Practice management

The 2008-2009 financial crisis that rocked worldwide markets was amplified by the lack of a sufficient regulatory framework, including checks on the largest broker-dealer firms, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday.

The Financial Services Institute has expanded its agenda to include retirement and tax issues. As part of the expansion, the independent broker-dealer advocacy group has hired Robert Lewis as government affairs counsel for tax and retirement.

Does a U.S. Supreme Court ruling based on the Anna Nicole Smith case prevent a bankruptcy court from resolving hundreds of lawsuits brought by the Madoff firm's trustee?

Rep. Spencer Bachus seen offering legislation that could lead to FINRA becoming the self-regulatory organization overseeing investment advisors.

Lincoln Financial Advisors had abruptly terminated Jeffrey Concepcion in August 2008, according to the arbitration filing, and then withheld severance after he refused to agree to a non-competition agreement.

Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay a $22 million fine and accept other penalties to resolve charges from the SEC that the firm lacked adequate policies and procedures to address the risk that during weekly meetings, known as “huddles,” its analysts could share important non-public information about upcoming research changes.

According to Cerulli Associates, wirehouses have been focusing on high-net-worth investors for quite some time—but not very successfully. In the last three years, wirehouses’ share of the HNW market has dropped by 11%.

Advisors with a robust advisory process generally generate a high level of client loyalty and build lasting value in their firms. Here’s an interactive slide show detailing 5 things you can do to effectively manage client expectations and risk tolerance, enhance relationships and protect your firm's value.

Here’s an interactive slide show detailing 5 things you can do to effectively manage client expectations and risk tolerance, enhance relationships and protect your firm's value.

Steve Sanduski, The Prosperous Advisor, says that advisors who want to reach the pinnacle of their profession need to make sure the “under the hood” of their office is as excellent as the shiny exterior their clients see.

FINRA is taking comments on its proposal to change the rules for its current procedures for removing complaints about advisors from a central database. But time is running out, as the comment period ends May 21.

Mutual funds managed $2.5 trillion of the assets held in 401(k), 403(b), and other defined contribution plans at the end of December, up from $2.3 trillion at the end of September. Mutual funds managed 55% of DC plan assets at the end of the fourth quarter.

In a partnership with the micro-blogging platform Twitter, Dataminr said it has developed and is launching “an early warning system” for traders, based on tweets.

The one-size-fits-all approach to advice and investing won’t work, says John Anderson, head of practice management solutions at SEI Advisor Network. The real question isn’t whether clients will change, but rather whether your business will change.

Marketing expert Marie Swift says establishing and continually increasing credibility is essential for today’s financial advisors. Here are some tips to help build your reputation and increase your buzz factor.

Facebook, preparing what would be Silicon Valley's largest IPO, has picked Nasdaq over the New York Stock Exchange for its listing.

After taking public comment, CFP Board announced new changes to its rules and procedures in three areas, including the way it handles bankruptcies among certificants and applicants.

MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has added a new senior relationship manager and a managing director to its sales and client management organization increasing the company's support for retirement plan customers in the South/Central region.

In this interactive slide show, five planning industry executives discuss everything from powerful ways to explain the value of your advice to clients to how to attract — and keep — good employees.

Only 30% of investors surveyed knew that target-date funds do not provide guaranteed income in retirement.