Strategies to Enhance Client Relationships  

Jan 18, 2012 8:43 AM, By Charles Paikert

Given the chaotic financial environment of the past few years, innovative wealth management firms see a real business need to improve the softer side of how they interact with clients. ...

Insuring the 100 Year-Old Client  

Jan 17, 2012 9:00 AM, By Alan Lavine

The age group projected to show the greatest percentage increase in the United States and Western countries is the centenarian population. Are your clients financially equipped to live a century or more? ...

When You're 66: A Checklist on Social Security and Medicare  

Jan 13, 2012 9:00 AM, By Mark Miller

The oldest baby boomers will turn 66 this year. And, with all due apologies to Sir Paul McCartney, it's a much more significant number than 64 for retirement planning. As you advisors know, when you're 66, you can claim full Social Security benefits; 65 is a close runner-up, since it's the year most seniors will file for Medicare. ...

Booming Outsourcing Biz Gets Boost From LPL-Fortigent Deal  

Jan 11, 2012 9:00 AM, By Charles Paikert

Add one more winner to last week’s blockbuster LPL-Fortigent deal: the rapidly growing business of providing outsourcing services to wealth managers....

2012 Wealth Management Preview: Fear and Uncertainty Forcing Rethink of Fees and Pricing  

Jan 4, 2012 9:00 AM, By Charles Paikert

How Reverse Mortgages Can Help Your Older Clients 

Jan 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By Mark Miller

The reverse mortgage industry is re-focusing on a relatively new lower-cost loan type....

Drawdown Delusion? 

Jan 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By Diana Britton

Contrary to popular belief, shifting clients from accumulation to decumulation may boost FA revenues. ...

Reps Face Insurance Challenges in 2012 

Jan 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By Alan Lavine

Insurance firms face some major market risks, and financial advisors should look carefully at the financial strength of a firm before selling its products to clients....

Beneficiary Basics, and Beyond 

Jan 1, 2012 9:00 AM, By Kevin McKinley

Retirement account beneficiary designations are easy to overlook, but the consequences of doing so can be severe. ...

Wanted: Women 

Jan 1, 2012 9:00 AM, By Kristen French

Women FAs are in greater demand, but wirehouses have their work cut out for them. ...

Tech/Research Tool Targets HNW Wealth Managers  

Dec 29, 2011 5:18 PM, By Jerry Gleeson

A year after its launch, a New York-based services provider for high-end wealth managers hopes to draw more advisors to its platform by offering access to the kind of research that’s usually available only to institutional players. Dynasty Financial Partners expects to unveil its new program by the end of the first quarter of 2012. ...

How HNW Charitable Giving Is Changing  

Dec 21, 2011 9:00 AM, By Charles Paikert

The giving season is here, but what’s being given, at least by philanthropic-minded high-net-worth clients, is changing. The standard gift to a charity or foundation has traditionally been a highly-appreciated, publicly-traded security. But increasingly, wealthy clients are donating non-cash assets such as diverse as private property, businesses to even commodities such as soybeans or timber. ...

Reps Face Insurance Challenges in 2012  

Dec 19, 2011 10:59 AM, By Alan Lavine

Financial advisors are increasingly concerned about the financial strength of the insurance companies whose products they sell. They cite low interest rates and exposure to the stock market via product principal guarantees as grounds for their concern, according to a fall study by LIMRA....

8 Facts You Didn't Know About the ACT and SAT  

Dec 19, 2011 9:00 AM, By Lynn O’Shaughnessy

Millions of teenagers will be taking the SAT and ACT tests this year, which always generates tons of stress for the test takers and their parents. ...

Want to Outperform in 2012? Fire Some Clients  

Dec 15, 2011 11:35 AM, By Diana Britton

The fastest-growing advisors in 2012 are likely going to be those who can become more calculated and deliberate about the types of clients they do business with. According to a PriceMetrix report, “outperformers,” or those advisors from PriceMetrix’s database who saw the most growth in either assets, revenues or both in 2011, are adding more productive relationships to their books and dropping less productive ones. ...

Affluence No Guard Against Retirement Worries, Poll Finds  

Dec 14, 2011 3:32 PM, By Jerry Gleeson

Affluence and peace of mind no longer automatically go hand in hand, a new survey sponsored by Wells Fargo & Co. indicates, and the implications are sobering. In a survey of 800 Americans with investable assets of $100,000 and up, 23 percent said they are not confident they will have saved enough for retirement, compared to 75 percent who said they were confident. ...

What Advisors Should Know About the Small Business Owner Market  

Dec 13, 2011 4:30 PM, By Charles Paikert

The bad news: despite mounting financial concerns, only one-half of small business owners use a wealth manager or financial advisor, according to a recently released survey by Securian Financial Group....

Regional RIAs Race To Expand Nationally In 2012 As Schwab Makes Move  

Dec 13, 2011 8:25 AM, By Charles Paikert

Regional wealth management firms are accelerating their efforts to expand nationally next year. Leawood, Kansas-based Mariner Wealth Advisors exemplified the trend among well-capitalized RIAs, bringing on 20-year Fidelity veteran Brian O’Regan last month to lead its ambitious national growth strategy. Other regional RIA powerhouses including Aspiriant, Presidio Financial Partners, U.S. Capitol Advisors and Tiedemann Wealth Management all have plans to add offices in new markets next year. ...

How Reverse Mortgages Can Help Your Older Clients  

Dec 8, 2011 5:02 PM, By Mark Miller

Lenders hope to convince financial planners who reverse loans can be a safe, flexible financial tool for seniors. Many planners are skeptical of reverse loans due to their high fees; the industry also has been dogged lately by headlines about litigation focused on foreclosure risks facing seniors, and market exits by several major lenders....

Cashing In 

Dec 8, 2011 3:30 PM, By Jennifer Duell Popovec

While holiday retail sales have an immediate and obvious impact on retailers, they also affect retail real estate investment trusts (REITs), the companies that own the regional malls and shopping centers where retailers operate. In fact, the amount of money Americans spend during the holidays can have both a short- and long-term impact on retail REITs....

Banner Year for Account Aggregation, but Pricing Questions Remain  

Dec 6, 2011 5:12 PM, By Charles Paikert

Driven by client demand, technology advances and increasing advisor interest, 2011 has been a banner year for account aggregation, but wealth managers are divided on how to price the service....

Target Date Funds: On the Mark After All? 

Dec 1, 2011 12:00 PM, By Mark Miller

The approach can overlook important investment issues. ...

A Reminder on RMDs 

Dec 1, 2011 12:00 PM, By Kevin McKinley

Clients need your help and expertise when taking required minimum distributions from IRAs....

A Good Marriage: Life Insurance and Annuities 

Dec 1, 2011 12:00 PM, By Alan Lavine

This niche combo product provides guaranteed lifetime income to the beneficiary. It's a great option for clients with poor performing universal life and can be used in prenuptial or buy-sell agreements, and for fulfilling alimony payments....

Colleges Love Rich Students 

Dec 1, 2011 12:00 PM, By Lynn O'Shaughnessy

The full tuition paid by less qualified wealthy students allows colleges to admit highly talented low-income students....