Pamela Black

"Banks are struggling with where to get more revenues because of fee reductions,” said Rob Comfort, head of Huntington Investments. “This gives us an opportunity to play a prominent role.”

The Bank Insurance and Securities Association is planning to rebrand in the future, according to Sam Guerrieri, the president-elect, who announced the new agenda for the organization now that it has teamed up with Smith Bucklin, a company that specializes in running organizations.

A total of 610 people came to the BISA conference, compared with 450 in 2010.

Advisor sales productivity reached $228,684 in 2010, up from $216,738 in 2009, according to Kehrer-LIMRA’s founder Ken Kehrer and chief operating officer Scott Stathis, at the 2011 Bank Insurance and Secruities conference in Hollywood, Fla. Hiring also is up.

“More banks do not have licensed bankers than have them,” according to recruiter Rick Rummage. “Every bank should have them and license them.”

Most people don’t think about it, but there is a liquidity premium on publicly traded securities just as there is a risk premium, yet most only think about it in the case of extremely illiquid assets such as private equity.

Women want a quality relationship with their advisors that involves interpersonal, relationship-driven factors. What does that translate into in your practice? It starts by listening.

“I think the growth prospects are terrific,” Arnold said in his first interview since the company emerged from its quiet period. “We have an overall demand for advice which tends to help this segment of the industry.”

In December, fixed annuity production was relatively stable but variable sales continued on their upward trajectory, recording increases each month in the fourth quarter, according to the Kehrer-Jackson Monthly Bank Annuity Sales Survey.

If interest rates can only go up from here, shouldn’t you minimize your exposure to bonds? Not according to Zane Brown, a fixed-income strategist from Lord Abbott who addressed a crowd of advisors at the IMCA New York Consultants Conference.

Getting to the next level is the biggest challenge for advisors. Here's a unique approach to the age-old conundrum.

President Obama wants to let them expire. The Republican leadership wants to extend them. This is not a clear case of Republicans versus Democrats however.