Wealth management

To what do the nation's high net worth investors owe their wealth? In a recent survey from Spectrem Group, millionaires ranked on a scale of one to five what they believed were the key factors in building up their bank account. Was it hard work? Or were they just at the right place at the right time?

"We provide all the tools a broker needs to thrive," said Russell Gebhard, president of Sovereign Investment Group in Houston."If the advisor is successful, it's more than likely the clients will be, too."

A survey from the Oechsli Institute reveals that advisors are underusing the personal aspects of social media to build client rapport.

CFO4LIFE, a Coppell, Texax, financial planning firm with more than $450 million in assets, announced Thursday it is departing from LPL Financial to become an RIA.

"A lot of advisors say they have a team," said Jeff Fishman, who heads JSF Financial in Los Angeles. "When you talk to them, you find out they have a bunch of people who came from wirehouses. We have a real team: people from different backgrounds who play different roles."

The agency is targeting Summit Wealth Management, a registered investment advisor, and Angelo Alleca, who is charged with defrauding investors in what the SEC describes as a scheme that sought to conceal losses from trades that went bad through the creation of new private funds that were used to repay the original investors.

Wall Street firms turned out in force Tuesday night to celebrate a political development that for some hit close to home: the one-year anniversary of the repeal of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays serving in the military. Photos: Mason Braswell

Savvy financial advisors are using social sites to differentiate themselves from the competition and to build trust and credibility. Perhaps the biggest reason for financial advisors to get involved in social marketing can be summed up in four words: Your customers are there.

Omyen, which is based in Westwood, Mass., specializes in developing technologies for comprehensive financial planning and client education. The technology will be added to the FPA Practitioner Resource Guide, which is a directory of solutions and benefits to help FPA members build their business.

Thinking of integrating video into your website? Or maybe you're curious about starting a YouTube channel? Or maybe the idea of foraying into video makes you terrified. Whatever your stance, video is undoubtedly becoming a popular trend among advisors. It's a trend that is helping advisors communicate with clients in new ways, while expanding their reach to prospects.

The three practices, which have a combined $673 million in assets under management, are now among the more than 540 practices nationally with the independent brokerage arm of Wells Fargo & Co.

Lawson/Wincester Wealth Management is an independent firm in Chattanooga, Tenn., led by Matt Lawson and William F. Winchester, The team also is acquiring the existing practice of Raymond James Financial Services advisor John Goodson in Wincester, Tenn.

Advisors who stay stuck in their comfort zone may have a neat and tidy life, but, it will simply be a fraction of what it could be had they continued to evolve and max out their God-given lifetime capability. Best-selling author Steve Sanduski shares 9 ways advisors can continue to evolve and reap great benefits, both personally and professionally.

A new "Going Independent" solution package, introduced this week, combines compliance and practice aid to help advisors who want to own their own wealth management shop.

To attract more independent advisors, HighTower has introduced two new options, the HighTower Network and the HighTower Alliance. Elliott Weissbluth, the company's CEO, said by adding these channels, HighTower will be able to attract advisors who prefer to continue to own their own practices rather than joining a partnership.

Are you in a red state or blue state? Or purple? It may affect which investment products you want to offer.

The iPad has revolutionized the financial services industry. Here's a deeper dive into some of the specific ways advisors and wealth managers can use the iPad to improve their business.

LearnVest, a financial management website built as an electronic financial advisor for mass market investors, will announce Tuesday morning it is now a registered investment advisor and will be hiring more advisors in the coming months.

Insurance is an important part of all your clients' financial plans. The current controversy surrounding Michael Jackson's estate and litigation serves as a stark reminder to your clients to be careful and make full disclosure so their heirs don't have to face a lawsuit over an insurance claim when they die.

To become more successful, most small business owners must begin by acknowledging all of the areas in which their business falls short. For independent advisors, and many entrepreneurs, this can be a tough thing to assess. Never fear: Four key custodians offer four simple ways to improve your business.