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Banks in areas hit hard by Hurricane Sandy have re-opened most of their branches. Now some of them are opening their checkbooks, too.

Financial Planning talked with ING Financial Partners president, Karl Lindberg, about why a solid understanding of retirement income planning is so important for advisors and their practices.

ING Financial Partners, the broker dealer of ING U.S., has developed a new practice management program designed to help financial advisors address lifetime income planning needs of their near-retirement clients.

Ultimately, damages to the region could amount to $50 billion, according to Jim Kane, president of personal insurance at HUB International. Even at this early stage, he says, there are several pieces of advice that planners can (and should) offer to clients who are contending with damages.

Times have changed, of course, and advisors and their clients interact with each other and with financial data in more dynamic ways. Clients have easy access to abundant consumer-oriented financial data and sophisticated investment analytical tools. They also expect their advisors to produce answers whenever they want them, no matter where the advisor might be at the time the question arises.

Among the big deals this week: First Allied buys Legend from Waddell & Reed to form a firm with $28 billion under management.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has decided to implement a number of regulatory changes designed to help firms and advisors whose business was affected by Hurricane Sandy.

The vast majority of boomers are not prepared for retirement and have put saving on hold until the economy turns around.

Relationships help fund firms retain assets, says Cogent Research.

Jonathan Blackwood joined as a senior private banker, while David Noosinow joined as senior sales director to help develop business throughout Georgia and in Lexington and Louisville, Ky.