• Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Hays County News Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Popular
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Popular
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Technology Crytpocurrency

Bitcoin Boom Leaves Gun-Shy Advisors Struggling To Provide Crypto Guidance To Clients – Yahoo Finance

bitcoin-boom-leaves-gun-shy-advisors-struggling-to-provide-crypto-guidance-to-clients-–-yahoo-finance
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Cryptocurrency’s breakthrough from the financial fringes to the mainstream has been characterized by major investors like Paul Tudor Jones — and some companies like Microstrategy (MSTR) and Tesla (TSLA) — dipping their toes into Bitcoin (BTC-USD). Even Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook is getting in on the action.

Yet some financial advisors and wealth managers appear to be struggling over how to adapt to the new era, in a sector defined by head-spinning price action, still-evolving regulation, and rising fraud.

A recent survey from fintech company eMoney Advisor found about 38% of U.S. respondents say their investments are managed by a financial advisor, and that 43% said they invest in cryptocurrencies. The data underscore how less than half are handling out digital token advice, even as the sector becomes an increasingly hot topic in retail and institutional investing.

Separately, a January survey by crypto investment manager Bitwise found a staggering 94% of advisors surveyed have gotten crypto-related questions from clients. Yet a slim 15% actually allocated money to digital tokens.

Nevertheless, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan said the sector was “approaching the tipping point for the widespread adoption of crypto by financial advisors. Two years ago, just 6% of advisors were allocating to crypto in client accounts; today it’s 15% and our survey suggests it will be nearly 30% by year-end.”

Crypto’s notorious volatility, in addition to the lack of a Bitcoin exchange traded fund (ETF) specifically tied to its spot price, may have something to do with it.

A spot ETF has yet to be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, even though a few new futures-linked funds have found a receptive audience. Several financial advisors Yahoo Finance spoke with recently all suggested a spot ETF would be the ideal vehicle for clients.

Yet Ric Edelman, founder of Edelman Financial Services thinks some advisors are making a mistake waiting for a spot Bitcoin fund. Having first discovered Bitcoin in 2012, Edelman argues that advisors can easily allocate 1-3% of their client portfolios to cryptocurrency-linked assets.

Obviously, crypto is huge but we’re just not at all trained in this space. Even if you don’t want to recommend it as an investment, we should at least know enough to be able to discuss it.Bonnie Maize, financial advisor

Waiting for a spot ETF is “outdated and incorrect thinking,” the author and financial expert told Yahoo Finance recently. Sitting it out in the near term could have negative implications for client returns, he suggested.

With a few exceptions, most crypto assets aren’t concretely regulated by Federal agencies like the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) — a hot topic that’s shaping the current debate over crypto regulation. That makes a number of advisors reluctant to recommend digital currencies to clients, especially with instances of fraud and mischief on the rise.

However, there’s evidence that some advisors are trying to get smart on crypto. Bitwise’s survey found that some are paying for a certificate with the Digital Assets Council for Financial Professionals, an organization Edelman founded in 2018.

‘Maybe, if they ask’

A representations of cryptocurrency Bitcoin is seen in front of a stock graph and U.S. dollar in this illustration taken, January 24, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

A representations of cryptocurrency Bitcoin is seen in front of a stock graph and U.S. dollar in this illustration taken, January 24, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Among them is Bonnie Maize, a Rossville, Kansas “stay at home mom” turned financial advisor. She pointed out that besides avoiding crypto altogether, there’s no clear framework for how an advisor should address the sector.

“Obviously, crypto is huge but we’re just not at all trained in this space,” Maize told Yahoo Finance. “Even if you don’t want to recommend it as an investment, we should at least know enough to be able to discuss it,” she added.

Carl von dem Bussche, Jr. another advisor, has also earned a certificate through Edelman’s organization after some of his clients admitted to already having invested into the asset class .

Von dem Bussche — who manages the Nashville branch of Financial Guidance Group, a family-owned financial services company — admitted his opinion of cryptocurrencies has shifted from “heck no, that sounds like it’s made up of nothing” to “maybe, if they ask.”

Yet crypto’s risk profile remains well above what he typically offers clients.

“For our clients who want cryptocurrency and whose risk profiles suggest that it could be appropriate for their portfolios, I want to see a spot Bitcoin ETF approved by the SEC before we make anything happen,” Von dem Bussche insisted.

Catherine Valega, an advisor and founder of Green Bee Advisory, is also earning the digital asset certificate. She told Yahoo Finance though she’s always curious to learn what comes next in the investing world, especially digital tokens, most client conversations usually causes her to worry.

“There’s so much hype around cryptocurrency. I have no problem if people want to trade their funny money but before that many of them need to cover basic financial planning bases like allocating their 401Ks, and other retirement accounts,” Valega told Yahoo Finance.

Eric Balchunas, a Bloomberg Intelligence senior ETF analyst and avid tracker of the crypto ETF trend said the dynamic could put U.S. advisors between “a rock and a hard place.”

“The problem is if you have clients who want something and you’re refusing to give it to them, they might leave,” Balchunas told Yahoo Finance.

David Hollerith covers cryptocurrency for Yahoo Finance. Follow him @dshollers.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

Read the latest cryptocurrency and bitcoin news from Yahoo Finance

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn

Hays County News Online

© 2021 Hays County News Online

Navigate Site

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • DMCA Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • CCPA
  • Terms of Use

© 2021 Hays County News Online

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT