Gaining Perspective

One of the best kept secrets in the investment world is the long-term outperformance of emerging markets. Over the last 20 years, the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Index outperformed the S&P 500 Index – 7.2% versus 6.6%. That index also outperformed the S&P 500 in 2020, 18.8% versus 18.4%. Despite that outperformance, emerging markets are cheap, trading at a 14.8 p/e versus 21.6 for the S&P 500. Here today to discuss the potential that the emerging markets holds for investors is Chelsea Rodstrom of Global X.

The new year brings a new set of opportunities for savvy investors who are willing to dig beneath the headlines to uncover lesser-known companies taking advantage of early-stage megatrends. I am here today with the founder of Changebridge Capital, a new company that offers two actively managed ETFs built to capitalize on those early-stage megatrends.

As we look toward 2021, one of the key issues facing wealth managers will be the changes that may come with the Biden administration. There has been talk of raising both income and capital gains tax rates, as well as Social Security taxes that could be imposed on high earners. Although Biden has rejected a wealth tax advocated by some in the Democratic Party, he has proposed changes to estate tax laws, such as taxing unrealized capital gains at someone’s death.

What if you could target more consistent income — in any bond market? By looking beyond the bond benchmark and broadening your fixed-income allocation, you enhance your potential to achieve your clients’ financial goals.  That is the premise behind the concept of strategic beta ETFs, which my guest today, Gene Tannuzzo, will discuss.

Commonwealth Financial Network opened its doors in 1979 as a small Massachusetts broker/dealer with big aspirations.  While remaining privately held, it has grown rapidly, along the way establishing itself as a pioneer in advancing practice management and in leading the way for fee-based advisor business solutions. It now operates in all 50 states, empowering more than 2,000 independent advisors who manage over $200 billion in assets, with a home office staff of 770 professionals.

Take your retirement account and divide it by half. This is the real amount that you have saved for retirement. Taxes can cut your retirement funds in half, according to Ed Slott, the nationally recognized IRA and retirement planning expert, founder of IRAHelp.comand author of the forthcoming book, The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb: How to Take Financial Control, Avoid Unnecessary Taxes and Combat the Latest Threats to Your Retirement Savings.

The year of 2020 was like no other in our lifetimes as a once in a century pandemic shut down the world as we all knew it and the global economy experienced its worst shock since the Great Depression of the 1930s.  The stock and bond markets sent investors on a roller-coaster ride. The S&P 500 experienced its fastest 35% decline ever during February and March, only to skyrocket back to all-time highs.  Investment--grade and high-yield bonds had a similar experience as credit spreads shot up and back down and Treasury bond yields plummeted to record lows.  We also had a presidential election.  As this historic year is put into the history books, investors are left to ponder – what should we expect in 2021?

Broadridge recently released its second annual financial advisor marketing survey, which revealed the contrasts between effective and ineffective marketers, as well as an expected move to digital from the continued impact of COVID-19. This year’s survey also shed light on the lack of marketing strategy among advisors and in turn, dissatisfaction with marketing ROI.

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the wealth management profession has reached record levels for yet another year. There was a pandemic-driven pause in Q2, but Q3 saw a record-setting 44 transactions, the first time there was more than 40 transactions in a quarter. With 111 transactions through Q3, it is likely we will surpass the previous record of 132 transactions in 2019.

Technology helped transform advisors from brokers to someone who needs to listen more to clients’ unique situations and help them develop a plan that’s not strictly about investments.  My guest today, John Diehl, has written that, “Today’s advisor needs to better understand the context of their clients’ needs,” The financial piece isn’t the problem. The emotions, high-level goals, and the aspirations are the challenge.”