Brandon Anderson

Advisors are choosing independence, and clients are following.

More than 15,800 RIAs now serve 68.4 million clients, and that number keeps climbing. The reason is simple: advisors want freedom to innovate, use better technology, and build cultures that put clients first.

In Wealth Management's 2026 Market Outlook, our CEO Brad Vineyard breaks down why the RIA model is reshaping the future of wealth management and what this shift means for advisors and investors alike.

Read the full article to see what is driving the move and where the industry is headed next.

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The recent government shutdown was the longest of all time, beating the prior record of 34 days in 2018 according to the US House of Representatives. Some clients have started asking me about the impact the prolonged shutdown will have on the market.

The truth? Probably not all that much.

While the impact of the shutdown is certainly starting to trickle into real life — just ask anyone with travel plans recently — markets historically haven’t been strongly correlated with shutdowns. In fact, in both 2013 and 2018, markets actually rose during the shutdown period.

My advice to clients is always the same: Stay calm. Trust your portfolio. And remember ups and downs in the market are inevitable, whether there’s a shutdown or not.

Happy Veterans Day! 🇺🇸
Today, we honor the brave men and women who’ve served our nation with courage and sacrifice. Your dedication keeps us free. Thank you for your service.

We’ve all chased the dream of a magic number:

“Once I hit $5M, I’ll be set.”

“When my portfolio grows, I’ll start living.”

But here’s the reality: wealth without purpose is just digits in an account. No dollar amount feels like “enough” if it’s not tied to what drives you.
Ask yourself:

🌱 How can your wealth fuel what matters most to you?
🌱 Who will your resources empower—now or in the future?
🌱 What mark do you want your wealth to leave on your family?

These aren’t just questions—they’re the blueprint for a meaningful financial life. When your wealth reflects your values, every investment, every savings goal, every decision becomes a step toward a legacy that outlasts you.

Take a moment now: jot down one answer to each question. Let those answers shape your next financial choice. Because wealth aligned with purpose isn’t just about growing your fortune—it’s about building a life that matters.

We didn’t just want to create another advisory firm; we wanted to build something different.

That meant hiring not just great advisors, but great partners, people who are collaborative, curious, and committed to long-term relationships. It meant focusing on education, transparency, and independence. And it meant building an organization where clients feel heard, known, and valued.

We believe the future of wealth management is personal. And that future starts here.

Meet our team: https://lnkd.in/eczA8Rm5

Today we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and honor the incredible unity and strength our nation showed in the days that followed. We will never forget.

High earners today face unique challenges: student loans, equity comp, taxes, and the need to start building wealth early. Astra STARs exists to help ambitious professionals take control before opportunities slip away. The best time to start was yesterday. The next best is today.

https://www.astrawmg.com/

Each year, Charles Schwab surveys thousands of Americans to understand how they define and pursue wealth. And in the 2025 Modern Wealth Survey, one insight stood out:

📌 People who save, invest, and have a financial plan are significantly more optimistic about their ability to achieve wealth.

That might seem obvious at first glance. But look closer, and it’s actually a powerful reminder of how mindset and clarity shape outcomes just as much as dollars and cents.

Here’s what it really means:

Two people can have the exact same income, the same assets, and the same expenses — but the one with a plan will feel more confident, more secure, and more in control.

Why?
Because a plan creates direction.
Direction reduces doubt.
And that’s when something interesting happens:
Money stops feeling like a source of stress and starts feeling like a tool for possibility.

I work with clients who’ve built tremendous success. But the real question is: What happens next?

Legacy planning is about more than tax efficiency. It’s about articulating your story, passing on your principles, and preparing the next generation to be wise stewards of what you’ve built.

We facilitate family meetings, develop philanthropic frameworks, and work alongside estate professionals to ensure that your impact doesn’t end when your life does. True wealth is generational, both in assets and ideals.

Astra Astra

We often meet new clients with five or six advisors each focused on a separate piece of the puzzle: investments, insurance, taxes, legal planning. And almost always, they’re working in silos.

This fragmentation creates risk. Strategies that don’t talk to each other. Overlaps, gaps, inefficiencies. At Astra, we integrate it all. We take a 360-degree view coordinating across disciplines, collaborating with your other professionals, and making sure your wealth plan is truly unified.

When your financial world is aligned, everything becomes clearer: your decisions, your legacy, your future. That’s the Astra standard.

A recent report from McKinsey predicts over 100,000 wealth advisors will retire in the next decade, and the demand for experienced professionals is only rising.

With AI and tech tools helping, many affluent clients still prefer human expertise to navigate complex financial matters. If you're working with a wealth manager, now is the time to check in. Are they using the latest tech? Are they overworked or nearing retirement?

We’ve built a multigenerational team for this reason, blending the experience of seasoned advisors with the fresh perspectives of younger professionals. This allows us to bring both tradition and innovation to the table, ensuring we can meet your needs now and in the future.

Take a moment to assess your situation and make sure your wealth is in good hands as the industry shifts.

Happy Easter! He is Risen!! I continue to be driven by the strength of Christ! Hopefully everyone takes this day to spend time with family and to reflect.