Practice management

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday charged a Chicago-based investment advisory firm with misleading investors in connection with a pair of private-equity offerings.

Thinking of integrating video into your website? Or maybe you're curious about starting a YouTube channel? Or maybe the idea of foraying into video makes you terrified. Whatever your stance, video is undoubtedly becoming a popular trend among advisors. It's a trend that is helping advisors communicate with clients in new ways, while expanding their reach to prospects.

The firm has expanded its Denver office with the addition of industry veteran Tina Huyler.

Inefficient account opening processes are leading to client defections and advisor dissatisfaction with broker-dealers, according to a report released by Aite Group on Tuesday.

We have been inundated with conversation recently around the ongoing debate of suitability versus fiduciary care for clients. This debate comes down to the "advisor" against the "broker" and vice versa. FINRA and the SEC. In almost every article and conversation on this topic I conclude that there is a clear lack of understanding of how the "other" is serving their clients.

The New York investment bank has filed a request with FINRA to withdraw from the brokerage business, after being fined for breaking 'information barriers.' Its parent company said it will still try to commercialize its DIrect Markets technology.

A Florida federal court rejected Merrill Lynch's petition to vacate an arbitration decision on Monday, clearing the way for two financial advisors to receive a $10.25 million awarded to them in April.

As the advisory universe ages, it's inevitable that more advisors will retire, become disabled, or die. Just as inevitable, there will be more sales of interests in advisory practices or entire practices. But just how valuable will those practices be, with most clients drawing down rather than building up the assets that advisors manage?

As wealth management firms journey into emerging markets, asking the right questions in the right manner will reduce the risks associated with client selection.

J. Kevin Stophel has moved on after 13 years with the firm to establish an independent wealth practice partnered with Concert Advisor Services and Concert Wealth Management Inc.

Planners who structure their practices in a way that compels their best clients to mention them to friends and family will enjoy a steady stream of right-fit business.

Despite a rocky economic environment, affluent pre-retirees are more optimistic about the future, but remain wary of credit card companies and large banks.

Advisors who stay stuck in their comfort zone may have a neat and tidy life, but, it will simply be a fraction of what it could be had they continued to evolve and max out their God-given lifetime capability. Best-selling author Steve Sanduski shares 9 ways advisors can continue to evolve and reap great benefits, both personally and professionally.

When it comes to figuring out how you will improve your services or what new things you can do for clients, there is a lively debate about where those ideas should come from. Are you overlooking an obvious source for new and profitable ideas?

With all the economic uncertainty many clients may be dissatisfied and primed for switching to advisors who can relate to them on a personal level.

A group of family trusts has lost a $7.56 million arbitration claim that highlights the difficulties of winning individual claims tied to various Morgan Keegan funds that have fallen under regulatory scrutiny.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has named Andrew Bowden as Deputy Director of the agency's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE).

To attract more independent advisors, HighTower has introduced two new options, the HighTower Network and the HighTower Alliance. Elliott Weissbluth, the company's CEO, said by adding these channels, HighTower will be able to attract advisors who prefer to continue to own their own practices rather than joining a partnership.

Wells Fargo Advisors has tapped an executive from Citigroup and two of its existing leaders to serve in new senior leadership roles.

The Insured Retirement Institute announced Wednesday it elected Larry Roth chairman of its board of directors.