Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that the Senate has passed companion bills to the House’s “SECURE 2.0” proposals that would represent the most noteworthy changes to retirement savings since the original SECURE Act was passed in 2019. While changes could be made to the proposals as the Senate and House bills are reconciled, strong support for the measures in both chambers suggest that there could be major changes to the retirement landscape by the end of the year (from increasing the age when RMDs begin, to the ability to use retirement distributions to fund long-term care insurance), that could come with significant planning implications in the years that follow!
Also in industry news this week:
- The SEC is considering extending its regulation of advisors to ‘information providers’, such as index providers and model portfolio makers, which could clarify the roles and responsibilities of these companies while further stretching the SEC’s inspection bandwidth
- A recent survey suggests that clients of financial advisors have more confidence in their financial situation than consumers without advisors across a range of measures, from saving enough for retirement to controlling the amount of risk in their portfolios
From there, we have several articles on tax-planning strategies:
- While tax-loss harvesting has gained newfound attention during the current market downturn, other tax-planning strategies, including asset location and Roth conversions, can also provide significant value to clients
- Amid proposals to move the RMD age back further, advisors and their clients can consider the potential value of strategic withdrawals and Roth conversions before reaching RMD age
- Why direct indexing is gaining in popularity among a broader base of advisors, and why its uses for clients go beyond tax management
We also have a number of articles on investing:
- Why retail investors are increasingly turning to private-market investments and the potential benefits and risks of doing so
- The implications for advisors of a recent study exploring the characteristics that make it more likely someone will ‘panic sell’
- Why alternative investments could potentially be valuable additions to client portfolios in the current market and economic environment
We wrap up with three final articles, all about the drivers of professional success:
- Why specialists often have a leg up on generalists as an industry matures and what this means for financial advisors
- Why emotional intelligence and organization are more important than ‘book smarts’ for achieving success in the 21st century
- Why personal experience is necessary to gain understanding and mastery of a profession, including financial planning
Enjoy the ‘light’ reading!
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