Financial planning

In a rare independent-to-employee move, four independent advisors joined the employee channel of Raymond James.

After the company combines its custodian and clearing businesses and launches a new tech division, advisors should be alert to any service changes.

Now that the Labor Department has pressed forward with a controversial proposal for advisors in the retirement space, where do the rules go from here?

Advisors should advise clients to avoid buying a one-size-fits-all product and to check offerings by as many carriers as possible before making a decision; Plus, how to counsel pre-retirees who want to give financial assistance to their adult children.

Following a favorable IRS ruling, the popularity of these retirement plans has been on the rise. Here's what advisors need to understand about offering them to clients.

Arthur Tambaro thought his career was over just a year ago. But his latest move makes sense in his career path, he says.

Retail advice revenue accounted for roughly two-thirds of RCS's total full-year revenue of $2.8 billion, but the company's 2014 loss was almost 100 times greater than in 2013.

Investment advisors should act in their customers' best interests, President Obama says. Here's how they don't, and how it can hurt investors.

The regulator meted out $135 million in fewer, but bigger, fines last year, the most it's assessed against firms and their registered reps since the financial crisis.

Pension plans grew 89% over the last 10 years, while GDP increased just 42%; Plus, provision in budget proposal that would prevent high-income workers from contributing to their 401(k) plans.

From confusing benchmarks to fictional 'income,' some advisors are deceiving clients about their financial health.

The deal boosts Stifel's advisor force by one-third to about 2,800 advisors -- and readies the firm to grow its business in the independent channel.

A few guidelines can help advisors identify the sectors and companies likely to be tomorrow's standout dividend payers before they're obvious.

The president insists that fiduciary requirements must apply to brokers working in the retirement space to protect investors from conflicted advice.

The plunge in oil prices has claimed another prominent victim.

If accomplished, the DOL's new fiduciary rules could be a much needed game changer at a time when Americans need help.

As controversial fiduciary proposal to curb conflicted retirement advice heads to White House for review, insiders see exemptions permitting commonplace brokerage business models.

Clients who are financially knowledgeable incurred annual investment returns that are 1.3% higher compared with those who are not; Plus, the disadvantages of a retirement buckets strategy.

The White House plans to throw its full weight behind a Department of Labor proposal to make it harder for brokers to push higher-fee mutual funds or other expensive retirement investment products.

The CFP Board has released two new advertisements for its public awareness campaign -- but is the message clear enough?