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Ultrawealthy clients can be tough customers. One expert suggests a few ways to stay in their good graces.

Try these guidelines for giving shares of appreciable stocks, making major money moves before year-end, and setting up tax maneuvers for 2015.

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.

The SPDR Nuveen Barclays Build America Bond ETF proved the best choice during a record-setting year for muni exchange- traded funds. Its 20.6 % gain through Dec. 23 was highest among the 26 muni ETFs tracked by Bloomberg.

Gold advanced as prices near the lowest level in three weeks encouraged purchases. Silver jumped the most in a week and palladium rose to the highest since Dec. 12.

Mutual conversions soared this year as mutual thrift executives sought to raise capital at the behest of investment bankers and others. With many of the biggest mutuals having converted this year, there may be a drop-off in conversions in 2015.

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.

In-store branches are easier and less expensive to start, but they're also easier to eliminate when banks need to cut costs.

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

Winthrop H. Smith Jr., son of Merrill Lynch pioneer Win Smith, gives his take on "Mother Merrill," and how the firm's old culture impacts the present.