Practice management

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management has lured five advisors with $619 million in assets and about $2.9 million in production in its latest move in the hunt for advisory talent.

There's a shift afoot in advisor compensation.

When planner Gordon Bernhardt began focusing his practice on entrepreneurial clients about three years ago, he discovered all of them lacked one important asset: time.

Are your clients planning to use Social Security? If they’re not, it’s probably because they do not know enough about it. You should be the one to start this conversation.

The SEC plans to take a close look at potential conflicts of interest in the investment-advisor practices that its examiners oversee, and will ramp up scrutiny of the marketing and performance claims of federally registered advisors, according to the examination guidance the agency recently issued for the coming year.

The most successful advisors intentionally create a brand that is distinct, stands for something, and creates an emotional connection with clients.

Question marks remain when it comes to Social Security, but client over the age of 40 will see Social Security as an important source of retirement income. So advisors must take steps now to help their clients.

The CFP Board has redesigned two of its websites to enhance navigational features and functionality across different mobile platforms.

Mike Tyson is preparing for another fight -- this time, with his former financial planner.

These are the biggest money blunders clients make. By getting ahead of the problem, advisers can make themselves more valuable.

Even while the big picture has some question marks, suffice it to say that any client over the age of 40 will see Social Security as an important source of retirement income. So advisors can take steps now to help their current clients.

A Phoenix registered investment advisor has agreed to pay nearly $275,000 to the SEC in a case stemming from the sale of a stake in his firm -- at an allegedly inflated price -- to a client.

Charles Schwab Corporation continues to tout low fees with the announcement of first-year results for Schwab Index Advantage.

In 2010, U.S. households headed by seniors older than 75 carried an average of $27,409 in debt, up from $13,665 in 2007.

In 2012, almost seven in ten advisors (69%) operated in a team-oriented structure, up from 61% in 2011.

Social Security will play a critical role in the retirement income for mass affluent investors. But how can advisors help clients think about Social Security in a strategic way?

By some estimates, roughly 80% of typical small business owners net worth is tied up in their company. Yet, according to experts, most entrepreneurs have not taken the time to formally value their businesses.

CPAs have long been sought after as centers of influence by members of the financial services profession. But, the role they play and how they are perceived and accessed by financial advisors is undergoing a dramatic shift.

Social media is great for marketing. For customer authentication, not so much.

What makes you different from other advisors? Why should your ideal clients choose you over all the other advisors they have access to? And is that uniqueness something you developed as part of your marketing plan, or is it who you are?