Practice management

Although sequencing is recommended when developing a retirement withdrawal strategy, retirees need to take a more flexible view since their tax situation varies from year to year; plus, how to figure out the amount of your client's IRA required minimum distribution.

Women are still underrepresented when it comes to owning independent firms, but there are reasons for optimism.

A manager of an errant broker finds himself the target of regulators and asks our compliance columnist: What could I have done differently?

Finding top people is getting harder, says Kathy Freeman, so putting this in a compensation agreement is now ‘mandatory.’

There are many ways firms can measure their operations performance, but which is most accurate?

Policymakers and other experts are debating just how much pre-retirement income should be replaced by Social Security; plus, student debt and savings don't add up.

An advisor, along with his 3 partners, creates a new firm but must wait a year without being able to solicit previous clients.

A 25-year-old employee with $40,000 in annual income can expect $190 more per month in retirement by saving $33 more per month now. But if clients have reached 50 with little savings, here’s how to help.

Rocketing education costs and loan debt are giving advisors a great opportunity to help clients navigate the college-planning maze.

SEC officials warn many advisors and brokers have next to no cybersecurity policies in place, exposing them to data breaches and potential enforcement actions.

Most families muddle their way through. Your goal is to make the muddling a little more sensible.

During the transition in independence, avoid running afoul of legal breaches and other quicksand that can drag you down.

Only 25% of retirement savers who qualify for this tax credit are familiar with it, according to a new survey; plus, the two best ways to structure a QLAC.

The firm has launched a new online tool that it says will help advisors at partner banks and credit unions expand their relationships with clients.

A new study finds that 36 online calculators provide "extremely misleading" advice about retirement planning; plus, dreams of living well in retirement dim for Americans.

Over half of people in their 60s have done no retirement planning in the past three years, according to one survey; plus, Medicare's biggest problem is not what your clients think.

Advisors should go behind the music before signing up tomorrow's stars.

How to score big with business-owning clients and prospects.

It's never easy to talk to strangers, but establishing a swift rapport with prospective clients is vital for building your business. Advisors share their best tips for getting these conversations underway.

President Obama's proposed 2017 budget includes provisions that would scrap the "backdoor" Roth IRA and Roth contributions after 70, ending the tax benefits from these strategies; plus; are 401(k)s and 529 college savings plans safe places for clients to invest?