Power Your Advice

Ryan VanGorder, CEO of Opto Investments, believes the private markets conversation is changing for advisors. Access may be broader than it once was, but his focus is on what comes next: helping fiduciaries determine where privates fit, evaluate them with more confidence, and bring greater transparency and alignment to the process. In his view, the real opportunity is not access alone, but making the space more workable and more understandable for the right clients.

He also points to AI and better data as key parts of that shift. Used thoughtfully, they can help advisors organize unstructured information, strengthen diligence, and build more confidence around private market decisions without replacing human judgment. The broader takeaway is a practical one: ask good questions, understand incentives, and take a disciplined approach to a market that is becoming more relevant across the industry.

Resources: Opto

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Ryan Eisenman, co-founder and CEO of Arch, is focused on a problem advisors know well: private markets may be more accessible than ever, but managing them is still highly manual and operationally complex. As RIAs bring more private equity, private credit, venture, real estate, and hedge funds into client portfolios, they are still dealing with subscription documents, capital calls, K-1s, investor portals, and reporting that rarely lives in one clean system. Arch is built to reduce that friction and give advisors a more unified way to manage alternative investments.

Eisenman’s view is that solving that complexity is about more than efficiency. By using AI to structure unorganized documents, summarize manager updates, surface look-through exposure, and support diligence and compliance workflows, Arch is aiming to give advisors a clearer picture of what clients own and what needs attention next. The result is a cleaner operational foundation for handling private markets and better context for the client conversations that come with them.

Resources: Arch

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John Roberts, Chief Field Officer at Northwestern Mutual, shares insights from the firm’s 2026 Planning & Progress Study, pointing to a growing gap in financial confidence—particularly among younger investors. Gen Z and millennials are increasingly turning to speculative behaviors like crypto, sports betting, and prediction markets as a way to “catch up,” often driven by a sense of falling behind. In contrast, those working with advisors report significantly higher levels of confidence, reinforcing the role of advice in shifting clients toward long-term planning, compounding, and protection.

Roberts also highlights how financial planning is becoming more multi-generational, with a rising number of parents actively saving to help their children purchase a home. That shift, alongside the need for earlier and more deliberate succession planning, underscores a broader theme across the industry. Among top-performing firms, the differentiators are consistent: strong leadership development, intentional talent building, and a focus on engaging the next generation—both as clients and future advisors.

Resources: Northwestern Mutual

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Mario Valente, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Stansberry Asset Management, describes how a boutique, actively managed firm earns the trust of formerly self-directed investors by focusing on low-correlated, idiosyncratic returns. By emphasizing investments that behave independently of broader markets and making tactical shifts across asset classes, the firm has been able to limit drawdowns and maintain stability during periods of volatility.

Valente points to a repeatable process and an experienced team as the foundation for consistent results. Strategies like Tactical Select combine fundamental research with disciplined risk controls to pursue excess returns with lower volatility. In today’s uncertain environment, the focus remains on active due diligence, selective positioning, and the flexibility to raise cash when needed—reinforcing that resilient portfolios require both adaptability and strong risk management.

Resources: Stansberry Asset Management

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Alex Laipple, the Chief Growth Officer at Ethic, frames personalization as more than a product feature—it’s a way for advisors to make portfolios actually reflect what clients are trying to achieve. That starts with defining preferences, offering flexible investment structures, and then delivering that final layer of customization around taxes, risk, and individual holdings. When done well—and backed by clear reporting—it turns investing into something clients can see, understand, and connect with.

What makes that scalable is the infrastructure behind it. By integrating with custodians, automating tax management, and streamlining workflows, technology removes much of the manual friction that keeps advisors stuck in low-value tasks. Laipple’s point is that the tradeoff isn’t personalization vs. efficiency—it’s short-term effort vs. long-term leverage. Advisors who commit to the tools can spend less time managing portfolios and more time building relationships, strengthening household connections, and positioning their business for the next generation.

Resources: Ethic

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Josh Rogers, Senior Client Portfolio Manager at Invesco, explains how separately managed accounts (SMAs) have evolved from clunky stock lists into technology-driven portfolio solutions that allow advisors to scale while still delivering meaningful customization. By combining manager-traded portfolios, integrated data systems, and advanced tax management tools, modern SMAs help advisors offer personalized portfolios without adding operational complexity.

Rogers highlights how innovations like direct indexing and tax-optimized long/short SMAs give advisors new ways to manage concentrated positions, harvest tax losses, and improve after-tax outcomes for clients. As technology continues to expand customization and automation, SMAs are becoming not just an investment vehicle—but a strategic platform for advisors looking to grow their practices while maintaining a highly tailored client experience.

Resources: Invesco

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Chris Gannatti, Global Head of Research at WisdomTree, puts gold’s early-2026 volatility in perspective after one of its strongest years in decades. With roughly a 70% gain in 2025, it’s no surprise the asset class is drawing fresh attention. But the bigger conversation, he suggests, isn’t about last year’s move—it’s about how inflation pressures, rising debt levels, and a shifting geopolitical backdrop are prompting advisors to revisit gold’s place in modern portfolios.

