Professional development

Nearly two-thirds of advisors surveyed this month said that internal training programs or workshops were offered by their firms.

Financial advisor Drew Boyer turned an accidental acceptance from a fire chief into a successful niche serving firefighters and police officers.

The language that financial advisors use in their first interactions with prospective customers could make or break the relationship, according to an expert.

In the coming weeks, the CFP Board will launch a working group to reconsider whether a bachelor's degree should remain a requirement for CFP certification.

As valuations continue to rise across the industry, more firms are using compensation to invest in their top talent and future growth, Succession Resource Group says.

Advisors can maintain professional certifications while keeping up to date on important issues in tax planning, compliance and more.

Looking for a new challenge, Mark Seither found the complexities of pilot compensation and tax planning to be a niche that energizes him.

An internal successor, a seller and an acquirer dish out the most common mistakes they say advisory firms must avoid to address the challenge.

K. Dane Snowden initially joined the CFP Board as chief operating officer in 2023 and replaces outgoing CEO Kevin Keller.

Many owners of privately held businesses are planning to sell at least part of their interests in the firm in the next five to 10 years, a Raymond James study found.

The FPAi Authority offers demos, guidance and insights to help planners adopt AI effectively in their practices.

A tiered service model should make clients feel valued while helping the firm scale.

Logic (and compelling Cerulli Associates data) explain why advisor teams are gaining momentum. But teaming is not the only option for growth.

For advisors who are also voracious readers, it's no surprise the books that most inspired them in their practices this year often focused on ways to improve client relationships and communication.

These are the stories and issues that readers gravitated to in the last year.

A former Procter & Gamble engineer spent years honing his message and targeting ads to make a nearly 100% niche clientele.

Earn an hour of credit toward industry certifications by successfully completing and submitting the self-guided continuing education quiz.

Even as markets sometimes touched all-time highs, there was a general feeling of uncertainty among advisors and clients. Experts say that's why several tried-and-true strategies became more attractive this year.

The broker-dealer veteran saw her firm's revenue model as a fair trade — even a badge of honor — before going independent.

Founders Elissa Buie and Dave Yeske are leaving a legacy in the profession and at the firm under three successors taking over in 2026.