Larry Barrett

Dynasty Financial has an ambitious plan to expand its advisor network to between 100 and 150 top-tier RIAs with total assets under management of around $50 billion over the next five years.

The stunning decline in property values across most of the country, a prolonged recession and plain-old negligence and shortsightedness on the part of American workers have all combined to make retirement more a fantasy than a reality for tens of millions of Baby Boomers who are will soon turn 65 years of age.

Brokers and financial advisors looking to make more money and have more control over the type of clients they serve and the investments they recommend continued to flood the independent channel at a swift pace in 2010, according to a new Broker and Advisor Sentiment Index survey conducted on behalf of Fidelity Investments.

In the wake of the economic downturn that pummeled markets and investor accounts, one would think financial advisors would have learned that forging and maintaining extensive contact with their clients is critical to keep and finding new business.

Despite the warnings from financial planners, relatives and the media, nearly two-thirds of Baby Boomers surveyed said social security will be either an "extremely" or "very" important source of income when they retire.

Company officials said the enhanced platform will help its advisors build better relationships with clients and grow their books of business by using a business valuation tool developed by FP Transitions and business assessment and coaching services from practice management consultant Business Health.

Certified financial planners, instructors, sponsors and those looking to become certified this week are getting their first look at the updated requirements mandated by the Certified Financial Planners Board of Standards for the organization's ethics continuing education programs.

John Paulson, the founder of hedge fund giant Paulson & Co., earned a record $4.9 billion in 2010 overseeing a fund that exited the year with more than $36 billion under management, according to a survey.

Wealthy investors apparently unnerved by rising oil prices and the potential for higher interest rates and inflation now say they are much less confident about the stock market and the broader economy than they were just one month ago.

"Investors, while maintaining a core exposure to BRIC countries, should not close their eyes to other growth areas in the emerging world," Chris Laine, portfolio manager for active emerging market equities at State Street Global Advisors, said in the report. "Many of the smaller emerging and frontier economies have quietly been making investor-friendly reforms and deserve the attention of international investors."

The combination of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan and sustained instability and violence in the Middle East are taking their toll on U.S. and international markets and compelling large financial institutions to reassess their short- and long-term investments as they await the fallout.

Continued poor rate spreads between CDs and annuity yields pushed bank-sold annuity sales last year to their lowest level since 2000 and off more than 25% from what was widely viewed as a lackluster 2009.

An uptick in investor inflows and strong performance helped push the Neuberger Berman Equity Income Fund over the $1 billion milestone for the first time.

The basic roles and responsibilities of brokers, financial advisors and asset managers are in the early stages of what's sure to be a dramatic transition and the brokers and firms that are most adapt at adding new tools and technology will be the ones to prosper, according to a new report from Boston-based financial services consulting firm Financial Research Corp.

For the estimated million-plus folks who turned 70 1/2 years old last year, time is running out to take their first required minimum distribution from their various 401(k) and IRA accounts without incurring stiff tax liabilities.

Hedge funds around the world are ramping up their technology spending to provide better service to the growing mix of institutional clients they serve and to ensure they're well prepared to adequately meet increasing compliance and regulatory requirements.

High net worth investors are returning their money to the market and have put the painful memories of past financial shenanigans in the rearview mirror but they're more fickle than ever when it comes to sticking with their primary financial institution or their individual financial advisor.

Uncertainty about fluctuating interest rates and rapidly spiraling health care costs were cited as the two largest fears of both retirees and pre-retirees, according to a new survey conducted by the Schaumberg, Ill.-based Society of Actuaries.

Aite Group's report concludes that whatever burden comes of Dodd-Frank and the EU Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers for hedge funds and their managers will be at least as expensive and time-consuming for the regulators looking to enforce more stringent reporting standards outlined in the law.

Facebook and Twitter may have the market cornered when it comes to immediate, mass-audience polling and recommendations, but when it comes time to select the person who will be responsible for a person's financial livelihood, investors still want to a referral from a trusted relative or friend.