The economic landscape is shifting, and you’re probably hearing a term you haven't encountered in decades: stagflation. This toxic combination of slow growth, rising inflation, and increasing unemployment presents unique challenges for your practice but also powerful opportunities. Join guest host Greg Hammer, President and CEO of Hammer Financial Group, as he sits down with industry veteran Stoyan Petev, Senior Vice President of Advanced Markets at C2P, to decode what stagflation means for your practice and, more importantly, how you can turn this type of economic uncertainty into meaningful client conversations. Discover tactical portfolio adjustments and communication strategies to help your clients build unshakeable confidence in uncertain times.

Resources:

• Planning Framework referenced: The Bucket Plan®

Statistics:

• Last significant U.S. stagflation period occurred in the 1970s

Generation X is spending $83,000 annually compared to baby boomers' $62,000—a 33% increase that reflects their sandwich generation reality: funding college tuition while simultaneously covering parents' long-term care costs. These 45–60-year-olds are your highest lifetime value prospects, but they bring specific pressures that require targeted approaches. Join host Dave Allison as he sits down with Bryan Bibbo, President, CFO, and partner at JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, to explore the retirement realities and tax-efficient strategies that help you capture this critical demographic. From super-funding 529 plans to implementing sophisticated tax loss harvesting through SMAs, discover how to position yourself as the advisor who understands their dual financial obligations and peak earning potential.

Resources:

• Book referenced: Die with Zero by Bill Perkins
• Training program referenced: Tax Management Journey®

Statistics:

• Gen X (ages 45-60) spends approximately $83,000 annually compared to baby boomers' $62,000 annually—a 33% increase in expenses
• Gen X experienced major market downturns during prime saving years: tech bubble (2000) and global financial crisis (2008)

Gray divorce rates among Americans over 50 have surged from 8.7% in 1990 to 36% by 2019*, creating unique financial planning challenges that require specialized expertise. Join host Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President, Head of Annuity Sales at C2P as she interviews Jeannette Bajalia, Senior Wealth Manager at JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, and Founder of Women's Worth, to explore the emotional and financial complexities of late-life divorce. Learn how to navigate the delicate balance between hard financial truths and emotional sensitivity while helping clients rebuild their financial futures. From understanding the root causes of gray divorce to implementing modified planning approaches, this episode provides essential guidance for advisors working with clients navigating one of life's most challenging transitions.

*https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/77/9/1710/6564346

Resources:

• Book referenced: Wi$e Up, Women!: A Guide to Total Fiscal and Physical Well-Being by Jeannette Bajalia
• Organization referenced: Women’s Worth

 Statistics:

• Gray divorce rates increased from 8.7% in 1990 to 36% by 2019 among individuals over 50 
• 75% of nursing home residents are women
• Women initiate the majority of gray divorces, driven by changing societal expectations
• Marital stress increases during the initial two years of retirement

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) represents the most significant tax planning opportunity since 2017, and advisors who understand it will have a major advantage. Join host Kalem Mackey, CFP®, BPC, Executive Vice President and Partner at C2P and Dave Alison, President and founding partner at Prosperity Capital Advisors and creator of The Tax Management Journey®, as they break down the key provisions of this transformative legislation. Discover why you need to act now on permanent tax bracket extensions, estate planning exemptions up to $15 million per person, expanded business deductions, and new opportunities to grow your practice.

 Resources:

• Training program referenced: The Tax Management Journey®
• Guide referenced: Dave Allison's comprehensive OBBB advisor guide - COMING SOON
• Videos referenced: C2P client communication videos on OBBB provisions

 Statistics:

• US debt currently at $37 trillion
• Estate and gift tax exemption increased to $15 million per person ($30 million per couple)
• SALT deduction increased to $40,000 with income phase-outs starting at $500,000
• Qualified small business stock exclusion increased from $10 million to $15 million
• 100% bonus depreciation restored for business equipment purchases

Discover how to reframe legacy planning, estate strategies, and wealth management for clients without children. Join host Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President and Head of Annuity Sales at C2P, as she interviews Bri Conn, CFP®, Childfree Wealth Specialist® at Childfree Wealth®. Learn how to build trust with this unique, and often underserved client base, avoid common planning biases, and implement the "Die With Zero" philosophy to help clients live their best financial life. From redefining legacy beyond genetic inheritance to creating flexible work arrangements that prioritize life experiences, this episode covers essential strategies for advisors looking to better serve the growing child-free market.

Resources:

• Book referenced: Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
• Podcast: Childfree Wealth Podcast
• Volunteer platform: Volunteer Match
• Child-Free Wealth website: childfreewealth.com

Transform your practice from referral-hoping to referral-generating with battle-tested strategies from two industry legends. Discover why referred prospects are more likely to become clients and how top advisors systematically build referral engines that drive 40%+ of their annual business. Join guest host Bryan Bibbo, AIF, NSSA, BPC, CEPA, President, CFO, and partner at JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, as he interviews Bill Cates, CSP, CPAE, renowned author, speaker, and consultant, and John DelGreco, President and Founder of DelGreco Tax and Insurance Group, and founding partner of C2P. Learn the psychology behind expectation-based referral requests, the specific language that helps removes the "creepy referral guy" stigma, and proven systems for converting satisfied clients into active referral partners. From referral kits to targeted questioning techniques, discover the frameworks elite advisors use to make referrals predictable rather than random.

Resources:

• Academy referenced: Cates Academy for Relationship Marketing
• Podcast referenced: Top Advisor Podcast
• Bill Cates' Books: Get More Referrals Now, Beyond Referrals, Radical Relevance, The Language of Referrals

Technology continues to reshape client expectations in wealth management, with consumers comparing advisory firms to companies like Amazon and Coinbase rather than just other financial institutions. Advisors are now challenged with finding a balance between operational efficiency and personal connection. Join host Dave Alison as he continues his conversation on the future of wealth management with Jamie Hopkins, CEO of Bryn Mawr Capital Management and WSFS Bank. Transform your client service experience by learning which processes to automate for maximum impact, how to eliminate client communication black holes during volatile markets, and why AI might actually drive more in-person meetings in the future.

Resources:

• Estate planning platform: Wealth.com
• FinTech platform referenced: Altruist

Client expectations continue to evolve in wealth management, and exceptional service delivery has become the key differentiator for advisory practices. In this first part of our two-part conversation on the future of 120% wealth management, we explore how strategic client experience enhancements can differentiate your practice and drive sustainable growth. Join host Dave Alison as he interviews Jamie Hopkins, Esq., LLM, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP, CEO of Bryn Mawr Capital Management and WSFS Bank. Together they discuss practical strategies for creating memorable client touchpoints and implementing scalable service enhancements. From $8 barbecue sauce gestures to systematic milestone recognition, learn how to build the kind of exceptional service that creates lasting client loyalty in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Resources:

• Financial Services Coaching: FinServ Foundation
• Estate planning platform: Wealth.com
• Books referenced:
• Find Your Freedom by Jamie Hopkins
• Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara
• Financial planning process: The Bucket Plan®

Conversation Circles are a powerful tool any financial advisor can leverage to uncover the values of their clients and prospects to offer a more personalized experience. When you host one of these small-group events featuring a structured conversation, you can build years’ worth of rapport in a short period of time. Having held over 100 Conversation Circles, Ashley Ilardo, Regional Director & Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), and Mia Hanson, former Associate at DFA’s Global Client Group, now a Financial Planning Associate at Venture Visionary Partners, provide a crash course on hosting these events and making them authentic to your firm. Listen and follow along with the slides linked below as our special guests teach you how to add these intimate conversations into your business model for stronger client relationships and referrals. 

Resources:

• Presentation: Dimensional Fund Advisors Conversation Circles
• Worksheet: Dimensional’s Ideal Client Worksheet

When markets turn volatile, clients often start calling with questions and seeking answers. How you handle these conversations often determines whether clients stay the course or make emotional decisions that can hurt their long-term outcomes. Join host Kalem Mackey, CFP®, BPC, Executive Vice President and Partner at C2P, as he sits down with Stoyan Petev, Senior Vice President of Advanced Markets at C2P, and Mark Peterson, Director of BlackRock's Market and Portfolio Insights team, for an honest conversation about what's really driving market turbulence and how to navigate it effectively. From reading market signals that others miss to capitalizing on new income opportunities, listen to learn how to help guide your clients through uncertainty while positioning their portfolios for future success.

Resources:

• BlackRock Publication by Mark Peterson: Student of the Market
• Financial planning process mentioned: The Bucket Plan®

Statistics:

• Stocks have been up two years in a row
• The market experienced a 10% decline in two days in early April, followed by a 9.5% rebound on April 9th
• Interest rates on the 10-year US Treasury bond exceeded 4% for the first time since 2007, marking almost 15 years
• Inflation peaked at 9+% in June 2022 and recently dropped to 2.3%, the lowest level since February 2021
• There were 14 consecutive months when both stocks and bonds lost money - unprecedented in investing history