The Better Letter

APRIL 6, 2023

Realistic Retirement Planning My children have consistently (and kindly) remarked about how grateful they are to have been able to graduate (with honors) from fine universities without any debt. Our retirement planning took a hit to do so. Thanks for reading. They each have good and fulfilling careers.

Retirement Planning 100

Retirement Planning Retirement Planning Education 100

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

Talon Wealth

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Retirement planning can be a difficult and confusing process for couples. By focusing on a few key areas, setting financial goals, and doing your research, you can find ways to enjoy retirement together. Set Financial Goals In retirement, educate yourself on your financial situation and investment strategy.

Retirement Planning 98

Retirement Planning Retirement Planning Healthcare 98

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 233

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Insurance 233

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 22, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the SEC has recently been cracking down on firms for recordkeeping failures related to electronic communications, including their use of text messaging with prospects and clients.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Communication Electronics 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

Abnormal Returns

OCTOBER 30, 2023

wsj.com) Family Communication is important for every family, but especially for the wealthy. thinkadvisor.com) Blended families don't plan their money lives in advance. nextavenue.org) Advisers Comprehensive financial planning takes more time and effort. (kitces.com) AI How recommendation engines could work in wealth management.

Wealth Management 263

Wealth Management Retirement Planning Financial Advising Financial Advice 263

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

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

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

Darrow Wealth Management

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

The idea of living off dividends in retirement sounds nice, but investors often don’t realize how much money they’ll need invested to generate enough income from dividends to cover lifestyle expenses. You may need more money than you think to retire on dividends. Retire on dividends?

Retirement 65

Retirement Asset Allocation Taxes Portfolio 65

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 28, 2024

Historically, advisors haven't had many avenues to manage clients' 401(k) plan accounts, since unlike traditional custodial investment accounts, advisors generally lack discretionary trading authority in employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Assets 246

Assets Management Clients Compliance 246

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 28, 2024

Historically, advisors haven't had many avenues to manage clients' 401(k) plan accounts, since unlike traditional custodial investment accounts, advisors generally lack discretionary trading authority in employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Assets 245

Assets Management Compliance Retirement Planning 245

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

Random Roger's Retirement Planning

DECEMBER 23, 2022

We spend a lot of time here on unexpected, one-off, unbudgetable expenses that can blow up a retirement plan that doesn't have a lot of margin for error. Getting the inverter replaced dragged on for three months, the insurance adjuster provided almost no communication. There is an element of luck to this too I believe.

Retirement Planning 69

Retirement Planning Retirement Planning Insurance 69

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

MAY 6, 2024

This month's edition kicks off with the news that self-directed retirement planning software provider NewRetirement has raised a $20M Series A round as the company demonstrates that its DIY tools really do turn a subset of consumers into bona fide prospects for financial advisors.

Financial Advisor 231

Financial Advisor Retirement Planning CFP Clients 231

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 24, 2022

a single person, a couple, a business, or a retirement plan) and the date on which the agreement will become effective. To start, the agreement should contain basic information about the adviser-client relationship, including who the client is (e.g., The agreement should also lay out some acknowledgments for the client to review.

Electronics 242

Electronics Clients Retirement Planning Financial Advice 242

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 24, 2022

a single person, a couple, a business, or a retirement plan) and the date on which the agreement will become effective. To start, the agreement should contain basic information about the adviser-client relationship, including who the client is (e.g., The agreement should also lay out some acknowledgments for the client to review.

Electronics 238

Electronics Clients Retirement Planning Financial Advice 238

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 1, 2023

Advisors also can support the backdoor Roth process by communicating with clients' tax preparers about the strategy and why they are recommending it for their mutual client.

Taxes 246

Taxes Accounting Clients Retirement Planning 246

Talon Wealth

OCTOBER 26, 2023

Retirement planning can be a difficult and confusing process for couples. By focusing on a few key areas, setting financial goals, and doing your research, you can find ways to enjoy retirement together. Set Financial Goals In retirement, educate yourself on your financial situation and investment strategy.

Retirement Planning 52

Retirement Planning Retirement Planning Healthcare 52

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 21, 2022

For the former client, because a 90% probability of success means that there is a 10% chance they will deplete their portfolio (though the magnitude of the failure is unknown), they might choose to aim for an even higher probability of success to decrease the likelihood that they will run out of money in retirement.

Financial Planning 246

Financial Planning Planning Retirement Portfolio 246

FMG

MARCH 3, 2025

Instead of listing ten tips for retirement planning, share your top three and ask, What would you add to this list? For instance, many people feel overwhelmed by retirement planning. Whats your biggest question about retirement? Whats your biggest challenge when it comes to retirement planning?

