Practice management

Advisors have to walk a tightrope when retired clients show signs of dementia. How do you follow your clients' wishes and also do what's best for them when those two things begin to diverge?

A run-down of the stories in this issue, including Credit Suisse's expansion plans, tips on avoiding the biggest estate planning mistakes, making account opening more efficient, and a discussion of senior fraud with Don Blandin.

Steps you should take if you are terminated.

How long must a broker-dealer keep records of accounts that have left the firm?

What every advisor should know about government insurance to better serve clients.

Inefficiencies in account opening irk advisors and potential clients alike.

Are firms doing all they can when it comes to handling material non-public info?

The president and CEO of Investor Protection Trust discusses issues facing seniors and the special problems for which advisors should watch, including protecting them against fraud.

Anthony DeChellis, Credit Suisse's CEO of Private Banking Americas, has big plans for hiring and expanding assets.

A better approach is needed for training advisors.

The academic landscape for financial planning is shifting rapidly. Here's where to find the next generation of advisors.

If your firm's home page looks like it's stuck in the 1990s, you're likely driving away prospects and employees. Here are 7 rules for making an upgrade.

For some planners, there is nothing more difficult to answer than, 'Do you have long-term care insurance?'

The CFP Board continually seeks to amplify its message to policymakers by joining with other, similarly focused groups to form a broader advocacy base. Those partnerships, together with the strategic counsel from a clutch of outside experts, have helped the board establish its presence in Washington, even with only a meager staff of three.

The new practice management program includes retirement seminars, educational materials with action plans, online tools and a structured framework that financial advisors can follow with their clients, the company said.

The firm is adding a senior regional director of branch office development to boost recruiting efforts.

How to utilize social sites effectively is on everyone’s mind these days, and most advisors can readily understand how to use a site like LinkedIn for business contacts. But what about Facebook? Does a site that traditionally features family pictures and silly contests really help you promote yourself and your services?

Worried about possible flooding from Hurricane Sandy, Lancaster, Pa., planner Rick Rodgers spent Monday night at the fortified headquarters of his namesake firm -- a building that looks like a mansion on a Southern plantation.

While many major financial firms and residents have geared up for Hurricane Sandy and its potentially devastating impact, are advisors and their practices ready for such inclement weather? Do they know what to do? Jude Boudreaux, an advisor whose practice, Upperline Financial, based in New Orleans, has some tips.

State securities regulators brought 399 enforcement actions against investment advisor firms in 2011, nearly double the total from 2010.