Michael Kitces

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.

Despite the profession’s efforts to attract and retain women, demeaning experiences at industry events could be keeping them away — or driving them out.

As a sustained bull run has made portfolios swell, managing the tax bill on those gains has become increasingly vital.

Financial planners typically frame their services in the broadest terms possible, but targeting niche markets, like architects, may be a better move.

Knowing how to price your services may seem like a dark art, but a few simple calculations yield revealing answers.

It’s an essential task both for advisors launching practices and seasoned veterans breaking away. Here’s how to ensure a good fit — and avoid costly mistakes.

The stresses of the job practically demand that we have people to confide in when the going gets rough, Michael Kitces writes.

Financial advice sometimes is — and isn’t — deductible.

Higher deduction ceilings have made itemizing a moot point for most individuals, but a novel strategy can yield real additional savings.

Sweeping tax changes have made it more important than ever to understand what is, and isn’t, deductible.

Though largely replaced by the 1% of AUM model, performance-based fee structures are cropping up again — and that’s cause for concern.