Wealth management

When it comes to choosing an advisor, mass affluent investors are very selective. According to a survey by the Spectrem Group, it all comes down to these five factors.

BOK Financial Corp. has acquired The Milestone Group, a Denver registered investment advisor. The acquisition enhances BOK's presence in Denver and brings its assets under management and administration across all its subsidiaries to nearly $50 billion, the company said in a statement. BOK has maintained a presence in Denver through its local bank brand, Colorado State Bank and Trust, a 100-year-old company. The acquisition will strengthen the Colorado bank's wealth management business. .

Trust funds are typically plump with assets to manage. Now, RIAs may be able to keep those asset management fees, after trusts are funded, without having to disrupt back office operations.

A new online company, FutureAdvisor, aims to break open the market for sophisticated financial advice and make that service available not only to the wealthy, but to all investors. Launched in 2010, the Seattle-based startup says it already analyzes $4 billion in assets for its users and, today, it announced $5 million in new venture capital funding. …

Despite posting solid gains as a group, some S&P 500 stocks went into the tank last month. Here's a closer look at some of the laggards.

Legacy expert attorneys Danielle and Andy Mayoras say the circumstances surrounding the late musician's estate serve as the latest reminder that having the proper estate planning instructions in place - and keeping them updated - is extremely important for every client.

Marvin Tuttle, the current exec director/CEO, had planned to retire in 2014 but moved up his exit due to family concerns. Schadle, who has been with the FPA and a predecessor group, the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (ICFP), since 1996, assumed her current post in 2006.

August's Top 5 Equity Vesting Awards

More than three in four advisors expect to continue selling variable annuities and allocate 11% of their assets under management toward these products, according to Cogent Research.

Midsized RIA firms are the new sweet spot for managers of mutual funds and ETFs, according to a new report from Cerulli Associates.

As the trend toward independence continues, the opportunities raise questions from those advisors who are considering making the move. Dynasty Financial Partners' Shirl Penney provides some answers.

Advisors who move aggressively into fee-based business end up doing much better than their transaction-based colleagues, with more assets, a higher return on those assets and more revenues, according to a new report.

RIA in a Box's registration maintenance service focuses on turning down an RIA's panic level from surprise regulatory visits.

UPDATE: Who are the most influential people in our industry? Financial Planning is now accepting nominations for our annual Influencer Awards. We are seeking the most impactful individuals in multiple categories who are leading -- and sometimes pushing -- the industry to higher levels. The awards will recognize practitioners and thought leaders who have made significant contributions to the financial planning profession, from developing innovative portfolio and practice-management solutions to providing leadership for the advisory community.

In an uncertain market, many wealthy clients are fearful of giving away liquid assets to reduce the size of their estates. An alternative is to give a home to the next generation using a lease-back strategy.

Stocks from three industry sectors stood out from the pack last month. Did you have your clients locked into any of these summer standouts?

The Olympic Games have been a training ground for some into a second career as a financial advisor. On Wall Street caught up with several of those advisors as this year's games heat up in London. Take a look at who they are, the challenges they faced as athletes, and how that prepared them for their advisory careers.

Financial Planning and the Foundation for Financial Planning recognize life-changing volunteerism with the 2nd annual Pro Bono Planners of the Year Awards.

Here's a sampling of bank reps who were recently promoted or moved to new organizations to assume roles of greater responsibility.

Schwab Advisor Services has expanded its "Insight to Action" practice management consulting program for registered investment advisors.