Financial planning

For many advisors and their clients, this practice has evolved from a strictly year-end affair. But does it pay off? Is it over-hyped?

As the rate of change accelerates, advisors face big shifts in automated tools, portfolio management and rebalancing. Our annual report shows where the action is.

If your clients think they're going to make money off the policies they're buying, it's time to give them a reality check.

A recent study compared advisors’ reactions during the last financial meltdown to PTSD. Here’s my advice for beating stress when markets go haywire.

Planners offer their guidelines for helping wealthy clients accomplish more good with their money.

Technological shifts happen quickly. The industry finally seems to have noticed.

An analysis compares portfolios built using 'smart beta' indexes against those whose components are weighted by market cap. See the results.

So-called experts tend to do a lousy job predicting the direction of the economy or the stock market. Here's what advisors should do about it.

Lowering your client's tax bill, year-end charitable tax tips and 15 surprising tax deductions.

Advisors risk throwing away business with a throw-away holiday client gift. Here's a list -- worth checking twice -- of what to avoid when deciding upon holiday greetings and gifts to send to clients.

Some varieties of charitable remainder trusts can be tailored to donors' income needs.

The income tax on conversions may not be worth the potential appreciation they will get over a period of time; plus, low-cost holiday gift ideas and ways in which to make your money last in retirement.

Some varieties of charitable remainder trusts can be tailored to donors' income needs.

CPA/advisory firm BKD Wealth Management adds Wolf Financial Management, after a deal between the two parent companies.

The industry needs to do more to reflect the diversity of its client base, said the industry's top executives in our special report, the State of Wealth Management.

"If you think you have no special needs clients, you probably are not asking the right questions,” says Mike Walther.

By making gifts through donor-advised funds, clients can get a tax break while still supporting an international charitable cause.

A family contribution system can help strengthen philanthropy as a core family value.

Clients who attend charity dinners or concerts need to take precautions on their tax returns.

A new study finds that donor-advised funds are outnumbering all other charitable donation vehicles combined.