Financial planning

3 lessons from S&P 500 high-point; Getting a read on mortgage REITs; Tax-free savings for education expenses

Most advisors won't get the price they want from selling their practices -- and don't really want to sell anyway, one study finds.

What to call funds that can invest in almost any liquid asset in the world?

In trying to find new young clients, many advisors are turning to online platforms. But that is not the only track to success.

Wells Fargo advisor tries unsuccessfully to convince his elderly client that he hadn't won a $5 million lottery and that the whole thing was really a scam.

What to do with an old 401(k) when changing jobs; Why it's so difficult to raise kids and save for retirement; 3 things to know about your 401(k)'s escape hatch

IUL policies, which are linked to a market index but promise not to lose any money if the market goes down, might be a way to protect portfolios while offering tax-free income for retirement.

While one prominent advisor calls the board's demand 'woefully overreaching,' a securities lawyer calls it a 'good, aggressive' tactic.

Should older clients' portfolios be adjusted more quickly to bring equity allocations to their desired level? New research says yes.

A paper that Hopewell published introduced stochastic modeling -- including the use of Monte Carlo simulations -- to the profession for the first time.

As the nation's 76 million baby boomers retire and live longer, advisors can expect to encounter more clients with memory and cognitive issues. Here are some of the red flags advisors should watch for.

Is it ever smart to tap retirement accounts early?; A 401(k) rollover checklist; 5 reasons why you shouldn't retire at 62

Advisors today are realizing they have to be flexible, saying that they are just as apt to recommend a number lower or higher than 4% to clients as an appropriate withdrawal rate. And some are using means completely different to set rates.

Use these ideas to quickly bring new staff up to speed on a firm's values, tools and culture.

Nobody wants to think about the prospect of failing mental capability, but it's an issue that clients need to address if they're to be fully prepared for retirement.

Wealth management firms are positioning themselves to meet rising demand from millennial investors who want to better align their investments with their values.

Advisors have shifted the focus to thinking about retirement in terms of income strategies rather than purely the accumulation of more assets.

Naming a spouse as the IRA beneficiary is often the default choice and has several advantages. However, other concerns might outweigh the benefits of a spousal rollover.

Most advisors target pre-retiree clients, but it is possible to build a thriving practice in the retirement income planning market even after clients stop working.

Beware of 'pension predators' promising cash; Challenges of extending your career after retirement; What's missing from your Social Security statement?