Thought Leadership
Jefferson National Executives regularly contribute to industry publications. Read what they say about retirement income, accumulation and the challenges facing fee-based advisors and their clients in those publications below. Have a question about a specific article? Send us a note.
From "Life and Health Advisor" — New Tools to Manage a Volatile Marketby Laurence P. Greenberg, President of Jefferson National
Providing a VA that combines the right selection of funds with the right portfolio management tools—instead of insurance guarantees—is a very different take on the role a VA can play in terms of managing clients' assets. By taking the hedge off of the VA company's books and managing it with a protected ETF portfolio inside a low-cost VA, the client will frequently pay less—and enjoy more upside potential.
See the complete article published in "Life and Health Advisor" to learn how next-generation variable annuities and ETFs may help clients save more.
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From "NAPFA Advisor" — Beating the Market’s Big Swings: How Alternative Assets and Tactical Management Helpby Laurence P. Greenberg, President of Jefferson National
Big swings in the market have also generated demand for new approaches to portfolio management. For some advisors and their clients, this turmoil has raised questions about the benefits of buy-and-hold. Our findings show that a clear majority of the advisors polled—roughly 2 to 1— believed that changing their asset management strategy was key to navigating the volatile market.
See the complete article published in "NAPFA Advisor" for an examination of portfolio management trends among advisors.
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From "On Wall Street" — Finding the Right Fit in a Tough Marketby Laurence P. Greenberg, President of Jefferson National
More than two years after the crash of 2008, advisors are still grappling with the fallout and are seeking new solutions to manage volatility. With a 50% drop in the S&P, followed by the flash crash of 2010, and the S&P downgrade of August 2011, the fear index has spiked to new heights.
In today's volatile market, more advisors are moving to the disciplined use of a tactical-asset management strategy, instead of relying strictly on traditional buy-and-hold. Here's a challenge: Tactical strategies can generate higher taxes owed by the client. The solution: Creating the tax-efficient frontier.
See the complete article published in "On Wall Street" for more on what independent advisors are saying about implementing tactical strategies and smoothing the ride for their clients.
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From "Investment Advisor," — Three Advisors Share Views on the Power of Tax Deferral by David Lau, Chief Operating Officer of Jefferson National
Congress has passed a measure to postpone income tax increases for at least two more years, but, inevitably, most experts predict lawmakers will be forced to raise taxes to help cut the immense federal debt. When those tax hikes occur, your high-net-worth clients will likely be hit the hardest. With so many unknowns, it can be challenging to help them prepare. But there is one very simple and effective strategy that you can use to help clients reduce their tax bill now.
Three advisors share how they've used the Tax-Efficient Frontier as part of their investment strategies in this article originally published in "Investment Advisor."
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From "NAIFA'S Advisor Today," — The Tax-Efficient Frontier: With Tax Hikes on the Horizon, Tax Deferral Fights Backby David Lau, Chief Operating Officer of Jefferson National
With U.S. federal debt at an all-time high, it seems certain the Bush tax cuts will sunset, pushing the top income tax rates from 35% to 39.6%, the capital gains tax rate from 15% to 20%, and the dividends tax rate from 15% to 39.6%. The recently passed healthcare overhaul also includes a 3.8% tax on investment income, scheduled for 2013. And taxes are likely to rise on state and local levels.
How can you fight back? It's time to aim for the tax-efficient frontier to maximize performance by analyzing the tax efficiency of asset classes.
Aim for the tax-efficient frontier to maximize performance by analyzing the tax efficiency of asset classes. See the complete article originally published in "NAIFA'S Advisor Today."
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From "On Wall Street," — With Taxes Rising, The Rich Take the Hardest Hitby David Lau, Chief Operating Officer of Jefferson National
Today, one of the most urgent issues among advisors and their clients is taxes. There is a growing concern among affluent Americans that they will be handing over significantly more money to Uncle Sam. While the issue is still open for debate, and with U.S. federal debt at an all-time high, it seems certain the Bush tax cuts will sunset.
Many experts agree that your high-net-worth clients will be the hardest hit by these tax increases. With so many unknowns it can be difficult to help them prepare. But there is one very simple and effective strategy that you can use to help clients reduce their tax bill.
To see how changes to the tax law might affect your clients' portfolios—and how to fight back—download the complete article originally published in "On Wall Street."
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From "Life Insurance Selling," — Do Living Benefits Really Benefit Consumers?by laurence P. Greenberg, President of Jefferson National
When it comes to retirement, clients are eager to jump on the next "sure thing." But is it worth paying the steep price for the latest wave of guaranteed income benefits? Especially when they may not be used for years—or decades.
Why are so many consumers willing to pay for living benefits when they still need to save more? Are they making a well-informed choice—or driven by fear? Do they know what they're paying for? Are they buying too soon?
Find out the real cost of living benefits for VAs—and why many would benefit far more by focusing on simple tax-deferred savings now, in this article published in "Life Insurance Selling."
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