Subject Root Tag

The Logic Behind Annuities

Two veteran founders of well-heeled financial planning firms—Richard “Richie” Lee of Lee Financial in Dallas, Texas and Michael Leonetti of Leonetti & Associates in Buffalo Grove, Ill.—readily confess that luck as much as deliberate strategy has contributed to their firms’ success.

Planners have readily adapted to the changing needs of their clients since the recession. Yet they need to engage clients in even more personal, meaningful conversations.

ManulifeInvestments has launched Manulife RetirementPlus, designed for people who are between five and 15 years from retirement.

During the crisis of 2008, service providers faced an environment in which they saw their clients' assets decline sharply. After the dust settled, a new order was born with clients demanding more for less with increasing scrutiny as regulators ramped up their efforts.

Siebert Financial Corporation announced the appointment of Suzanne Shank as Acting CEO of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, the discount broker/dealer and institutional investment bank, Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc., effective September 16, 2013.

Although Annapolis, Md., advisor Mike Scarborough's traditional services have long included investment management, retirement income management, estate planning and risk management, Scarborough says it was his focus on 401(k) and 403(b) savings plan management services (for clients participating in company-sponsored retirement plans) that helped set his firm apart.

The firm will provide clients of its affiliate M&T Bank with expanded wealth management and investment services, while developing new business.

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation issued a new research report-Financial Fraud and Fraud Susceptibility in the United States-which reveals that over 80% of respondents have been solicited to participate in potentially fraudulent schemes, and over 40% of those surveyed cannot identify some classic red flags of fraud.

Fidelity Investments opened its new regional office near Denver with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event attended by Governor John Hickenlooper; Mayor Pro Tem of Greenwood Village Gary Kramer; representatives from the local business and nonprofit communities; and Fidelity executives and associates.

New hires bolster the firm's recruiting and succession planning units.

Today Blackstone hosts its inaugural Veterans Hiring Summit to support the hiring of American veterans across its portfolio companies. In support of the White House’s “Joining Forces” initiative, in April Blackstone committed to hire 50,000 American veterans across its portfolio of 78 companies over the next five years.

BNY Mellon Wealth Management’s recruiting campaign is in full swing. The wealth manager recently hired two senior directors of business development, the latest in a flurry of hires to boost its sales force by 50% by the end of 2014.

The CFP Board’s strategy of punishing some certificate holders over compensation disclosure issues in what critics charge is an arbitrary manner threatens the future of the CFP designation, according to one of the early leaders of the board who also chaired its disciplinary commission.

Self-Insuring for Long-Term Care

Executives at mutual fund companies, asset management companies and support providers rated client reporting--which included any reporting that is created for the purpose of distribution to clients--as their top challenge followed closely by risk management in Money Management Executive's third annual Operations Survey.

The new hires will be responsible for business development and identifying opportunities for expanding the firm’s client base.

The charitable planning conversation should be a natural part of the discussion with clients when talking about the current and long-term goals of their wealth. Here are 10 questions advisors can ask to start the conversation.

Aging retirees are posing new challenges for the planners who council them.

Advisors have to get past clients’ reluctance to discuss issues related to illness and death.