Michael Kitces

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.

The research firm’s headcount and related job forecast are based on a highly elastic idea.

The certification could stop being the gold standard and become the requirement, if only the regulatory path were clearer.

Building income streams that mimic the predictability of a working lifestyle is a delicate skill.

The SEC may have had good intentions, but the guidelines have distorted markets and reinforced the allure of companies that forego the IPO.

The anxiety is real — and so are the expenses — but the situation might not be as bad as some imagine.

A detailed proposal can turn prospects into clients, but only if advisors can gather the right data.

There really is such a thing as good advice badly given.

As mega firms scale up and niche advisors specialize further, profits for a vast swath of the advisory market are getting squeezed.

Advisors can prune their practices to focus on the most profitable individuals — but it takes more than just time.

The net outflows are staggering, but recent studies show the relationship is far more nuanced.

Because most advisors are generalists, up-and-coming planners can seek out almost any niche to explore.

The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know.

The upfront tax benefits are undeniable, but that doesn’t necessarily help business owners in the long run.

Many want to work as holistic planners, but common, entry-level jobs can easily lead to dead ends.

Non-discretionary accounts may comprise the bulk of a client’s net worth, but are traditionally out of an advisor’s sphere of influence.