Rachel F. Elson

Read any number of studies, or just glance around most industry conferences and you'll see it: Women make up a noticeable minority of the financial advisory community. The CFP Board is trying to do something about it.

With the tax season behind us, what accountant mistakes or issues have you come across?

The number of deals for RIA firms jumped in the first quarter, according to new research from Schwab Advisor Services. But transaction value was lower than at any point in the last year.

"You must ask everyone who comes into your office: Do you have a health problem?" estate planner and Financial Planning contributor Martin Shenkman cautioned. "If you don't ask, they are not going to tell."

Within a decade, only about 150 large, profitable wealth management firms will dominate wealth management, according to a new forecast co-authored by Mark Hurley, chairman and CEO of the Fiduciary Network.

Investors working with financial advisors were more confident and prepared than their unassisted peers both during and after the financial crisis, according to a new study from Fidelity Investments.

NAPFA's Genesis group, for fee-only advisors 33 and younger, this week launched a set of scholarships to help younger advisors develop their professional skills.

Overriding client emotions and persuading them to do what they ought to do can be tricky. According to a new study, only 39% of advisors say they work with all clients to develop a written investment policy statement, which can guide clients' strategy in times of flux.

When FINRA boss Richard Ketchum suggested the group was pulling back from its effort to regulate RIAs, advisors cheered -- but some observers worried the story isn't over. On Twitter, Investment Advisor Alliance said:  'Pressure is off for now. But what happens when Congress is once again more favorable to FINRA's goal?' …

The organization announced Tuesday that Linda Leitz, a fee-only planner based in Colorado Springs, Col., is set to become its chairwoman in September, and will serve as chair-elect until that time.

Are advisors getting it wrong on recruiting and hiring? A new report out from Pershing finds a gap between what advisors say they ought to be doing and what they're actually getting right.

Senior editor Ann Marsh wrote that more new RIAs were hanging onto commission income rather than choosing a pure fiduciary role. Investment advisor Tom Brakke weighed in on Twitter: “I wanna be called an RIA but I sure like that commission income.” What’s your opinion? Weigh in with your comments below.…

Advisors who’ve been through the deal process offer their recommendations for others considering a deal.

Advisors must adapt to the coming generational shift, TD Ameritrade Institutional president Tom Nally stressed at the company's annual conference in San Diego.

While the number and size of RIA mergers and acquisitions stayed relatively constant last year, the players shifted sharply, according to a new report released Monday by Schwab Advisor Services.

The amount of money flowing into annuities declined last year more than 6% from prior-year levels, according to a report from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp.

Focus Financial has snapped up a big Seattle wealth management firm.

Ex-CFP Board Chief Alan Goldfarb Leaves Weaver, Opens New Planning Firm

More than 100 advisors descended on the Women Advisors Forum in Boston Tuesday to hear speakers from throughout the profession offer advice on finding new clients, managing a practice, intelligent technology use, meeting special sets of client needs and more.