Wealth management

For love or money, art as an alternative investment can enhance your clients' portfolios.

Estate planning is a critical part of the planning process and ideally should be a group effort, involving attorneys and accountants as well as planners.

An unexpected windfall is welcome, but stressful. Here's a plan for helping clients cope.

Clients should update their wills after births, deaths, marriages and — especially — divorces.

The so-called “Godfather of Soul” passed away on Christmas Day 2006, and generously left his $100 million fortune to a special trust set up to help poor and needy children. Yet, four-and-a-half years later, not one child has seen a cent. Why?

On Tuesday, UBS announced plans to cut 3,500 job worldwide, to save $2.5 billion by 2013. Almost simultaneously, the state of Connecticut found that money talks -- if it wants to keep UBS jobs in its state.

Russell Armstrong was the 47-year old husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Taylor Armstrong. Tragically, Russell committed suicide on Aug. 15, about one month after Taylor had filed for divorce. His untimely death and the subsequent squabbling by surviving relatives highlight the importance of estate planning whether you're famous or not.

Zsa Zsa Gabor has never been one to shy away from the limelight. But when does pursuing fame cross the line for a 94-year-old? That point may have come this week, when her husband of 25 years told CNN that he had started the process of donor matching and blood work so he could turn Zsa Zsa into Ma Ma.

One of the challenges that we have as professionals is motivating our clients to do their estate planning. Our new television special titled "Trial & Heirs: Protect Your Family Fortune!" debuts tonight and we think it will help motivate your clients to take the necessary estate planning steps that many have put off for far too long.

Making estate planning decisions can sometimes bring up uncomfortable topics for clients, but Holly Thomas, the founder of Holly P. Thomas, LLC, in Tampa, Fla., said it's a vital part of any financial plan.

It’s shocking how many rich and famous people make mistake and after mistake, which often leads to heirs fighting over inheritances. But, it’s not only the rich. Everyday across the country, people from all walks of life make the exact same mistakes time and time again. The only difference is the dollar amounts that they’re fighting over.

While many asset managers continue to fail to connect meaningfully with registered investment advisors, many are turning to such digital media as micro websites, social media and mobile applications, according to a new report from Financial Research Corp., “Winning Strategies for Marketing and Distributing to the RIA.”

Civil rights icon Rosa Parks passed away in Detroit at the age of 92 back in 2005. Almost six years later, her legacy is still tied up in a lengthy court battle. The case features allegations of abuse, cronyism and corruption by the probate judge as well as the two lawyers he appointed to oversee the estate and trust.

Ryan O'Neal is at it again. He and Craig Nevius, a Hollywood producer who used to work closely with Farrah Fawcett, are in the midst of more legal fighting against one another.