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Each week in Weekend Reading For Financial Planners, we seek to bring you synopses and commentaries on 12 articles covering news for financial advisors including topics covering technical planning, practice management, advisor marketing, career development, and more.
Also in industry news this week: While many financial advisors are paying close attention to the potential extension of sunsetting measures within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in the coming year, legislation related to retirement savings could be on Congress' agenda as well Fidelity is planning to change the default for its existing RIA non-retirement (..)
Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that at a time when brokerage firms' cash sweep programs come under increased scrutiny (and as the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates), Charles Schwab (the largest RIA custodian) continues to slash sweep rates for client (..)
Also in industry news this week: According to a recent survey, advisors are putting an increasing share of client assets into model portfolios, allowing for customization and time savings that advisors appear to be using to provide more comprehensive planning services RIA M&A deal volume saw an annual record in 2024 as a lower cost of capital, (..)
Also in industry news this week: While RIA M&A deal flow hit record levels in 2024 (both in terms of volume and the speed of completing them), firm valuations saw relatively modest gains In its latest annual regulatory oversight report, FINRA joined the SEC in flagging the potential risks to firm and client data from the use of third-party vendors (..)
Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that CFP Board CEO Kevin Keller this week announced his plans to retire and step down from his position at the end of April next year.
Each week in Weekend Reading For Financial Planners, we seek to bring you synopses and commentaries on 12 articles covering news for financial advisors including topics covering technical planning, practice management, advisor marketing, career development, and more.
Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that Congress appears poised to pass a series of changes affecting retirementplanning, dubbed “SECURE ACT 2.0”, ”, by the end of the year. Social Security COLA for 2023.
Among other measures, the proposal would amend the current 5-part test that determines fiduciary status for retirement accounts by defining as a fiduciary act a one-time recommendation to roll funds from a company retirementplan to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), strengthen advice standards for independent insurance professionals, apply to (..)
Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners"– this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent analysis from Morningstar suggests that the Department of Labor's (DoL's) new Retirement Security Rule (aka Fiduciary Rule 2.0)
Also in industry news this week: A House committee has advanced a bill that would extend several expired business-related tax measures from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and would increase the value of the Child Tax Credit The SEC released its examination priorities for 2024, which include a focus on advisers' adherence to their duty of care and duty of (..)
Also in industry news this week: The SEC this week finalized a series of rules designed to discourage future runs on money-market funds, potentially reducing their liquidity risk A recent study suggests that advisor marketing messages that address prospective clients' emotional concerns, in addition to their technical questions, could be particularly (..)
Also in industry news this week: While the SEC has had the power to restrict mandatory arbitration clauses in RIA client agreements for more than a decade, an advisory committee meeting this week suggests support for such a measure isn't unanimous CFP Board saw a record number of exam-takers during 2024, reflecting recognition of the professional and (..)
Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the Department of Labor released the final version of its Retirement Security Rule (a.k.a.
Also in industry news this week: A new advisor benchmarking study indicates that high-growth firms are excelling in 3 areas: client acquisition, "relationship alpha", and strategic scale A recent survey indicates that while advisors increasingly are leveraging home office investment models to save time and scale more efficiently, they often customize (..)
The study also identified attributes of "top performing" firms across a range of metrics, finding that they are more likely than other firms to have a clear ideal client persona, client value proposition, and marketing plan.
Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that CFP Board announced that it has crossed the milestone of 100,000 CFP professionals in the United States, and despite having just celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, just set a record high in the number of advisors sitting (..)
Over time, advisors shifted toward more analytical approaches, such as investment management and retirementplanning. Today, the industry has evolved further, with a growing emphasis on aligning financial decisions with clients' personal priorities and life goals.
Also in industry news this week: How enforcement of FINRA Rule 4111 could further the decline in the number of broker-dealers and registered representatives. From there, we have several articles on investments: How Morningstar plans to simplify its rating system amid continued concerns about its effectiveness.
Also in industry news this week: A study suggests that a significant number of brokers who are disciplined by FINRA are engaging in ‘regulatory arbitrage’ by moving to state-regulated insurance companies, making it more difficult for consumers to learn about their past infractions.
From there, we have several articles on advisor marketing: How some of the biggest financial services firms are increasing their television advertising and how smaller firms can craft a scalable, cost-efficient marketing strategy. The potential advantages of taking RMDs in stock rather than in cash during the current market downturn.
From there, we have several articles on retirementplanning: A survey indicates that while pre-retirees largely understand the benefits of delaying Social Security benefits, only 11% plan to wait until age 70 to claim them, suggesting that advisors can play an important role in influencing clients’ retirement income decision making.
Also in industry news this week: Edward Jones, which added more new CFP professionals than any other firm last year, announced that it is planning to offer financial planning services nationwide, highlighting the value for RIAs and other firms of differentiating themselves amidst increased competition not only for clients, but also for advisor talent (..)
Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent survey from Charles Schwab indicates that advisors see technology as the biggest driver of change in the RIA industry, with the growing number of AdvisorTech solutions as the most frequently cited tech-related driver (..)
From there, we have several articles on practice management: Why it is important for advisors charging on a fee-for-service basis to regularly reassess their pricing, and best practices for letting current clients know about a fee increase. How firms can best leverage their internal data to improve the number of client referrals they receive.
Also in industry news this week: The SEC this week released its 2023 examination priorities, which include its new marketing rule, Reg BI, and complicated investments The House of Representatives is considering legislation that would broaden the definition of who qualifies as an accredited investor and is potentially eyeing a role for financial advisors (..)
From there, we have several articles on practice management: A new company aims to train the next generation of planners and provide a valuable outsourced service to advisory firms. We wrap up with three final articles, all about time management: Why scaling your time can be more effective than trying to stretch or save it.
Also in industry news this week: While an infusion of Private Equity (PE) capital has shaken up the RIA M&A market, the ultimate implications for advisors, their clients, and the PE firms themselves remain unclear A recent study has found that a significant portion of 'DIY' investors are open to working with a human advisor (and paying for the (..)
Also in industry news this week: Concerned about the (insufficient) frequency of its examinations of RIAs, an SEC committee has recommended that the regulator allow third parties to conduct these examinations and to request Congressional authorization to charge investment advisers under its purview a ‘user fee’ that would provide steady (..)
From there, we have several articles on advisor marketing: Three tactics advisors can use to improve their ‘close’ rate with prospective clients. While “free” Medicare Advantage plans might sound enticing, advisors can help their clients assess whether a different plan might actually be more cost-efficient.
Also in industry news this week: A recent survey suggests that advisors who best understand their prospects' and clients' unique needs and communicate their value and fees clearly could be best positioned to win and retain clients Why a dearth of advisor talent could spur additional M&A activity and 'poaching', and what firms can do to attract (..)
Nevertheless, there is potential for many individual RIAs to expand their staffing further, with the addition of specialized planning and operations roles being seen as a potential avenue to boost firm growth.
Also in industry news this week: RIA M&A activity fell in the second quarter compared to the same period last year amid rising financing costs, though continued private equity interest in the RIA space could help buoy deal volume going forward According to a recent survey, RIAs appear to be taking a defensive approach toward the SEC's new marketing (..)
Also in industry news this week: A court ruling this week vacated Department of Labor guidance that a one-time rollover recommendation from a company plan to an IRA would trigger fiduciary duty requirements under ERISA Vanguard’s CEO this week indicated the firm plans to invest heavily in direct indexing amid the growing use cases for the strategy (..)
This increased demand could be particularly acute among younger investors (who might be experiencing an inflationary environment and sustained market downturn for the first time) and those nearing retirement (who might seek professional guidance to ensure their retirementplan is secure).
Also in industry news this week: The SEC released a proposal that would require firms to take steps to eliminate or neutralize conflicts of interest when using predictive data analytics tools with clients A recent study found that financial advisors remain the top source of financial advice for consumers, with social media coming in well behind From (..)
Also in industry news this week: The SEC settled its first charges related to its new marketing rule with a firm that advertised 2,700% annual returns A survey suggests that older Americans prefer the term "longevity" to "aging", perhaps informing the way advisors discuss related issues with their clients From there, we have several articles on retirement (..)
”, a series of measures that will have significant impacts on the world of retirementplanning. From there, we have several articles on advisor marketing: Five tactics advisors can use to make the most of the online referrals they receive. How ‘regifting’ can help save money and reduce waste.
Also in industry news this week: A legal challenge to FINRA's operations as a self-regulatory organization has the potential to upend the current regulatory system for broker-dealers and their registered representatives A recent study indicates that while many consumers appear confident handling their finances on a 'DIY' basis during their careers, (..)
How planning specializations can help firms and their advisors stand out from the pack. From there, we have several articles on retirementplanning: Why an individual’s portfolio of relationships could be just as important as their investment portfolio when it comes to happiness in retirement.
” has brought a wide range of changes to the world of retirementplanning. From there, we have several articles on advisor technology: A recent survey shows that many advisors at large firms are unhappy with their firm’s current tech stack and that client growth has suffered because of it.
House of Representatives committee this week approved legislation that would expand the pool of individuals who would qualify as accredited investors able to access certain private offerings Proposed bipartisan legislation would allow individuals to use funds in 529 plans for expenses associated with acquiring or maintaining postsecondary credentials, (..)
From there, we have several articles on retirementplanning: Defying popular wisdom, a research study argues that younger workers should delay saving for retirement, even if it means foregoing a company match.
Also in industry news this week: The Foundation For Financial Planning has gotten a boost toward its goal of connecting 10,000 CFP professionals with pro bono work thanks to increased funding from Orion Advisor Solutions FINRA has resubmitted a proposal, now with tighter rules, that would allow a broker working remotely to supervise other brokers, (..)
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