Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 25, 2023

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.

Financial Advisor 246

Financial Advisor Insurance Financial Planner Clients 246

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 10, 2024

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)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Valuation 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 21, 2022

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 retirement planning, dubbed “SECURE ACT 2.0”, ”, by the end of the year. Social Security COLA for 2023.

Financial Planner 234

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Insurance 234

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the Department of Labor this week released its long-awaited "retirement security rule", its latest effort to curb conflicts of interest around retirement savings recommendations.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Insurance 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 26, 2024

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Financial Advisor Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 13, 2024

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Retirement Certification 246

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 26, 2024

Also in industry news this week: While the number of RIA M&A deals has not surged in 2024, the average size of deals has increased, demonstrating interest from (often private-equity-backed) firms in pursuing larger targets Off-channel communication tops the list of concerns amongst RIA compliance professionals, with advertising and marketing coming (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Communication Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 14, 2023

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Compliance Media Retirement 246

WiserAdvisor

MARCH 13, 2024

Achieving financial freedom in retirement requires meticulous planning, dedicated effort, and strategic management. Without a solid plan, you risk drifting without direction. Within this framework, the concept of the five pillars of retirement planning emerges as a valuable strategy.

Retirement Planning 105

Retirement Planning Retirement Planning Estate Planning 105

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 30, 2023

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Fee Only Commission Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 25, 2023

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Advertising 246

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 26, 2024

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.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Commission Communication Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 17, 2024

Also in industry news this week: The SEC this week announced a proposed rule that would require RIAs to collect and verify their clients' personal information in an effort to prevent illicit activity, though many firms likely are taking many of these steps already Why larger RIAs and those that have been acquired tend to have worse client and staff (..)

Financial Planner 238

Financial Planner Wealth Management Retirement Investment Planning 238

Nerd's Eye View

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Certification Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Also in industry news this week: The SEC agreed to a series of settlements with 9 RIAs resulting from charges of improper use of hypothetical returns in advertising under the regulator's marketing rule How several CEOs of large RIAs and AdvisorTech companies have found that receiving funding from private equity firms and taking the responsibility for (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Advertising 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 5, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that comment letters submitted regarding the Department of Labor's (DoL) proposed Retirement Security Rule, which is intended to strengthen standards regarding the provision of certain retirement-related advice, reflect the (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

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, (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Strategic Planning Retirement Planning Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

From there, we have several articles on investments: How Morningstar plans to simplify its rating system amid continued concerns about its effectiveness. The variety of ways individuals approach retirement, from choosing where to live to finding purpose in their daily lives.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Strategic Planning Retirement Planning Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 28, 2023

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, (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Certification Retirement Planning Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 19, 2024

Also in industry news this week: While the total number of RIA M&A deals in 2023 fell short of a record-setting 2022 amidst an elevated interest rate environment, continued interest from private equity firms and creative deal structures could boost deal flow in 2024 While the SEC authorized 11 "Spot" Bitcoin ETFs last week, comments from chair (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Fiduciary Duty Retirement Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 14, 2024

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Compensation Planning Asset Allocation Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 11, 2024

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Financial Planning Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 6, 2023

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Certification Communication 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 13, 2023

From there, we have several articles on retirement planning: The latest rules for 2023 Required Minimum Distributions from inherited retirement accounts. Why relying on Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) to support the bulk of retirement income needs could be risky.

Financial Planner 241

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Compliance 241

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 22, 2024

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Communication Electronics 246

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

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.

Financial Planner 244

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Compliance Clients 244

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 16, 2022

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.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Financial Advisor Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 19, 2024

Also in industry news this week: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has completed its review of the Department of Labor's new "fiduciary rule ", indicating that it could be released in the coming days or weeks (though, like its predecessors, its ultimate disposition is likely to be determined in the courts) The IRS announced this week that it (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Financial Advisor Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 2, 2022

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 retirement plan is secure).

Financial Planner 241

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Financial Planning 241

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 28, 2023

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 (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Financial Advisor Retirement Planning Financial Advice 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 6, 2023

How planning specializations can help firms and their advisors stand out from the pack. From there, we have several articles on retirement planning: Why an individual’s portfolio of relationships could be just as important as their investment portfolio when it comes to happiness in retirement.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Commission Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

From there, we have several articles on retirement planning: 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.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Numbers 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 1, 2022

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.

Financial Planner 245

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Advertising Taxes 245

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 7, 2022

From there, we have several articles on retirement planning: Defying popular wisdom, a research study argues that younger workers should delay saving for retirement, even if it means foregoing a company match.

Financial Planner 245

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Economy 245

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

In the early days of financial planning, serving clients often meant developing transactional relationships focused on facilitating trades and selling insurance. Over time, advisors shifted toward more analytical approaches, such as investment management and retirement planning.

Clients 130

Clients Planning Financial Planner Financial Planning 130

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Also in industry news this week: The latest update on the status of the Department of Labor's proposed regulation related to fiduciary advice on retirement accounts and why the agency is referring to it as a "retirement security rule" rather than a "fiduciary rule" A report suggests that RIA M&A surged in the 3rd quarter, as large acquirers resumed (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Insurance 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Also in industry news this week: A recent survey found that while 1/3 of advisory firms are currently using AI tools, another 1/3 are fearful of doing so, indicating that while some firms are eager to be early adopters of this technology, others are taking a wait-and-see approach, perhaps as regulation surrounding this technology evolves over time (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Clients Retirement 246