With Lori Chavez-DeRemer leading the Department of Labor and Paul Atkins heading the Securities and Exchange Commission, wealth management professionals are anticipating regulatory changes in 2026. Chavez-DeRemer and Atkins are expected to take a lighter approach to supervision and enforcement compared with their predecessors, raising questions about the future of the fiduciary rule, the independent-contractor rule and cybersecurity.

Actively managed ETFs not only give you the potential for better performance than the benchmark. They can also give you greater tax efficiency, so you can keep more of what you earn. Read the article.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B will rise to $202.90 in 2026, up nearly 10% over the previous year. The annual Part B deductible will also increase by 10%, reaching $283. The Senior Citizens League notes that this marks the third consecutive year in which Part B premiums have outpaced Social Security cost-of-living adjustments.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller has expressed support for another interest rate cut at the Federal Open Market Committee meeting in December, citing concerns about labor market weakening and slowing hiring. Waller, who has spoken in favor of cuts in recent months, says he is not worried about rising inflation and that a rate cut would be "risk management" to prevent further labor market deterioration.

Many affluent investors are unprepared for the Great Wealth Transfer, presenting an opportunity for wealth managers, according to a Cogent Syndicated report. The report identifies four distinct investor segments based on emotional motivations. "Understanding these different motivational profiles gives advisors an edge when tailoring services or positioning products to a particular client, since each segment has unique emotional needs and motivations for investing," write Kristin Hall and Steve Ethridge of Cogent Syndicated.

By initiating conversations about philanthropy, advisors can deepen client relationships, help clients clarify their charitable intentions, and retain both current clients and their heirs, writes Ken Nopar of Nopar Consulting. This approach also serves as a differentiator in attracting new clients, especially when other advisors may not address charitable planning in depth.

Retirement requires a significant mindset shift from saving to spending, which can be unsettling for many clients. Creating a strategic plan that includes understanding various income streams such as Social Security, pensions and investments can help ease this transition, writes Sam Bass of Retirement Solutions Group.