Financial planning

Education loans accounted for 30% of installment debt for pre-retirees in the 55 to 64 age bracket, according to a LIMRA survey; Plus, 5 signs your clients rely too much on Social Security.

Financial Planning unveils its annual list of the industry's biggest independent broker-dealers.

Planners agree that the strategy is a boon for high-income clients, but controversy swirls around the issue of timing.

Children still like paper statements, but Mom and Dad's reliance on plastic has meant less loose change ending up in the piggy bank. Mobile banking is hot, but peer-to-peer payments are off to a bit of a slow start.

Even if you still want to enjoy stepping back, consider what your practice needs to keep performing at an optimal level.

Clients need to embrace new ways of learning in retirement because the deeply ingrained ways from earlier in life are less effective in later years; Plus, 4 ways clients are sabotaging their retirement in their 30s.

As robo advisor firms rush to offer customers rock bottom fees, some fintech players say this business model is unsustainable unless companies scale up, acquire massive AUM or offer premium features.

Here are six new dividend-oriented ETFs and how they can pay off for your clients.

With a combination of the proper technology and the best practices for sharing relevant content, advisors can easily build their business network.

Some RIAs cut fees in their efforts to turn prospects into clients. But doing this can be a trap that negatively affects the perceived -- and real -- value of a business.

Some employers have made target-date funds a default option in their retirement plans, a move that has improved employees' diversification; Plus, many older people are torn between saving for retirement and helping their children pay for college.

Which banks are advisors moving to? Eight recently switched to U.S. Bank and Wilmington Trust.

Broker-dealers have recently recruited several large teams, including the wealth unit at Deutsche Bank and Raymond James, which set a firm record landing a $2.4 billion group. But they weren't the only winners in the competition for top talent.

Advisors should work with robos, not against them, industry leaders say. Pershing announced at its annual conference that it is joining the list of established financial firms adding digital tools and services.

Experts agree that while there's no cure for elder abuse, regulators, advocates and advisors can help mitigate the losses by educating investors and training financial professionals.

Industry leaders believe the plan isn't ready.

SEC sends contradictory message, critics say, urging the public's vigilance yet displaying leniency to a deceitful advisor.

How to make your client's taxes less taxing; Plus: mid-year tax moves to help clients pocket more money, and figuring out taxes on options trades.

Clients cannot request a new Social Security number to allay fears of possible fraud-related claims on their records, but may be allowed to change their number if the threat of abuse of their existing number continues; Plus, a new take on the right retirement age.

The term robo advisor is too broad to describe some of the new wave of digital wealth management companies, tech observers say.