A Deloitte and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network study outlines strategies for independent financial advisors to achieve sustainable growth, emphasizing the importance of organic growth, with 70% of advisors highlighting it and 78% citing lead generation as a major challenge. The study also notes that 67% of advisors plan acquisitions within two years, but only 58% have a strategic plan. The study recommends reducing administrative burdens, centralizing portfolio management, and developing a clear acquisition strategy to attract top talent.

Private equity firms are eyeing a major new growth channel after a Trump executive order opened the door for 401(k) retirement plans to invest in private assets like buyout funds, real estate, and credit. Proponents say the move could diversify portfolios and enhance long-term returns, while critics warn of high fees, illiquidity, and risks to everyday savers. Despite this opportunity, slow sales and tight pricing are weighing on the stock prices of private equity firms.

Family offices are increasingly investing in digital infrastructure such as data centers, fiber networks and telecom towers to future-proof portfolios for an AI-driven economy. The global data center industry, valued at $242.7 billion, is expected to more than double by 2032. This shift is driven by the resilience and predictability of digital infrastructure, as well as its potential for long-term growth.

Financial advisors are cautiously considering private-market investments for defined contribution plans, citing liquidity as the top challenge, followed by fees and complexity, according to an Empower survey. Advisors say regulatory clarity is crucial for them to recommend such investments.

Although most parents in the US believe teaching children about investing is important, only 22% feel confident doing so, according to a SIFMA Foundation survey. Advisors recommend starting with basic concepts like saving and gradually introducing investment topics through real-life examples and engaging activities.

Affluent Americans looking for financial advisors increasingly rely on online research and reviews in addition to referrals, according to a study by Wealthtender. While 62% of respondents said they start their search with referrals from family and friends, 96% conduct online research, including searching directories and using AI. Transparency in fees, professional certifications and positive online reviews were cited as key criteria for selecting an advisor.

Marking its 90th anniversary, Social Security continues to serve as a foundational income source for retirees, with nearly 70% of Americans expecting to rely on the program for retirement income, according to research from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. Yet, 71% of non-retired Americans worry about Social Security's long-term viability.

Financial advisors have an opportunity to deepen client relationships following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, says Robert Petix of Wells Fargo Advisors. Petix highlights the importance of understanding the relaxed estate tax threshold, which now affects individuals with more than $15 million in assets, and the need for flexible trust planning. "The implication of having a much higher estate tax exclusion is that for a lot of families -- if not the overwhelming majority of families -- it makes sense to hold on to assets and get that basis step-up," Petix says.

Democratic lawmakers have reintroduced the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, which aims to strengthen Social Security by raising the payroll tax cap and using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly to calculate cost-of-living adjustments.

Several Democratic-led states are considering higher taxes on wealthy residents to offset federal funding cuts under President Donald Trump's tax law. Proposals include increased income and capital gains taxes, and new levies on luxury homes. Minnesota, Washington, Maryland and Rhode Island have introduced measures, and Massachusetts' "millionaires tax" has generated nearly $3 billion in fiscal 2025.