11 Most Read Articles of the Week!

1. The Behavioral Case for Defensive Equities

Human behavior isn’t always rational. Perhaps that’s why so many otherwise thoughtful investors make irrational decisions—locking in losses by selling at the worst possible times or chasing stocks with overextended valuations. Is there an investment strategy that can help offset emotional behaviors that can lead an investor astray? — Teresa Keane, David Wong and Kent Hargis, PhD

2. Economic Outlook: Weakness and Divergence Ahead

We believe both growth and inflation have peaked. We expect growth across developed market (DM) economies to slow to varying degrees, and in some cases to contract. This year’s broad-based economic resilience will likely give way to weakness next year as sources of fiscal support diminish and the delayed effects of tighter monetary policy exert a stronger global influence. — Nicola Mai, Tiffany Wilding and Andrew Balls

3. Rising Rates and Resilient Markets with Amber Williams

Amber Williams is the Chief Sustainability Officer & Head of Client Investment Strategies at Lincoln Financial Group: a firm that has been helping millions of people plan, protect, and retire for over a century. In this podcast, Amber talks us through the key themes currently on the minds of investors while also sharing her expertise on investment strategies and market trends. — Power Your Advice

4. Determining What To Give to Charity at Year-End

Are you looking for opportunities to provide more value and deepen relationships with HNW individuals and families? Talking to clients about philanthropy allows you to expand your role as a trusted advisor and connect with them in a meaningful way. This article offers a simple framework you can use to begin a dialogue and help your clients be more strategic with their charitable giving. — Caleb Lund and Hayden Adams

5. With Dividend Funds, Passive Could Be Perfect

Ten-year Treasury yields are precipitously flirting with the ominous 5% mark and in that neighborhood, it wouldn’t be surprising if clients are pondering the efficacy of equity income. Nor would be surprising if some advisors felt the same. — Todd Shriber

6. The Unstoppable Surge of Advice Engagement in the Fintech Landscape

In recent years, the financial technology ecosystem has undergone a seismic transformation. Playing a pivotal role in charting this dynamic journey is the Michael Kitces’ Financial AdvisorTech Solutions Map ("the Map"). Starting in 2018 with a list of 188 companies, the Map has grown steadily, encompassing 444 companies by September 2023. — Philipp Hecker

7. Restrictive Yields Will Be the Fed’s Waterloo

Restrictive monetary conditions, from higher yields and tighter lending conditions, are the Fed’s “Waterloo.” If you don’t remember, the “Battle of Waterloo” was fought on June 18th, 1815. The battle was a catastrophic defeat for the Napoleonic forces and marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Before that defeat, Napolean had a successful campaign of waging war in Europe. — Lance Roberts

8. How Private Equity Buyout Managers Create Value

Realizing attractive returns in private equity requires managers to adopt long-term strategies that drive growth. One of the main attractions of private equity is its ability to outperform public equity markets. As shown in Exhibit 1, private equity has outperformed the MSCI AWCI index by over 700 basis points over the last 20 years. — Kunal Shah

9. The #1 Destroyer of Relationships

You already know that a relationship that’s had a problem and has been handled well, is almost always a stronger relationship than one that’s never had a problem. Prevent problems by getting clear on expectations. Eliminate problems by checking in with your clients from time to time. — Bill Cates

10. Navigating Risk and Taming Inflation: Your Financial Battle with Chris Battaglia & Larry Kotlikoff

Economic Realities was created to bring industry experts together to benefit financial advisors and individuals seeking to improve their financial outcomes. In this premiere episode, host Chris Battagia and Larry Kotlikoff provide a critical perspective on various aspects of financial planning, emphasizing the need for more realistic and economically sound approaches to planning for longevity and retirement. — Economic Realities

11. Push vs. Pull Marketing: What Is Your Preference?

Everybody in sales needs new clients. In a perfect world, they file through the door with little effort on your part. That is possible if you are the lowest cost provider. It has certainly worked for Wal-Mart. Most financial professionals want new clients prepared to pay full price. How are you going to get them? — Bryce Sanders