When LPL Financial sought to improve its highly successful Model Wealth Portfolio platform, its advisors made a couple of requests: make it easier for us to select securities and to rebalance our client portfolios.

Fund managers and financial advisors are looking to the cloud to reduce costs, enhance performance, and improve accessibility, but many questions remain.

When it comes to technology, most advisors want to streamline, but they remain stuck using multiple system, according to a survey.

On a 3-2 vote, the federal regulator charged the nation's 13 exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to come up with a workable system for keeping track of all options and stock activity, before the start of the next trading day.

Deloitte survey also finds risks not continuously monitored at most firms despite available automation; most intend to revamp risk management within 12 months.

Small Sacrifices app encourages customers to channel coffee and cigarette buying habits into savings goals.

Wealth managers and financial advisors are using the iPad more than professionals in any other industry. Here’s a closer look at how and why. Also see: 11 Essential Tech Tools for Advisors 10 Must-Have Mobile Apps for Financial Advisors 10 Online Tools Advisors Can’t Live Without 10 Critical Social Media Tips for Advisors

Charles Schwab yesterday rolled out the first version of the new Schwab Advisor Center app for the iPhone for independent investment advisors who custody assets with Schwab Advisor Services.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney is rolling out LinkedIn and Twitter to its full 17,000-member financial advisor force with the aim of helping to make time spent in front of the computer more effective than cold calling client prospects.

A portfolio overlay system from Smartleaf will add customization and consistency to wealth management at People’s United Bank.

The T. Rowe Price Personal App for iPhone and iPod touch provides investors the opportunity to manage their accounts and view fund information on the go.

Jackson National Life Insurance launched the Elite Access iPad application, following the rollout of the firm’s newest product offering.

"It's not how much you sell in social media," says Frank Eliason, SVP of social media at Citigroup. "The ROI is in the information that's out there; that leads to change and process improvement."

Fund firms are beginning to like social media and the devices their staffs use to communicate online with customers.

Only 16% of financial advisors are using social media to market their services. Here are seven baby steps any wealth manager can take to get started. Also see: 10 Online Tools Advisors Can’t Live Without 7 Facebook Basics for Financial Advisors 9 Steps to Grow Your AUM With LinkedIn 10 Critical Social Media Tips for Advisors 10 Steps to Twitter Success for Financial Advisors

Looking for some new (and free) online tools to compare your performance to other advisors or to reach out to new clients? Here’s a good place to start. Also see: 9 Steps to Grow Your AUM With LinkedIn 7 Facebook Basics for Financial Advisors 10 Critical Social Media Tips for Advisors 10 Steps to Twitter Success for Financial Advisors

Social media platforms Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter allow advisors to build new relationships and market their firms, but success varies from platform to platform.

Social media record keeping may become a larger challenge for firms as they keep pace with regulatory rules, Bank of America Merrill Lynch executive Douglas G. Preston said Wednesday at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association’s Social Media Seminar in New York.

A U.S. Trust survey reveals how three generations of wealth approach estate planning, elder care, and family privacy and security.

Advisors “are now at the point where they are asking, ‘What oar should I buy?’” said Blane Warrene, the CEO of Arkovi, a leading social media archiving service.