Financial planning

The $2.1 trillion global exchange-traded fund industry has been growing at a rapid clip since the SPDR S&P 500 ETF was launched two decades ago as a means for institutional investors to access passive exposure to the S&P 500 Index.

Eighty percent of investors under the age of 40 don’t feel like they are getting adequate financial advice from their advisors, according to new findings from Cerulli Associates, leaving the doors wide open for asset managers and retirement plan recordkeepers to fill the advice gap.

Non-traditional investment allocations in defined contribution plans, while commonplace in defined benefit pension portfolios, are a rare sight in today's retirement plan lineup.

Should financial advisors leave their smaller accounts behind when they switch firms?

Frustrated by a lack of response from regulators on the “ability to pay” exemption, the industry trade group says it’s going to take action this time.

McRary will be responsible for managing the Boca Raton, Fla.-based independent broker-dealer’s advisor recruitment and transition efforts.

"If an advisor wrote a piece of business and hasn't called the client in over a year, it can't really be considered stealing," says advisor Jeff Arber. Agree?

To continue its expansion in Atlanta, United Capital announced Monday it bought the majority of the assets of Atlanta-based PPA Advisors.

Almost half of CPAs indicated that they offer some kind of financial planning services, but a far smaller number have a formally structured practice with their own Registered Investment Advisor or an affiliation with an outside broker/dealer or RIA, according to a new study.

Mutual fund companies are facing ongoing challenges in overseeing their financial intermediary relationships as omnibus processing and the reliance on FIs continue to increase, according to a new survey by Boston Financial Data Services.

The muni market, reeling from one of the worst selloffs in 25 years this week, witnessed record-breaking outflows to muni bond funds of $4.53 billion for the week of June 26.

In the wake of this week's landmark gay rights decision from the Supreme Court, financial advisors have as many questions as answers for their same-sex clients about how the ruling with impact their wealth management, tax and estate planning.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the core of the Defense of Marriage Act will narrow the financial gap between gay and straight couples.

The nation’s largest independent broker-dealer is partnering up to enhance its recently launched online retirement planning services platform.

Industry veteran Steve Dunlap, who previously held two top jobs at Bank of New York Mellon, is joining Cetera Financial Group as executive vice president, wealth management.

Small businesses across the U.S. are feeling more optimistic about the months ahead as financial conditions rebound, but concerns remain about hiring and growth, according to a new report.

Assets of all exchange-traded funds rose in May by $12.14 billion to $1.481 trillion, according to the Investment Company Institute. Over the past 12 months, ETF assets rose $365.27 billion, or 32.7%.

The Senate Finance Committee's top two tax writers asked their 98 colleagues on Thursday to submit detailed proposals justifying which tax breaks should be kept in the code as they move forward on comprehensive tax reform.

The PFM Group announced Thursday that it has acquired an advisory firm in Washington State as part of its continued expansion in the Northwest region.

Tax-exempt money market funds had outflows of $314.7 million in the week ended June 24, decreasing total net assets to $261.48 billion, according to The Money Fund Report, a service of iMoneyNet.com.