Practice management

TS-Associates said its software for precisely measuring the performance of high-speed messaging systems now can run on the Microsoft Windows operating system and can directly access stored data, to speed up calculations.

Everyone knows that publicity is wonderful when you can get it. But far too many advisors think there is some sort of magic needed to get their name in print or to be interviewed on television or radio.

Growing a financial planning business for the future means developing strong talent across generations and providing holistic planning that goes beyond just investment management, according to the advisors at Dallas-based Lee Financial Corp.

U.S. retirement assets rose 3% from year-end 2010 to $18.1 trillion as of March 31, the Investment Company Institute said.

Did the Treasury Department act inappropriately when it sent a highly publicized — and very critical — comment letter to its own bureau objecting to a pending proposal? That's the question that was sparked in policy circles this week after the Obama administration blasted the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's preemption plan, arguing it violated the intent of the Dodd-Frank Act.

The solution may lie in a three-step approach: segmenting your client base, defining your service standards for each segment, and then settling the appropriate client expectations.

Cautious investors, looking to boost returns should consider sectors representing different economic cycles.

Ignoring your marketing efforts for administrative work can be detrimental

Not enough Americans are saving for retirement -- and the ones who are, aren’t saving enough. Which is why ING’s Retirement division has launched a number of programs to help encourage individuals to save more in their defined contribution retirement plans.

In a thorough overview, management consultant McKinsey describes how businesses can promote creativity among employees. The authors, Marla Capozzi, a senior expert in McKinsey’s Boston office; Renée Dye, in Atlanta; and Amy Howe in Los Angeles, provide some dramatic examples that could spark ideas for your financial planning practice.

When individuals are faced with too many options they become paralyzed and don’t make the best decisions– even when it comes to 401(k) options, according to a new study co-authored by Columbia Business School and University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

To me, the most interesting event of the year, so far in the financial planning space, is the Schwab organization's new Independent Branch Services initiative. The gist of it is that Schwab's retail division is looking for experienced advisors to come in and transform their practices into Schwab branch offices on a franchise basis.

A surge in the markets didn't translate into more jobs for advisors in 2010. Count on that to change.

American Express Co. has added a cardholder perk designed to make spending on its cards worthwhile for a broad swath of small business owners: advertising credits on Facebook.

The world’s top foreign exchange dealers are working on an industry-wide initiative to reduce the risk of a Flash Crash hitting the global currency markets.

The London Stock Exchange late Wednesday pulled out of its $3.5 billion merger with Canada’s TMX Group leaving the door open for a possible hostile takeover from Maple Group.

Successful retirement preparation is driven by three variables: consistent saving and investing, access to financial advice and access to workplace retirement plans, according to a survey by Putnam Investments released on Wednesday.

While couples are saving for retirement, they don’t seem to be discussing their retirement goals, according to a new survey by Fidelity Investments.

Memories of the 2008-2009 market crash are keeping Baby Boomers from investing at a time when many are fearful they'll outlive their retirement savings, according to a new survey by Allianz Life Insurance.

In a panel discussion at the Insured Retirement Institute’s (IRI) regulatory conference on Tuesday officials from the Departments of Labor and Treasury discussed increasing access to guaranteed lifetime income products and the proposed rule on the definition of a fiduciary that would regulate retirement savings programs and professionals.