Michael Kitces

In a down market "on sale" Roth conversions offer advisors a chance to generate tax alpha for their clients.

Instead of trying to tax diversify between traditional and Roth retirement accounts, taxpayers can consider trying to ‘Roth optimize’ exactly when to add dollars to tax-free Roth accounts.

Tax-rate arbitrage is one approach, but it’s far from the only one, according to contributor Michael Kitces.

The widespread popularity of the compensation descriptor, long ballyhooed by RIAs, ultimately proved problematic for the CFP Board which has updated its standards.

Many advisors can make the switch from a traditional office to one right down the hallway — but it comes with its own set of ground rules.

When financial advisors consider both the hard-dollar and time investments required to land quality leads, everyone benefits.

There comes a point when advisors must decide how much to scale. Here's a guide.

Technology can speed up the planning process, but advisors still need to smartly allocate human resources.

Businesses, particularly small ones, are looking for help to limit liability when sponsoring defined contribution plans.

Technology tools are pitched as time savers, but that’s not how advisors are actually using them.

Despite raised thresholds, advisors can still find big itemization opportunities if they know where to look.

Alternative compensation structures may provide more consumer protection, and drive higher client satisfaction.

To stand apart from broker-dealers, advisors may not need tougher rules, but smarter marketing.

Without acknowledging both the downside and tremendous upside of long time horizons, the 4% rule is no rule at all.

Though designed to raise standards for broker-dealers, the SEC’s 564-page rule sent ripples throughout the advisory industry.

It's important to categorize necessary and discretionary expenses, but advisors need to know how clients are defining them.

It’s not as easy as hanging out a shingle. Advisors and back-office employees need to master certain traits.

Adding clients may increase the top line, but it may come at the expense of profits, free time and even happiness.

Younger investors tend to have limited assets, but that doesn’t mean their advice needs are simple.

There is no secret formula but there are some time-tested calculations that can reveal a firm’s productivity, or lack thereof.