Migrating Up Market: How to Find, Win, and Retain High-Net-Worth Clients. “How do I move up market? How do I attract and retain more high-net-worth clients?” These questions I commonly hear in conversations with financial advisors and CPAs. In my day job, I spend my time meeting with financial advisors, CPAs and attorneys across the Southeast region. For the past 30 years, my firm has partnered with advisors to manage high-net-worth investment portfolios (typically with a $1 million minimum)—particularly for clients referred to as the “working wealthy.”

Republic CEO Kendrick Nguyen on opportunity, diversity, and choice for companies and investors

The average investor should be forgiven for reading financial news with a twinge of envy. Only venture capitalists and insiders, after all, reap the rewards generated by the unicorn startups highlighted in the “Financial Times” or showcased on CNBC, while the retirement-saver at home has to remain content with a traditional portfolio filled with slow-growth stocks and bonds. The startup world – complete with the initial public offering windfalls sensationalized by media outlets and lay investors alike – traditionally has remained the province of big money and the well-connected, until now.

Last April, the Securities and Exchange Commission unveiled a package of disclosure rules targeted at retail investors. The commission has remained silent following the package’s 90-day comment period, but industry insiders tell “Advisors Magazine” the so-called “fiduciary rule” is bound to appear in headlines again, especially after the Department of Labor’s own version was squashed in court earlier this year.

The Securities and Exchange Commission remains quiet about a potentially forthcoming “fiduciary rule” aimed at increasing transparency for retail investors. Advisors across the financial services industry, meanwhile, hold mixed feelings toward the increased disclosure requirements

So many shingles hung out, dangling in the winds of today’s financial services marketplace. It’s a struggle for consumers – many of whom have little knowledge of the industry’s day-to-day workings – to decipher which service will best meet their needs. And, it’s also a challenge for advisors to differentiate themselves.

Below is a guide compiled from the answers numerous financial advisors provided when “Advisors Magazine” asked them, “What advice would you give to a client who is meeting a new financial advisor for the first time?”

In an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America earlier this year, “Shark Tank” star and Chairman of O’Shares ETF Investments, Kevin O’Leary offered a “jawsome” example of the power of compound interest.

“The average salary in America is $52,000, if you save 10 percent when you start in your 20s, by the time you are 65, you will have $1.2 million dollars in the bank.”

“You can do it,” he said looking directly into the camera, and then shifting his gaze to the live studio audience he repeated, “You can do it…you can do it.

"I've never seen the economy so good."

What does serial investor and founder of O’Leary Financial Group, Kevin O’Leary, think of the current state of the economy, tax reform, and investing today in America?

Recently, “Mr. Wonderful,” – a moniker O’Leary earned as the surly, yet sensitive Shark appearing on ABC,’s prime-time hit, “Shark Tank” – shared his thoughts and insights during an interview with “Advisors Magazine.” He also shares how he has designed the funds he invests in, and dives deep into why.

America’s economy today – how are we doing?