Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (May 2-3)

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that as an increasing number of (investment-centric) financial advisors are adding planning services to their offerings, the value of comprehensive financial planning as a differentiator for advisory firms could continue to decline in the years ahead (particularly as artificial intelligence tools aimed at consumers could potentially offer financial recommendations to consumers as well). Which suggests that firms looking to stay ahead of the current could seek alternative ways to show how they are “different”, perhaps including leaning into the personal, human element of the planning process (something AI tools might find harder to match).

Also in industry news this week:

A survey finds that there could be a mismatch between retirees’ (often high) interest in planning for the non-financial aspects of their lives and the (comparatively lower) frequency at which advisors broach these discussions
Almost 80% of Millennials want to retire early, according to a recent survey, though they might not have the investment risk tolerance to make it happen (suggesting a valuable role for financial advisors in connecting investment returns with financial goals as well as in highlighting alternate forms of ‘retirement’ that might be more financially feasible)

From there, we have several articles on investment planning:

Why taking a strategic approach to bond investments based on an investor’s time horizon and cash needs could be superior to a tactical approach focused on anticipating future interest rate moves
Returns data indicate that Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) funds and high-yield bond funds offered purchasing power protection during the past decade (including the recent inflationary period), while many investors in short- and long-term government bonds saw their purchasing power erode
An analysis compares investing in “buffer” ETFs versus Treasury bills when planning for a large purchase at a defined date

We also have a number of articles on practice management:

Why being a “legacy leader” rather than a “lone ranger” might be the key for advisory firm founders to create a firm that retains clients for the long haul and thrives beyond their personal influence
Why firm owners might need to seek new study group peers and mentors as their businesses grow and mature
Seven research-backed practices to help leaders build “superteams” that thrive amidst an ever-changing business environment

We wrap up with three final articles, all about happiness in the modern age:

An exploration into why Americans have experienced a sharp drop in happiness this decade at a time when many personal economic measures have been strong
How “third places” represent an opportunity for communities to build greater social connection and trust
Why cutting certain office perks could save money the short run but ultimately backfire for businesses if employees see it as a signal that they’re less valued

Enjoy the ‘light’ reading!