improving client outcomes and in supporting practice management.

My guest, Leslie Geller, will be talking about the expanded set of educational expenses 529 assets can fund, details of Capital Group’s CollegeAmerica savings plan – one of the largest in the country with approximately $80 billion in assets under management, as well as how Secure 2.0 has lowered barriers to opening and funding a 529.

-

Here is a link for more information about Capital Group and its 529 offerings:

• CollegeAmerica 529 Savings Plan - https://www.capitalgroup.com/individual/what-we-offer/college-america-529.html 
• 529 Advisor Research Report – Benefits and Barriers: How advisors and clients view education savings in the current market - https://www.capitalgroup.com/content/dam/cgc/shared-content/documents/reports/03_FF_PR-529_Advisor_Study.pdf 
• My previous podcast with Leslie:  The Questions to Ask Your Female Clients - https://www.advisorperspectives.com/podcasts/2019/12/16/the-questions-to-ask-your-female-clients 

A message from Advisor Perspectives and Vetta Fi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.”

Asset-Map is a tool for financial professionals to visually map and provide feedback on their client’s financial picture. With better insights into a client’s financial inventory, advisors can help clients identify risks, opportunities and track progress to their financial goals. Adam Holt joins me to discuss Asset-Map and his vision for the future of technology-enabled advice delivery.

-

Here are some links for more information about Asset-Map:

• Asset-Map’s company website
• David Leo’s article on Asset-Map, How Asset-Map Serves a Multi-Service Financial Organization
• Asset-Map’s Compass tool.

A message from Advisor Perspectives and Vetta Fi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.”

At of the start of this year, Rick Pitcairn took on a new position as the chief global strategist at Pitcairn, a 100-year-old multi-family office with $7bn in client assets. In this position, he is focusing on macro-economic trends and is searching for new global initiatives that will add to the firm’s growth.

Rick recently journeyed to India where he met with some of the wealthiest local families to discuss multi-generational wealth transfer. He saw that people all around the world want the same things, including economic security and a safe environment to raise their children. But the investing and business environments differ significantly. Rick knows that U.S. investors have a home bias, but he saw substantial economic growth is happening outside our borders. Rick is here to discuss if an international allocation is appropriate or too risky.

-

Here are some links for more information Rick and Pitcairn:

• Rick Pitcairn’s bio
• Pitcairn’s company website

A message from Advisor Perspectives and Vetta Fi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.”

As an advisor-growth solution, SmartAdvisor™ continuously focuses on helping advisors grow their practices. Last month, in April 2023, it acquired DeftSales, a leading prospect engagement company for financial professionals. DeftSales and SmartAsset™ will combine to offer a robust user interface that is fully compliant, including automated campaigns and analytics, which allow advisors to spend more time honing their communications and improving their skills.

-

Here is a link for more information about SmartAsset:

• SmartAsset’s website - https://smartasset.com/

A message from Advisor Perspectives and Vetta Fi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.”

Some of the most common questions clients ask advisors revolve around retirement:

• How should I save for retirement?
• Will I have enough money to retire?
• Will I be able to leave something behind for my children or for philanthropic causes?

New research from Dimensional addresses these questions. The study found that investors who tilt towards size, value, and profitability in their equity allocation are likely to enter retirement with significantly more assets, sustain their retirement spending longer, and to leave behind larger bequests than with a standard, broad-market-index portfolio. Given the popularity of broad market indexing, the findings have implications for advisors. Joining us to talk about the research is Mathieu Pellerin.

-

Here is a link for more information about Mathieu’s research: https://www.dimensional.com/us-en/insights/how-targeting-size-value-and-profitability-can-improve-retirement-outcomes

A message from Advisor Perspectives and VettaFi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.”

Many investors view real estate as an attractive long-term investment opportunity that plays an important role in portfolio diversification. With that in mind, Columbia Threadneedle Investments recently announced the expansion of its exchange-traded fund offerings with the launch of the Columbia Research Enhanced Real Estate ETF (Ticker: CRED). The fund offers investors and allocators an accessible, research-driven way to gain exposure to the real estate asset class. REITS have a history of low correlations and attractive long-term returns and have a strong historical performance record in high inflation. According to a recent Columbia Threadneedle survey, 93% of financial advisors plan to maintain or increase their real estate allocations over the next 12 to 24 months.

