Practice management

Some 25 million people a year are thinking about social security, opening a door to a massive market for advisors, Bill Meyer, founder and CEO of Social Security Solutions, said at the Retirement Income Industry Association conference.

The Retirement Income Industry Association recognized the best marketing and thought-leadership in the industry during its annual conference

Scott & Stringfellow has brought on three former Wells Fargo advisors to join its Charlotte office.

The result of the upcoming Presidential election will have little impact on investors, according to Andrew Mehalko, President of AM Wealth Management.

RBC has pulled an industry veteran from UBS to fill the position of branch director of its Burlington offices.

Fewer people are making a clear transition into retirement and the trend is creating unique challenges for advisors.

About 15% of affluent investors are considering a move within the next month. The most likely landing spot is Vanguard, followed by Fidelity and USAA, according to a new monthly survey by Phoenix Marketing International.

The idea of an advisory council leaves many advisors apprehensive, but to generate new ideas, it is critical to speak with a group of clients and prospects on a regular basis to find out what's wrong (and what's right) about your practice.

Check out what the mainstream media is writing about wealth management and financial planning this week: Will bond buying erase debt, 25 ways to waste money, declaring independence and more.

Wells Fargo has tapped firm executive Jim Hays to serve as executive vice president and head of wealth brokerage services.

The June 2012 issue of Financial Planning included a controversial column from industry expert, author and instigator, Bob Veres. It launched such a vigorous debate that an entire session was dedicated to continuing the conversation at the FPA annual conference in San Antonio, Texas on Monday.

A majority of breakaway brokers have their eyes on LPL and Raymond James, according to a report by Cogent Research, a Massachusetts market research firm.

With most financial advisors mired in "analysis paralysis," adding new business can be difficult. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet to add clients and assets, but Peter Montoya offered some essential methods to develop relationships and assets.

Commonwealth Financial Network launched "RetireReady," a customizable participant education program for independent advisors. The program will help advisors add value to retirement planning advising for sponsor clients.

Dallas-based 1st Global has launched a new offering intended to help CPA firms develop and grow wealth management services as a core part of their practices.

Healthcare is often a big retirement concern for seniors, yet less than a third that have financial planners discuss Medicare plans with their advisors, according to a recent survey commissioned by Allsup.

For large U.S. companies and their employees, health care premiums continue to rise, albeit slowly. Meanwhile, most employers are reevaluating their retiree health insurance strategies, planning more emphasis on the individual rather than the group market.

Most financial advisors don't spend enough time on the two most critical tasks to help them grow their business: rainmaking and client interaction.

Advisors and brokers working in teams made 32% more in compensation than those going it alone, according to the new Broker and Advisor Sentiment Index study from Fidelity Investments.

Michael James, a former wealth strategist in Goldman Sachs' mid-Atlantic region, has joined the Philadelphia office of Glenmede, an independent investment and wealth management firm, as director of family wealth advisory.