Practice management

Securities and Exchange Commission officials downplayed the potential for the so-called budget "sequestration" Thursday, but said dealers selling Build America Bonds should inform investors of any potentially risky call provisions.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is not pursuing the idea of imposing a three-strikes-and-you're-out system for issuers with disclosure failures, like the one floated last week by an SEC commissioner, John Cross, the director of the SEC's Office of Municipal Securities said here on Thursday.

The executive listed a few areas where the organization is targeting rule-breakers.

A better informed, better educated assistant, can help an advisor improve his practice exponentially.

Strict new reporting rules on global assets and earnings is prompting blowback from financial institutions.

Marketing is not a one-shot thing. It is about finding a need and filling it over and over again to generate predictable results. Choose one of these action items and grow your business today.

As a new advisor, you have the luxury and ability to offer all your clients top notch service. It is easy to make everyone an “A” client when you have a small book to manage. But as the the team at Focus reminds us, as time goes on and your business grows, you start to realize pretty quickly that it is virtually impossible to offer the same type and level of services to every client in your book.

Legend Financial Advisors has found success through monthly webcasts, focusing either on a financial planning or investing topic, sometimes chosen based on demand from a client.

More than half of the nation’s affluent investors (52%) report that their net worth has grown at least 20% since 2007, and 73% believe they have “a lot of control over their financial future.”

Consumerism has, for the most part, taught us that satisfaction is the standard. But Ron Carson writes that, in the financial advisory business, satisfaction is unacceptable. Satisfied clients are not loyal clients and loyal clients are the only good clients.

More seniors are concerned about Medicare than about any other financial issue, topping even those who are worried about having enough money to enjoy retirement, according to a survey by Allsup.

The hybrid RIA firm says it chose LPL after a 'Bachelor'-style bakeoff.

Orion’s accounting and performance review software provides SWS advisors with performance dashboard.

SEC chairman Mary L. Schapiro said there is not a substantive effort to review the agency’s “clearly erroneous” trade rules, even though Knight Capital took $457.6 million in losses after a flood of erroneous trades on August 1.

Advisors all desire employees who know what you want even before you speak. While these type of people are typically a needle in a haystack, there are ways to optimize the staff you have already.

Wall Street may still be in love with complex financial instruments, but more and more investors are choosing a simpler, more prudent way to invest, and Steve Atkinson explain that that is why the assets under management with independent wealth advisors continues to grow.

Raymond James executive Chet Helck called for a year of working to restore public trust and confidence in the financial services industry, economy and nation at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association annual conference on Tuesday.

In addition to serving the local community, such clinics offer new graduates real-world experience.

Instead of expected retirement at the age of 65, the number has gone up to 75, according to My New Financial Advisor's survey.

SIFMA chief executive Tim Ryan said at the trade group’s annual meeting that the commodity futures regulator’s plan to oversee swaps made by foreign firms with U.S. participants breaks from international standards.