Much has been said about recruiting and retaining the next generation of industry professionals. While learning from experience and anecdotes can be very valuable, research helps us frame the issues so we can work towards solutions. The latest research from FP Transitions and the Finserv Foundation reveals the views of students looking to become financial planners. What they ask for is reasonable and achievable, and it’s up to us to build out the solutions that will attract them.
Is Your Firm Over-Trading Because Technology Makes It Easy?
John O’Connell of The Oasis Group addresses the return of block trading fees and how firms can view the value of block trading. He sets out five keys to a trading governance framework.
“This is not a setback. It is a maturity moment,” said O’Connell.
Familiarity Is Not Visibility: Wealth Management’s Communication Problem
Molly McClure of OnePoint BFG explains why “doing more” marketing often falls short: Doing more doesn’t necessarily increase understanding. Instead, firms should close the gap between the quality work they are doing and how the market experiences it.
McClure sets out several steps that advisors can take to see if this gap exists for them and how they can close it.
Dear Ryan – Wealthtech Industry Advice For All
In this latest installment of his advice column, Ryan George of Docupace answers a $4 billion firm leader who questions whether it was “worth it” after missing his daughter’s college orientation.
George challenges the concept of whether career and personal life tradeoffs are “worth it,” and proposes a different question.
FinServ Foundation Survey: Next-Gen Planners See AI As Opportunity And Potential Threat
The next generation of financial planners is entering the profession with a clear view on what it expects employers to offer for their future and also hold a mostly pragmatic take on AI, according to new research from FP Transitions and the FinServ Foundation.
Next-generation advisors are evaluating whether a firm will provide for their development and a clear path toward becoming an advisor, leader or owner, the 2026 FinServ Foundation Student Survey said.
Deals & Recruiting Roundup
This week’s roundup covers an acquisition by Waverly; recruiting by NewEdge, Raymond James, LPL, UBS, Cetera, Sanctuary and Osaic; the launch of Beacon Coast; Holistic Planning choosing Altruist as custodian; and appointments by Moneta and U.S. Bank.
Waverly’s acquisition of a trust company is the latest example of M&A to build out horizontal capacity.
YCharts Launches New AI Tool For Advisors And Asset Managers
YCharts launched “Y,” an AI agent that it said was “purpose-built” for the way financial advisors and asset managers work with investment workflows and financial data analysis.
Y operates within the YCharts ecosystem, and was built with compliance guardrails and customizable disclosure language.
Waverly Advisors Acquires $3 Billion Pittsburgh Trust Company
Waverly Advisors announced that its parent company acquired the equity of Smithfield Trust Company, a Pittsburgh-based firm that manages about $3 billion in assets.
“Acquiring respected trust companies has been a long-standing goal of Waverly’s,” said the firm’s Justin Russell.
Morningstar: Private Credit Loses Momentum As Semiliquid Fund Market Nears $600 Billion
Semiliquid fund assets have more than doubled since 2022 after several years of growth driven by private credit, which has now lost momentum, Morningstar said in “The State of Semiliquid Funds 2026” report.
Recently, demand for credit strategies has slowed significantly, while redemptions have been rising, and capital has rotated into private equity and venture capital funds, according to Morningstar.
Morningstar Investment Conference 2026: Key Takeaways
We bring you coverage of the 2026 Morningstar Investment Conference, including a session making the bull case and addressing the bear case for AI investing; a session on geopolitics and portfolios, addressing the geopolitical situation of China, Iran, Ukraine and more; and the views of CogniCor’s Sindhu Joseph, who was in attendance.
Among the dozens of topics and conversations from the conference, we believe these we covered are particularly useful for forward-thinkers in our industry.
Pacific Life Bolsters Its Registered Index-Linked Annuity
Pacific Life announced that it enhanced its registered index-linked annuity (RILA), Pacific Protective Growth, with the ability to track market indexes and provide levels of protection during market downturns.
The firm cited data from LIMRA showing that RILAs continue to experience growth, with industry-wide sales 20% higher in 2025 than in the previous year.
Former $725 Million JPMorgan Advisor Joins Genesis Wealth
Genesis Wealth announced that Alan Feutz, formerly with JPMorgan Securities, joined the firm as a Partner and Wealth Advisor. Feutz oversaw approximately $725 million in client assets at his former firm.
Feutz will operate from the firm’s new office in Chicago’s North Shore.
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Wealth Solutions Report
