Economy

Significantly altered results now appear when users search for fee-only advisors.

While the coming fiscal debate looms in the background -- along with probable accompanying market volatility -- there are a number of other possible legislative and regulatory items that also affect the insurance and advisory industry.

Sometimes changing broker-dealers doesn't work out the way you expect. Just ask Wayne Maier, a financial advisor in Bay City, Mich.

A complaint filed by the SEC accuses a former Merrill Lynch advisor and his client of making insider trades and hiding profits in offshore accounts.

One of the biggest value adds advisors can provide is being able to pick up on warning signs that a client's family business may be in trouble. Here are six to look out for.

Exclusive: Without any notice, ‘fee-only’ is replaced with ‘none provided’ on CFP holders’ profiles.

Cetera will provide the Chambersburg, Pa.-based community bank with investment, insurance and fee-based advisory services and support.

Business owners are often so busy with their work they put off personal financial planning and investment decision making.

FINRA is pressing ahead with a controversial new rule that would require brokers to make disclosures about recruitment compensation they receive as an enticement to jump to a new firm.

Brokerages from Morgan Stanley to Bank of America Corp.’s Merrill Lynch poach salesmen from one another, offering bonuses based on how much revenue they produce. Now brokers receiving bonuses of at least $100,000 will be required to inform clients.

Exclusive: Widespread abuse of the term raises question of a disciplinary double-standard.

Gorman, who owns about $31 million of his firm’s stock, has a Morgan Stanley private wealth advisor and his personal investments include municipal bonds and a biotech fund, while he favors global equities for his children’s accounts.

The firm has expanded in Texas with the addition of a team of three former Merrill Lynch advisors.

Bank of America Corp.’s Merrill Lynch unit must face a lawsuit filed by two trusts that hold and administer mortgages on behalf of investors who own more than $1 billion worth of securities collateralized by the loans.

The Tupelo, Miss.-based financial holding company selected Infinex Financial Group to manage its investment services program.

Umpqua Holdings' agreement to buy Sterling Financial is the latest in a series of deals this year to pair similarly sized banks, creating a new crop of midsize financial institutions.

For almost nine years, the firm has been lending to companies with ratings in the B to BB+ range, below the investment-grade threshold, the employee claims.

Morgan Stanley will get another $57 billion of deposits from Citigroup as part of its Smith Barney purchase and plans to increase securities lending, commercial real estate, corporate and warehouse lending.

The Index wanted a higher-priced stock to help give financials a greater weighting.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch will pay $2.8 million to settle claims that it took too long to compensate departing brokers.