How a Research Partner Makes Managing Unpredictable Markets Easier

In the independent advisory space, talented professionals with decades of experience, loyal clients, and hard-earned knowledge are winding down – pulling back, riding margins, and waiting for an exit.

At the same time, we’re in an era of staggering opportunity: by 2034, the industry is projected to have 33% fewer advisors than it needs while roughly 71 million Americans will have a million or more in assets.

The advisors best positioned to close that gap are the ones coasting to the finish line.

In his latest Linkedin article, Silver Oak CEO Billy Hopkins explores the concept of Level 5 Ambition, a philosophy drawn from Jim Collins’ work on Level 5 Leadership. The best builders aren’t grinding for the sake of a bigger number. They’re disciplined, humble, and focused on building something that outlasts them.

That’s what this industry needs more of right now.

If you got your license in the 1990s, you carry with you knowledge that no seminar or AI chatbot can replicate. You survived the dot-com crash, 2008, the pandemic. Your clients, their children, and the next generation of advisors need the wisdom that will walk out the door with you if you don’t make it a point to pass it on.

Read the full article for a closer look at Level 5 Ambition, the business case for building a firm that lasts longer than you, and small moves you can make right now to ensure the independent advisory world endures.

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We’re hearing a lot of questions and conversations lately about what’s coming next for the market. We’ve been dealing with uncertainty and unpredictability for so long that it feels like we may never make it through to the other side, and we’re all looking for ways to create the most successful outcomes possible for our clients.

From the conflict in Ukraine to the reverberating effects of COVID-19, the market is currently facing more headwinds than we’ve seen in the last few years. There are many different paths we can take to navigate the market’s unpredictability, but according to Brad Kasper of LSA Portfolio Analytics, the best way to do so is with reliable partnerships.

Partners can help boost you up as a financial professional in the areas where you might be selling yourself (and your clients) short. When you’re busy growing your business and managing your clients, there will always be things you just don’t have time for — but that doesn’t mean you can forgo those activities completely. Working with a partner can help you get to everything you need to do efficiently and effectively.

Especially today, leveraging a research partner can be a game changer for your firm. During these complicated times, your clients and even other financial professionals at your practice will turn to you for insight and direction about what they should be doing. It’s up to you to be the calm voice amidst all the noise — but you don’t always have time to do all the reading and research you need to address their concerns with confidence.

With so many factors changing the market right now, what has worked in the past isn’t guaranteed to work again. As financial professionals, it’s important to stay on top of evolving trends so you can make the best recommendations, not just the expected recommendations.

Connecting with a research partner who can support you by providing deep market insights you can then share with your clients can help you stay appropriately informed and build meaningful relationships based on trust, all without adding extra tasks to your plate. You’ll be equipped with new recommendations and perspectives on how to manage our unpredictable market, based on actual data, without taking on extra work and responsibilities.

In order to get through these challenges, financial professionals will need to lean on each other and other professionals in the industry. To hear more insights from Brad, check out his full episode of the BluePrint Podcast, Why You Need a Reliable Partner in an Unpredictable Market. If you want even more tips on how you can grow your business, get in touch with the team at Silver Oak.