What's Trending: Can Unemployment Predict the Next Recession?

In this August 2025 Trending Report, Kevin Roskam of USA Financial unpacks the one constant in investing: uncertainty. From political headlines to market volatility and shifting investor sentiment, Kevin explores how the cycle of investor emotions can influence decisions—and why sticking to a long-term plan is critical. Using real fund flow data, he reveals where money is moving, what that says about market sentiment, and how anticipation often drives bigger swings than actual events. Whether you’re an advisor or investor, this month’s report is a reminder that short-term emotions can derail long-term success.

In this episode of The Rare Advisor, Aaron Grady is joined once again by Steve Phillips, Chief Practice Management Officer at USA Financial, for an insightful conversation about the three phases of an advisory practice: growth, expansion, and legacy. Discover how to identify where your financial advisory business stands today—and why understanding your current phase is just as important as knowing where you're headed. Whether you’re an independent financial advisor scaling your team, planning a succession strategy, or navigating the evolution of your firm, this episode offers actionable insights to increase enterprise value, improve team retention, and build a lasting legacy. Perfect for financial advisors seeking clarity on business growth, practice management, succession planning, and future planning.

In this episode of the Financial Advisor’s Marketing Playbook, Mark Mersman breaks down the latest seminar marketing trends based on real-world data collected over the past several years at USA Financial. He explores the age-old question every advisor faces: Should you serve a meal at your seminar or not? Mark compares response rates from meal and non-meal events dating back to 2018, reveals how pandemic-era shifts and election cycles have influenced performance, and highlights which topics are driving the strongest turnout in 2025. If you’re a financial advisor planning your next seminar, this data-driven analysis will help you make smarter decisions and maximize your results heading into fall and winter.