Financial planning

Although many in the industry consider Dynasty and HighTower rivals for the allegiance of breakaway teams and independent RIAs, CEO Shirl Penney says Dynasty “doesn’t run into [HighTower] as much as you may think.”

The IRS has released the final regulations for the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax that was imposed as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Today we show Nos. 1-25. The advisors listed here are not just home-run hitters. Rather, they are all-around players skilled in all aspects of the game. We would argue that’s the way to build success so that is what we set out to illustrate with the BIC Top 50.

The advisors listed here are not just home-run hitters. Rather, they are all-around players skilled in all aspects of the game. We would argue that’s the way to build success so that is what we set out to illustrate with the BIC Top 50. Today we show Nos. 26-50. Check back tomorrow for Nos. 1-25.

For most of the past year, the status of a uniform fiduciary standard for brokers and investment advisors might be summarized as, “Don’t hold your breath: the SEC has higher priorities.” But an important event last week may serve as an impetus to move this long-simmering issue forward.

Northwest Savings Bank in Warren, Pa., has agreed to acquire a financial advisory firm and an employee benefits and consulting insurance company.

A growing number of firms are bringing on COOs & CFOs -- and looking outside the industry for help.

Networking, marketing and educating female clients were popular topics at the Women Advisors Forum in Newport Beach, Calif., on Nov. 14. Here are some of the things we heard from top female advisors and other professionals during the one-day event

Many RIA firms are tempted to use new trust companies to avoid losing clients to big banks. Some experts warn against it.

Advisors now have extraordinary tax-advantaged estate plan possibilities for wealthy clients.

Breaking out of the traditional allocation model to include a much broader range of investment categories and using relative strength principals to reallocate frequently may be one way to achieve stronger results for clients.

Some academics maintain that if a client obtains an immediate annuity, it pays an income stream for life and the individual is less likely to outlive his or her money. But of course, many planners often see issues with this in real-life situations.

An annuity offers the investor income for life -- for a price. Considering the return on investment, how do annuities compare to bonds?

Challenges to social media protocols by employees fired for violating them are succeeding with increasing frequency.

Not only are the requirements of the Affordable Care Act difficult and complicated for businesses to understand, but in many cases those aspects that businesses and their advisors think they understand are already slated to change in the future, according to one expert.

The more your home page talks about prospects, the more they will want to explore. So stop talking about yourself and talk about what your clients are interested in – themselves and their special needs.

With my startup growing more slowly than I'd hoped, I've tried to find strategies that keep me focused and confident.

Recent studies have found that as people age, many lose their ability to make sound financial decisions. So what can be done to safeguard elderly clients’ hard earned assets?

The IRS is starting this year's Earned Income Tax Credit due diligence compliance audits of return preparers.

The booming stock market rally of recent years makes now a prudent time for advisors to revisit what we learned about modern portfolio theory and apply those lessons -- before we find ourselves in the middle of another down cycle when mistakes snowball.