Closed-end funds (CEFs) can be valuable additions to a diversified portfolio, offering the potential for capital growth and income through both investment performance and regular distributions. 

Unlike open-end mutual funds, CEFs typically provide higher distribution rates, often paid monthly or quarterly, and allow reinvestment that may enhance long-term returns.  Their fixed-share structure after IPOs means managers aren’t forced to hold cash for redemptions, allowing for more efficient and fully invested portfolios. 

CEFs also give investors exposure to the illiquidity premium by enabling access to less liquid, potentially higher-yielding investments that open-end funds often avoid. 

Finsum: Many CEFs may use leverage to try to boost returns, though this adds risk and volatility.

Despite high interest rates and rising property prices, real estate investors still have several promising opportunities to consider in 2025. 

1. Experts point to both short- and long-term rentals as reliable income sources, with travel demand and declining homeownership supporting steady occupancy and profitability. 
2. Distressed, off-market properties are also gaining traction, offering value to investors who can act quickly and renovate effectively. 
3. Multi-family homes, especially triplexes and fourplexes, are ideal for new investors looking to house hack—living in one unit while renting the others to offset mortgage costs. 

Another savvy strategy is converting basements into rentable units, particularly in high-rent cities, where this can generate solid monthly income. 

Finsum: In short, even in a tricky housing environment, creativity and timing can open doors to strong real estate returns.

Advisors are constantly asking where the wealth management industry is headed—who’s hiring, who’s losing talent, and which models are gaining favor. In response, the Advisor Transition Report was created to fill a gap: a clear, data-driven look at advisor movement that wasn’t available anywhere else. 

The latest report uncovers five unexpected insights, including the surprising uptick in recruiting despite market highs that typically encourage advisors to stay put. It also highlights the rise of boutique and regional firms like RBC and Rockefeller, which are gaining ground thanks to competitive deals and a balance of flexibility and support. 

Even firms often labeled as “losers” in the recruiting wars, such as Merrill and Edward Jones, made meaningful hires, proving the narrative is more nuanced than headlines suggest. Ultimately, this intelligence isn’t just for those considering a move—it’s essential knowledge for any advisor aiming to future-proof their business.

Finsum: Trends are shifting in recruiting and studies like this can help advisors and BDs stay abreast of advisors needs.

The private equity industry is experiencing a shift towards greater accessibility for individual investors. Historically dominated by institutional participants, the sector is now witnessing the dismantling of barriers that once limited broader participation. 

This transformation is driven by the emergence of new investment vehicles and regulatory changes that facilitate entry for non-institutional investors. While this democratization opens opportunities for a wider audience, it also introduces challenges related to investor education and the management of liquidity in traditionally illiquid assets. 

Industry stakeholders are actively addressing these issues to ensure that the expansion of the investor base is both sustainable and beneficial. 

Finsum: Private equity is becoming an increasingly viable option for individual investors seeking diversification and potential returns.

LPL Financial has significantly ramped up its use of advisor loans, reporting $2.14 billion in outstanding advisor loans in 2024—a 57% jump from the prior year—as part of its aggressive strategy to recruit and retain talent. 

These forgivable loans, often used as incentives for advisors to join or stay with a firm, have become a cornerstone of LPL’s growth model. The firm’s acquisition of Atria Wealth Solutions, a broker-dealer network with 2,400 advisors and $100 billion in assets, likely contributed to the spike, as LPL aims to retain 80% of Atria’s advisors during the transition. 

LPL’s scale as a self-clearing broker-dealer gives it a cost advantage, allowing more room to offer attractive loan packages compared to smaller competitors. The company expects to complete the advisor transition from Atria by mid-2025, further consolidating its position as the industry’s largest independent brokerage.

Finsum: While this strategy does require a lot of capital it could be a way to attract new talent.