Practice management

What Jon Wax learned about buying an advisory business from a retiring financial planner (his mother).

The Bank of America unit caps off a year of aggressive wealth management team expansion with the appointment of five new advisors.

The Securities and Exchange Commission Monday proposed a lengthy new rule to establish a permanent registration system for municipal advisory firms as well as individual advisers that would replace a temporary system for firms the SEC put in place in September.

Dreyfus and Merlin Securities equip wholesalers and hedge fund customers with iPads.

The Financial Services Authority has fined a former executive from Toronto Dominion Bank $1.2 million for intentionally mispricing trading positions in credit derivatives to cover his losses and banned him from working in the financial services industry.

There are steps to take right now to improve your business in 2011

Goldman Sachs plans to aggressively expand its wealth business by hiring up to 200 additional advisors.

The provisions of Dodd-Frank put the SEC in a better position to handle its workload, the groups say.

Research firm is responding to increased interest in fixed income investments.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner supported calls for a national servicing standard on Thursday, adding his voice to other regulators who have promoted the idea.

According to a survey released Thursday by MFS Investment Management investors want advisor contact and education. In turn, those investors who are more knowledgeable tend to be less fearful about investing – good news all around.

The more education a person has is strongly correlated with how confident they are about their retirement and their ability to save and plan for it, according to the 11th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, released on Thursday.

Ever since September 2008, clients are asking for more than you can possibly deliver: to keep track of the macro-economic big picture and help them get out of the market as soon as we start moving into another meltdown period. So the question is: How can we possibly respond to these lofty expectations?

More Americans plan to get their finances in order in 2011 while the global economic recovery continues to shake out, Fidelity survey says.

Advisors can also get CFP continuing education credits for their efforts.

Outgoing House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank sharply criticized incoming chairman Rep. Spencer Bachus on Wednesday, ridiculing the Alabama Republican for reportedly saying "Washington and the regulators are there to serve the banks."

According to a poll conducted in October and released on Wednesday by InCharge Debt Solutions Americans are significantly more concerned about future expenses than paying off existing debt or paying their current bills.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has censured Citigroup Global Markets after finding the financial services firm failed to report transactions promptly to its Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine.

The holidays are a great time to show your clients that you appreciate them and their business. If this is done well, it strengthens client relationships, helping with both retention and referrals.

While wealth management firms have increased communications in the wake of the financial crisis, their clients complain they don’t understand what they’re being given.