December 2025 Market Update: Reflecting on a Strong Year and Preparing for 2026
Doug English, CFP® discusses the markets and what we did in our client’s portfolios in November 2025.
December 2, 2025
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Fee-only fiduciary financial advisor, headquartered in Asheville, NC—serving clients nationwide.
Doug English, CFP®, leads ACT Advisors® from Asheville, NC, and works with clients nationwide. He focuses on strategic planning for executives and high-net-worth families—pairing tax-aware planning with low-total-cost investing and practical, actionable guidance.
I start by mapping what you already have—plan documents, vesting, distribution options, and tax timing. Then we coordinate those benefits with your other accounts (401(k), brokerage, Roth, trusts) so cash-flow, taxes, and risk work together. This process produces a written strategy for deferrals, payouts, and funding—updated as roles or regulations change.
It’s portfolio management designed with after-tax efficiency in mind. That includes direct indexing or tax-efficient funds, year-round tax-loss harvesting, and placing assets in the right accounts (asset location). We coordinate with your CPA so investment moves and your tax strategy pull in the same direction.
Yes—most of my work is done remotely. We meet by video and use secure portals for documents. You get the same cadence and deliverables wherever you live.
For most clients, discovery (what matters, what you have), document and data review, then an initial plan with clear priorities—tax and cash-flow opportunities, benefit elections, and portfolio alignment. We implement approved recommendations where applicable and set a cadence for ongoing decisions. Learn more about our different services here: Fee-Only Fiduciary Financial Planning | ACT Advisors
Ideal clients include credit union leaders, senior executives, and families with complex finances who value coordinated, tax-aware strategy and a fee-only fiduciary relationship.
ACT Advisors may not be the right fit for investors seeking stock tips, product sales, or one-time plans without ongoing collaboration.
Doug English, CFP® discusses the markets and what we did in our client’s portfolios in November 2025.
In this episode of C.U. on the Show, host Doug English sits down with Lee Silber—author of The Credit Union Way—to explore why stories of compassion, connection, and community remain at the heart of the credit union movement. From tellers who create policies on the fly to help members in need, to branch managers who step in during times of crisis, Silber makes the case that smaller, more personal institutions have a unique advantage.
How should a credit union apply insights from the 2025 CUES Executive Compensation Survey? In this episode of C.U. On The Show, host Doug English, CFP®, speaks with Sharon Messmore of CUES about how credit unions can interpret survey data, identify trends, and use the findings to support fair, transparent, and strategically aligned compensation structures.
Doug English, CFP® discusses the markets and what we did in our client’s portfolios in October 2025.
Doug English, CFP®, MBA, is a seasoned financial professional with over 20 years of experience in serving the personal financial analysis and risk management needs of senior executives. Doug has dedicated his career to helping individuals evaluate and coordinate their executive benefits packages in pursuit of their personal financial objectives.
In the realm of non-profit organizations, Doug specializes in analyzing and integrating split-dollar plans, 457(b), 457(f), 401(k), and retention bonuses. Within the for-profit sector, he focuses on the analysis and integration of incentive compensation structures such as ISOs, RSUs, restricted stock, ESPP, 10b-5, and section 16 insiders.
With his extensive knowledge and expertise, senior executives and institutions trust Doug to provide comprehensive benefit coordination and ongoing management of their resources. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner for over two decades and armed with an MBA in finance, Doug brings a wealth of expertise to his clients’ financial journeys.
Doug began his career as a financial advisor with CUNA Mutual. In 2006, he founded ACT Advisors®, a financial planning and investment management firm headquartered in Asheville, NC.
Driven by a mission to help clients align their financial resources with their goals, ACT Advisors® provides fiduciary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and client-centered engagement. Doug is the host of C.U. on the Show, a podcast focused on bold ideas for credit union leaders. Through conversations with experts and thought leaders, the show explores new perspectives and strategies shaping the credit union movement. Additionally, Doug is a featured expert on National Public Radio, sharing his insights several times a year.
When he’s not guiding clients toward financial success, Doug enjoys a fulfilling personal life in Asheville, NC, alongside his wife Jennifer and their three children.
Check the background of this firm and its advisors on adviserinfo.sec.gov and at brokercheck.finra.org.