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Adam Schlossberg shares strategies in USA Today for navigating 2025’s market volatility with clarity, caution, and personalized financial planning. Florham Park, NJ , September 2, 2025 -- As investors brace for a year defined by contradictions—resilient consumer spending clashing with persistent inflation, AI-driven gains amid valuation risks—USA Today has spotlighted Adam Schlossberg, CFP®, for his role in helping clients cut through the noise and chart a thoughtful financial path forward.

Benjamin Bush urges investors to rethink their time, habits, and financial systems in USA Today feature on staying grounded through economic volatility. Florham Park, NJ , September 2, 2025 -- In a world where volatility is more psychological than statistical, USA Today has spotlighted Benjamin Bush, CLU®, ChFC®, for his unique approach to navigating today’s economic turbulence—not just with numbers, but with mindset.

Every office has its junk drawer, and dental offices are no exception. This storage spot comes in handy whenever you need to quickly stash a miscellaneous something-or-other until you need it again. While all other shelves and cabinets in your office have a specific purpose, this little vault of disarray exists for a slightly different reason: to eliminate chaos from erupting elsewhere in your bustling workplace. The only rule is that no item with a designated spot should go in the junk drawer.

In a time of economic contradiction and uncertainty, and market contradictions, mastering the art of navigating economic turbulence has become not just an advantage, but a necessity. At the helm of Northeast Private Client Group, Managing Partners Adam Schlossberg and Benjamin Bush bring a complementary dynamic to the table. Their ability to balance data-driven rigor with strategic adaptability is not only a cornerstone of their firm’s success, but a roadmap for how thoughtful investors might approach the uncertain terrain of 2025.

Decisive business owners don’t dwell on what they’re powerless to change. Instead, they acknowledge that whatever exists outside their influence isn’t worthy of their attention. I can tell the likelihood of someone’s success by what they read. The subject matters, and reading is essential. However, you can read yourself into oblivion if what you’re consuming disempowers you, for instance, sensationalist news media. Its main job is not to inform, but rather to steal focus.

Washington, D.C. (June 19, 2025) –Finseca is proud to announce that Mark Murphy, CEO of Northeast Private Client Group, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Peter W. Mullin Visionary Leadership Award. This prestigious honor recognizes leaders in the financial security profession who exemplify a commitment to excellence, innovation, and service in advancing the mission of financial security for all. “Mark’s dedication to putting families and business owners on the path to financial security is inspiring, and his vision for the profession’s future aligns perfectly with the legacy of Peter Mullin,” said Marc Cadin, CEO of Finseca. “Mark leads with purpose, integrity, and a deep belief in the power of this profession to change lives.

