Financial planning

A federal funds rate stuck near zero means cash will continue to deliver negative real returns for some time. Who in their right mind, the standard Wall Street taunt goes, would own cash when it’s a guaranteed losing proposition?

Forthcoming federal rules could require all investment advisors to implement formal anti-money laundering programs -- a shift that would bring RIAs under a similar regulatory regime as that governing broker-dealers, mutual fund complexes and other financial institutions.

Men and women alike underestimate how much money they will need in retirement. Here are some of the findings from an annual survey from the Employee Benefits Research Institute and Mathew Greenwald Associates.

The Internal Revenue Service’s Return Preparer Office said it is sending letters to 3,000 tax preparers who failed to use a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number.

Most advisors continue to check in with phone and email messages and continue to do some work even while on vacation. Dave Grant shares the steps he took to completely cut himself off from work for a family vacation.

What do you think? Is the younger generation breaking down the barriers and being more honest about their thoughts and feelings about money?

Sheryl Garrett says privately held firm or group, such as Vanguard or NAPFA, or a major benefactor, would be ideal match for her low-fee firm.

Many advisors are eager to find new clients, but not sure where to start. Dave Grant says prospective clients can turn up anywhere.

The Supreme Court’s landmark decision last month striking down the Defense of Marriage Act may have solved the estate tax problems of the lead plaintiff, Edith Windsor, but it still is leaving a lot of uncertainty among same-sex couples, particularly those in states that do not recognize same-sex marriage.

Advisors have some more competition brewing in the still-nascent online planning world.

A 33-year financial services industry veteran from Southern California has been elected to serve as 2014 Chair-elect of the CFP Board of Standards’ Board of Directors.

Learning about the thinking patterns that you employ whenever you encounter difficult or challenging events is the first step in making life-altering changes in your thinking. Here are five examples of distorted thinking habits that advisors commonly face.

With three more even larger deals expected to be completed by September, Carson Institutional could become a serious alternative to some of the leading roll-up firms in the nation.

“We see an opportunity to have a national RIA multifamily office brand with the Forbes name,” Scott Gregorchuk, chief executive of Forbes Family Trust tells Financial Planning. “We are surgically targeting the right advisors and investment advisory firms to join our effort.”

Many large managers of municipal bond funds with Detroit paper said they haven't heard any panic from their investing clients since the city filed for bankruptcy and many of their funds have lost value.

With minimal impact on current tax rates and the potential for tax-free withdrawals as they age, Roth 401(k) plans are catching on with the young and not-at-all-wealthy.

Often advisors don't have the time to motivate, hold accountable, and help junior advisors with their time management and goals. Here are the biggest struggles junior advisors face and the things these associates wish they could tell their bosses.

Deciding which tasks to outsource can be difficult for advisors. Dave Grant identifies projects that have turned out to be great candidates for a handoff.

Among the very wealthy, family foundations long have been a common vehicle for charitable giving. However, more families than ever are skipping foundations altogether in favor of simpler and cheaper donor-advised funds.

Participants in the 2013 CFO Outlook Mid-Year Update gave the U.S. economy an average score of 58 out of 100. This figure was up from 49 in the last survey conducted late last year. The global economy received a score of 51, up from 45.