Practice management

Kevin Keller, the CEO of the CFP Board of Standards, says that the fiduciary standard will remain a hot button issue in 2013. In the second part of a four-part interview, he also discusses dealing with criticism after the organization raised fees last year.

With an eye toward the future and likely also toward steering the Facebook generation toward its own website, Fidelity Investments launched a new app for Facebook, called FutureTimeline, which allows users to set long-term financial goals and track their savings toward shorter-term goals, like vacations or buying a new car.

The trade group's annual gathering showcased an industry less preoccupied with stabilizing itself and adapting to new regulations — and more interested in looking toward the future.

The liquidation of boomers' assets will be the biggest opportunity for advisors over the course of the next 20 years, according to Tiburon's Chip Roame. Advisors just need to get past the bad attitudes.

Janney’s 32nd hire in their private client group this year, George Keith will be complex manager in Darien, Conn.

The Social Security Administration announced a 1.7% cost-of-living adjustment for 2013. That adjustment will also cause an increase in the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax.

Seven advisors have joined Baird’s wealth management group in Texas, Maryland and Nebraska in a late summer round of recruiting.

Everyone has deeply personal emotions, ties, commitments to political parties, religions, lifestyles, sports teams, etc. that we all judge, right or wrong. Ned Van Riper says advisors have to be cautious about what they say (and display) so as not to offend a potential client.

When Kevin Keller took helm of the CFP Board in 2007, the organization was facing a crisis of confidence among many planners throughout the industry. Five years later, he's led a resurgence. In a one-on-one interview, he discusses how far the organization has come, where it's going, and how it plans to further the professional stature of the financial-planning industry.

Planners concerned with the health of their clients’ pensions should take note that U.S. corporate pension plans managed a modest funding recovery in September, despite remaining in overall deficit status.

While advisors might not snag designer Cynthia Rowley for their next client event, LearnVest Live showcased some important elements of a fun, successful client event. Check out photos from the event and read the blog to see what lessons advisors can take away.

Southwest Securities has hired J.C. Graham as part of its latest recruitment campaign.

Asset managers spend more than 80 percent of their technology dollars simply maintaining existing operations. With regulatory changes and trading spanning more types of assets, “the buy side has a situation of underinvestment which is unsustainable,’’ research firm Celent said.

LearnVest Live is arguably LearnVest’s biggest success so far: getting people, particularly young women, excited about (and engaged with) their finances. “Apparently every good-looking, successful, young working woman in Manhattan is at [LearnVest Live] right now…In case guys were wondering,” attendee Alana Taylor, tweeted from the event.

As Raymond James Financial Chief Executive Paul Reilly looks to the future, he sees more diversity in the firm’s workforce, particularly when it comes to female and younger financial advisors.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was wrong to say Dodd-Frank offers the "biggest kiss" to large banks, according to Sheila Bair.

Raymond James has expanded its practice acquisitions and succession planning department this year as it looks to open up more transition options for advisor force.

The advisory industry has been fretting about the impending tsunami of retiring advisors in the coming years for some time. As a result, firms are assembling succession programs as a way to ease the transition of client assets from older advisors to the much younger set.

If Congress allows Bush-era tax cuts to expire next year, as many expect, planners everywhere must be aware of the “fiscal cliff” their clients will confront.

If Congress allows Bush-era tax cuts to expire next year, as many expect, planners everywhere must be aware of the “fiscal cliff” their clients will confront.