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?

Invesco recently announced the launch of a new application intended for financial intermediaries and investors. Though it's still a bit early to tell how much advisors and clients will like and use the app, the good news for Invesco is that advisor tech expert Bill Winterberg gives this app a passing grade.

Microsoft's new operating system and tablet officially launches today. ING Direct in Canada already has a tablet and desktop banking app for Windows 8; Bank of America and USAA are developing them.

An entrepreneur argues that the accelerating pace of technological change has implications for both investing and philanthropy.

As many planners have discovered, unsettled markets mean many nervous phone calls and emails from clients. Investors want to know why their investments may be down and when the turmoil will stop. And advisors have nothing in their toolboxes to relieve that anxiety. Except, maybe there's a simple tool right at their fingertips.

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

Though advisors are increasingly on social platforms, bringing financial goal setting to the social media sphere probably won’t change the way clients interact with their advisors. Will it instead help those who aren’t working with advisors start thinking about their finances?

Social media is rapidly changing the way financial advisors approach their marketing efforts, but staying current with compliance regulations can be a challenge.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has just finished work on a new supply chain finance module for its CashPro Online banking channel for corporate clients.

The system now provides financial advisors with access to tax tools, account details and trading information.

As you navigate your way around the future of mobile technology, there are signposts that you must be aware of so as not to make a wrong turn and end up in a perilous situation. Here are four things advisors should watch out for to make the most out of mobile technology.

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.

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.

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there just seems to be a lot of noise “out there” as people in general and financial advisors in particular grapple with Twitter etiquette, Facebook do’s, and LinkedIn don’ts. Marketing Maven Marie Swift demystifies the art to using social media to build relationships and to amplify your voice.

Informa Investment Solutions, the New York-based supplier of software and solutions for the investment industry, announced Wednesday it will buy Zephyr Associates, Inc, a developer of analytical software tools.

Far removed from last year's Occupy-style protests in Chicago, customer experience shortcomings are still a big topic of discussion at 2012's BAI Retail Delivery Conference in Washington. New mobile innovation and social media advancements are two ways for banks to up their game.

Facebook is the world’s largest social network with more than 800 million active users. That is a lot of potential clients. However, Facebook presents some unique challenges to client acquisition, according to Craig Faulkner.

Some people say social media for advisors is a waste of time. Not so for Cathy Curtis, of Curtis Financial Planning, now a division of ClearRock Capital, LLC. Curtis has social media use to thank for the merger.

To attract clients, brokerage firms should be offering a mix of in-person as well as online, self-directed investing and retirement planning options, according to a recent report by Aite group.