Practice management

Advisors who don't enhance the client experience are doomed to become "the travel agents of the future," according to Ron Carson, founder and CEO of Omaha-based Carson Wealth Management.

FSI President and CEO Dale Brown would rather see a consultative approach from the regulators on minor missteps, or what he calls the "administrative foot faults."

President Barack Obama’s new retirement accounts lack the most popular features of 401(k) plans. They offer no matching contributions, no prospect for eye-popping returns and no track record of employer support.

Bankers think the regulatory environment is bad already, but it could get worse as regulators crack down harder on rules violators, hold directors and foreign banks to stricter standards and tackle "too big to fail," a top banking lawyer says.

Advisors can no longer expect to hire only seasoned, mid-career professionals with an established book of business, industry experts say.

President Obama's announcement of a new retirement plan for low- to middle-income Americans drew reactions ranging from hopeful praise to scorn from advisors who say many big questions remain to be answered.

President Obama's proposal for encouraging low-income Americans to set money aside in accounts with tax advantages is a limited step that may help bolster retirement savings.

Both regulators have identified rollovers as a priority for their 2014 examinations, putting brokers and advisors on notice that they plan to scrutinize how they are working with clients who are planning for retirement.

As waves of baby boomers head into retirement, state and federal regulators expect to take a hard look at the programs firms have in place to ensure they are selling elderly investors appropriate financial instruments.

Most advisors make housing choices in their own lives, but fail to aid clients facing the issue, according to a Legg Mason survey of 506 advisors.

Pimco named four deputy chief investment officers in an overhaul of its leadership team after Mohamed El-Erian's decision last week to step down as chief executive officer.

President Obama's inclusion of retirement security in Tuesday night's State of the Union Address was mostly welcomed by the benefits community, but left some disappointed by a perceived "attack" on the 401(k).

President Obama hit on several important issues for bankers in his annual address to Congress Tuesday night, including mortgage finance reform, though as expected financial services issues largely took a backseat to other national concerns, like unemployment and the minimum wage.

The financial crisis has had an enormous impact on millennials' attitudes towards investing, saving and success, presenting both opportunities and challenges for financial advisors.

When it comes to teaching financial advisors new skills, two instructors may be better than one.

An agency risk alert critiques the due diligence processes that investment advisors are using when recommending such investments as hedge funds, private equity funds, or funds of private funds.

The SEC's Michael Piwowar said Monday that he has asked the SEC's Office of Municipal Securities to work with him on proposals to improve the market.

What's to be done for people who have plenty of money, but just can't seem to enjoy it?

If the graying financial services industry is to replenish the ranks of retiring advisors and brokers, firms and trade groups must take a more active role in promoting the field to millennials, says Pershing's Mark Tibergien.

As tens of millions of baby boomers enter their golden years, Bank of America Merrill Lynch has appointed its first gerontologist to help advisors address clients' age-related concerns.