Career advancement

The FPA has a drastic proposal to dissolve local chapters. There may be a better way forward.

"I would go home at night and question if I added value to anyone’s life that day," writes Ashley Folkes. "The answer was usually no."

Firms are seeking these three specialties.

The planning association says it needs to undertake “transformational change,” but its latest proposal may just multiply its problems.

Of the promotions, 14 were in the wirehouse's wealth management arm.

This quarter the firm brought on 14 new advisors, who advised more than $1.1 billion in client assets at their former firms.

Most firms just don’t have the time and resources to be detail oriented. It’s a great chance to get noticed.

Because most advisors are generalists, up-and-coming planners can seek out almost any niche to explore.

The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know.

Many want to work as holistic planners, but common, entry-level jobs can easily lead to dead ends.

Why structuring your practice under a lead advisor won’t serve your staff — or your clients

These planners, who have been honored with the Pro Bono Award, model ways advisors can help people in need.

The wirehouse has lost at least 123 advisors managing $15.7 billion in client assets year-to-date, according to other firms’ hiring announcements.

After graduating with a financial planning degree, this advisor-to-be took a detour to Disney World, where the lessons applied more than he’d anticipated.

Earning the designation is a grueling process that can seriously benefit an advisor’s trajectory, but it’s also not a panacea for an ailing career.

“It’s incredibly important to have diversity. Period,” says Kara Murphy.

After planner Bob White helped a client on one of her darkest days, she turned to him on one of her brightest ones, too.

Growing up in a house full of doctors, Mihir Patel was expected to follow in his family’s footsteps. He didn’t.

Nicole Christians joined Merrill Lynch as an intern and never looked back.

“If you’re not given an avenue to prove yourself, then effort and skill set will only go so far,” Shannon Saccocia says.