Commercial banking

Even with all the advancements in artificial intelligence in the past few years, Financial Planning's new research shows human connection remains at the center of advisors' work.

The Social Security Administration announced its cost-of-living adjustment for beneficiaries — a figure advocates say fails to address the reality for most seniors.

Wells Fargo also pulls from Merrill and Raymond James again from Commonwealth, while AlphaCore buys up a big RIA and the FPA gets a new CEO.

Eric J. Ellman is the President of the National Consumer Reporting Association (NCRA), a trade association of highly-regulated mortgage reporting and tenant screening companies that provide consumer reports and credit reports to lenders and landlords.

Rachel Farris, CPA, is the founder of TaxStackAI.com, a company dedicated to helping small accounting firms modernize through AI-powered tools. She also leads her own accounting practice, where she focuses on strategic tax planning and advisory services. She is a recognized thought leader in the accounting profession, frequently presenting at national conferences, contributing to podcasts, and leading continuing education sessions for accounting professionals. She has been recognized as one of America's Top 200 CPAs and named among the 40 Under 40 Top Accounting and Tax Professionals. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in accounting and driving innovation to modernize the profession.

The SEC hasn't put forward a new rule for advisors' use of AI since dropping a proposal earlier this year. Is the lack of regulation hindering innovation?

Alex Mechling, JD, serves as Director of Go-To-Market Strategy and Carrier Management at Paychex Insurance Agency. A benefits consulting leader with over 12 years in the field, he holds deep expertise in employee benefits, strategic planning, and digital health solutions. His professional background spans startups, private firms, and publicly traded companies, where he is recognized for driving growth through cross-functional alignment and talent development.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is probing broker-dealer firms involved in taking small foreign companies public, the latest effort by a regulator to crack down on pump-and-dump schemes.

Millions of small 401(k) balances end up in safe harbor IRAs, where fees and low returns erode growth. But advisors can help reclaim lost savings.

The independent broker-dealer has done especially well recruiting Commonwealth advisors since that firm's acquisition by LPL Financial.

How charitably inclined taxpayers can use donor-advised funds and other tax strategies to get ahead of the OBBBA's revised rules on charitable deductions.

Industry compliance experts say there are few more complicated decisions than knowing when to leave a firm and start your own advisory practice. The government shutdown is making it worse.

Recent headlines may illuminate why this sector is particularly volatile, but advisors say they have been instructing clients that not all health care funds are created equal.

Despite a slowdown in advisor recruitment from the first half of the year, Stifel managed to achieve record revenue for the third quarter.

Sasha Samberg-Champion is the special civil rights counsel of the National Fair Housing Alliance.

Stephen Hayes is a co-managing partner at Relman Colfax.

Dynasty Financial Partners' investment bank joins Diamond Consultants to help departing teams vet transition options, whether that's joining another wirehouse, selling to an RIA aggregator or starting their own business.

As Financial Planning's AI Readiness Survey showed, most advisors aren't concerned about their own jobs. But others aren't so sure.