Practice

Still, the number of widows who leave advisors is three times higher than the industry average. It doesn't have to be that bad.

When the same buzzwords — "fiduciary," "holistic," "goals-based," "client-driven" — appear on most wealth firms' websites, they do little to help firms stand out in a crowded market, experts say. There are, however, tactics that work.

The influential planning entrepreneur and the FPA are leading an effort to change a tiered fee structure for continuing education providers that started three years ago.

The Trump administration's push for alternative investments in 401(k)s steamrolls ERISA law, argues Knut Rostad.

Schwab services 16,000 RIAs with 2,000 different fee structures. According to the industry's largest custodian, the exact costs come down to "a very personalized negotiation" with the firms.

For our Know Your Niche series, Steve Mason, with Bank of America's Private Bank, has developed a client base out of horse lovers like himself.

A federal judge finds that the embattled brokerage Alpine Securities' argument that FINRA should answer to the federal executive branch amounts to " wishful thinking" that "collapses under the weight of spiraling aspiration."

The firms' collaboration shines a light on how the wealth management business works today and how it is evolving, as advisors weigh independence against the risks of "poking the bear" when they leave.

Parents who don't effectively communicate estate plans to their children set them up to fail financially, emotionally and relationally.

Matthew Pallai said he has no doubt wealth managers explained the risks of private credit when recommending it to clients, but the recent rush to withdraw money from credit funds suggests "they probably should have said it more often and said it louder."