Financial planning

Stocks that have suddenly become predominant in a client's portfolio are prime candidates for a charitable donation.

The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy certification is designed for individuals in a range of fields. Advisors say the designation has helped elevate their conversations with wealthy and philanthropically-minded clients.

How clients and other taxpayers can act to reduce their income taxes, sell stocks for tax-loss harvesting, and recoup overpaid net investment income taxes.

With a wider gap in tax rates, moving reported income among family members could have a big payoff. Advisors should consider a few if these strategies.

"There's not one thing [RCS] is not willing to look at," CEO Michael Weil said in response to a Wall Street analyst's question about breaking the company apart.

The business is changing, says Jonathan Burkan, a wealth advisor with UBS. It's not just stocks and bonds anymore, and that means advisors must do a better job of helping clients think about estate, tax and retirement planning -- not just about the market.

Despite the sector's underperformance this year, your clients may still want to consider U.S. small-cap funds over the long term.

Legg Mason attracted $5.1 billion into its bond funds in October, the most in more than seven years, after the departure of Bill Gross from Pimco prompted investors to reallocate billions of dollars.

Traditional advisory channels still hold the lion's share of the nation's investable assets, but direct channels are growing quickly.

Nicholas Schorsch's expanded financial advisory business reported adjusted net third-quarter income of $35.5 million on Thursday, but revenue was driven by higher retail and investment management results.

The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy certification is designed for individuals in a range of fields. Advisors say the designation has helped elevate their conversations with wealthy and philanthropically-minded clients.

Clients report Social Security's employees being uninformed of the agency's rules, or worse, providing wrong information; Plus, the downside of target-date funds

FINRA arbitration panel sides with a former Commonwealth Financial Network client who claims he lost his retirement savings due to bad retirement planning advice.

The tax and financial advantages of a charitable gift annuity are substantial, but sometimes oversold. Make sure donor clients understand how these annuities work.

At least two firms appear to be trolling for damaging information about RCS Capital, Nicholas Schorsch's embattled financial services company.

Janus Capital Group saw more than $1 billion of estimated net deposits into two bond mutual funds in October after hiring star bond manager Bill Gross.

Rising tax rates are one reason to rethink IRA accounts; plus Detroit's emergence from bankruptcy and a Social Security tip for people who remarry after 60.

Janet Robinson is the first woman to join the 8-member board of the independent firm founded by wirehouse managers and affiliated with Raymond James Financial Services.

The IRS has issued guidance clarifying the impact that a 2014 rollover of an individual retirement arrangement has on the one-per-year limit imposed by the Tax Code on tax-free rollovers between IRAs.

While donor-advised funds surge in popularity, a foundation may make more sense for those with more than $5 million to give.