Capsule: Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute

DALE BROWN Executive director Financial Services Institute Atlanta, Ga. General outlook: "Uncertainty and volatility may continue into 2009. It will continue to create a challenge for everyone," said Mr. Brown, whose organization is an advocacy group for independent broker-dealers and financial advisers. Next big trend: Despite the market turmoil, which caused a decrease in assets under management in 2008, financial advisers and the independent broker-dealers who serve them will see business boom in 2009. Advisory firms will thrive from picking up new clients, especially an increasing number of baby boomers nearing retirement. Biggest concerns: The Obama administration and Congress may overextend their efforts to fix the problems that caused the current credit crunch, putting a huge financial burden on the advisory industry, which already has a substantial regulatory burden. The increased regulatory pressure also could hurt middle-class investors since the fees they have to pay could go up as a result of the new burdens placed on investment firms. Reading, watching, listening to: Book: "Patriotic Grace" by Peggy Noonan (HarperCollins Publishers, 2008). Primary news source: wsj.com.