Donald Jay Korn

Morgan Stanley financial advisor Michael Merlin, number 19 on the Top 40 Under 40 list, says that making listening to clients a priority gives him an advantage over other advisors.

Morgan Stanley financial advisor Devin Condron, who lands at number 20 on the Top 40 Under 40 list, works to help younger members of ultra high net worth families understand everything from choosing a mortgage to donor-advised funds.

Assets in ETFs and other indexed products will reach $10.4 trillion by 2017, up more than 100% since 2011, a new report from Tiburon Strategic Advisors predicts.

Morgan Stanley financial advisor Bruce Munster, number 21 on the Top 40 Under 40 list, says that sitting down with a local billionaire was a tipping point for understanding what wealthy clients want.

Foreclosure filings fell in 2012, yet more foreclosed homes are likely to come up for sale in 2013. This increase could be good news for prospective home owners and investors, according to Daren Blomquist, vice president at Irvine, California-based RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties.

The RIA market continues to grow, but it wound up in second place last year.

Morgan Stanley advisor Anthony C. Jones, who ranks at number 22 on the Top 40 Under 40 list, focuses on helping entrepreneur clients move away from concentrated stock portfolios.

Deutsche financial advisor Jason Zaks, number 23 on the Top 40 Under 40 list, prefers the personal side of investing including handwritten notes to clients.

Want to know whether a stock is a buy, sell, or hold? Investors and advisors can find out quickly by glancing at their iPhone.

According to Joe Hurley, founder of Savingforcollege.com, by far the most frequently asked questions he receives from advisors concern the impact of 529 plans on financial aid.

Who wins when advisors leave wirehouses? Just about everyone.

UBS financial advisor Bryan Mountain, number 24 on the Top 40 Under 40 list, helps clients find a balance between finding retirement income and taking on the risks that can grow their portfolios.

Morgan Stanley financial advisor Brad DeHond, number 25 on the Top 40 Under 40 list, says that successfully serving ultra high net worth clients requires a different approach.

Wealthier clients spend more than half their communications time digitally, using email, web portals, social networking, SMS, instant messaging and VOIP calls.

UBS financial advisor Paul Vasady-Kovacs, who places number 26 on the Top 40 list, says that the fixed income emphasis he started out with still informs his work with clients today.

Paul Lofties, who has been promoted to senior vice president of wealth management at Securities America, said that reaching wealthy investors has been a challenge for independent broker-dealers because “traditionally, high-net-worth individuals have done more investing with wirehouses” but he has a strategy for success.

UBS financial advisor Eric Bickler, who ranks number 27 on On Wall Street’s list, has built a successful practice serving current and former corporate executives.

Lincoln Financial Group has selected the FireLight platform to automate and streamline its annuity applications.

Zero Alpha Group, an alliance of independent advisory firms, is zeroing in on the next generation of members’ prospective leaders. The group has formed the Zero Leadership Institute, hoping for positive results.

Thomas Kane, a UBS financial advisor who ranks number 29 on our list, has turned to hedge funds, private equity and real estate to bolster his clients’ portfolios.