Practice

Clients can consider gifting up to $14,000 to as many individuals each year before gift taxes kick in.

But watch out for the pitfalls of this common end-of-year-practice.

Clients should consider spreading out transfers over their lifetime to lower tax liabilities.

Low-cost competition will force fee-based advisors to restructure how they are compensated, said Brian Leitner, senior vice president of practice management at Mariner Wealth Advisors.

"We can shuffle women from one firm to the next all day long, but we're still going to be at that 15%," says Michelle Lynch, director of Raymond James' Network for Women Advisors.

But watch out for the pitfalls of this common end-of-year-practice.

Strategizing Wealth Transfers to Heirs to Lower Taxes

Help clients deploy their RMD funds to cover both expenses and taxes.

A close look at areas where the right action can lower your client's tax bill on investments. Plus: How clients can pay little or zero capital gains taxes, and tax tips for clients who are new parents.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby sent a letter to regulators this week raising concerns about the role of the Financial Stability Board in designating large banks as systemically risky and whether the international council has undue influence on U.S. policy.