Financial planning

A client who earns a higher income than her spouse is advised to file for benefits before reaching full retirement age so her husband can begin getting a spousal benefit.

Advisors face a shifting landscape on both competitive and economic fronts. Many argue that it's time to scrap the AUM fee altogether.

Professionals like doctors and lawyers often face extra-high debt loads, special needs and an array of tough choices. Here are a few repayment strategies that your clients should consider.

As economic landscapes shift, RIAs are going to need to rethink the ways they charge clients and deliver service.

Clients should use the first-in, first-out strategy when selling stocks or funds in their portfolio to avoid hefty penalties; Plus, why middle class households are saving more than the rich.

As an advisor, you're not necessarily obligated to vote proxies for client portfolios. But you must make sure your policy is articulated clearly. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Young HNW investors are very comfortable with digital wealth management tools, and many don't even have (or seem to need) an advisor.

Floating rate funds offer solid income, but can be extremely volatile.

The advisor, now barred from FINRA, allegedly violated his firm's policies and FINRA rules when he borrowed money to build a oceanfront vacation rental.

The pace of RIA dealmaking has leveled off over the last few years, with no increase in the number of deals over the previous year and aggregate AUM acquired ticking up only slightly to $47.4B from $43.7B, according to new data from Schwab Advisor Services.

Growth and value funds both have generated profits for the past years, but which is higher? Take a look at the five top-performing funds in each broad category.

Long, who oversaw 400 advisors at Wedbush, parted ways with the firm earlier this month.

The overall retirement system in the U.S. works, but a few improvements are necessary as people need guidance on how to grow their savings, experts say; Plus, the steps retirees need to take in order to live comfortably and not outlive their money.

"We're monitoring the situation in Indiana pretty closely, and will consider a range of options," says NAPFA chief executive Geoff Brown.

Fedcoin could have a lot of benefits, such as helping unbanked buy goods and pay bills online. But about those "know-your-customer" risks...

Offering company retirement plan advice can be a shrewd strategy for advisors -- but first they must establish sound and compliant operations, especially in light of pending regulatory changes.

Revenue grew faster than assets for advisors, a PriceMetrix report finds -- but average client age is now nearly 62, and increasing at a rate of roughly 6-7 months per year.

Tax season is supposed to be over on April 15. But among certain groups -- especially the wealthy -- filing for an extension until Oct. 15 is now routine.

In a Financial Planning webinar last week, listeners got some great ideas from a all-star team of practice management experts: Commonwealth Financial's Joni Youngwirth, Fidelity Investments' David Canter and Christine Gaze of Purpose Consulting Group.

For clients willing to wait for the start date, deferred income annuities can offer plump payouts.