Wealth management

Lack of knowledge is the top reason for not using alternative investments followed by lack of track record, according to Cambridge, Mass.-based consulting firm Cogent Research. As popular of an investing tool as they have become, there are different theories about what role alternatives play in a portfolio as well as what actually constitutes an “alternative,” so it’s easy to understand why there could by some misunderstandings.

Taxes and the economy colluded to make 2012 a record year for grants and contributions.

With the new office, the Ric Edelman-owned wealth management firm now has 32 offices in 13 states.

While the number and size of RIA mergers and acquisitions stayed relatively constant last year, the players shifted sharply, according to a new report released Monday by Schwab Advisor Services.

Here we present a new look at our Top 50 Bank Advisors list, reshuffled and ranked by percentage increase in annual production (and then we cut it down to just the top 20).

What makes an online trader successful? Fidelity Investments surveyed its top trading customers, those with a 12-month portfolio performance of at least 20%, to find out the secrets to their investing success.

Aspiriant, the industry’s third largest RIA, promoted Michael Kossman, the firm’s chief finance officer, to chief operating officer and hired Bret Magpiong as CFO.

The RIA market continues to grow, but it wound up in second place last year.

Institutional investors' investment philosophy is changing with the times. The products they're asking for are becoming more and more in-line with larger social and macro-economic trends, according to a report from Boston-based consulting firm Cerulli Associates and the Institutional Investor Institute.

These often-reclusive businesses manage the finances of America’s affluent and occasionally complete with banks for clients and employees. These offices have interesting back stories.

If you want to keep them on track, forget nitty-gritty details and focus on these six major themes.

Thomas Lee, the creator of the GIVE Strategy, explains how you can use the new tax deal to grow your practice.

Change is the name of the game in 2013. A new report from Aite Group looks at the major trends that could dominate the wealth management industry this year.

This year, Duran said the company plans to aggressively expand its business model, and its brand -- aiming to look more like Starbucks and less like rivals HighTower and Dynasty Financial.

As the RIA industry grows and reshapes itself, advisors need to keep an eye on the shifting competitive landscape. In our annual RIA Leaders report, in addition to identifying the top 50 firms by AUM and by growth, Financial Planning ran the numbers to find 50 emerging fee-only RIA firms to watch.

You can use a well-organized advisory board to get strategic advice from the people who are your most valuable assets. Here are a few suggestions for running a group.

Though many advisors say that they want to boost client satisfaction, most don’t know how to make it happen. By taking the right steps to keep your clients highly satisfied, you will be able to position your practice for stronger growth.

Jenni Rivera was a singer-songwriter, actress and Telemundo TV star who died tragically and now her estate will be as rocky as her life.

Zero Alpha Group, an alliance of independent advisory firms, is zeroing in on the next generation of members’ prospective leaders. The group has formed the Zero Leadership Institute, hoping for positive results.

Changes in the independent advisory industry, shifting demographics and advances in technology make the ability to communicate your value critical to your success, according to Tom Nally, president of TD Ameritrade Institutional.