Newsletter for the Counter-Cultural Retirement Advisor
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Issue: #539  |  March 2, 2026
“In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” 
―Yogi Berra
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.
March 2026  |  8 Page PDF

Prologue from Nick...

 

This issue mostly consists of preliminary notes for an extended video presentation I’m preparing in place of a live event in the fall.

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That program will go considerably beyond attempting to neutralize investors’ innate fear of equities – that’s what This Time Isn’t Different is about. This new effort will seek to arm you with all the very compelling reasons to love equities, which seems to me a very different psychology for us to take to the planning marketplace. But only if we thoroughly believe it ourselves.

 

I continue to be darkly amused by financial journalism’s discovery that, and I quote, “diversification is working again.” We who understand and embrace diversification know that it never stopped working, because it never can. 
“You can't build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you're going to have a strong superstructure.” 
―Gordon B. Hinckley
LAST WEEK's QUIZ

What are the contribution limits for 529 College Plans?
  1. $6,000 per year.
  2. $12,000 per year.
  3. Graded based upon child's age.
  4. Varies by state, $235,000 to $550,000 lifetime.
  5. $300,000 lifetime total.
  6. No limit.

Answer = 4

 

Example: AMF CollegeAmerica 529-plan ,which is a Virginia plan, has a maximum aggregate contribution limit of $550,000.
BUSINESS MEMES

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