Leading Into the Finish Line
This time of year always separates the good leaders from the great ones. The easy thing to do is ease off the gas — but the best leaders find another gear. They bring focus when everyone else is fading. They keep their team engaged, clear on the mission, and moving forward.
We’ve got about 45 days left before the holidays hit and things slow down. How you lead right now will shape your momentum going into next year. Keep your team inspired, simplify the plan, and finish what you started. The habits we double down on in the final stretch are the same ones that set the pace for Q1.
Here are your Quick Hits:
“The Retirement Crisis for Business Owners: Why You Can’t Afford to Wait”
Takeaways:
- About one-third (34 %) of small business owners have no retirement savings plan outside their business.
- Another 40 % are counting on selling the business to fund retirement — a high-risk assumption because timing, market conditions and buyer interest may not align.
- The retirement industry is being reshaped by demographic, economic and competitive forces — meaning the models many assume may change
Action: If you own a business (or are advising owners), build a separate retirement-savings structure now (outside the business) rather than relying solely on “exit value.”
WSJ – Retirees: Rising Demand for Income-Focused Products – AKA Annuities
Takeaways:
- A record ~4.2 million Americans are turning 65 in 2025 (the so-called “Peak 65” zone) — leading to greater demand for dependable income solutions in retirement.
- Products like annuities and high-yield cash/money-market deposits are gaining traction because retirees fear outliving savings or facing volatile returns.
- Even though interest rates may moderate, the structural shift means retirees (and advisors) should consider the income profile of portfolios, not just growth.
Korn Ferry – “Top 5 Leadership Trends of 2025”
Takeaways:
- Leaders must become agile learners and tech-savvy innovators, especially as AI and rapid change reshape how teams work.
- Team leadership is shifting away from top-down control toward servant-leadership, empowerment, and building trust.
- Flexibility, genuine human-connection skills (emotional intelligence), and a commitment to developing people are critical – not just managing tasks.
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