The most successful entrepreneurs I know are all in the same line of work: the people business. I don’t care whether you’re a master plumber, a car dealer, a real estate broker, or a dentist managing multiple offices. If year after year, you’re meeting uncommon success, you’ve honed the secret of the masters. You insist on only win-win outcomes. Meeting and surpassing the needs of everyone with whom you do business pays dividends that rival any you’d gain in the stock market. There’s no better advice I give than to consistently impress people with what you’re able to do for them. Make no exceptions – not for your clientele, your employees, your advisory team, nor your own family members. Wow them all, and then step back and watch what happens. It took me years to fully understand this notion and put it into practice. Not many get this concept right out the gate. Nearly everyone is taught to first look out for themselves. After all, abandoning our own needs is futile. I don’t know anyone who wants to be a professional doormat. But isn’t that funny? So often, a doormat is the first image that comes to mind when thinking about always doing right by others. However, if you feel like you’re at risk of becoming a doormat, then you’re not in the people business. I specifically mentioned win-win outcomes at the start. If you’re a successful entrepreneur, you have to be one of the winners in every equation. There can be no losers. At the close of each transaction, everyone walks away happier as a result of the deal. Want to be the best game in town? Then your reputation must prove it. Nobody besides you unclogs drains faster, sells cars with better warranties, closes home sales with more favorable terms, or installs dental crowns that last longer and look and feel flawless. Such distinction isn’t simply good business; it’s mandatory for those who want a spot at the top. Sounds too simplistic? Realize then that you’re not only focused on winning over customers – you must continually win over your employees just the same. After all, you need your staff to be exactly like you: eager to please, and hungry to win. That’s why I interview every employee my company hires. If their eyes don’t light up when I discuss these principles, they don’t get an offer. I can’t risk hiring a lethargic employee, not when my staff comes to work every single day like I do, enthusiastic about smashing goals and winning over clients. They won’t put up with a lazy coworker, and I wouldn’t ask them to. Perhaps not surprisingly, all of my business advisors exhibit this same principle. I refuse to associate with anyone who smells remotely unscrupulous. It’s the kiss of death, the antithesis of the win-win outcome. Each expert in my inner circle works in harmony with one another, everybody in their respective lanes but in constant communication so as to address concerns as they arise. Nobody feels left behind, and we all give credit where it’s due. Some onlookers downplay the significance of harmony in the workplace. They chalk up success to mere chance rather than effective cooperation. In their unfortunate misunderstanding, they do themselves a grave disservice. Collaboration is key. You can’t possibly get where you aim to go without it. Nobody knows enough nor has enough hours in the day to go it completely alone. Neither can you claw your way to the top. If you try, you’ll be seen as an enemy of the people, and the ones you’ve clawed over will eventually hunt you down. Only by your reputation and accompanying track record will doors open for you. You don’t create the path. The path reveals itself to you the more effectively you engage with others. When embarking on your mission, don’t lose your humility. You will mess up. Failure is inevitable, but it won’t be the kind of failure that ends your career. Instead, it’ll be the kind that propels you, yielding newfound clarity on how best to proceed moving forward. More than half the journey involves learning from your mistakes. A brief word of caution: Be especially mindful of what type of mistakes you allow yourself to make. Forgetting an important detail is a lot more forgivable than being dishonest. Never let your mistakes revolve around bad character. The same goes for your associates. Make no allowances for unethical behavior. If you’re brand new to this way of thinking, it can be a bit overwhelming. I equate it to drinking from a firehose. There’s a lot to take in, yet you can only process so much in one sitting. The great thing about the written word is that you can revisit it as often as you like. So if what I’m illustrating seems insurmountable, remind yourself that anyone can adopt these principles with sufficient practice. The way to success is rooted in logic. Create sufficient value for others, and they’ll likely return the favor. You’ll not only win their loyalty, but you’ll earn good press. The best advertisement is when your clients sing your praises. Naturally, you’ll do the same for your associates, considering that you insist on only working alongside the best. Hopefully, you can now see why it’s called the people business. It’s about much more than trading goods and services. It’s dealing in good faith, high esteem, and absolute trust that the right people usher in the best outcomes. You know this to be true. You have ample evidence of what happens when people are less than dependable. The ball gets dropped, deadlines are missed, and resources dwindle. We’ve all experienced such madness. The way out? Resolve to take the lead. Expect no one to change until you do. If you’re stuck, then look to others who appear to be thriving. Take notice of their work ethic, their attitude, their refusal to complain, and their unwillingness to settle for mediocrity within themselves.

