Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that a Federal district court in Texas has put a stay on the effective date of the Department of Labor’s (DoL’s) new Retirement Security Rule (aka “Fiduciary Rule 2.0”), which had been scheduled to become effective in September, and related amendments to prohibited transaction exemptions. Further, the court indicated that its ultimate decision is likely to favor groups opposing the regulation, which could lead to an appeal by the DoL and leave advisors waiting (potentially much longer) for a final answer on what will be required of them going forward.
Also in industry news this week:
- A recent survey finds that a majority of 401(k) plan participants think their financial situation warrants financial advice and are much more likely to trust human-provided guidance over computer-generated advice
- With the SEC’s new “T+1” settlement rule going into effect, RIAs could face related record-keeping requests during upcoming examinations
From there, we have several articles on investment planning:
- Why historical data and forward-looking projections suggest that small-cap stocks potentially continue to merit an allocation in client portfolios, despite their relative underperformance in recent years compared to their large-cap counterparts
- While international stocks have lagged the U.S. market during the past decade, historical data suggest that they could serve as a helpful ballast against sharp inflation-adjusted drawdowns in U.S. stocks
- The downsides to allocating to ‘fancy’ investments, from illiquidity to the often-high costs of buying, selling, and even holding these assets
We also have a number of articles on advisor marketing:
- How advisors are using Substack to amplify their content marketing efforts beyond traditional advisory firm blogs
- Why shorter marketing email subject lines with a clear value proposition tend to lead to strong returns for advisors
- How podcasting represents a relatively efficient marketing tool for advisors, though this method tends to take time and commitment to bring results
We wrap up with three final articles, all about work-life balance:
- Why striving for work-life “harmony” rather than “balance” can create greater flexibility and less stress
- 7 relatively simple ways advisors can weave mindfulness practices into their busy schedules to become more “present” in their daily lives
- Tactics advisory firm owners can use to bring more balance into their work and professional lives, which can ultimately lead to a more sustainable business and greater overall wellbeing
Enjoy the ‘light’ reading!
