Practice management

Advisors who don't feel like wading through reports on 9,000 hedge funds may feel more comfortable scanning information on about 40, especially if those funds have been expertly screened. Envestnet has announced a hedge fund research alliance with Fund Evaluation Group.

To become more successful, most small business owners must begin by acknowledging all of the areas in which their business falls short. For independent advisors, and many entrepreneurs, this can be a tough thing to assess. Never fear: Four key custodians offer four simple ways to improve your business.

Preparation is the key to a successful audit. The following guidelines will help your firm smoothly navigate the regulatory audit process and manage any possible surprises.

ING has launched a new program called The Opportunity to Articulate Your Value in effort to help advisors stay on top of rapid changes in regulations and compensation in the retirement space.

Even with Wall Street and consumer advocates allied in pushing for it, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission proposal to raise standards for brokers advising retail investors has run aground.

Over the next 10 years, advisors will help their clients facilitate the largest wealth transfer in the history of our nation's history and charitable planning will become an increasingly larger and more important part of that service.

If you're thinking about starting your own financial services firm, you're going to need a ton of money and even more patience.

The Kentucky-based firm has hired a former Merrill Lynch advisor with $29 million in AUM.

Following news that Merrill Lynch Wealth Management lost several advisor teams to rivals this week, the firm is pushing back with three advisor hires of its own from competing wirehouse firms.

The SEC has obtained a $1.1 million settlement from Portland, Ore., based planner Christopher Keil Hicks and two of his companies on charges they failed to disclose a revenue-sharing agreement and other conflicts with his clients.

The SEC filed a cease-and-desist order against noted investment advisor and radio personality Ray Lucia, alleging a series of misleading statements in retirement-strategy seminars plugging Lucia's "buckets of money" strategy.

Robert Ceccarelli and John Hursh collectively manage more than $148 million in assets and produce nearly $1 million in revenue. They will join Ameriprise's employee advisor channel and be located in the New Haven, Conn.

The Robinson Reuter Group brings $250 million in assets under management to RBC's La Jolla, Calif., office.

Barclays Plc recruited a team for its wealth and investment management division from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney that includes former New York Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet.

Banks increasingly use a rolling-average model when setting compensation levels-factors beyond production also considered.

Even the best independent financial advisors can benefit from an occasional or even regular program of coaching and mentoring. It sometimes takes an outsider with a fresh perspective to see the best way for you to take your team and your practice to the next level.

The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of this year, will results in a combined retirement businesses with approximately $120 billion in assets under management and 3 million participants.

Neuberger Berman has appointed William Proctor as its new vice president and wealth advisor in its wealth management division.

A group of financial advisory teams in Oregon, led by Brett Davis, Steve Altman, Todd Gescher, and Jason Herber, have combine to form True Private Wealth Advisors.

MNA Group and Anderson & Delutri are the ninth and 10th teams to join HighTower this year, and the 34th and 35th teams to enter into the partnership since its inception. Both teams were previously part of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.