Wealth Think

I think we all know that the financial planning profession is drowning in paperwork and the problem is only going to get worse. This vexing -- and increasing -- compliance hassle is generating a certain amount of frustration in the profession, and most of the people I talk with don't know where to turn. So who speaks for the planner?

It was not long ago that the term alternative investments prompted images of exotic venture capital, private equity and hedge fund investment strategies frequented almost exclusively by very wealthy households and institutional investors.

The so-called “Godfather of Soul” passed away on Christmas Day 2006, and generously left his $100 million fortune to a special trust set up to help poor and needy children. Yet, four-and-a-half years later, not one child has seen a cent. Why?

The greatest thing President Obama could do on the eve that commemorates the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is to set a date certain in this calendar year for the withdrawal of U.S. and allied armed forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. Let’s now concentrate on making our economy healthy. And, as that happens, we can again help other economies get healthy as well.

Many financial advisors are able to successfully pitch their own story ideas, place their own bylined content with reputable media outlets and navigate the PR waters on their own without the help of a professional PR firm or marketing consultant. But if you want to generate more interviews and media success, you’ll want to steer clear of these harmful (and potentially fatal) rookie blunders.

Russell Armstrong was the 47-year old husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Taylor Armstrong. Tragically, Russell committed suicide on Aug. 15, about one month after Taylor had filed for divorce. His untimely death and the subsequent squabbling by surviving relatives highlight the importance of estate planning whether you're famous or not.

You’ve worked long and hard and now you’ve finally been quoted in the Wall Street Journal or had a bylined article published in the local newspaper. Perhaps you’ve just done a radio or television interview. Now what?

Make no mistake. We are going to sail through a lot of these volatile periods over the next five to 10 years and the profession needs to brainstorm better ways to deal with them that won't harm clients and their investment goals. We need to better understand what's going on. And consumers deserve to be told more than just which way the wind is blowing today.

African-American financial advisors just need to look at The Washington Group, headed by managing partner Leo Tucker, to appreciate the realities and the upside potential of their chosen careers.

Zsa Zsa Gabor has never been one to shy away from the limelight. But when does pursuing fame cross the line for a 94-year-old? That point may have come this week, when her husband of 25 years told CNN that he had started the process of donor matching and blood work so he could turn Zsa Zsa into Ma Ma.