Staying confidently invested is easier with some of the highest rates2 in the industry
A variable annuity paired with a living benefit rider can help keep clients invested.
Offer Nationwide Destination® B 2.0 or Nationwide Destination® Navigator variable annuities with the Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider+® (Nationwide L.inc+®) living benefits suite, available at an additional cost.
• Up to 100% equity exposure
• 110+ investment options with 50+ four- and five-star Morningstar-rated funds1
• Rates as high as 9.10% (with Nationwide L.inc+ Max®, Single Life, ages 80+)2
Nationwide is on your side.
Learn how your clients can benefit from some of the highest rates in the industry with the L.inc+ Suite.
1 Morningstar as of 05/01/25. Morningstar Ratings reflect risk-adjusted performance. The Overall Morningstar Rating™ is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with the Fund’s 3-, 5- and 10-year (if applicable) periods.
2 The rates are based on taking income at age 80 or older, as of 2/12/24.
This material is not a recommendation to buy or sell a financial product or to adopt an investment strategy. Investors should discuss their specific situation with their financial professional.
When evaluating the purchase of a variable annuity, your clients should be aware that variable annuities are long-term investment vehicles designed for retirement purposes and will fluctuate in value; annuities have limitations; and investing involves market risk, including possible loss of principal. All guarantees and protections are subject to the claims-paying ability of Nationwide Life Insurance Company.
Variable products are sold by prospectus. Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. The product and underlying fund prospectuses contain this and other important information. Investors should read them carefully before investing. To request a copy, go to nationwide.com/prospectus or call 1-800-848-6331.
Variable annuities are issued by Nationwide Life Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio. The general distributor is Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member FINRA, Columbus, Ohio.
How Top Female Advisors Are Winning More Clients (Without Working More Hours)
By Abbey Eastham Director, Advisory Solutions
The fastest-growing advisors right now aren’t necessarily working more hours; they’re focusing their time on the right activities.
Across the industry, and within IFG, many of the most successful female advisors are growing their businesses by prioritizing client relationships, advice, and business development, while leveraging strategic partners for investment management and operational support.
Instead of spending hours constructing portfolios or researching individual investments, many advisors are turning to AccessPoint 3rd party managers or TAMPs such as Focus Partners, Orion, and AssetMark to streamline portfolio management and scale their practices more efficiently.
The result? More time to focus on clients, and more opportunities to win new ones.
Start With Listening, Not Selling
Top advisors know that clients rarely choose an advisor because of a specific investment strategy. They choose an advisor because they feel understood.
Many successful female advisors lead prospect meetings with thoughtful questions instead of presentations. Before discussing markets or portfolios, they focus on learning what matters most to the client.
Questions like these can quickly turn a meeting into a meaningful conversation:
• What are the biggest financial decisions you expect to face in the next five years?
What concerns you most about your financial future?
• What would financial success look like for you and your family?
This approach builds trust quickly and naturally leads into a trusting relationship.
Focus on Advice, Not Portfolio Construction
One of the biggest shifts happening in the advisory industry is that advisors are realizing their greatest value is not necessarily in selecting investments, it’s in helping clients make better financial decisions.
This approach allows advisors to:
• Spend more time meeting with clients and prospects
• Scale their business without adding operational complexity
In many cases, outsourcing portfolio management creates more capacity for growth.
Simplify the Investment Conversation
Clients don’t want to feel overwhelmed by investment jargon; they want clarity and confidence.
Successful advisors focus less on technical details and more on explaining how a portfolio supports the client’s goals. When advisors can clearly communicate the purpose behind the strategy, clients are far more likely to stay committed during volatile markets.
Leveraging model portfolios or third-party managers can help simplify this conversation and reinforce the advisor’s role as the strategist guiding the overall plan.
Turn Client Reviews Into Growth Opportunities
Client review meetings are often viewed as routine check-ins, but top advisors treat them as one of the most valuable growth opportunities in their practice.
Instead of focusing solely on performance, successful advisors use review meetings to ask questions that uncover additional assets and planning needs.
For example:
• Are there other accounts or assets we should incorporate into your overall strategy?
• Have there been any recent life changes we should plan for?
• Is there anyone else in your family who should be part of these conversations?
These discussions frequently reveal held-away assets, new planning opportunities, and potential referrals.
Build a Business That Scales
The most successful advisors think about how their business will grow over time.
Outsourcing allows advisors to access institutional investment capabilities while maintaining a streamlined practice. Advisors can continue adding clients without dramatically increasing operational complexity.
This approach also allows advisors to stay focused on the areas where they provide the most value: advice, relationships, and strategic planning.
The Bottom Line
By leveraging the advisory tools, platforms, and investment partners available through IFG, advisors can streamline portfolio management while dedicating more time to planning, client engagement, and business development.
And in today’s competitive environment, that focus can make all the difference.
Under Construction: Enhancing Your Practice Management Experience
By Steven Gensler, CFP®, MBA, MSBA SVP Advisor Growth and Development
We’re excited to share that the Practice Development section of the IFG Rep Portal is currently under renovation as we continue building a more robust, streamlined, and advisorfriendly resource hub. Our goal is simple: to give you faster access to the tools, guidance, and programs that help you run and grow your practice with confidence.
What’s New So Far
SME Partners Network
A brandnew section introduces the Subject Matter Expert (SME) Partners Network, where advisors can easily find and connect with IFG advisors who specialize in key planning, product, and business development topics. We are currently piloting this program with 1031 exchange support and will expand over the coming months to include additional specialty areas such as Oil & Gas, Concentrated Position Management, and working with UHNW clients and business owners. This network is designed to help you deepen client relationships, expand capabilities, and access expertise quickly and confidently.
New “Tools” Section
We’ve added a dedicated area featuring direct links
to high-value practice management resources, including:
1. Contingent Succession Templates – To protect your practice in case of a triggering event.
2. Buyer Readiness Assessment – A quick diagnostic tool to help advisors evaluate whether they’re prepared to purchase a book of business.
3. Practice Valuation Intake Form – A fast and simple way to request a quick practice valuation and receive a customized report.
These tools make it easier than ever to begin conversations around continuity, growth, and longterm planning.
Stay Tuned
We’re committed to making the IFG Rep Portal a powerful, easy-to-use destination for practice management support. As enhancements go live, we’ll provide updates to ensure you know what’s available and how to get the most out of it.
More updates are on the way—thank you for your continued engagement as we build something truly valuable for the advisor community.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
August 5th - 9th, 2026
Sheraton San Diego Resort - San Diego, CA
$0 - $174,999 GDC *
Invitation to attend.
$175,000 - $274,999 GDC *
50% coverage of room and tax up to four nights within conference dates.
$275,000 - $499,999 GDC *
Four nights of coverage of room and tax within conference dates.
$500,000 - $999,999 GDC *
Four nights of coverage of room and tax within conference dates. Waived registration fee and one night of coverage room and tax within conference dates for one registered admin assistant to attend conference and admin training.
$1,000,000+ GDC *
Four nights of coverage of room and tax within conference dates. Economy airfare reimbursement for one. Waived registration fee and two nights of coverage room and tax within conference dates for one registered admin assistant to attend conference and admin training.
*Total 2025 GDC production
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Known as the “Best Conference in the Industry,” the 2026 IFG National Conference will take place at the Sheraton San Diego in Downtown San Diego, California. The National is IFG’s most widely attended event of the year, incorporating multiple continuing education tracks with product sponsor seminars, a tradeshow hall, motivational speakers, and fun activities for the entire family.
Stay tuned for conference registration opening mid May!
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT EXCHANGE
October 25th - 28th, 2026
The Phoenician - Scottsdale, AZ
$500,000+ GDC *
Includes three nights of accommodation at conference hotel; elite qualifiers receive round-trip economy airfare for one.
This advisor-led, two-and-a-half-day conference is built around the most innovative practice management ideas, with topics including proven sales ideas, training & hiring, technology adoption, marketing & branding, and client experience. Our program includes case studies and panels that will introduce you to advanced tools and strategies that you can immediately implement into your practice. The PME also offers you constructive networking time with leading industry partners and ample opportunities to connect with and learn from your peer advisors.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT EXCHANGE
The $30 Trillion Case for Becoming a Top Alts Advisor
By Colby Taylor, MSA Director, Alternative Investment Consulting
IFG was ranked #3 in the nation for percentage of female advisors among independent brokerdealers in Financial Planning magazine’s 2024 IBD Elite survey, and then #1 in 2025. That is worth sitting with, not just as a point of pride, but as a market signal.
By 2030, women are projected to control approximately $30 trillion in financial assets as wealth transfers from baby boomers, a figure approaching the entire annual GDP of the United States. Meanwhile, Cerulli Associates reports that only about 18% of financial advisors are women. That gap between who holds the wealth and who advises on it represents one of the largest untapped opportunities in our industry.
The advisors who win that business, and win in alternatives specifically, share a distinct set of behaviors. Here is what the data says those look like.
Why This Moment Matters
A few numbers worth internalizing before your next client meeting:
• By 2030, American women are expected to control much of the $30 trillion in financial assets that baby boomers will possess, a
potential wealth transfer approaching the annual GDP of the United States. (McKinsey & Company, 2020)
• An estimated 53% of assets controlled by women are currently unmanaged, versus just 45% of assets controlled by men. (McKinsey & Company, 2025)
• Women are twice as likely as men to seek advisors who understand their specific financial needs. (Cerulli Associates, 2024)
• 70% of women change financial advisors within a year of their spouse’s death. (Bank of America Institute, 2024)
These numbers describe a massive retention and acquisition problem and a direct sales opportunity for advisors who solve it. Alternatives, positioned correctly, can be a key part of that solution.
Alternatives as a Practice Differentiation Tool
Most advisors are working from the same playbook: 60/40, a handful of model portfolios, and a pitch that sounds like everyone else’s. Alternatives are one of the clearest ways to stand out.
But the advisors who use them as a differentiator are not leading with product. They are leading with problems most advisors are not even asking about. A 2024 CFA Institute study on the alternative investment gender gap found that women with significant financial wealth want and need to know more about alternatives specifically, but that the industry’s marketing failures, not clients’ comprehension, are responsible for the gap. The advisor who can bridge that gap has a real edge.
“Women have fiduciary responsibility for significant financial wealth. They want and need to know more.”
Caroline Miller, Independent Corporate Director, via CFA Institute Enterprising Investor, October 2024
Yes, alts have a history. Clients remember bad experiences, and some advisors carry that scar tissue too, which is exactly why the conversation approach matters as much as the product itself. When a client understands why a private credit fund or a non-traded REIT belongs in their specific portfolio (income gap, inflation exposure, de-correlation from public markets), the product stops being a liability and starts being a reason they cannot get that kind of thinking anywhere else.
Advisors who do this well do not just differentiate on products; they differentiate on the quality of their diagnosis. The question is not “Have you heard of private credit?” It is “Here is the problem I see in your portfolio, and here is how we solve it.” That is a conversation very few advisors are having, and it is exactly the one the $30 trillion wealth transfer will reward.
The COI Referral Opportunity Is Underexploited
Women are projected to inherit significant wealth as the baby boomer transfer accelerates, and the advisors who capture that business often do so through COI referral networks. According to an October 2024 Edward Jones survey of more than 400 financial advisors, 72% of women clients who found their advisor through a referral specifically
sought recommendations from other women. Word of mouth dominates, and women’s professional and community networks are a direct pipeline.
McKinsey’s 2025 research also shows that advisors who consistently engage both partners in financial conversations, not just the primary account holder, retain clients through major life transitions at significantly higher rates.
For alternative investments specifically, this means:
• Engaging estate attorneys and CPAs around year-end tax planning. Oil and gas IDCs, taxadvantaged interval funds, and 1031 exchange opportunities are natural COI conversation starters. Partner with a wholesaler to provide virtual lunch-and-learns and CE credits.
• Treating spouses and partners as co-decisionmakers in alternatives conversations from day one, not as secondary participants.
