Practice management

Norm Champ has been on the job as Director of the Division of Investment Management at the Securities and Exchange Commission for eight months and a lot of mutual fund executives are nervously waiting for the SEC has in store for the industry in 2013 and beyond.

The interest in security among independent advisors seemed to have ratcheted up. Perhaps it’s because major custodians have acted to heighten advisor awareness of attacks, or it could be increased media coverage of Chinese hackers targeting U.S. websites — but either way, it was one of the key questions for attendees at February’s Technology Tools for Today conference.

Among the provisions of the new tax law is the introduction of in-plan Roth conversions for participants of employer-sponsored retirement plans. This provision may be especially valuable to high-income clients, according to Thomson Reuters.

What's worse than battling with a loved one over money? Watching another couple argue about money ... right in your conference room.

More than four years after the financial crisis, individual investors remain wary about investing because of market volatility and past portfolio losses. David L. Giunta of Natixis says it is also clear how difficult it will be for advisors and other financial professionals to help these clients take steps to act in their own best interests. But, now is the perfect time for advisors to re-engage.

Survey respondents estimate they will need on average about $66,000 in annual income, significantly less than their current average income of $115,000.

Zinder notes that there are 200,000 financial advisors, but that only about 1,000 or so are producing $1 million a year. What are they doing that you’re not?

The United States is far from the best country worldwide when it comes to retirement savings, according to an index based on data from sources including the World Bank and the United Nations.

The SEC and the IRS have met to discuss tax implications if money-market mutual funds were to adopt a floating share price, two people familiar with the talks said.

Jeffrey Rubin, a Florida broker, was barred from the securities industry after more than 30 National Football League players including Terrell Owens lost at least $40 million on an Alabama casino project that went bankrupt.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch released a new 401(k) report that shows that more employees are taking positive actions to save towards retirement, and financial advisors can have a direct impact on continuing that trend going forward.

The firm has promoted Vin Campagnoli to chief information officer as it looks to continue expanding its platforms.

Growth can mean a number of things: professional development, growing assets, increasing enterprise value of the business, raising revenue or expanding profits. Shirl Penney examines a few lessons learned from the Dynasty Network on what advisors are doing to raise revenues and widen margins.

Women are closing the gap in saving rates for retirement compared to their male counterparts, according to fourth quarter 2012 data for defined contribution plans administered by MassMutual.

A Wells Fargo broker has been ordered to pay $650,000 in restitution for allegedly misappropriating client funds.

More than eight in 10 Americans (84%) expect to see their dentist this year for regular cleanings while less than half (43%) plan to meet with their financial advisor to review their investment strategies.

Call it a generation-skipping succession plan. When 62-year old industry veteran John LaPann decided it was time to hand over the reins of Federal Street Advisors, observers may have expected his successor would emerge from the ranks of firm veterans now in their 50s, but instead the firm chose some younger leaders.

The Insured Retirement Institute announced Wednesday that the IRI Marketing Summit was canceled due to winter storm Saturn.

A recent Schwab survey of planning students at Texas Tech found that the lure of client relationship management and working in-person with clients remains high, with nearly half of students citing the latter as a priority.

All financial advisory referrals come from just 28% of your clients, according to a survey. But what type of clients are sending you new business?