You deserve to be wealthy. As a private practitioner, nobody comes as far as you have, only to stall out in mediocrity. Every dentist I’ve met is indisputably hardworking. Yet the harder they work, the more out of reach wealth becomes. Lack of commitment is rarely what holds someone back. Dentists are some of the most dedicated people on the planet.   What determines a dentist’s wealth has less to do with fortitude and more to do with perspective. When you see how wealth works, its procurement becomes as natural as breathing. I’ve long espoused that a few easy-to-understand steps stand between aspiring entrepreneurs and a life of abundance. That abundance eludes more than 99% of the general population.  Wealth building as a pyramid  For those who like visuals, I describe the process of wealth building as a pyramid, with the most fundamental piece at the bottom, and each subsequent step gaining relevance as you move toward the top. Since building a pyramid from the top down would cause a collapse, we begin by laying a firm foundation before gaining elevation. Forgo the first step at your peril.   Start by protecting yourself and your business. Those who expect to make it to the top must have adequate insurance to shield themselves from accidents. Make it impossible for anyone to take away what you’re building. Without proper insurance, particularly an umbrella policy, you put yourself at tremendous risk.   I can’t stress enough that insurance isn’t just a good idea; it’s essential. It’s also affordable and easy to carry, especially compared to the burden of being the target of an opportunist. I think of insurance as the immutable base. It’s the part of the pyramid that sits just below the surface, invisible to the eye, but is critical for supporting everything above it.   Moving to ground level, we come to the next critical component, which is cash confidence. Illiquidity is the number one reason many businesses fail. You need three to six months’ worth of operating expenses in cash on hand as a safety net, no exception. Equipment breaks. Air conditioners need to be replaced at the most inconvenient times, and other mishaps.   Like most businesses, dental practices are prone to temporary profit loss due to economic fluctuations out of their control. Being cash poor is the kiss of death. Never be forced into making a poor decision because you don’t have adequate reserves. It’s often impossible to recover from circumstances. On the flip side, you have a tremendous advantage with ample cash on hand. Not only can you easily ride out downturns, but you can swoop in to pick up opportunities available only to the fortunate few who have liquid means. Feed your cash machine  When it comes to discerning such opportunities and investments, remember the next step up the pyramid, which is to prioritize feeding your cash machine. Have an unlimited appetite for investments but be selective. Allocate your resources only toward surefire ways to ramp up your income. Don’t go out on a limb. Understand what your marketing efforts are likely to produce before you write the check.  The same goes for upgrades to your equipment. Consult with experts rather than relying on hunches so you know how capital improvements will increase your bottom line. A good rule of thumb is that an investment that doesn’t earn a minimum of four to five times return isn’t worth considering. Some of the best investments cost little to nothing. If you’re starting out with just a dollar in your pocket, invest it in yourself by improving your education, professional development, or the overall reach of your network.  When you reach the point where your investments are paying off, climb to the pyramid’s next step, which is delineating between paychecks and playchecks. This is the point at which you achieve some semblance of financial freedom. You have enough money coming in to maintain your reserves and expenses while making prudent investments, and you have additional income to spend however you like. It serves no purpose other than to be your reward. The caveat? You don’t earn playchecks until you’ve allocated income to all other aspects of your pyramid. Cut yourself playchecks prematurely, and you threaten the integrity of your business. As wonderful as disposable income is you must still reach the peak of the pyramid. The top step—earned income—brings you to multigenerational wealth, the aim of every entrepreneur. Here, you’ve ultimately made enough successful investments that they pay significant dividends in perpetuity. With the right real estate holdings, strategic partnerships, and managerial staff, you can sustain the lifestyle of your dreams without ever having to sell off pieces of your empire. Enough income flows to you via multiple channels that your wealth will easily outlive you.  Live a life by design Until recently, I considered perpetual earned income the crowning achievement. However, that changed after rewatching a cinematic classic. Mr. Potter, a bank owner in It’s a Wonderful Life, represents “the meanest and richest man in the town,” a miser who’s reached peak wealth. Yet despite his money, he’s miserable and heartless. Thus, one additional step remains: living a life by design. You don’t just want wealth. Money isn’t the goal; satisfaction is. Be continually on the way to doing something you love, and then something you love even more. I call it continual fascination mode. A work-life balance is irrelevant when you love everything you create. Why vacation from that? I’ve presented it as the highest point of the pyramid, but it doesn’t have to be. The sooner you adopt the living-a-life-by-design mentality, focusing on the joy and satisfaction of your business, the smoother journey you’ll have on your way to the top. Editor’s note: This article appeared in the May 2025 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. https://www.dentaleconomics.com/money/article/55279105/dentists-build-your-wealth-pyramid-styleDentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.Mark B. Murphy, CEO of Northeast Private Client Group, is an accomplished author, speaker, and motivator who’s revolutionizing the financial planning and wealth

