Donald Jay Korn

This increase indicates that “investors are successfully using 529 plans for their intended purpose of qualified higher education expenses,” according to the Financial Research Corp.

Allen Saunders went from pet food distributor to UBS financial advisor to number 36 on On Wall Street’s 2012 list.

This year was a “slower year than many expected,” in terms of financial advisors departing major firms for other pastures, according to Chip Roame, the managing partner at Tiburon Strategic Advisors. “I believe 2013 may be slower, too,” he says.

Wells Fargo financial advisor John Handley, number 37 on On Wall Street’s list, remembers getting that very first client and the cadre of business relationships he’s had for years.

For Pedro Marti, who nabs the number 38 slot on On Wall Street’s 2012 list, serving as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo is the perfect blend of financial analysis and personal interaction.

Industry experts and thought leaders make their predictions about what is to come for advisors and investing in 2013.

Celebrating its two-year anniversary with an announcement of its 11-figure status, New York-based Dynasty Financial Partners aims to separate itself from the myriad of firms offering services to registered investment advisors.

Wells Fargo financial advisor Matthew Fryar, who ranks number 39 on On Wall Street’s 2012 list, says providing personalized services has meant a heavy emphasis on looming tax changes.

For Annemarie Thomas, a Wells Fargo financial advisor who ranks number 40 on On Wall Street’s list, now is the time to take advantage of a “sea change” for women and finances.

“Go online or contact your Human Resources department now and request an increase in your salary deferral, beginning with your first paycheck in January,” advises Matthew Illian, a planner with Marotta Wealth Management in Charlottesville, Virginia. “The people there will appreciate the advance notice.”

the move from a defined benefit world to a defined contribution world “is unlikely to reduce retirement preparedness.”

“The findings are eye-opening for financial advisors because investors are clearly saying they are worried about the economic situation,” said Joe Ready, director of Institutional Retirement and Trust at Wells Fargo.

Only 31% of women feel “extremely” or “very” secure about their current financial situation, according to a study by the State Farm Center for Women and Financial Services at The American College of Financial Services. This widespread sense of insecurity indicates broad opportunities for advisors who can make female clients more confident about their finances.

A Nationwide Financial survey found that 42% of advisors have clients who are asking about giving away all of their money to their children as a means of financial planning.

In January, the fabled 3.8% surtax on investment income becomes law. This surtax, included in health care legislation to bolster Medicare’s finances, is based on two key numbers. The IRS has just issued proposed regulations on one of those numbers: net investment income.

With 20% of wealthy investors under age 55 planning to change their primary advisor in the next 12 months, tech enhancements may be the difference between acquiring or losing clients.

“We always have an opinion,” said James Odorczuk. “That’s what clients want. You can’t just ‘set it and forget it.’ A lot of clients are unhappy with a passive investment style.”

Gen X, Y and Z investors may years from retirement but they already have multiple concerns about their future finances.

Investors looking out for the fabled fiscal cliff should be careful not to tumble down the “earnings cliff,” if corporate profits plunge.

With gas prices flat, the IRS has announced a 1-cent increase in standard mileage rates for the business use of a vehicle. Thus, that rate will be 56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven in 2013, up from 55.5 cents a miles this year.