Michael Kitces

Despite raised thresholds, advisors can still find big itemization opportunities if they know where to look.

Alternative compensation structures may provide more consumer protection, and drive higher client satisfaction.

To stand apart from broker-dealers, advisors may not need tougher rules, but smarter marketing.

Without acknowledging both the downside and tremendous upside of long time horizons, the 4% rule is no rule at all.

Though designed to raise standards for broker-dealers, the SEC’s 564-page rule sent ripples throughout the advisory industry.

It's important to categorize necessary and discretionary expenses, but advisors need to know how clients are defining them.

It’s not as easy as hanging out a shingle. Advisors and back-office employees need to master certain traits.

Adding clients may increase the top line, but it may come at the expense of profits, free time and even happiness.

Younger investors tend to have limited assets, but that doesn’t mean their advice needs are simple.

There is no secret formula but there are some time-tested calculations that can reveal a firm’s productivity, or lack thereof.

Capital gains tax rates are not just taxed at a single, more favorable, rate anymore.

Retirees who use a smaller withdrawal rate may amass significant excess wealth. That can mean trouble for advisors.

There’s a lot to be said for being lean and mean.

It’s crucial to know how much of a drawdown an investor can tolerate before panic sets in.

Career-switchers may think becoming a financial planner is an easy transition, but done improperly can pose dangers to themselves and clients.

Even as BDs transition from their commission roots, too many still treat advice as a liability.

No client wants to pay up. But, some could benefit from more tax exposure in retirement than actual spending.

Bringing on new employees can spur growth, but can also complicate compensation structures.

The planning association says it needs to undertake “transformational change,” but its latest proposal may just multiply its problems.

By allowing disciplinary actions to be expunged from certificants’ records, the board is sabotaging its own efforts to raise industry standards.