Recent Articles
Today’s retirement landscape is fundamentally different from what most of us took for granted just one generation ago....
Are Roth Conversions a good idea in today’s tax and market environment?
This week, nearly 600 independent financial advisors joined Stonewood for our Virtual Innovate Summit conference.
Some training events just fill in the gaps. Others shift your entire approach.
Hundreds of advisors took to Capitol Hill this week as part of NAIFA’s annual Congressional Conference.
Practice Transformation,
Retirement Tax Bill,
Financial Advisor Marketing Tools,
Advisor Training,
Annuity Alpha,
Roth Done Right
What makes a client take action? It’s not just trust—it’s trust based on understanding.
It’s May. The flowers are blooming. Spring is in the air.
On the eve of the first Saturday in May, all eyes turn to Churchill Downs for "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in...
As every successful advisor knows, today’s retirement planning landscape is changing - fast.
If you’ve followed our newsletter for a while, you know I write often about Roth Conversions. Advisors always want to...
Today’s savers face numerous risks as they prepare for a successful retirement - from tax and legislative risk to...
It’s that time of year when everyone seems to be on vacation. Spring break is here, and families are headed to the...
Leadership in Washington has been busy debating bills and policies that could significantly impact U.S. savers. So,...
As the seasons change and spring approaches, many people take the opportunity to deep clean their homes, declutter...
Many advisors are working with clients to consider Roth Conversions. And usually, the main driver of those discussions...
Is there a "right" way to approach Roth conversions? Here at Stonewood, the answer is “yes” - and we’ve developed the...
This week at Innovate Summit we brought the industry's brightest minds together for two days of powerful insights,...
Next week, Stonewood Financial is welcoming over 100 of the nation’s top independent financial advisors to Louisville,...
If your clients are like most American savers, they’ve used tax-deferred accounts to save for retirement. And if...
Roth conversions are gaining in popularity, and with the debate over extending the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act in full swing in...
With President Trump’s inauguration this week, all eyes are on Washington to see what policies and priorities the new...
IRMAA is suddenly the “it” topic for advisor seminars, webinars, and more. For the uninitiated, IRMAA, or the...
I know how many marketing emails and postcards we receive here at Stonewood Financial from other companies advertising...
When I founded Stonewood Financial over 20 years ago, I had no idea the industry force it would become. At the time, we...
The holiday season is a time of celebration, connection, and rest. However, it can also bring a noticeable lull in...
If you’ve been following our blog this year, you’ve noticed I’ve been sharing some of my favorite message frames....
At this point, most people are familiar with the term “FinTech” or Financial Technology and its massive presence in our...
So, you’ve set up lead scoring in your CRM and have a prioritized list of prospects. Now what? The next step is...
Is a Roth Conversion really worth it? It's a question I encounter almost daily—whether on the internet, on YouTube, in...
The voters have spoken, and we’ve elected a new President and Congress.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin In retirement income planning, continuous...
We’re now less than two weeks away from the election. Which means… You have two weeks to leverage America's attention...
If you’re a financial advisor aiming to grow your practice, you’ve likely come across the term "lead scoring." But what...
Artificial intelligence tools - like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s NotebookLM - will increasingly impact the way...
Are you finding leads online? Are you building trust with your clients and prospects on the platforms where they’re...
The election is almost here, and it could have a BIG impact on our clients and their retirement assets. Will the Trump...
As we approach a pivotal election, financial advisors must remain vigilant about the legislative risks that could...
September brings autumn temperatures, back-to-school vibes, and the return of the pumpkin spice latte. But September...
It’s Legislative Risk Awareness Month, and today I want to share one of the clearest examples of Legislative Risk many...
September, it seems, is a month designated for celebrations and observations.
In an era where digital transformation is not just a trend but a necessity, financial advisors find themselves at a...
Pop Quiz: What’s a big risk of retirement that doesn’t matter much while you’re saving… but can matter a LOT once...
When you and your clients think about annuities, what comes to mind?
Where do you turn for answers? For most of us, it’s Google or similar search engines. A prospective client’s journey to...
The financial services industry isn't a one-size-fits-all game. Different age groups have distinct financial goals,...
Advisors who help their clients mitigate tax and legislative risk in retirement naturally spend a lot of time helping...
Believe it or not, our government is fairly transparent when it comes to its own spending - and the impact it could...
It’s summertime, which means many of us are gearing up to participate in that great American tradition: Road Trips....
Growing your practice requires generating leads, and for many advisors that means live prospecting events. But as...
In a way, taxes are the final frontier of retirement planning. As an industry, financial advisors have helped U.S....
As Elliot Masie said, "We need to bring learning to people instead of people to learning." That's exactly what we did...
Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know there’s a big election coming this November. (And even if you’ve been...
Good financial advisors spend a good deal of their time helping clients understand - and address - the risks coming...
Sometimes, 1 + 1 = 3. Not mathematically, of course. But sometimes, when you add things together, the sum is far more...
Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor finalized the much-discussed Fiduciary Rule for retirement plans. The new...
On Saturday, two dozen 3-year-old thoroughbreds will trot to the starting gate for the 150th running of the Kentucky...
As financial professionals, one of our responsibilities is to “inflate the balloon of urgency” – motivate clients to...
“How long does my money have to last?” Every financial advisor has been asked this question. In fact, it’s one of the...
Reading over the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report on FY2023 revenue and spending, I couldn’t help but think of...
If you’re in the financial services business, it’s impossible to avoid people asking about Dave Ramsey. Dave Ramsey is...
In December, I wrote about Estate Planning being the next big topic in Advisor Growth. As the calendar turned to 2024,...
Estate planning is one of 2024’s hottest seminar strategies for financial advisors. You don’t have to take my word for...
Last week, President Biden delivered his State of the Union Address to Congress and the American people. So this week,...
Here at Stonewood Financial, our goal is to help advisors have the best year ever in their practices. And last week,...
100 advisors walk into a hotel ballroom. No, it’s not the start of a joke. It’s the start of Stonewood Financial’s...
In my experience, football coaches seem to have the funniest and most memorable sayings that never leave your brain. I...
If you’ve followed this blog (or ever heard me speak), you undoubtedly know I’m a big fan of message frames. Message...
As CJ Cregg, fictional White House Press Secretary on the hit TV show West Wing, once said: “Everybody’s stupid in an...
I’m a big fan of message frames.
When it comes to your clients and their retirement: Does it matter who wins November’s election? The answer is yes… and...
We’re living in a digital age. Even older clients are often consuming information and making decisions online - so...
Here we go again with the DOL and the fiduciary standards talk. As legislation continues to be discussed, let’s take a...
It’s January. Marketing plans are being implemented. Seminars are being scheduled. Social media posts are being...
Here at Stonewood, our passion is helping growth-minded advisors have their best year ever. So as we wind down 2023,...
When it comes to group marketing, successful advisors are always evolving one of two things: either the content they’re...
Where are taxes headed - and how will it impact American savers? That’s a question that should be on every financial...
The AI revolution may still be a ways off, but today’s initial crop of artificial intelligence tools can give financial...
I believe tax drag is real. I believe tax drag can cause losses in client portfolios. Thus, I believe advisors need to...
At some point, most of us have run a client’s annuity illustration and thought: I wonder what the capital markets would...
If you’ve turned on the news lately (or read the paper… or looked at social media… or talked to practically anyone),...
The world of financial advice is filled with different business models. But whether you’re a fee-only advisor, a...
The best independent financial practices are really small businesses at heart. We have big ideas and need to achieve...
Did you find this article by googling “risk tolerance questionnaire”? If so, you were probably also greeted with dozens...
Marketing to High-Net-Worth Individuals High-net-worth savers are in high demand among growth-minded advisors. Who...
Let’s talk about content marketing. If you’re a growth-minded advisor, content marketing is key. In fact, it might...
Do you have all the clients you could ever want or need? Of course not. Chances are, as an advisor, you split your time...
Building Your Brand When it comes to financial advisor marketing, “branding” use to mean a good practice name, a nice...
Tax Risk. Legislative Risk. What the heck is the difference? As things stay hot in Washington, I’m getting asked this...
Have you signed up for Stonewood's new Retirement Tax Bill program? Advisors like you are using it to prospect and...
Remember David Letterman's Top 10 Lists? Today's blog post is a throwback to the glory days of the Late Show. We're...
One of the most gratifying parts of my job is hearing from advisors who are hitting it out of the ballpark with...
Our recent Innovate IUL conference brought the industry's brightest minds to Louisville, Kentucky, for two days of...
You asked, and we answered. For several years, advisors like you have been asking us to create a lead-generation tool...
As we wrap up the year here at Stonewood, we're celebrating our members' triumphs and looking ahead to a successful...
In November, advisors from across the country gathered to learn at Stonewood's inaugural Innovate IUL conference in...
Every news item out of Washington seems to include details of a new or expanded tax. And generally, American savers...
As financial professionals, we work hard to limit our clients’ exposure to risk in retirement.
We've had an incredible response to our newest book - from advisors and clients alike. So why did we write it? And what...
It doesn’t take an actuary to know today’s market is in a volatile tumble. The social distancing protocol of the...
Today's IUL is very different - in design and use - from many of the UL products of the past. But a recent Wall Street...
I’m sure you run across clients who are true followers of Dave Ramsey. These clients are committed to getting debt-free...
In December, Congress passed a bill that could transform your practice in 2018 and beyond. I’m talking, of course,...
There’s been a lot of chatter lately (particularly from whole life producers) about the effectiveness of AG 49. Most of...
We bet it’s the most common objection you hear: IUL is an expensive way to save. You’ll hear it from prospects who did...
Nearly all Americans believe a myth. Every time savers look at their IRAs, they take part in the Great American Savings...
We all agree financial professionals should get paid for their work. But our industry is torn over how we get paid....