KNOW: In the first half of 2009, American households more than doubled their holdings of U.S. Treasuries to $605.9 billion, Reuters reports. While Treasuries offer safety, yields are low. Baby Boomers relying upon sub-par returns from Treasuries have little hope of rebuilding their battered portfolios in time for retirement.

DO: Financial advisors can win trust by helping clients juggle risk, yields and maturities in alignment with their long-term financial plans. As the economy recovers and the fear of risk subsides, suggest alternative strategies, such as annuities, for preserving capital and locking in yields.

KNOW: An increasing number of today’s seniors no longer see reverse mortgages as a terrible idea. In a news release, a reverse mortgage company reported usage of its online calculator almost doubled over the last quarter as real estate values declined and seniors looked for ways to tap equity before it disappeared.

DO: Make sure you’re up-to-date on changing attitudes toward reverse mortgages, especially for those seniors who have particularly suffered in the market downturn yet still own valuable real estate. If you’re not asking your senior clients about their interest, they could be seeking guidance elsewhere.

KNOW: Twenty-nine percent of U.S. investors under 65 are less inclined to take financial risks than two years ago, and 28% more are more likely to seek financial advice — so says a new Financial Times/Harris Poll poll.

DO: Reach out to new clients! Investors are more predisposed than at any time in years to consult advisors who can show them reduced-risk, non-stock investment alternatives.

KNOW: The great challenge facing the financial services industry is to help Baby Boomers shift $14 trillion in assets (2007 numbers) from asset-building configurations to income streams, says a report by consulting firm Deloitte.

DO:Financial advisor need to shift as well, from selling products to consulting about life goals and locking in income streams to support those goals.

KNOW: Five out of six members of the Millennial Generation (Gen Y) say they have become, or plan to become, more educated about their finances, according to a new report from Mintel Comperemedia. Four in ten say they would like investment advice from a financial professional.

DO: Gen Ys are more motivated to learn about finances and investing than their elders. We say it again: Young adults represent a phenomenal market opportunity for financial advisors willing to invest in building long-term relationships.

KNOW: While putting money in the mattress sounds like a good idea to protect oneself from market volatility, the best strategy for any saver is to invest.

DO: Take a close read of a fact-filled assessment by the National Center for Policy Analysis making the case against stopping 401(k) contributions. Share it with those clients on the sidelines.

KNOW: Boomers today are hearing all the alarm bells about medical expenses they could face in their retirement years, but are not responding by buying long-term care insurance.

DO: Make sure your clients are fully up-to-speed on all the factors they need to consider before dismissing long-term care insurance. This article is a sobering one worth sharing to help broaden their perspective.

KNOW: The Millennial Generation (Generation Y) is the most optimistic about the economic future of all the generations, the most likely to make their own investment decisions and the most likely to find investing “fun and interesting.”

DO: Invest in developing your Gen Y clientele. Millennials may not have much money now, but they are more motivated to save than Boomer and Gen Xers were at the same age and likely will have more assets to manage when they reach their peak saving years.

KNOW: All in all, most generations are feeling slightly more positive about spending, saving and investing their money, according to our latest Generational Money Mindset analysis. But for the first time in two years, Generation X has dropped below Boomers in their overall pessimism.

DO: Make sure you are connecting with your clients ages 28-44, who are members of Generation X, and understanding their heightened angst about money issues. Now is a good time to talk with them about financial strategies that could ease their worries.

KNOW: According to new research among Boomers by BlackRock, 70% of retirement-age clients are willing to move their accounts to another firm, if the firm offered expertise on constructing portfolios to avoid running out of money during their golden years.

DO: This is the issue of the day, for Boomers and, quite frankly, all generations. Take the time to talk with your clients about their concerns about outliving their money. If you aren’t having the conversation with them, you risk them having it with another advisor.