Practice

At the group's national conference in Orlando, president Tom Nally announces several new initiatives aimed at helping advisors expand their businesses.

Bankers think the regulatory environment is bad already, but it could get worse as regulators crack down harder on rules violators, hold directors and foreign banks to stricter standards and tackle "too big to fail," a top banking lawyer says.

Advisors can no longer expect to hire only seasoned, mid-career professionals with an established book of business, industry experts say.

President Obama's announcement of a new retirement plan for low- to middle-income Americans drew reactions ranging from hopeful praise to scorn from advisors who say many big questions remain to be answered.

President Obama's proposal for encouraging low-income Americans to set money aside in accounts with tax advantages is a limited step that may help bolster retirement savings.

Both regulators have identified rollovers as a priority for their 2014 examinations, putting brokers and advisors on notice that they plan to scrutinize how they are working with clients who are planning for retirement.

As waves of baby boomers head into retirement, state and federal regulators expect to take a hard look at the programs firms have in place to ensure they are selling elderly investors appropriate financial instruments.

Most advisors make housing choices in their own lives, but fail to aid clients facing the issue, according to a Legg Mason survey of 506 advisors.

Pimco named four deputy chief investment officers in an overhaul of its leadership team after Mohamed El-Erian's decision last week to step down as chief executive officer.

President Obama's inclusion of retirement security in Tuesday night's State of the Union Address was mostly welcomed by the benefits community, but left some disappointed by a perceived "attack" on the 401(k).