Practice management

Firms' cyber defenses are in SEC's crosshairs, and the commission is looking to tap an outside group to help police the RIA sector.

Voices: Even independent advisors have some adjustments to make. Here are some of the most important, according to managing director of TD Ameritrade Institutional.

Industry veteran Bob Carr on how to approach advisor training (and how the old days weren't always so good.)

Advisor Kevin McDermott shares his opinions on the biggest mistakes he sees from young advisors in the bank channel.

Expanded scope for litigation is a cause for concern among wealth management firms, experts say.

Advisors should report their performance in a way that articulates value and proves they are worth the expense, says Dynasty Partners CIO Scott Welch.

A merger or acquisition is a critical move, and many don’t work out. Are you ready to make the jump?

Despite the many benefits that IRAs offer, many people do not use them as a retirement saving tool; plus, what parents should know about Social Security.

Advisors can get a helpful best-practices checklist, which may also help build client relationships, from the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard.

Voices: an advisor earning a high single-figure commission from a variable annuity product should become a thing of the past.

Why can’t your RIA operations be as beautifully integrated as the functions on your mobile?

A number of seniors opt to relocate in retirement to live closer to their adult children and grandchildren; plus, three ETFs to fund a happy retirement.

A number of advisors are striving for the status quo instead of creating a better business and stronger relationships. In effect, they're giving up.

Does the newest iteration of a favorite advisor tool stand up to scrutiny? Our tech columnist takes it for a test drive.

It doesn't necessarily make sense to pay off student loans early if that means foregoing saving for retirement; plus, how the life-expectancy gap between rich and poor skews Social Security.

Today's young workers can learn from their parents' example on making early sacrifices and managing debt wisely; plus, how clients can save by automating their portfolios.

The same competitive mindset that leads to victory in sports can give advisors the advantages they need for a successful practice, a leading recruiter says.

These are fundamentally different ideas for retirement income planning, but it doesn't need to be an either/or situation; plus considerations for clients looking to work in retirement.

Investing in a practice’s culture is as important as focusing on clients.

Voices: If clients are already comfortable with DIY-investing, they could have already done so themselves with a robo advisor or low-cost brokerage.