Practice

Advisor Software this week launched goalgamiPro, a web-based financial planning tool that lets advisors create and maintain multiple household balance sheets to help prioritize and access their clients’ long-term financial goals.

Citigroup is adopting a managed service from Fidessa Group for tracking orders and executing trades globally in listed derivatives.

Financial services professionals and firms need to do a better job of implementing globally accepted international standards for financial reporting, according to a new report from a task force led by the International Federation of Accountants.

In the wake of economic and stock market volatility, many 401(k) investors are questioning the wisdom of 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans, a survey by Allianz Life Insurance Company finds.

Automatic enrollment greatly increases participation in 401(k) plans for all racial and ethnic groups, with particular success for blacks and Hispanics, even among low earners, Vanguard research shows.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has unveiled a new set of features for its 401(k) and employee financial benefit programs including new mobile access to retirement account information.

Soon after the tragic news of Steve Jobs' death broke, people began wondering what would become of the Apple co-founder and innovator extraordinaire's fortune. Forbes recently estimated Jobs’ wealth at $7 billion. According to legacy expert attorneys Andy and Danielle Mayoras, it appears Jobs had his estate planning act together.

Automatic enrollment greatly increases participation in 401(k) plans for all racial and ethnic groups, with particular success for Blacks and Hispanics, even among low earners, Vanguard research shows.

One of the hot topics in the field of behavioral finance is the use of heuristics -- simple rules of thumb or mental shortcuts often used to make decisions or draw inferences quickly and with minimal effort. While in everyday life these mental shortcuts help us to function quickly and efficiently, author and consultant Keith Weber says that when they’re applied to our personal finances they can often lead to poor investment decisions.

Steve Sanduski, the Prosperous Advisor, says advisors should use the English language in inspirational ways to motivate prospects and get them off the fence to become a client. He’s not talking about slick manipulation but about choosing your words carefully so you succinctly impart your message and create a positive feeling and mental picture in your prospect’s mind.