Practice

A big jump in clients’ risk appetite is why the Retirement Advisor Confidence Index climbed 2.3 points in December, reaching a five-month high of 54.

If your client is retiring due to boredom on the job or because it just feels like the right time, they may not be prepared; Plus, clients have two options in claiming lump-sum payments from Social Security.

Digital tools are one thing, Dave Grant says -- but he has grave doubts about the future of totally remote financial planning relationships.

"He called for the male clients, I called for the females," says ex-assistant, who says she knew phone calls to liquidate client assets after a B-D change were wrong.

As part of clients' retirement planning, make sure they understand terms like "sustainable withdrawal rate," as just one example; Plus, encourage clients to increase their savings rate to 15%.

Hey, advisors: You need to understand your clients' life goals before you can help them on the financial ones.

Ameriprise advisor Joe De Sena explains how getting involved in a charity changed his practice. "It's about making contributions to their lives in a way that has almost nothing to do with the money."

James C. Cox was working for Edward Jones when he allegedly bilked a "vulnerable developmentally impaired” female client.

While some commentators feel that people are likely to drain their savings too fast, at least one expert says many are too reluctant to start spending their nest eggs; Plus, many retirees learn valuable investing lessons only through trial and error.

For buyers, the cost of funds is low now. For sellers, valuations are rich. Cashing out now is an “easy case to make," says AssetMark EVP Michael Abelson. "Or they can keep riding the wave."