By Amey Stone

Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, CEO of Gilman Hill Asset Management, discovered dividend investing nearly a quarter of a century ago, and she hasn't looked back. She finds that income offers not only a path to steady returns but also a source of comfort when the stock market hits maximum turbulence. In this Q&A, she talks about why dividend investing is especially powerful right now, what she likes about Conagra, and the reason next-gen clients invest with her.

In other most-read wealth management articles this week:

      Merrill advisors jump to Stifel.   Stifel Financial has recruited three financial advisors from Bank of America's Merrill Lynch, where they managed nearly $3 billion in client assets. Ryan Bell, Melissa Transier, and Chris Green joined Stifel's independent broker-dealer in Dallas. The additions continue Stifel's efforts to swell its advisor ranks. 

Student loans going into collection . The U.S. Department of Education said Monday that it would resume collecting payments on defaulted federal student loans beginning May 5, a move likely to affect millions of people who borrowed money to pay for college. Over the next two weeks, borrowers in default will receive email notifications to make a monthly payment, enroll in an income-driven repayment plan, or sign up for loan rehabilitation. If they don't, punitive actions could include having their wages garnished.

CFPB saved from chopping block, for now . A federal judge has ordered a halt to mass layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where the Trump administration had been moving ahead with a plan to eliminate nearly 90% of the workforce. A fast-moving "reduction-in-force" initiative targeted 90% of the beleaguered agency's staff. But a D.C. District Court judge said the plan may have violated her March order blocking the shutdown of the bureau. The court will revisit the case on April 28.

Turning unneeded life insurance into cash . Advisors should ask new clients if they have permanent life insurance and determine if they still need that level of insurance. Retirees with grown children may not, and that money could be put to better use in many cases. For clients with unneeded policies, there are several ways to unload it for cash, convert it to a better policy, or roll it into another vehicle. Here we outline six options.

Why young advisors start firms . Many advisors are deciding to launch their own practices instead of staying with a larger firm and moving up the ranks. There are extra costs and litigation risks to consider. But with many advisors retiring in the coming years, opportunities to attract new clients are plentiful. Plus, there is a range of technology to support business operations, and resources and training to help advisors who want to boost their skills.

Write to Amey Stone at amey.stone@barrons.com

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April 25, 2025 16:15 ET (20:15 GMT)

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