• Proactively following up with clients going through financial transitions such as divorce, widowhood, or retirement, when advisor switching is most likely to occur.
Simplicity Wins, and IFG Is Investing in It
A 2026 survey of accredited and qualified purchaser women investors by How Women Lead and How Women Invest found that while up to 94% of respondents had already made some allocation to private markets, 63% said they still need guidance or rely fully on their advisor for those decisions. The number one barrier cited was complexity and too many steps in the process.
“Make it super simple and easy. They are smart, they will take risks, but they do not want to be irresponsible.”
Julie Castro Abrams, CEO, How Women Lead, via wealthmanagement. com, 2026
This is exactly why IFG has partnered with both AIX (Alternative Investment Exchange) and iCapital, two of the leading technology platforms in the
alternatives space, and why we are continuously evaluating new ways to reduce friction for advisors and clients.
AIX digitizes the entire subscription workflow for non-traded alternatives, automating data entry, dramatically reducing not-in-good-order (NIGO) rates, and connecting advisors, clients, sponsors, and custodians in one seamless digital experience. iCapital brings that same efficiency to private market investing at scale, with tools like its MultiInvestment Workflow that allows advisors to process multiple alternative investments in a single unified workflow, alongside robust education resources and performance reporting.
What this means in practice:
• Less paperwork, fewer back-and-forth corrections, and faster time from conversation to commitment.
• A cleaner, more professional client experience that builds confidence in the alternatives process.
• More time for the advisory relationship and identifying the next problem to solve, instead of managing operational details.
IFG is actively looking at additional ways to streamline how advisors access, transact, and manage alternative investments. If you have feedback on where friction still exists, reach out.
The Bottom Line
The $30 trillion wealth transfer is already underway. The advisors who benefit most will be the ones who lead with client problems, build referral relationships through COI networks, engage all decision-makers in the household, and leverage the best available tools to make alternatives simple and professional.
The infrastructure is here. The market opportunity is clear. The next step is yours.
Interested in learning more about alternative investments?
Reach out to schedule
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO LIFT THE STANDARD
• INCOME: 10% Initial R OI
• GROW TH: Reinvest E ional High- Q ualit y Assets
• TA X BENEFITS: Ta
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• SUITABILIT Y: Accr
Diversified across multiple operators, basins, and well vintages.
Leaderboard
Year-to-Date Office Leaders (as of March 31, 2026)
Scarborough Capital Management
Annapolis, MD
Ryan Ansted, Ian Arrowsmith, Joshua Goldsmith, Samantha Harris, David Herman, Gregory Ostrowski, David Sizemore, Jay Sprinkel, Jonathan Szostek, Shawn Walker 1 2 8 5 6 9 4 3 7
Cornerstone Wealth Management
Las Vegas, NV
Jammie Avila, Kyle Kirwan, Anthony Napolitano, John Underwood
Capital Growth, Inc.
San Diego, CA
Art Molloy, Pat Brennan, Jay Wurtzler, Matthew Belardes, Scott Dickerson, Marcella Harkness, Erica Tanner
South Coast Investment
San Clemente, CA
Chris Vizzi, Kelly Clyde, Michelle Vizzi, John Weiss 10
JTW Financial Services
San Gabriel, CA
Joyce Thomas, Hui Zhang, John Almaguer, Julie Shen
Senglaub Financial Group
Delafield, WI
Jim Senglaub, Mike Senglaub
O’Donnell Financial Services
San Rafael, CA
Greg O’Donnell, Michael Nakano
Shiraishi Financial Group Advisors
Honolulu, HI
Herb Shiraishi, Grant Arita, Graham Enomoto, Kendall Kakugawa, Hans Medina, Jason Wong
Cinergy Financial
Tustin, CA
Cindy Couyoumjian, Leticia Hewko, Kobe Couyoumjian, Douglas Shaner
Sutley Wertzer
Sacramento, CA
Bryan Wertzer, Steve Sutley, Scott Machen, Joshua Hurd, Wade Gribaldo, James Dillon, Jack George
