How do you make wealth last beyond your lifetime? For many families, the answer is a trust, a legal arrangement that allows one person or entity, known as the trustee, to manage assets for the benefit of another person or group, referred to as the beneficiaries. The individual who creates the trust is called the grantor, and they set the rules for how the assets should be handled and distributed. Trusts are often used in estate planning to protect assets, reduce taxes and promote that wealth is passed on according to the grantor’s wishes.
7 min read
What Is a Multi-Generational Trust?
Topics: Financial Planning Estate Planning Knowledge Centers IREAP
6 min read
Life Insurance Planning: The Difference 20 Years Makes
Life insurance planning changes as your life does. What you need at 35 is not the same as what you’ll need at 55. Knowing how your needs shift can help you make better choices now, save money and help you feel prepared later.
Topics: Life Insurance & Annuities Knowledge Centers IREAP Center
4 min read
Your Client is Turning 65. Now What?
You may have missed it, but Ash Brokerage held a debate to determine which product should betheofficial product for clients turning 65. The candidates were Medicare, annuities and long-term care (LTC) and each contender made a compelling argument.
Spoiler alert: we took a vote, and our audience crowned Medicare the winner. Do you agree? Ifyouwere in the audience, who would you vote for?
Each product brings value and has its own strengths, but no one can stand alone.
Topics: Long-Term Care Life Insurance & Annuities Medicare Knowledge Centers IREAP Center
6 min read
How Does an Annuity Work for Retirement?
Planning for retirement means more than just saving. It’s about making sure you have a steady income that lasts as long as you do. With people living longer and markets staying unpredictable, many retirees worry about running out of money. An indexed annuity can help by providing guaranteed income for life, helping give you more certainty and confidence in your retirement plan.
Topics: Retirement Planning Life Insurance & Annuities Knowledge Centers IREAP IREAP Center
5 min read
Life Insurance: A Purpose-Built Asset
Life insurance is much more than just a safety net. For high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth clients, life insurance functions as a strategic asset that can preserve wealth, manage taxes and create a smoother transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. When designed thoughtfully, it offers tax-efficient and low-volatility returns that are aligned with long-term legacy goals.
But many clients view premiums as a sunk cost, instead of treating life insurance as an asset with its own return profile. In addition to understanding how these returns work, it’s also helpful to consider a case study or two that show life insurance in action
Topics: Life Insurance & Annuities Financial Planning IREAP IREAP Center
5 min read
Three New Year’s Retirement Resolutions for Your Plan
January is all about fresh starts, when gym memberships spike, meal plans trend and personal goals take center stage. But what about your financial health? Just like physical wellness, the New Year is a great time to refocus on your long-term financial goals.
To start 2026 right, consider setting some low-stress, high-impact New Year’s Resolutions for your retirement plan. Here are three powerful goals to get you started.
Topics: Retirement Planning Knowledge Centers IREAP
5 min read
5 Ways to Make Financial Planning Click for Your Clients
In financial planning, clarity is currency. Clients who understand the strategies behind their finances stay with an advisor longer and invest more confidently. A recent study found that nearly 90% of clients consider an advisor’s engagement style when referring friends and family.
When it comes to navigating clients through a maze of technical terms, unfamiliar acronyms, and convoluted explanations, the stakes are high. The solution? Embracing simplification to help clients feel empowered and to build trust.
Topics: Financial Planning Knowledge Centers IREAP Center
5 min read
Building Confidence: How to Guide Clients Through Retirement
Retirement is something clients naturally look forward to, imagining time spent with grandchildren, traveling the world, or finally finishing their novel. But the reality is that the five years before and after retirement—known as the “retirement red zone”—are among the most critical for their financial future.
Topics: Retirement Planning Knowledge Centers IREAP Center
3 min read
The Russell Muscle: Flexing Strength in the Small Cap Market
As the Federal Reserve pivots toward monetary easing, small-cap equities are stepping into the spotlight. With back-to-back rate cuts in September and October 2025, and markets pricing in additional cuts through 2026, financial advisors are reevaluating their small-cap exposures.
Among the leading small-cap indices —Russell 2000, S&P SmallCap 600, and CRSP Small Cap Index —the Russell 2000 stands out as particularly well positioned to capitalize on this environment.
Topics: Investing Knowledge Centers IREAP
6 min read
Protecting Their Gains BEFORE a Market Correction
Don’t Be Caught Unprepared for a Potential Market Correction
No one can deny that markets fluctuate routinely. Throughout my 36-year career, the markets have been good at times and poor-performing at times.
I have always taught the concept of proper asset allocation, buy-and-hold for long-term monies, and secure guaranteed income for a portion of your retirement income. Recently, we have been on a significant rise in equity markets.
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