Gaining Perspective

For decades, Frank W. Abagnale’s story has captured the imagination of audiences around the world as a modern-day folk hero—but the truth could not be more different from the fictitious autobiography he sold to Hollywood. Self-proclaimed as “the world’s greatest con man,” the true dimensions of Abagnale’s hoax have been revealed for the first time in a new book by my guest today, Alan Logan.

Invesco recently expanded its ETF lineup launching two new exchange-traded funds that capture timely technology themes – biotechnology and semiconductors. The new ETFs will track well-recognized Nasdaq Indexes with nearly 30 years of live track record; the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index and the PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index. In the last year, the advances of technology – in which semiconductors are critical – deeply impacted the way people engaged during the pandemic. The biotechnology space has paved society's way out of the pandemic. The past year has underscored the importance of these companies, which are often well-positioned to capitalize on transformative technology themes, as these companies continue to expand their critical roles in society.

So, you’re in charge of a team, but you wonder many things about it. Are the members motivated, stressed out, or bored? Do they understand the mission? Is each team member the right fit? Julie Genjak tells us that getting these answers isn’t always easy because team dynamics can be quite complex.

While Covid-19 appears to be dissipating with the rollout of the vaccine, there is a persistent financial literacy epidemic that threatens the financial futures of millions. Financial advisors can serve as an antidote to this epidemic. My guest Andrew Crowell, is here to talk about how financial literacy programs, like the one that his firm, D.A. Davidson, offers in partnership with the YMCA, can positively impact urban communities and set teenagers up for financial success.

The big story in the ETF industry over the last several years has been the growth of options-based strategies. Those products have accumulated assets at a rapid pace. They are offering advisors and their clients low-cost solutions that have return profiles, including downside protection and upside participation, that are not available in conventional strategies.

Financial firms are not growing and not adapting as quickly as businesses in other industries. Slow to employ new technologies, look at client segmentation, and consider new outlets for client growth, the financial industry seems stuck in a bygone era. Matt Reiner shares a solution to these issues.

My guest today, Stephanie Bogan, is here to talk about the key trends that will drive growth in the advisor profession over the next several years. We all know that the pandemic has disrupted the ways advice is marketed and delivered, placing a lot more emphasis on technology and competitive differentiation. Stephanie is here to explore those trends and offer steps for advisors seeking to achieve breakthrough growth.

Insurance-backed investments, or annuities, offer unique benefits not available in other asset management or investment strategies. And RIAs are starting to see the light, according to a recent survey from RetireOne and Protective Life Insurance. David Stone, RetireOne’s CEO, is my guest today, and will outline the results of its recent survey, how insurance products have changed in recent years, and the upcoming innovations in annuity products that financial advisors should keep an eye on.

The wealth management industry is consolidating. A global pandemic did not slow the pace of merger and acquisition activity, with advisory practices being bought up by roll-up firms, banks and larger advisory firms. Some of the activity was fueled by private equity money and cheap debt financing abetted by the low-interest rate environment. Some of the activity is from publicly traded firms. Here to talk with me today about this and other key trends in the wealth space is Maura Creekmore.

Over the past year there has been a groundswell of interest in passive ESG ETF products as investors look to fill the core areas of their investment strategy with more sustainable solutions, while gaining substantial returns. Despite the increased interest, financial advisors and retail investors have been slower to embrace this generational-driven change due to a lack of education or by not having the investment solutions at the ready.