Client strategies

Banks can "dot the i's" by focusing on investments and insurance for their customers.

Older clients will have a harder time grasping new ideas, but they also will be more certain and confident in their decisions.

The emerging affluent may end up with more assets than their older (and wealthier) counterparts.

The challenges women face -- earning less and living longer on average than their male counterparts -- greatly affect how they invest and what they're looking for in a planner.

Your affluent clients may think they can just write a check to cover college costs. They're probably wrong. Here are a few issues that parents (and grandparents) should consider.

While many of the fundamentals of bank programs haven't changed much, the products, technology and sophistication of advisors and clients alike have increased exponentially.

Understand the importance of fostering trust in client and professional relationships in order to create a stronger business.

A U.S. probe into how Morgan Stanley client information ended up for sale on the Internet is examining whether a financial advisor was targeted by hackers after he took data from the bank, two people briefed on the inquiry said.

Many advisors are failing to communicate the best strategies to clients. Here are some common trouble spots you should steer clear of.

This tax season is particularly bitter for gays and lesbians who live in states that still don't recognize same-sex marriage.

During an interview with CNBC on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, the NBA Hall of Famer praised his advisor -- by name.

Advisors should reinforce habits that ensure ethical behavior to the point that they become second nature.

President Obama has proposed payroll taxes be reshuffled so the portion that pays for the disability fund would be increased by nine-tenths of a percentage point, but Republican lawmakers want changes to address Social Security's overall financial health.

To justify their higher cost, advisors need to go beyond a commoditized service. If you're merely providing asset allocation or portfolio rebalancing, you're in the danger zone.

Investors in their 20s and 30s are advised to reduce their stock allocations since they are likely to change jobs and subsequently cash out a part of their accounts.

Each of these strategies has been used by one or more elite advisors to generate substantial increases in their performance.

Following the success of her latest album and landing three Grammy nominations this year, the megastar's net worth is in the untold millions. With a Merrill Lynch advisor for a father, it begs the question: who is advising the pop star?

Merrill Lynch wants to position its wealth managers to better help their clients navigate the hurdles of old age.

A proposed cap would impose a $3.4 million ceiling on retirement plans, although details are still scarce; Plus, mortgage debt threatens boomers' retirement.

"Anyone who owns minerals rights is concerned," says Jonathan Meaney, an advisor with Carter Financial Management, an independent firm affiliated with Raymond James Financial Services.