Rather than viewing gold strictly as an “alternative,” Gannatti frames it as a meaningful part of the broader investable universe—one that historically behaves differently than stocks and bonds. In environments where traditional 60/40 allocations face stress, that differentiation can matter. The result isn’t a tactical call based on recent performance, but a strategic discussion about diversification, portfolio balance, and how to account for risks that extend beyond inflation alone.

Resources: WisdomTree

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

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund before investing. For a prospectus or, if available, the summary prospectus containing this and other important information about the fund, call 866.909.9473 or visit WisdomTree.com/investments. Read the prospectus or, if available, the summary prospectus carefully before investing.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. There are risks associated with investing, including possible loss of principal.

Chris Gannatti is a registered representative of Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

WisdomTree Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

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Fred Kaynor, Managing Director at DAFgiving360, outlines how donor-advised funds continue to play a central role in charitable planning as new tax rules take effect in 2026. He explains how DAFs allow donors to contribute cash or appreciated assets, receive an immediate deduction, and invest funds for potential tax-free growth before granting over time. Strategies like bunching and donating non-cash assets remain key tools for maximizing impact while managing tax exposure.

He also breaks down major provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including the new 0.5% AGI floor for itemizers, limits on deduction value for top-bracket taxpayers, a universal deduction for non-itemizers that excludes DAF contributions, and the now-permanent 60% AGI limit for cash gifts to public charities. After a record year in 2025 with nearly $10 billion in grants, Kaynor shares why advisors remain critical in helping clients navigate these changes and give more strategically.

If you’d like to learn more about working with DAFgiving360 and the benefits to both you and your clients, review their online resources or request more information.

DAFgiving360 is the name used for the combined programs and services of Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc., an independent nonprofit organization which has entered into service agreements with certain subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation. DAFgiving360 is a tax-exempt public charity as described in Sections 501(c)(3), 509(a)(1), and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code.  

Contributions made to DAFgiving360 are considered an irrevocable gift and are not refundable. Once contributed, DAFgiving360 has exclusive legal control over the contributed assets. 

A donor’s ability to claim itemized deductions is subject to a variety of limitations depending on the donor’s specific tax situation. 

Contributions of certain real estate, private equity, or other illiquid assets may be accepted via a charitable intermediary, with proceeds transferred to a donor-advised fund (DAF) account upon liquidation. Call DAFgiving360 for more information at 800-746-6216. 

Market fluctuations may cause the value of investment fund shares held in a donor-advised fund (DAF) account to be worth more or less than the value of the original contribution to the funds. 

DAFgiving360 does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult a qualified legal or tax advisor where such advice is necessary or appropriate.

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Tim Seifert, Senior Vice President and Head of Retirement Solutions Distribution at Lincoln Financial, reflects on the lessons of 2025 and what they reveal about the retirement landscape heading into 2026. Seifert points to sustained market demand driven by Peak 65 demographics and heightened uncertainty as key forces reshaping advisor conversations. He explains why protection has moved from a defensive consideration to a central growth strategy, helping clients plan more confidently for income, longevity, and legacy.

Looking ahead, Seifert outlines the structural opportunities facing financial professionals, including record levels of cash on the sidelines, rising retirement account balances, and historically high levels of unprotected equity. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication, consistent education, and decisive action to deliver certainty during volatile periods. As industry consolidation accelerates, Seifert argues that advisors who lead with protection and purpose are best positioned to deepen client relationships, drive sustainable growth, and become indispensable to the clients they serve.

For more insights like this, please visit Blogs | Lincoln Financial.

Click here for more information about the Capital Group Dividend Value (CGDV) ETF

Disclosures:

All mentions of professional athletes are made in relation to the Becoming Necessary Series with Dr. Kevin Elko and refers solely to his work with the named professional football players. Lincoln Financial and Dr. Kevin Elko are not affiliated.

A fixed indexed annuity is intended for retirement or other long-term needs. It is intended for a person who has sufficient cash or other liquid assets for living expenses and other unexpected emergencies, such as medical expenses. A fixed indexed annuity is not a registered security or stock market investment and does not directly participate in any stock or equity investments, or index.

Lincoln fixed indexed annuities are issued by the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN, and distributed by Lincoln Financial Distributors, Inc., a broker-dealer. The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company does not solicit business in the state of New York, nor is it authorized to do so. Contractual obligations are subject to the claims-paying ability of The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company.

Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates. Affiliates are separately responsible for their own financial and contractual obligations.

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John Connell, Co-Founder and CEO of Focal, outlines how AI can do more than capture notes—it can raise advisor performance. By pairing meeting intelligence with behavioral finance and science-backed coaching, Focal turns compliant client conversations into sharper questions, higher conversion rates, and measurable growth. With more than 130 integrations, the goal isn’t just efficiency—it’s real revenue impact.

Connell also makes clear that in a regulated industry, AI has to be secure and purpose-built. The firms that win won’t just save 10 to 15 hours per week—they’ll see tighter team consistency, stronger AUM growth, and better outcomes across the board. In this model, AI doesn’t replace the advisor. It clears the clutter so advisors can show up more prepared, more focused, and more effective in every client conversation.

Resources: Focal

Power Your Advice podcasts are produced with support from Fidelity Investments. If you would like to learn more about Fidelity’s top performing mutual funds and ETFs for financial advisors visit i.fidelity.com/topfunds. The information and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speakers and do not reflect or represent Fidelity’s views, perspectives, or intellectual property.

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