Financial Planning

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• Cover Story

• Currency Play

  By Axel Merk and Kieran Osborne

  Clients looking for diversification have new options in currency funds, ETFs and ETNs.

• On the Frontier

  By Donald Jay Korn

  Under-the-radar stocks from countries not widely followed by analysts pose risks-but potentially offer growth-driven returns.

• Hot Spots

  By Suzanne McGee

  When geopolitical flash points explode, advisors need to help their clients stay focused and make informed decisions.

• Breaking Away

  By Pat Durner

  Trouble in frontier markets has some planners shifting direction, recalculating whether the rewards will be worth the risks.

• Features

• Client Communications 2.0

  By Marie Swift

  The digital world is creating wired clients who need the personal touch more than ever.

• Columns

Business Consultant

• Waiting for Takeoff

  By Glenn G. Kautt

  As practices consolidate and adopt technology, there are fewer real opportunities for young planners.

Industry Insight

• To the World of 2020

  By Bob Veres

  An open letter to the financial community, investors, regulators and legislators of the not-so-distant future.

The Elite Advisor

• Going Private

  By John J. Bowen, Jr.

  Properly designed and conducted, private client events can put you in front of small groups of highly qualified affluent prospects.

• Industry

• Hybrid's New Groove

  By Donna Mitchell

  RIA principals with national ambition say the hybrid model is a useful recruiting tool.

Fund Manager

• Shaken, Not Stirred

  By Ilana Polyak

  Rob Taylor explains why Oakmark International is sticking with Japan after a devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

• Departments

My Word

• Foolish Ideas

  By Larry Swedroe

  Successful active management is a fantasy stoked by the financial services industry.

The Portfolio

• First and Goal

  By Andrew Rudd

  Goal-driven advising is the key to successful retirement portfolios. By Andrew Rudd

• Individual Choice

  By Chris Shayne

  If you thought individual bonds were too expensive for your clients, new research might change your mind.

• Nice Niche

  By Donald Jay Korn

  Fixed annuity sales sagged along with interest rates last year, but some specialty products enjoyed record inflows.

• Getting Back In

  By Craig L. Israelsen

  What's the best way to reenter the stock market-all at once or by degree?

• Income Choices

  By Joseph A. Tomlinson

  To choose the right retirement income products, clients must understand the tradeoff between security and bequest value.

The Practice

• Beyond Numbers

  By Michael F. Kay

  As this planner's practice shifted to a life planning model, he realized there was more to life than the bottom line.

• Harnessing Human Capital

  By Stephanie Bogan and Natalie Doss

  A sneak peek at new research shows a small investment in people can go a long way for an advisory firm.

• The Snowball Effect

  By Mike Byrnes

  The best publicity for advisors comes from mixing social media strategies with traditional PR efforts.

• Passion Speaks

  By Adam Birenbaum

  Buckingham Asset Management credits $1.5 billion of its assets to Larry Swedroe, its tireless advocate for passive investing.

The Client

• Mapping It Out

  By Kevin Bishopp

  A client engagement road map plots two years of communication and can keep clients from losing sight of their goals.

• Risky Business

  By Sonya L. Britt and John E. Grable

  Judging a client's ability to accept possible losses is harder than you might think. Formal assessment tools can help.

• Presumed Guilty

  By Karen C. Altfest

  Widespread distrust has shrunk the pipeline of new clients. Here's how to make your case.

• Not So Fast

  By Ed Slott

  Clients rushing to recharacterize their 2010 Roth conversions should slow down and take another look.

• The Kids Are All Right (Maybe)

  By Scott Schutte

  Helping plan for the intergenerational transfer of wealth is one of the important services an advisor can provide.

Data

• Smaller is Beautiful

  By Donna Mitchell

  The equity markets might have been topsy-turvy in the first quarter, but mutual fund investors stuck to a small- and midsize game plan.

• High Net Worth

• Wedded Bliss

  By Donald Jay Korn

  Under the new tax law, married couples have a $10 million estate-tax exclusion-no planning necessary.

• Caring for Your Client

  By Martin Shenkman

  Adding a care manager to your estate planning team can benefit both you and your client.

Practice Profile

• Mirror Image

  By Jim Grote

  Many of WMS Partners' clients are financial professionals, bringing a top level of sophistication to investment discussions.