Wealth management

The Justice Department announced a criminal plea and settlement with BNP Paribas on Monday, in which the French bank will pay nearly $8.9 billion to settle charges it willfully continued to do business with countries and entities on the U.S. sanctions list. It was the largest sanctions fine in the Justice Department's history — more than four times larger than #2 on the list. The following are the largest penalties paid by banks for sanctions violations.

Treasury Department approves new annuity; Advisors keep clients' emotions in check; Important questions about Social Security

The recruiting firm awards exam fee reimbursements to three new planning graduates -- as long as they pass the test.

Financial products and markets are so thoroughly intertwined that regulators need to take a more holistic approach than they have in the past.

New options could stake out a middle ground between a lump-sum payout from a 401(k) and putting the entire plan into an annuity.

The errant sales assistant allegedly converted funds from an LPL business bank account.

Trust is critical to establishing good relationships with clients, but the financial industry has long suffered a trust deficit. Time to talk about it.

Retirees ignoring biggest assets; Spending habits more important than income; Situation improves for 65-year-olds

Triad believes it can attract advisors who are "more entrepreneurial" with its hybrid model.

Some advisors have found that covered calls outperform bonds and provide savvy selling strategies.

Security experts say it's now crucial for advisors to understand that the fraud landscape has changed: Planners and their clients are both targets, and new federal rules (and custodians' policies) make advisors primarily responsible for fraud prevention. Advisors and other experts recommend a number of techniques for keeping clients safe.

After the first year of running his own RIA, an advisor reflects and offers some lessons learned.

When the Navy called Robert Gerstemeier back for involuntary active duty, he was glad that he had prepared for the unexpected.

Here are the smartest tips and tricks we’ve heard recently.

By focusing on what really needs protecting, advisors can help bring insurance spending under control.

For clients, is one type of firm, business model or fee structure better than another?

Scott Adams and Heath Burch focus exclusively on families with special-needs children. It started as a small workshop because Adams was going through these same issues, but then it boomed into a practice that draws clients from 49 states and overseas.

Common Mistakes in Retirement Savings; Tuition vs. Nest Egg; Alternatives, Yes or No

Our signature top program managers rankings are based on multiple variables. Here we present the top 10 based solely on the percentage increase in team AUM.

Clarity in strategic vision and compensation boosts advisor satisfaction, according to a new J.D. Power & Associates study.