Practice management

Demographic shifts, technology implementation and investing challenges were in the spotlight this week in San Diego, where about 3,000 advisors and other industry professionals came together for TD Ameritrade Institutional’s annual conference. Between the presentations, meetings and hallway conversations, Financial Planning heard lots of smart takeaways for advisors.

Tired of running his financial planning firm in Michigan, Jason Wenk made a radical change to his planning practice a couple of years ago. He sold a portion of it, moved his family and his company to Laguna Beach, Calif., and began to grow a practice entirely through blogging.

Social networking has become so common and broad-based in its use that banks have no choice but to incorporate social networking into their marketing efforts. Here are five ways they can do that.

Thomas Foss read Ron Carson’s rebuttal to his position on generating referrals with great enthusiasm, but was disappointed by the response.

A story on the best way to duplicate your top clients stirred some debate. The Prosperous Advisor, Ron Carson, says the key to referrals is asking for them.

The regulator will collect about $800,000 in fines for stock and options trading and trade reporting violations at over a dozen brokerages, according to the regulator's January disciplinary actions report.

When it comes to designing system and workflow automation for your firm, keep it simple, a panel of experts said at the TD Ameritrade Institutional national conference in San Diego.

Why don’t more professional athletes work with financial advisors? Fear and ego often stand in the way, says former NFL player Willie Williams. How do you think advisors can get athletes as clients and do a better job serving them?

Less than half of Gen X consumers (46%) selected retirement as their top reason for saving, with vacation and travel the top choice for 38% of this demographic group.

It's an advisor's market, as firms with diverse practice models strive to nab top talent.

You have a minute to explain to a busy prosepective client why your firm deserves the business.

An ethical will can ensure the positive impact of your client's life on future generations.

Firms are partnering with their advisors to help mid-market business owner clients retire.

A run-down of the stories in this issue, including a discussion of emerging markets and using ETFs to reach untapped markets.

To lure advisors away from their desks for a few days, conferences need to offer more than they do now. Here are a few ideas to deliver a lot more value.

Whether you run your own firm or your practice is part of a larger organization, an entrepreneurial strategy will help you create long-term success.

Risk tolerance and a growing taste for equities help the January index climb back after two straight declines.

Take the money and run? It is a question advisors face as retirees get offered lump-sum bonanzas.

Advisors who’ve been through the deal process offer their recommendations for others considering a deal.

A hypothetical advisor grossing $200,000 a year could potentially increase annual production by more than 30% by adopting these best practices.