Wealth management

Sens. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., have introduced a proposal to reform the federal estate tax, which temporarily expired this year but is slated to increase to up to 55 percent next year for estates over $1 million.

The San Diego-based company, which announced it was going public in June, hopes to expand its network of financial advisors.

Sixty-five percent of respondents said they are more concerned about their finances today than they were at the beginning of the financial crisis.

Despite feeling the pain of the economic slowdown in 2008, Americans continued to give generously to charities, though few as generously as Warren Buffett who has promised to donate 99% of his riches.

While using technology, advisors expect aggressive growth over the next five years, according to a Schwab study.

Robert S. Matthews worked for Smith Barney and Citigroup for the past 25 years in its global private banking, wealth management and family office services units. He replaced Kevin McCabe, who was president and chief executive officer since Fieldpoint was founded in 2008.

As the rich get richer across the globe, high net worth clients in North America have tightened their grip on their wallets.

For three days in late June, advisors, industry executives and fund managers descended on Chicago for the 2010 Morningstar Investment Conference. The audience received insight on the flash crash, international investing and the impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Industry bigwigs, including Vanguard's William McNabb, were among the speakers. (See part 1 here.)

Bank Investment Consultant Magazine's Top 20 Program Managers Awards honored program managers who bring out the best in their advisors. At a dinner sponsored by New York Life/Mainstay Investments in New York last week, the awards program celebrated managers whose advisors perform well above industry benchmarks.

For three days in late June, advisors, industry executives and fund managers descended on Chicago for the 2010 Morningstar Investment Conference. The audience received insight on the flash crash, international investing and the impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Industry bigwigs, including Vanguard's William McNabb, were among the speakers. (See part 2 here.)

While some financial companies worry about the ramifications of the sweeping financial reform that is set to pass, asset managers won’t feel the heat.

A lack of investor confidence in the market has triggered advisors to work feverishly to strenghten client retention techniques over acquiring new customers.

While half of RIAs’ new business comes from referrals, only 20% of advisors ask clients and centers of influence for leads.

SourceMedia's Women Advisors Forum descended on Chicago on June 16. The event offered an opportunity to network with the most successful and influential women financial advisors in the nation, while gaining insight into their career experience and rise to the top.

Advisers are missing opportunities to expand existing relationships and attract wealthy clients, according to a survey by ByAllAccounts, an account aggregator in Woburn, Mass.

Registered investment advisor firms need more capacity to handle client demand for professional financial planning advice. That aligns with the recent trend of wirehouse brokers getting fed up with that channel and considering doing business in the independent channel instead.

Charles Schwab opens the doors to its "virtual university" to help RIAs better utilize its technology

From June 1 to June 5, advisors affiliated with Royal Alliance came together for NEC 2010 in Orlando, FL. During this educational conference, advisors heard Royal Alliance executives and industry experts speak on a variety of topics from retirement and estate planning to practice management and technology. Attendees also took advantage of valuable networking opportunities with their peers.Below are photo highlights from the event.

As U.S. Trust continues pursuing its mission to expand its leadership position in wealth management and enhance its business with ultra-high-net worth clients, the firm announced on Tuesday that it appointed five senior-level wealth management experts to key markets nationally.

More than 200 top financial advisors, planners and RIAs attended the recent Women Advisor Forum in New York City, where attendees learned about some of the best ways to build a book of business and tips on how to gain referrals of high net worth clientele. Sessions included career advice and a powerhouse panel of top investment directors, EVPs, and CEOs speaking about how they overcame career obstacles. (Our next Women Advisor Forum takes place on June 16 in Chicago. Click here to register or find out details about the event.)Below are photo highlights from the New York event.