-

Here are some links for more information on Columbia Threadneedle and its ETF product line:

• Columbia Threadneedle’s Exchange Traded Funds
• CRED - Columbia Research Enhanced Real Estate ETF

A message from Advisor Perspectives and VettaFi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.”

BNY Mellon Investment Management recently launched its latest suite of thematic ETFs, including the BNY Mellon Innovators ETF. It is managed by John Porter, who joins us today to discuss the ETF, what it means to invest in innovation, and why thematics.

The BNY Mellon Innovators ETF was created to support innovation across a wide range of industries and sectors, not just technology. It invests in companies that can provide economic benefits, create new jobs, and improve the quality of life for people worldwide. John’s broad definition of innovation is unique and we’re here to discuss more about the strategy with him.

-

Latest suite of thematic ETFs: https://www.etftrends.com/thematic-etfs-bny-mellon-launches-womens-opportunities-innovators-funds/ 

Here are some additional resources to learn more about Newton Investment Management:

• BNY Mellon Investment Management ETFs: www.im.bnymellon.com/etf
• Newton Investment Management: https://www.newtonim.com/
• John Porter’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-porter-a85b56a/
• Thematic ETF Launch Press Release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bny-mellon-investment-management-launches-the-bny-mellon-womens-opportunities-etf-and-bny-mellon-innovators-etf-301826933.html
• BNY Mellon Investment Management Thematic ETF Suite: https://im.bnymellon.com/us/en/intermediary/campaign/thematic-etf-suite.html

A message from Advisor Perspectives and Vetta Fi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.”

Building a marketing presence is essential to the success of an advisory practice.  Gone are the days of dinner seminars and cold calling.  Today, marketing success requires not just understanding but mastering digital technology – disciplines like search engine optimization, social media and text messaging.  To make that challenge more daunting, it must be done at scale and continually adapt to new technology.  My guest today is one of the foremost experts on advisor marketing, and he will discuss the latest trends he is seeing.

-

Here are some links for more information on Robert and Snappy Kraken:

· Robert’s personal web page

· Snappy Kraken’s web page 

A message from Advisor Perspectives and Vetta Fi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.”

According to new research from Fidelity, just one in five advisors has an asset-weighted client age under 60. The average firm derives an overwhelming majority of its revenue from older clients, yet advisors have initiated contact with just 13% of their clients’ children. Meanwhile, despite women’s burgeoning share of the wealth pie, financial professionals are missing out on a $14 billion opportunity to serve them via segment-specific experiences, appropriately tailored enablement programs, and targeted products and services.

Here today to talk about how advisors can engage with and offer products that resonate with next-gen and female clients is Zach Conway.

-

Here are links to additional information about Seeds and Zach:

• Seeds Investor Website
• Seeds Investor Twitter
• Seeds Investor LinkedIn
• Zach Conway’s LinkedIn
• Prepare to Meet the New Generation of Clients (article in Advisor Perspectives)

Introducing AP Premium! Download and brand thousands of articles, summaries & commentaries in minutes. Unlock Premium today and receive $10 off your first monthly or annual payment with promo code PODCAST2022.

Last year, 2022, saw record annuity sales across several categories. Now, nearly halfway through 2023, many of the same macro-economic factors that drove sales last year are still present. While it’s too soon to say what 2023 annuity sales will look like, our guest today will share why annuities can be a valuable addition to a retirement strategy, regardless of market and economic conditions.

-

Here are some links for more information on New York Life’s annuities:

• New York Life annuities
• LinkedIn page for New York Life annuities
• The Decumulation Paradox
• Understanding the True Cost of Health Care in Retirement

Introducing AP Premium! Download and brand thousands of articles, summaries & commentaries in minutes. Unlock Premium today and receive $10 off your first monthly or annual payment with promo code PODCAST2022.