Practice

Emphasis at the Women Advisors Forum in San Francisco is on smart strategies advisors can use to build their practices and support women in the industry.

"Most advisors are struggling to grow their businesses in a way that is directly impacting their bottom line," says FPA CEO Lauren Schadle. So what are firms that are growing doing right, and what should other advisors be doing differently?

Financial advisors say they want more help developing better practices. Asset management firms are answering the call.

Rather than relying entirely on themselves, self-directed investors are consulting more sources of investment information and advice, including real live advisors.

Company founder filled account with stock that wasn't publicly traded and used low values to stay technically under the contribution limit; plus, jumbo-loan challenges for retirees and how to avoid the Medicare surcharge.

Donating a conservation easement can be beneficial both to the environment and to a client's tax bill.

Once a client has made a donation to his or her favored charity, your work has just started. Changes in tax laws, investment values and charitable organizations mean that advisors need to be vigilant.

There are no jurisdictional walls when it comes to the damaging effects of net asset value errors. This realization and the global collaboration taking place to address it are creating the new, global standard for "best practice" with or without the existence of domestic or foreign regulatory policy.

The retirement plan industry is evolving rapidly. Here are a few key trends that will help advisors looking to engage in the retirement plan market.

Madison and Omaha are among the top retirement havens; plus the factors retirees should consider in deciding where to retire and what pre-retirees need to do now.