When advisers talk about growth, the conversation usually turns to attracting new clients.

More marketing.

More referrals.

More networking.

More assets under management.

Those are all worthwhile goals. But there's a question that doesn't get . . .

For many advisers, "held-away" has become synonymous with "off limits."

But that thinking may be causing firms to overlook one of the biggest opportunities already sitting inside their existing client base.

Here are three misconceptions I hear all the time…

The second quarter reminded us that the stock market can be noisy. Investors bounced from worrying about inflation, to interest rates, to world events, but strong businesses kept doing what they do best; earning money. By the end of June, the major. . .

The technical indicators we monitor for the Tactical models have had 3 days with two (or more) in the “risk off” position. (See Chart Below)

As of today, the Tactical Models will move half the equity positions to cash due to the changes in the technical indicators we follow . . .

As a fee-based financial adviser, your value proposition isn’t just about "picking stocks." It’s about being the steady hand that guides a client’s entire financial life. Yet, for too long, a massive chunk of your clients' wealth: their 401(k): has lived in a black box of generic guidance.

When you charge a fee for 401(k) advice, you aren't just a luxury; you are a necessity.

However, the “industry” has tried to convince participants that "generic" is "good enough." They point to Target-Date Funds (TDFs) and . . .

The technical indicators we monitor for the Tactical models have had 3 days with two (or more) in the “risk on” position.

The only one that is still in a “risk off” position is the Volatility Index (VIX).

So, as of today, the Tactical Models will be fully invested and move the cash off the sidelines and back into the stock market.

As of today, the Strategic and Tactical models will be invested in the same way.

Please understand . . .

Let’s be honest: providing individual advice to 401(k) participants used to be a scaling nightmare.

You want to help every client you have, but between the regulatory minefields of ERISA and the sheer volume of "held-away" assets, most advisors end up settling for generic "education."

You know the drill: a dusty PowerPoint presentation once a year and a few brochures that end up in the trash.

That’s not advice. That’s a box-checking exercise.

If you’re an Independent Financial Adviser . . .

The first quarter of 2026 felt a lot like a roller coaster—some smooth climbs, a few stomach drops, and just enough twists to keep investors checking their accounts more than they probably should.

Stocks came out of the gate strong, riding the good vibes from late 2025.

Big tech companies were flexing early, helping push things higher.

But as the weeks went on, the market started acting a little… moody!

One day it was up, the next day it was down, and sometimes it felt like it couldn’t decide before lunchtime.

Why?

As we close the books on August 2025, I wanted to share a concise yet comprehensive review of how markets performed last month and what it means for our portfolios…

July was a strong month for the S&P 500, which rose approximately +2.84% on a price‑only basis MarketWatch. This gain followed robust results from Q2 earnings, particularly among big tech firms like Meta and Microsoft, fueling investor enthusiasm around…