A big thank you to our sponsors who keep this newsletter free to the reader:

Aegis Financial has developed a complete sales and marketing system designed to help advisors generate and close leads. (And make up to 13% commission on every case.)

👉️ Click here for a 2 minute video explaining how it works!

🐸 Big Bog Vibes

Forget your traditional Sunday afternoon tea, last week, Britain was all about snorkels, slime, and... bogs?

The World Bog Snorkeling Championships took over the quaint town of Llanwrtyd Wells, with athletes braving murky waters and fashionable headgear (giant plastic toads and “Bog Barbie.”)

You and I might not be snorkeling in bogs, but navigating fiscal waters comes with its own set of challenges.

Cheers to those who aren't afraid of a little mud, be it literal or financial.

Jeremiah "Trading Ties for Flippers" Desmarais

CEO, Advisorist

In Today’s Issue 👇️ 

• Why HALF of all Americans are reconsidering retirement (and how this affects you)

• How to reduce friction for MORE marketing & sales wins this week

• Income increases from $35k – $130K: What should your “client” do?

Plus, a roundup of all the headlines you need to stay updated!

🤔 Are We Starting an “Unretiring” Boom?

Here's a shocker: Half of Americans are rethinking the age-old notion of retirement, with many considering pushing back their retirement age or diving back into work post-retirement.

Here's What You Need to Know 📊

• It’s Not All About the Benjamins: While there’s no denying that finances play a significant role (especially with the biting concerns over inflation and financial security), a good 44% of retirees are lacing up their work boots again for more personal reasons.

• Intellectual stimulation is the top driver for this decision, followed by a desire to maintain purpose.

• Gen X Disconnect: Almost 60% of Gen Xers reported they don't have a financial professional by their side.

  Given the benefits of having a guiding hand (ahem, 36% of respondents working with financial pros own an annuity vs. only 14% of those who go solo), this is a market begging for attention.

• The CEO’s Two Cents: Chris Blunt, the big wig at F&G, highlighted the value of advisors in building financial confidence. But he also nudged them to think broader – understanding clients' needs beyond the balance sheet.

Why Does This Matter? 🤔

Retirement isn't a one-size-fits-all dream.

Today, it’s a blend of finances, personal passions, and finding continued purpose.

And with post-COVID workforce dynamics and generational shifts, the blueprint for retirement is undergoing a serious renovation.

Try These Fresh New Angles When Prospecting 💡

1. Confidence over Cash: Start the conversation with "become more confident in your future.” Money is just a tool, after all. How it’s wielded (and for what) is the real discussion.

2. Example: Consider creating a course for $97 - $297 where you help people in your target market become more confident through three categories: health, wealth, and wisdom.

2. Go Beyond Gen X: If Gen Xers are feeling left out, that's an untapped market ripe for guidance. Consider tailoring services that cater specifically to their unique needs and aspirations.

3. Example: The marketing ‘Rule of 30’ states that trends become popular AGAIN 30 years after they originally started. The reason? All of those people who drove the trend back then now have disposable income to spend. So why not launch a nostalgia-based 90s campaign to appeal to Gen X?

3. Full Life Planning: Why stop at financial planning? Dive deep into your clients' goals – be it volunteering, part-time work, or a full-on second act. When retirement is redefined, so should the strategies to get there.

4. Example: Rather than focusing on financial-specific webinars and workshops, try bringing multiple professionals from your network together for a comprehensive “life planning” event? This could include fitness experts, dieticians, and volunteer organizations.

Bottom Line: Retirement is more than a financial phase; it's a lifestyle choice.

As the dynamics change, so should the conversation.

Advisors: Your role has never been this multidimensional.

Time to rise to the occasion!

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Advisor’s Surprising Windfall Pivot

Ever feel burned out?

Well, apparently you’re part of the “in” crowd.

An E-Lab and Deakin University study shows that almost 75% of advisors experience high levels of burnout from work.

Rewind to last year and Mike P. would have been part of that stat.

He was so burned out he was ready to sell his practice.

Luckily, he explored some new ways to breathe life back into his business.

The surprising ‘windfall’ pivot

One of the big changes he made was installing an end-to-end system into his business to unlock additional cash with a unique approach to selling LTC products.

Fast forward to today and not only is Mike still in business – he’s expanding his office and hiring more staff.

The program that he implemented – which is called Care Forward, by the way – has become the largest portion of income in his practice.

So what is Mike actually EARNING from this?

Here’s what Mike’s doing now:

• One seminar he ran recently closed 2 clients (one at $6M and another at $2M).

• Prospects who previously said “I’ve got an advisor” are flocking to him because of his ‘Care Forward’ Hook

• With over 33M between 65-74 y.o. in US - only 3% – THREE! – are prepped for LTC.

• That means there are more than 32 million folks out there who need an LTC plan.

I’m not going to tell you how to run your practice – but that smells like a huge opportunity to me.

And with a program like Care Forward by Aegis Financial, there’s no reason any advisor in this business shouldn’t be crushing it right now with LTC….just like Mike.

👉 Click here for a short video + bullet points on the program

Headline Roundup

💰How Your Clients Use Their Money

• ‘House-rich’ Americans are sitting on nearly $30 trillion in home equity [CNBC]

• Report: 4 in 10 workers with a 401(k) don’t contribute [CNBC]

• Survey: 70+ million Americans plan to bet on NFL games this season [MW]

📈 Markets & Economy

• Housing market appears to be ‘stuck,’ as rates stay above 7% [MW]

• US Bond Yields steady ahead of August CPI data due this week [MW]

• The gap between wage growth and inflation is narrowing [CNBC]

💼 Industry Roundup

• Senators take up looming insurance crisis as policy issuers flee FL & CA [CNBC]

• Insurance agent charged with submitting life app using different identity [QCN]

• Financial Planning Software Market to grow by $4.69 billion from ‘22-’27 [PRN]

• Morgan Stanley Set for Full Rollout of AI Chatbot for Advisors [TA]

🥊 The Advisor Showdown: AI vs Human

I ran across this graphic this week and couldn’t stop studying it.

I’ll share some of the interesting takeaways that I had:

• 4 states are home to 61% of the country’s billionaires: California (179), New York (130), Florida (92), and Texas (73).

• While many billionaires earned their status through hedge funds or banking, other interesting industries include lumber, fast food (shout out Chick-Fil-A!), billboards, candy, and self-storage.

• Both Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos call Medina, WA home. Combined, they account for $253 Billion in wealth. Not bad for a town of 2,886 people!

The Best Thing I Saw All Week

Flying solo from California to Raleigh with three kids and two dogs, Summer Erdel was tired and on edge.

"By the third flight, my kids were fed up!" 

Enter Jenny Martin: a mom of four and Erdel's self-declared "guardian angel."

Jenny didn't just offer understanding.

She held Erdel's baby, checked in the stroller, and chose the seat in front of Erdel on Southwest, so a toddler's kicks wouldn’t disturb a stranger.

But when midnight struck and the baby projectile-vomited over Erdel, it was Jenny who stepped up…

"I got the kids. You go take care of yourself."

Jenny entertained the kids, gave her jacket to Erdel, rocked the baby to sleep, and helped get her to baggage claim and to her husband..

The mothers parted ways without sharing contact info.

In her quest to find Jenny, Erdel turned to Facebook: "Motherhood is a sisterhood. I learned that tonight." 

The digital age did its magic, reconnecting the two via Zoom.

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.