SmartAsset

People often think that any professional called a “financial advisor” is required to act in their best interest. It feels like a safe assumption, the kind you shouldn’t have to question. But the title itself carries no such guarantee. Depending on how an advisor is registered and compensated, the obligations they owe you can differ significantly, and not every advisor is held to the same standard. Next Steps: Financial planning can be overwhelming. We recommend speaking with a financial advisor.

You inherit $500,000 and your first instinct is to figure out how to invest it. But before choosing stocks, funds or other investments, there are important decisions that can have an even bigger impact on your financial future. Your first move is important. One mistake and you could hand over thousands of dollars to the IRS. Next Steps: Estate planning can be overwhelming. We recommend speaking with a financial advisor. This free tool will match you with vetted advisors who serve your area.

Market losses typically signal investors to put a hold on big financial moves. But if you’re saving for retirement, a downturn could be one of the least expensive times to complete a Roth conversion. Missing this opportunity could cost you thousands of dollars in unnecessary taxes. Here’s why. The value of your investments determines how much of a Roth conversion is taxable. When markets fall, that value falls too, creating a temporary opportunity to convert the same investments at a lower tax cost.

A $1 million inheritance can immediately raise one big question: How should you invest it? But before choosing funds, stocks or other investments, there are important decisions that can shape how much of that inheritance you actually keep. Those first choices often have less to do with investing and more to do with taxes, timing and asset allocation. Next Steps: Estate planning can be overwhelming. We recommend speaking with a financial advisor.

Inheriting $500,000 in an IRA can seem like a life-changing windfall. But not knowing one important IRS rule could cost you thousands of dollars. The timing and size of your withdrawals can have a major impact on how much inheritance you ultimately keep. Fortunately, you have options to avoid an expensive mistake. A financial advisor can help you manage taxes on an inheritance and create a plan to invest it.

Client testimonials can be a powerful marketing tool for advisors, but they remain underutilized. A 2025 survey of 500 investors conducted by Wealthtender found that 83% of prospective clients want to read reviews of an advisor before contacting them. Leveraging financial advisor testimonials could help level up your marketing efforts and establish trust before you ever meet with a prospect face-to-face.

Digital marketing for financial services extends beyond investment advisors. Tax preparers, insurance agents and financial planners are among the professionals who can benefit from a unified marketing plan. Much of the advice shared online centers on the same set of tactics, but financial professionals who find fresh angles in the digital space may be better positioned to stand out.

You have trusted our advisor with everything, your 401(k), your brokerage account, your retirement dreams. And they grew your nest egg. So naturally, when you retired, you assumed they’d be just as brilliant at turning that money into reliable income. But you could be wrong. Building wealth and spending it safely are two completely different jobs. And many advisors excel only at one. Next Steps: Financial planning can be overwhelming. We recommend speaking with a financial advisor.

Since OpenAI filed a confidential S-1 with the SEC in early June 2026, banks have been targeting a Nasdaq listing as early as the fourth quarter of 2026, though the company has cautioned that timing is not guaranteed. Until any listing is complete, buying OpenAI stock directly is not available to most investors. That does not mean there are no options. Accredited investors can access pre-IPO shares through private secondary markets.

SpaceX went public on June 12, 2026. The IPO valued the company at roughly $1.75 trillion, making it the largest in history. Even if you didn’t buy a single share, you may now own SpaceX through your 401(k). Many total market, large-cap and Nasdaq index funds quickly added the stock, increasing its weight in millions of retirement portfolios. Here’s how to determine whether your 401(k) has SpaceX exposure and whether your allocation still matches your long-term investment plan.