Retirement planning

Dimensional Fund Advisor has made its way onto Paychex’s Open Fund Select and Advisor Select platforms. Paychex provides of payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing services, including 401(k) plan recordkeeping, for small- to medium-sized businesses.

ING has launched a new program called The Opportunity to Articulate Your Value in effort to help advisors stay on top of rapid changes in regulations and compensation in the retirement space.

Seventy-three percent of annuity owners and 17% of non-owners agreed that annuities are an important part of a retirement strategy, compared to 55% and 8%, respectively a year earlier, according to the survey of investors and financial advisors released at the IRI 2012 Annual Meeting,

"The industry has been in an interesting transformation," said Catherine J. Weatherford, president and CEO of the Insured Retirement Institute. "The financial crisis hit banks rapidly, but for the life insurance industry, it took a while for the issues from the crisis to develop."

Franklin Templeton has expanded its defined contribution investment only team this year with the addition of four wholesalers.

Indexed annuity sales increased 8.3% and income annuities were up 6.1% in the second quarter, according to Beacon Research. It was the second-best quarter ever for those product types, Beacon said in a press release. Total fixed annuity sales were also up, but with a more muted 1% gain in the quarter. And they declined 17.2% from the year-ago period. …

The branchless bank is combining retail banking, retirement and insurance services in its online banking site.

The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of this year, will results in a combined retirement businesses with approximately $120 billion in assets under management and 3 million participants.

The Hartford today is taking another step towards focusing on its mutual fund business by agreeing to sell its retirement plans business to rival Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) for a cash ceding commission of $400 million.

Vincent Leon has joined 3D Asset Management as a National Sales Manager, responsible for overseeing the firm’s sales and marketing efforts to the wirehouse, RIA, retirement/DCIO and sub-advisory channels.

Many people are not gaining the full benefit they could from Social Security. And in many cases, financial advisors don't know enough about how the program works to help their clients. Yet it will continue to be a key part of many clients' retirement income.

A run-down of the stories in this issue, beginning with the cover story, which details how to offer wealth management with a personal touch.

As the baby boomer generation closes in on retirement, many are preparing to give a substantial portion of their wealth on charitable causes.

Advisors look to 401(k) plans as fertile ground for business.

Political wrangling over the so-called "fiscal cliff," the potential expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts coupled with sharp reductions in federal spending, has stimulated many a conversation about the resulting financial planning implications.

One expert argues that dividend-paying stocks, not growth stocks, should be the building blocks of retirement portfolios

A program agenda that's designed to inspire

Initial reading of 48.7% shows a modest contraction in business activity

FP's new Retirement Advisor Confidence Index will help planners gauge industry business conditions

Ask Ed Slott: Your IRA Expert answers readers' questions about the five-year rule for Roth IRAs.