This Tuesday at 1PM EST, CPA Steven Jarvis joins Jeremiah Desmarais for a one-time LIVE Encore of last week’s “Riches in Tax Planning” masterclass event.

👉 Click to register for free!

🐘 🎄 A Tree-Mendous Feast…

There’s still a little bit of December cheer on the menu for the elephants and bison at the Berlin Zoo.

In what has become an annual New Year tradition, they’re feasting on leftover Christmas trees from vendors who didn’t sell out their supply.

Sounds like a tree-mendous feat!

Okay, that was lame…we’ll own it. 😆 

- Team Advisorist

In Today’s Issue 👇️ 

• Why the Bitcoin ETF approval is a wake-up call for FAs

• How to mine profits from your clients’ tax returns

• New report shows AI impact on FinServ industry

💰️ Bitcoin ETF Approval is a Wake-Up Call for Advisors

The Bitcoin ETF saga has finally come to a thrilling end, with the SEC giving it the nod after what felt like an eternity of anticipation and legal wrangling.

Now, before you roll your eyes at the crypto circus, hear us out…

Because this is a game-changer that even the skeptics among us can't afford to ignore.

🪄 Eyes on BlackRock's Magic Wand

As the spot Bitcoin ETF takes its first steps, keep a close eye on BlackRock's IBIT ETF – the heavyweight champion in this area.

BlackRock reportedly saw $400M of inflows within the first 30 minutes of its trading debut, with an anticipated $3B total inflow.

🐝 Generational Adoption Buzz

We know Bitcoin's rise was a youth revolution, but will the older guard join the party through traditional channels?

Experts believe the 50+ crowd will be much more likely to get their crypto exposure through ETFs.

And if you’re ignoring this groundbreaking decision, you’re in the minority. An estimated 88% of advisors have been anxiously waiting for the spot ETF green light, admitting they will be investors themselves.

🎢 Volatility – Buckle Up

If you’re new to the world of crypto, there’s one thing you’ll have to brace yourself (and your clients) for…

Volatility.

Like big-time volatility with 3% – 4% daily swings in both directions being fairly normal.

Ethereum ETF: The Dark Horse

While Bitcoin took the spotlight, Ethereum – often dubbed Bitcoin’s ‘kid brother’ – silently rose 10%.

Are investors secretly hoping for an ETH ETF?

The plot thickens.

Advisors, Hold On Tight

If you're a financial advisor, this is your wake-up call. Whether you're a crypto enthusiast or a skeptic, Bitcoin wrapped in an ETF is too big to ignore.

Staying oblivious ain’t an option.

While most industry bigwigs are keeping their lips sealed on what they’ll do from here, Charles Schwab has been clear: It's a green light for them.

You don’t have to be a big believer in Bitcoin, but this is the moment to get educated on crypto so that you can at least provide informed answers to your clients.

Here are a couple of our favorite resources for beginners:

📕 Coinbase Learn

📕 CoinTelegraph

Headline Roundup

🏠 Affecting Your Clients

• 9-in-10 Homeowners Have a Mortgage Rate Below 6% [MW]

• 62% of Adults 50+ Haven’t Had Professional Help for Retirement [CNBC]

• IRS Has Collected $500M+ in Back Taxes From Millionaires [MW]

📈 Markets & Economy 

• 11 Bitcoin ETFs Start Trading, But Aren’t for Everyone [CNBC]

• CPI Index Up 3.4% in December, Higher Than Expected [CNBC]

• 2-Year Treasury Yield Heads for Lowest Point Since May [MW]

💼 Industry Roundup 

• Child tax Credit Could Get Boost as Congress Fights for New Deal [MW]

• Morgan Stanley Pays $249M to Settle Criminal Probe [CNBC]

• Bitcoin ETF’s Place in Retirement Portfolios [MW]

💸 Your Clients’ Tax Returns May Have Hidden Goldmines for Your Business

Imagine having a thriving network of CPAs that actually refer you to clients…

And imagine being able to send your clients to those same CPAs to help them with some of their big picture tax planning (while sharing in some of that revenue).

I’m a firm believer that there is tons of hidden wealth in tax returns and tax planning – most of which advisors are unable to tap into without the right relationships.

This is such a golden opportunity that I’ve spent the past few weeks in conversations with Steven Jarvis, a highly-respected CPA who shows FAs how to win in this area.

Last week, we hosted a webinar where Steven and I taught some powerful, hands-on strategies for building power relationships with CPAs.

It was such a massive success – with nearly 1,000 advisors signed up to attend – that we’ve decided to do a one-time live encore this Tuesday.

ENCORE: Riches in Tax Planning: Tax Return and CPA Goldmines

Tuesday, January 16 @ 1PM EST

• 5 Innovative Strategies for Financial Advisors to Capitalize on Client Tax Returns

• 3 Secrets to Build a Thriving Network with CPAs That Actually Refer You Clients

• Proven Passive Methods to Attract and Retain Business Owner Clients

• The Hidden Wealth in Tax Returns - A Step by Step Roadmap

👉 Click here to register for free!

🤖 New Report Shows AI is Transforming Financial Services

Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just a buzzword; it's the most impactful trend in 2024.

NVIDIA's State of AI in Financial Services Report spills the beans on how AI is reshaping the industry, with 91% of financial firms either considering or already implementing AI solutions to drive innovation and efficiency.

Key Trends in AI Adoption: A Deep Dive

1. Portfolio Optimization, Fraud Detection, and Risk Management Take Center Stage

AI is becoming the backbone of financial operations. The report highlights that portfolio optimization, fraud detection, and risk management are the top use cases for AI.

Financial advisors leveraging AI in these areas can streamline processes, mitigate risks, and enhance decision-making.

2. Rise of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)

In a paradigm shift, generative AI and LLMs are stealing the spotlight.

55% of surveyed financial institutions are actively seeking generative AI workflows.

This surge in interest extends from marketing and sales to synthetic data generation.

For financial advisors, this signals a broader application of AI in report generation, investment research, and even customer experience enhancement through chatbots and virtual assistants.

3. Positive Impact on Revenue and Cost Reduction

AI isn't just a cost center; it's a revenue booster. The survey results show that 86% of respondents experienced a positive impact on revenue, with 82% noting a reduction in costs.

This underscores the strategic importance of AI in shaping the financial success of companies.

4. Future Investments in AI: A Resounding Yes

The future is AI, and financial firms are doubling down on their investments. A whopping 97% of companies plan to invest more in AI technologies.

For you and I, understanding these investment trends is vital as it indicates a continued integration of AI into financial services.

🗓️ Upcoming Industry Event Calendar

• Jan 16 @ 1pm est: Encore: Tax Returns and CPA Goldmines Revealed 

• Jan. 15-18: AICPA PFP Summit

🤖 Tech Tip

Ever wanted to quickly edit a PDF, but don’t have access to the original file?

Or maybe you run across a very well-designed PDF that someone else created, and you’d like to use it as a template to create your own?

Canva allows you to upload any PDF into its platform and turn it into an editable document – including text, images, colors, etc.

Just another reason our team loves using Canva!

✌️Good Vibes

Sharing looks good on you.

When you copy that link at the bottom and share it with a few financial planning colleagues, you look like the smartest advisor in the room by keeping them informed.

Plus, you earn rewards. Sweet.