Financial planning

At a time when recruiting is down across the independent broker-dealer space, Cetera Financial Group has added 247 net new advisors nationwide between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2013.

These investment strategists say they believe the emerging economies in the world are where equity opportunities are to be found.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued new guidance and streamlined procedures for spouses who are seeking equitable relief from joint income tax liability.

As desktop publishing has become less and less expensive and more advisors are building brochures to advertise their practices, marketing organizations are encouraging teams to articulate their value proposition to the marketplace. Here are two glaring errors that advisors must avoid.

With heavyweights like PIMCO throwing its hat into the managed futures mutual fund ring, interest in this investment vehicle appears to be rising.

Many banks are at a crossroads now on whether to stay independent or sell—but for those banks that raised money to buy others, the pace of consolidation has been a drag.

In a Q&A with Financial Planning five scholarship winners – and next generation planners – share their views on the industry opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

There have been 16 straight weeks of outflows from muni bond funds, to the tune of $26.4 billion, and industry watchers do not expect flows to bounce back anytime soon.

The IRS is providing guidance on the application of the market reform provisions of the Affordable Care Act to health care arrangements such as health reimbursement arrangements, employer payment plans and flexible spending accounts.

Developed economies are turning into global growth engines as some emerging-market counterparts decelerate.

Umpqua Holdings' agreement to buy Sterling Financial is the latest in a series of deals this year to pair similarly sized banks, creating a new crop of midsize financial institutions.

For almost nine years, the firm has been lending to companies with ratings in the B to BB+ range, below the investment-grade threshold, the employee claims.

Laif Meidell discusses market volatility and how advisors and investors can benefit from taking on a more defensive portfolio position.

Morgan Stanley will get another $57 billion of deposits from Citigroup as part of its Smith Barney purchase and plans to increase securities lending, commercial real estate, corporate and warehouse lending.

Higher rates would help bring relief to bankers who’ve seen lending margins squeezed and expenses pushed up by new technology and regulations.

These 20-somethings are just beginning their saving and investing journey and there's no time like the present to get them on the right track.

Here are five pieces of advice that advisors should keep in mind when going through a merger.

The Treasury Department and the IRS have issued proposed regulations to implement the information reporting requirements for insurers and certain employers under the Affordable Care Act.

From improving communication with clients to placing a bigger emphasis on risk management, advisors share how they’re navigating the rebounding market environment and how their practices have evolved as a result of hard lessons learned during the financial meltdown of 2008.

The expansion-focused $6 billion wealth manager has added Santa Barbara-based Pacific Pointe to its roster, making it the fifth firm in Beacon Pointe’s growing stable, and the fourth in California.