Years ago, I met a soccer coach who was an exceptional man with a big heart. At the time, he lived in a rundown apartment, in a neighborhood where anybody might feel dejected. Despite his humble homelife, he was a top-notch authority on coaching kids on and off the field, and he was a perennial giver. I remember he bought a young boy whose mother was on welfare a new pair of cleats. That’s just who he was.  This coach embodied a mix of compassion and pride every single day. While it’s been a while since I last saw this gentleman, I know he no longer lives in a terrible apartment on the wrong side of town. Once the world got wind of his altruistic nature, all sorts of doors opened for him. This coach embodied a mix of compassion and pride every single day. While it’s been a while since I last saw this gentleman, I know he no longer lives in a terrible apartment on the wrong side of town. Once the world got wind of his altruistic nature, all sorts of doors opened for him. Give with authenticity            To this day, I take cues from this wise man when it comes to serving others, and I encourage my clients to follow suit in their businesses—give with authenticity rather than with expectation. Do nice things for other people for no other reason other than it feels good. I can’t scientifically explain what happens, but I know from years of experience that the results are beneficial for everyone.  Some may consider this karma. I refer to it as esprit de corps. If you’re not familiar with the term, Merriam-Webster defines it as “a feeling of pride, fellowship, and loyalty shared by members of a group.” Whatever you call it, just know that you want it in your organization and that it starts with you. I’ve spoken for years about cultivating an abundance mindset. Live generously, and you’ll see how generous life can be toward you in return. Act from the standpoint of scarcity, and you’ll witness opportunities drying up as the entire will of your organization withers in accordance with your own cynicism. How to blend generosity and profit I can’t stress enough that goodwill outperforms cutthroat conduct in every business imaginable. How exactly does one display generosity when trying to be profitable in the highly competitive dental sphere? I’m not suggesting that you let patients off the hook for unpaid bills. Nobody should have to work for free, including dentists. Although, if you notice a patient struggling to pay, your willingness to work with them on a payment plan might be a good starting point.   In general, though, to truly promote esprit de corps, you must put the well-being of your employees and patients front and center. People must matter most. Care for your employees so that your employees care for your patients, and then watch the world’s grace come full circle on your behalf. Interfere with that cycle in any way, and you’ll compromise the results.  On paper, the benefits of being a giver make sense. But there’s always pushback from the skeptics, and I don’t blame them. Once someone takes advantage of your kindness, you learn to avoid getting stepped on again. There are three kinds of people: givers, takers, and matchers. These archetypes illustrate people who give without expectation, who take without limitation, and who insist on reciprocity.  Thankfully, I rarely meet a dentist who falls in the second category; most are in the matching group. They give frequently, but with stipulations to guard their self-interest. I get it. When pesky takers stymie your interests, you want to cut them off. But should you? It depends on your temperament. I’m upbeat, and people often comment on my high energy. I entered my 60es not too long ago, and I feel like I’ve always felt—eager about life and who I get to serve next. My stamina isn’t a persona. I’m the same way at home as I am with my clients and colleagues. Most days, it seems I have an infinite energy supply and therefore an endless willingness to help in any way I can.  My secret? I tend to my basic needs of adequate sleep and proper nutrition, and I mind my mental health. Doing so allows me to give freely without needing anything in return. I don’t fundamentally require anything from the people I help because I’ve fulfilled my needs. I interact with people for the fun of it, for the camaraderie, the collaboration, and the satisfaction of a job well done. That’s it.   What about the takers? Do they lurk in the shadows awaiting someone like me? Maybe, yet I hardly ever run into them. The people in my circle are those with energy like mine. We play perfectly with one another, and others like us join in the fun. It’s an ongoing process, thus our circle keeps growing. We’ve got the takers outnumbered. They feel uncomfortable around us.  Take these ideas to heart In a nutshell, this is the secret to giving unabashedly. Remember that others can tell if you’re giving with strings attached. Serve with expectation, and you’ll be in a state of constant disappointment from others’ unwillingness to reciprocate. Instead, learn to honor yourself first. When you start your day, make sure that you’re nourished, well-rested, and in a good mood.   Then let your bliss carry you smoothly throughout your day as you go from helping one person to the next. It’s how servers make stellar tips, how salespeople make phenomenal sales, and how dentists grow thriving practices. Ask, “What can I do for you?” In due time, others will ask you the same. Since you’re already happy, every new blessing that comes your way will simply be a bonus. Editor’s note: This article appeared in the April 2025 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. https://www.dentaleconomics.com/money/article/55271942/my-two-cents-building-a-legacy-of-generosity-the-power-of-givingDentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.Mark B. Murphy, CEO