Newsletter for the Counter-Cultural Retirement Advisor
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Issue: #530  |  December 29, 2025
“Giving hints is more powerful than giving answers.”
Greetings,
 
Welcome to this week's Advisor Training newsletter. Our goal is to provide training, education and insights for solo/independent Advisors who adhere to our client-first, counter-cultural, and sometimes counter-intuitive investment and business philosophy.
 
If you're not yet part of our AdvisorFirst Group but you'd like to learn more, you can schedule a chat with me.
THIS WEEK'S PRO-TIP

If you're using American Funds, make sure to order your "RMD" and "IRA Contributions" reports.
Log into the Advisor Portal at American Funds and you can order both reports. They will be sent to your email. I got mine within 24 hours.
 
Use these reports when crafting your January Client Annual Summary Emails. For client who turned 73 they will need to begin taking RMDs, and the IRA report will show you who hasn't fully-funded their IRAs.
BOOK OF THE WEEK

Beyond Referrals
by Bill Cates


What's better than getting new referrals? Getting new customers.
“If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan, but never the goal.”
―Michael
LAST WEEK's QUIZ

What is the absolutely last day that you can begin taking your FIRST Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) of your IRA/SEP/Simple/401k? 
  1. April 15 of year after you turn 70.5.
  2. April 1st of the year following the calendar year in which you turn 73.
  3. December 31 in the year you turn 72.
  4. Dec 31 of the year after you turn 70.5.
  5. April 15 in the year you turn 72.
  6. January 1 of the year you turn 72.

Answer = 2

Michael Paulding Thomas

Securities Principal & Advisor Development

 

Over three decades of training part-time and full-time financial advisors. Developed 2 $200k-earners, 10 $100k-earners, 15 part-time $50k-earners and built a $1.6M revenue sales force.

Securities offered through Innovation Partners, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC