To those who haven’t witnessed it first-hand, guardianship may sound like a heroic assignment in which bigger, stronger, more seasoned protectors keep individuals who are unable to fend for themselves. However, as the ragtag super hero team the Guardians of the Galaxy has come to learn, the reality of assuming guardianship (over a single person, let alone the entire galaxy) is far less than ideal.
Over the past century, life expectancy in the United States has dramatically increased, a fact that has profoundly impacted the financial security experienced during our golden years.
After World War II, the first generation of retirees were generally expected to live less than a decade after leaving the workforce. Now, the average American is living to be about 78.8 years old, and as a result retirement can last anywhere from 20 to 30 years, with some people spending more time retired than they did working.
That sort of longevity is wreaking havoc on the best of financial plans, particularly when combined with the rising costs of some of life’s most significant expenses.
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Given projections for a 100,000 financial advisor shortfall over the next 10 years, successfully recruiting next-gen advisors has taken on added urgency for both our industry as a whole and the wealth management firms seeking to thrive within it.
Meeting this demographic challenge head-on is complicated by the evolving nature of wealth management. Increasing numbers of breakaways forgoing the wirehouse model, as well as the growing presence of aggregators, consolidators and private equity, are altering the landscape. The expansion of W-2 models in the independent space is redefining what it means to be independent. At the same time, technological innovation, particularly AI, offers great promise and an equal amount of trepidation.
The generational differences next-gen advisors and their clients bring to the table – priorities, expectations, skills and values – present yet another challenge when it comes to effectively engaging this group. However, meeting next-gen advisors where they are is a solid recruiting practice some firms can’t get their arms around. There’s a reason firms currently thriving in the marketplace with younger advisors are enjoying success…Read More
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