Paul Barrett

Despite the growth and maturity of the financial advice profession over the past 30 years and the last decade in particular, some product providers have not adjusted their strategy and approach to dealing with advice businesses. While small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still dominate the advice landscape, businesses are significantly bigger. There are fewer small practices, a burgeoning middle class, a growing number of super firms and an emerging category of advice platforms.

As Mayor Justin Bibb’s second term gets underway and City leadership prepares for formal review of the 2026 Mayor’s Estimate Budget, this is an important moment for reflection. Guided by the mandate of Cleveland’s voters, the administration’s financial accomplishments over the past four years, the current state of the local economy, and a shared vision for the city’s future are central to this assessment.

One of the craziest things that financial services professionals have to contend with is a world that does not seem to want to give them five minutes to catch a breath, have a moment’s rest, and just generally let the dust of one year settle before the bustle starts again.