The financial services industry is a good one for embracing hybrid work models, but technology is key to making it work, writes Taylor Matthews, CEO and co-founder of Farther. Using the right technology allows financial advisers to work from wherever they want, while driving efficiency and also providing a better experience to clients, he writes.

Launching a podcast for your firm can be a good way to showcase employees and establish thought leadership, but getting started require some strategic thinking, writes Stephen Boswell, partner at The Oechsli Institute. Consider having two hosts or conducting interviews, as this can take pressure off any one individual and create a more dynamic listening experience, Boswell writes.

Don't assume everyone understands the meaning of the industry-specific jargon you're using, especially because many people won't admit that they're confused, writes John Millen. Regularly checking in for comprehension "opens the door for real questions, dialogue and connection," Millen writes.

Financial advisers can provide more value to their clients by being willing to coordinate other financial transactions for them, writes Brad Wales, founder of Transition To RIA. This can include helping them buy life or disability insurance, create a will or refinance their mortgage, he writes.

Microaggressions in the workplace can involve issues such as race, gender or sexuality and must be addressed by leaders, although timing does matter, writes Ella Washington, a professor at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. Washington offers a blueprint for spotting and addressing microaggressions and what to do if you catch yourself saying something offensive.

Health savings accounts can provide appealing tax advantages, and performing a rollover from an IRA is one way to fund these vehicles, write Robert Bloink and William Byrnes. There are several caveats to consider, including that people "are only permitted to execute an IRA-to-HSA rollover once in a lifetime," they write.

Asset management expert Robert Worthington points out that traditional 60-40 portfolios deliver adequate returns while market conditions are generally placid, as they were from 2011 to 2021, but they are vulnerable amid the current volatility. Worthington suggests and analyzes a number of alternatives for investors and advisers to consider, with particular focus on private market strategies.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has voted in favor of considering a set of rules to govern the accounting and disclosure of cryptoassets, a decision that represents the first step toward legislation. The move indicates a change in stance by the FASB, which has stated reluctance to intervene on the issue in the past.

In a 370-48 vote, the House approved legislation that would establish a grant program to bolster state-level efforts aimed at preventing financial fraud targeting older investors. The bill would allow for $10 million in yearly spending through 2028, with the grant program to be implemented through the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan watchdog group, says in a report that the latest version of the House Democrats' Social Security reform proposal "would close half the solvency gap on paper and would actually worsen solvency once gimmicks are removed." Without the advocacy group's support, it is unlikely that the changes made to the "Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust" by Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., will pass.

A survey by Natixis Investment Managers shows 75% of millennials with investable assets of $100,000 or more use a financial adviser, a higher proportion than that among baby boomers or Generation X. The survey also shows relatively high use by millennials of financial measures such as keeping an emergency account, monitoring spending and making wills and estate plans.

Retirees and workers continue to be optimistic about enjoying a comfortable retirement, according to a survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald Research, although one-third of retirees say their spending is higher than expected. The survey also found that a significant portion of workers and retirees are getting financial advice from nonprofessional sources.

Based on the April Consumer Price Index, which is up 8.3% over the past 12 months, Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst for the Senior Citizens League, predicts Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment for 2023 could be 8.6%. This would be the biggest percentage increase in about 40 years, but is down from the 8.9% 2023 COLA the Senior Citizens League predicted in March.

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