Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that the Securities and Exchange Commission this week authorized 11 Spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), which could provide financial advisors and their clients with a convenient way to invest in the cryptocurrency without many of the security issues or price tracking challenges of other methods (though the new products will still be subject to Bitcoin’s notorious price volatility!).
Also in industry news this week:
- The Department of Labor (DoL) this week published a final rule delineating what makes an individual an independent contractor versus a company employee, though it did not provide specific guidance for registered representatives of broker-dealers and other financial professionals who have expressed concern that their independent contractor status could be in jeopardy
- Vanguard this week opened a high-yield savings product to all investors, adding to the heated competition for consumer deposits
From there, we have several articles on practice management:
- How financial advisory firm owners can ensure that managers promoted from within the firm are positioned for success
- A recent survey indicates that being proactive with planning strategies and communication could be more important than portfolio performance for financial advisors when it comes to client retention
- How advisors who reach the partner level (and their firms) could benefit from a 2nd career path that guides them throughout the rest of their careers
We also have a number of articles on cash flow and budgeting:
- 11 questions that can help couples get on the same page financially before moving in together
- 3 options for couples when deciding how (or whether) to combine their finances
- How holding regular ‘money dates’ can help couples improve their relationship with money and each other
We wrap up with 3 final articles, all about health:
- The many benefits of meeting the recommended daily intake of fiber and the foods that contain the most of it
- Why worrying about getting 8 hours of sleep per night might be counterproductive and why sticking to a regular sleep schedule might be a more effective approach
- 9 ways to get healthier in the coming year that do not require a major lifestyle change
Enjoy the ‘light’ reading!
