Participation in 529 college savings plans has leveled off after years of growth, according to a Fidelity survey. Perhaps not coincidentally, the study found that most advisors do not "proactively suggest the 529 plan" to parents with youngsters.

There's no evidence that indicates the breakaway advisor trend is slowing down. While that's great news, Financial Planning blogger Mindy Diamond says this means that these advisors have their work cut out for them in the way of due diligence.

Defined contribution plan sponsors need to do a better job communicating key information to participants, according to a survey of plan participants.

As the trend toward independence continues, the opportunities raise questions from those advisors who are considering making the move. Dynasty Financial Partners' Shirl Penney provides some answers.

Advisors who move aggressively into fee-based business end up doing much better than their transaction-based colleagues, with more assets, a higher return on those assets and more revenues, according to a new report.

On August 30, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration participant fee disclosure rule, dubbed ERISA 404(a)(5), will go into effect.

On August 10, 2012, Custom target-date strategies will hold 22% of 401(k) target-date assets by 2016, or $218 billion, according to research from Cerulli Associates. That will be a nearly four-fold increase from the 2011 asset level of $46.4 billion.

On August 10, 2012, Janus Capital Group has entered into a strategic alliance with the The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, in which Japan’s third largest life insurer will acquire up to 20% of Janus’s outstanding shares and invest at least $2 billion in Janus investment products

Legg Mason's 2012 Intergenerational Survey of College Finances points out a lack of advanced planning among affluent Americans for their children's college education.

Resist these common mistakes and make a smooth transition when hiring.

As the London games take center stage, former athletes turned financial advisors talk about the big event and their careers.

The managing director and global head of alternative investments at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney discusses his 20 years in the securities business.

It's how I usually figure out the next big trend in the planning profession.

A key challenge often is not creating a strategy for a firm, but getting employees to buy in.

Alternative mutual fund shop Hatteras Funds has launched a new variable trust fund, the Hatteras Alpha Hedged Strategies Variable Fund, which will bet on “multiple” hedge fund managers.

On July 6, 2012, The Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan, which is the world's largest public pension fund managing over 113 trillion yen, generated 2.32% return in the latest fiscal year.

On July 6, 2012, Money Management Executive recently spoke to Jim Jessee, president at MFS Fund Distributors, Inc., the distribution arm of the firm's U.S. fund business, and co-Head, Global Distribution, about the firm's "Building Better Insights" branding initiative and other trends he sees within and outside of the firm.

William Blair & Co. has turned off the spigot on the William Blair International Growth Fund and Institutional International Growth Fund, effective June 30.

Laurence D. Fink used at least half a dozen acquisitions to expand BlackRock Inc. from a boutique bond shop to the world’s biggest money manager. Now the firm, which invests $3.7 trillion for clients around the world, faces a new challenge: Growing on its own.

To succeed as a high-net-worth advisor, you have to think and act like one — start telling everyone you know that you help the wealthy protect and grow their assets.