Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains
Market volatility isn’t just a risk to manage. For advisors using direct indexing, it can also be a source of recurring tax-loss harvesting opportunities.
Join Ken Lassner, Direct Indexing Lead Product Strategist at Northern Trust Asset Management, for a live, educational webinar on how direct indexing works, where it fits in a client’s portfolio, and how advisors can use it to have more productive planning conversations.
What you’ll learn
The July 30, 12pm CST session will cover how market swings can open up recurring tax-loss harvesting and gain deferral opportunities, and why these strategies matter in choppy markets. Attendees will also see how direct ownership of securities allows for more precise tax management than what’s available through traditional index mutual funds and ETFs, particularly when markets show dispersion and drawdowns.
Beyond the tax mechanics, the program will offer practical guidance on integrating direct indexing into existing client portfolios, and transitions from appreciated or concentrated holdings. Real-world case studies will show how advisors can connect market volatility, tax strategy, and personalized portfolio construction into a single, clear conversation with clients.
Key takeaways for advisors
- How market volatility can create tax-loss harvesting opportunities, and why tax-aware strategies are increasingly relevant in today’s environment
- The after-tax value proposition of direct indexing, including how tax-loss harvesting, gain deferral, and customization affect long-term outcomes
- What sets direct indexing apart from mutual funds and ETFs, especially around tax management during volatile periods
- How to integrate direct indexing into existing portfolios, including tax-efficient transitions and handling concentrated positions
- How customization features such as exclusions, factor tilts, values-based screens, and tax-management settings can be matched to individual client goals
About the speaker
Ken Lassner has spent more than 30 years in the investment management industry, with 20 of those years focused on direct indexing. He joined Northern Trust in 2024 after 13 years at Aperio, where he was a Senior Client Relationship Manager overseeing the firm’s largest client relationships. Earlier in his career, he was a Product Specialist at Deutsche Asset Management and an Investment Strategist at JP Morgan Investment Management. Lassner holds a BS in Finance from Babson College and an MBA from Columbia.
Who should attend
This webinar is designed for financial advisors looking to sharpen their understanding of direct indexing and how it can support tax-aware, personalized portfolio strategies for their clients.
Registration is free. Save your spot to get practical, planning-focused insight you can bring straight into client conversations.
Permission to distribute this content does not constitute or imply any endorsement or sponsorship of any third party’s product, service or organization.
Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM) is composed of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., Northern Trust Global Investments Limited, Northern Trust Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Global Investments Japan, K.K., NT Global Advisors, Inc., 50 South Capital Advisors, LLC, Northern Trust Asset Management Australia Pty Ltd, and investment personnel of The Northern Trust Company, The Northern Trust Company (Singapore Branch), and The Northern Trust Company of Hong Kong Limited.
NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NO BANK GUARANTEE
© 2026 Northern Trust Corporation. Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A.
This article is produced in partnership with Northern Trust