Financial Advisor 52

Financial Advisor Media Retirement Planning Retirement 52

WiserAdvisor

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Navigating the journey to retirement can often feel like a complex puzzle, especially when it comes to figuring out how much you need to save. The answer to “how much you need to retire” is shaped by various factors, including the kind of retirement life you dream of, your age, and the expenses you anticipate during your retirement years.

Retirement 81

Retirement Retirement Planning Risk Tolerance Healthcare 81

WiserAdvisor

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

In retirement planning, the concept of vesting is more than a contractual formality; it serves as a retention tool that incentivizes employees to remain with their employer for a certain period. Typically, these contributions are made by an employer into an employee’s retirement account as a part of their benefits package.

Accounting 100

Accounting Retirement Retirement Planning Planning 100

Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)

OCTOBER 1, 2023

By Mike Beirne, MDRT Round the Table editor As there are many types of clients in a range of demographics, there also are a variety of ways to communicate with them. Allocating retirement planning I introduce asset allocation with clients by dividing retirement life into two parts: basic life and high-quality life.

Clients 101

Clients Asset Allocation Retirement Planning Transportation 101

Harness Wealth

MARCH 7, 2025

Additionally, we have news that FinCEN has announced an extension of the BOI reporting deadline and a temporary halt in enforcement, an analysis on the implications of wealth taxes in Europe, and a refresher on how the new ‘Savers Match’ program aimed at enhancing the retirement savings of millennials and Gen Z functions.

Taxes 52

Taxes Retirement Financial Advisor Retirement Planning 52

Darrow Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

If you think retirement planning moves stop at retirement, think again. Although it won’t make sense in every situation, retirement can be a unique opportunity for Roth conversions for some investors. For high earners, converting an IRA to a Roth IRA while you’re still working could be the worst time of all.

Retirement 90

Retirement Distribution Taxes Accounting 90

Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)

OCTOBER 5, 2023

By Clay Gillespie, CFP, CLU There are myriad ways to prepare clients for a fulfilling retirement. Clients accumulate assets for many years in the hope of retiring and living comfortably, but that’s only part of it. Retirement income In retirement, clients need to be prepared for a stock market correction every day.

Retirement 105

Retirement Clients CFP Assets 105

Integrity Financial Planning

AUGUST 28, 2022

Many people may not know that their will does not control who inherits all of their assets, such as retirement accounts, life insurance, and annuities. In order to pass these on, you must name a beneficiary for each retirement account, insurance policy, and annuity. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.

Estate Planning 98

Estate Planning Planning Communication Retirement 98

Darrow Wealth Management

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

When rates are low, corporations often retire high-cost debt in favor of issuing new bonds at a lower rate and a longer duration to lock in favorable rates. Retirement planning, like any type of robust financial planning, should include stress testing your investment strategy and financial plan.

Marketing 52

Marketing Marketing Retirement Portfolio 52

Darrow Wealth Management

MARCH 3, 2025

While an investor’s timeline affects their risk tolerance and allocation decisions between stocks and bonds, it’s important to remember how long a retirement time horizon can truly be. Retirement planning, like any type of robust financial planning, should include stress testing your investment strategy and financial plan.

Risk Tolerance 58

Risk Tolerance Asset Allocation Assets Portfolio 58

Indigo Marketing Agency

FEBRUARY 8, 2025

For example, your target audience could be young professionals saving for retirement or retirees focused on wealth preservation. You can start hosting webinars by first choosing topics that matter to your audiencethings like retirement planning, wealth preservation, or smart investment strategies.

Financial Planner 52

Financial Planner Clients Marketing Marketing 52

Midstream Marketing

OCTOBER 29, 2024

By understanding their financial concerns, online habits, and how they like to communicate, you can improve your marketing. Millennials want to learn about things like student loans, saving for a home, and planning for the future. This includes dealing with student loan debt, investing for early retirement, or buying real estate.

Financial Advisor 52

Financial Advisor Financial Advice Marketing Marketing 52

FMG

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Bring in an expert to speak on topics like retirement planning, tax strategies, sustainable investing, or market insights. Sponsor a pickleball tournament, open to your community, and invite a professional to teach/compete. Complete the event with your branding and follow-up communications.

Clients 52

Clients Planning Education Communication 52

FMG

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Bring in an expert to speak on topics like retirement planning, tax strategies, sustainable investing, or market insights. Sponsor a pickleball tournament, open to your community, and invite a professional to teach/compete. Complete the event with your branding and follow-up communications.

Clients 52

Clients Planning Education Communication 52