Interview with Jason Nickerson, CFP®, EA – President & COO, John G. Ullman & Associates, Inc.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: This year has already brought a lot of change and client concerns are wide-ranging. How have you seen the role of the advisor evolve through the turbulence we’ve experienced in 2025?
Jason Nickerson:
I think our advisors have done a tremendous job bringing calm to a world that has felt very volatile—even chaotic—at times. We welcomed 2025 with an administration change and multiple geopolitical issues, many of which the U.S. has been involved in to some degree.
As a result, we’ve seen a divide among clients—some are still optimistic despite the volatility, while others feel fear and panic. Our advisors have done a great job tailoring conversations to each client’s situation, helping them stay focused on their specific goals and plans. Everyone’s at a different stage, and our advisors have really brought that focus and stability to their planning.
Q: Looking to the second half of the year, what key indicators or events are you and the firm watching most closely?
Jason Nickerson:
I think many people are hoping for some level of stability and calm to begin setting in. Now, volatility can bring opportunity, but it can also strike at the wrong time—especially for those in or near retirement.
That’s why we stay measured and balanced in our planning and investment decisions. Our role is not to try and predict the direction of the markets or economy, but to manage effectively. At JGUA, our first job is to protect our clients. We plan not just for best-case scenarios, but for worst-case ones too.
Once we’ve built that comfort and confidence into a client’s plan, then we can look for meaningful opportunities—whatever “growth” means for that person. But it starts with stability and protection.
Q: What would you say to clients who feel like they need to make adjustments to their plan based on the current economic or political climate?
Jason Nickerson:
That’s a great question, and honestly, those concerns are often based on just the past six or seven months. One thing I’ve observed over the years is how short-term-focused personal finance has become—whether it’s taxes, investments, or planning.
We really need to zoom out. The market, the economy, and politics don’t care about our personal timelines—like when we want to retire or when our kids go to college. So we have to build plans around our lives.
Yes, external factors have to be considered, but they can’t be the center of every decision. What I often say to clients is, “You wouldn’t invest 100% in the stock market your whole life just because it’s doing well right now—because your life doesn’t follow the stock market’s timeline.” Major pullbacks like the Great Recession or COVID-19 have shown how damaging bad timing can be if we’re not prepared.
We focus on building plans that factor in what we can control, while staying flexible for what we can’t.
Q: As we close out the first half of 2025, what’s your biggest takeaway as we head into the second half of the year?
Jason Nickerson:
My biggest takeaway is really a broader observation—a trend I’d call both positive and cautionary. There’s been a growing “growth mindset” in how clients think about their personal finances. That’s a good thing. It drives people to want more for themselves and their families. It’s a mindset that helps in careers, parenting, and personal development.
But in financial planning, especially as clients approach retirement, that mindset can sometimes lead to taking more risk than is appropriate. So I’d sum it up in three words: Long-term, diversification, and balance.
Yes, have short-term plans to meet immediate needs, but always keep a long-term perspective. Diversification may sound boring in today’s tech-driven, fast-moving investment world, but it’s still essential. And balance—especially in times of uncertainty—is what makes a plan durable.
Because once you need your assets to support your lifestyle, the priority isn’t growth—it’s stability and sustainability.
Q: Thanks, Jason. We’ll check back in for the Q3 update.
Jason Nickerson:
Looking forward to it.
About John G. Ullman & Associates, Inc.
John G. Ullman & Associates, Inc., was founded in Corning, N.Y., in 1978. The firm is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) registered federally with the Securities & Exchange Commission*. As an independent, fee-based investment management firm, JGUA provides comprehensive wealth management strategies and services to clients. The firm manages over $1 billion in client assets, with a staff of more than 70 employees across four locations: Horseheads, N.Y., Rhinebeck, N.Y., Charlotte, N.C., and Corning, N.Y.
If you are interested in learning more about how JGUA could help you, visit our website here, or call 1 (800) 936-3785. You can follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and The JGUA Blog.
*Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.