Newsletter for the Counter-Cultural Retirement Advisor
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Issue #552  |  June 1, 2026
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.
June 2026  |  8 Page PDF

Prologue from Nick...

 

Its lead article continues the conversation around the very sharp limits on the intelligent use of AI in your client contact protocol.

 

Otherwise, this issue is essentially an extended meditation on the critical issue of insuring that our clients understand what they own and why they own it. It takes off from a lengthy Ask Nick Q&A involving a very committed advisor and an aging couple of relatively moderate means – folks who can’t afford to make the mistake they’re powerfully inclined to make. I hope you’ll find that the proposed answer optimally mixes empathy with tough love – quite possibly the BIC’s most critical skill.
THIS WEEK'S PRO-TIP
“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.”    ―Socrates
LAST WEEK's QUIZ

The Expense Ratio of the ICA A-share mutual fund (AIVSX) is 0.55%. What does that represent (not including the initial charge)?
  1. Only the fund management costs.
  2. Only the fee to the BD and Advisor.
  3. Only the operating expenses.
  4. All above but you need to add the 0.24% trail.
  5. Total cost, including all of the above.
  6. Everything except the fee to the BD and Advisor.

Answer = Choice 5: Total cost, including all of the above.


Note: you do have to add the upfront sales charge for A-shares.
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