Michael Kitces

The research firm’s headcount and related job forecast are based on a highly elastic idea.

The certification could stop being the gold standard and become the requirement, if only the regulatory path were clearer.

Building income streams that mimic the predictability of a working lifestyle is a delicate skill.

The SEC may have had good intentions, but the guidelines have distorted markets and reinforced the allure of companies that forego the IPO.

The anxiety is real — and so are the expenses — but the situation might not be as bad as some imagine.

A detailed proposal can turn prospects into clients, but only if advisors can gather the right data.

There really is such a thing as good advice badly given.

As mega firms scale up and niche advisors specialize further, profits for a vast swath of the advisory market are getting squeezed.

Advisors can prune their practices to focus on the most profitable individuals — but it takes more than just time.

The net outflows are staggering, but recent studies show the relationship is far more nuanced.

Because most advisors are generalists, up-and-coming planners can seek out almost any niche to explore.

The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know.

The upfront tax benefits are undeniable, but that doesn’t necessarily help business owners in the long run.

Many want to work as holistic planners, but common, entry-level jobs can easily lead to dead ends.

Non-discretionary accounts may comprise the bulk of a client’s net worth, but are traditionally out of an advisor’s sphere of influence.

Not all vehicles are created equal — and for high earners in particular, the conventional wisdom may not apply.

Whether measuring performance against the market or a client’s own goals, the industry needs accountability.

We give advice based on the intel we have, but not all clients are as up front as we are.

The change is needed to better align the interests of RIAs and the custodians that serve them.

The impact of technology on client-facing jobs has been grossly overstated. Their threat to the back office, however, is very real.