Donna M. Mitchell

Principals of RIA firms need to pay closer attention to workflow and operational issues at their firms, especially if they want to stay viable amid rising operational costs, Pershing Advisor Solutions said.

The newly combined Boston-based RIA will have $2.5 billion of client assets.

The Financial Services Institute issued a letter arguing an SRO modeled after FINRA is the best of all alternatives, and FINRA rebutted criticism of its cost estimates for an investment advisor regulator.

Independent advisors generate 55% of commissions in Raymond James’ Private Client Group, which encompasses the firm’s various advisory business models.

In cases where an advisor has created a financial plan for a client, Advisor Access now features a hyperlink to the Goal Planning & Management component powered by MoneyGuidePro.

Advisors should encourage their clients to take advantage of current gifting opportunities, now that individuals can give others cash gifts up to $13,000 tax-free.

Successful advisors have more efficient practices, they keep up to speed on products and trends, are better positioned to withstand uncertain markets, and they are better prepared to handle specific economic challenges like low interest rates, according to Cara Farchione, manager of retirement solutions for Raymond James.

Pending legislative decisions around the fiduciary requirement for all advisors is not a threatening issue, Raymond James Financial Services Chairman Dick Averitt told a packed general session at its National Conference for Professional Development on Monday.

The SEC has charged Seattle-area financial advisor, Mark Spangler, with defrauding clients by secretly investing $47.7 million in two start-up companies he co-founded.

Sallie Larsen will ensure that LPL remains an engaging workplace for its staff and professionals, including those who recruit advisors to the independent broker-dealer.

The tool will help advisors partner with other advisors within the LPL Financial network.

Botsford Group specializes in asset protection strategies, and manages clients’ investing through its proprietary Lifestyle Driven Investing approach.

Independent Financial Partners, one of LPL Financial’s largest branches by revenue, had a surge of growth in the first quarter, increasing revenues by 65% and adding 47 professionals to the firm, the company announced.

Investors are as satisfied with full-service investment firms as they were before the recession, but client expectations have spiked, according to a J.D. Power and Associates study. Which firms are investors most satisfied with?

Younger members of ultra-wealthy households are grappling with their forebears for a say in wealth planning, and women are concerned about how money affects their relationships.

With Marv Tuttle announcement that he would retire in 2014 from his post as executive director and CEO of the Financial Planning Association, the organization now has the difficult task of about finding a successor.

Fidelity Investments has added four mutual funds to a variable annuity product it launched in 2005, opting for simplicity in an era where advisors and clients are wary of complexity in variable annuities.

Large retirement plan providers tried to offer California’s teachers and other education workers simpler plan options, but the Financial Services Institute said it should not come at the expense of access to quality personalized investment advice.

RIAs who use the combined service will be able to pull up daily client balance, holding and transactional data through ByAllAccounts, plus the reporting capabilities of Portfolio Pathway

Financial advisors sometimes puzzle over how to effectively reach and serve black and Hispanic clients. A Vanguard study released recently suggests they can start by drilling home a simple message: emergency savings accounts are a must.