Social media has taken over the world — or so it seems — and financial services firms are being pulled into the mix, albeit kicking and screaming. The truth is, if a company wants to remain competitive in this digital age, social media must be a strategic part of its overall marketing plan
For providers of financial services to Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 plans, fees are a double-edged sword
The black swan was meant to be a rallying cry for preparedness. Instead it has become the opposite: a loathsome excuse for lack of planning by those who should know better.
When Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee warned the Securities and Exchange Commission to halt the process of fiduciary rule making, it was a pretty blatant signal that the stage has been set for a courtroom showdown
There is a gaping hole in ERISA regulations that allows many investment service providers to escape fiduciary accountability for the advice that they provide to retirement plan sponsors and participants
Proposed reform mixes in wins for both blues (Democrats) and reds (Republicans); accountants, advisers may boo, however
As overall longevity increases, outliving retirement resources is more likely than in the past, making retirement planning more important than ever
I think I found the model for how opponents of the fiduciary standard hope to render the standard meaningless after financial regulatory reform
By the time the clients get a halfhearted call from someone whom they have never met, asking them to keep their business with the firm, they have already heard a much more compelling argument from someone that they are used to trusting: their adviser
How would you like to fly on a personal jet, belong to a fancy country club and have a personal trainer — all on someone else's dime?
With retail investors exiting municipal bonds for the past six months because of sharply rising interest rates and much-publicized default fears, the asset class now represents an island of high-quality value in a sea of relatively expensive fixed-income options
Connecting with clients and prospects on an emotional level — not merely meeting with them — is more important than ever
The first question advisers often ask me is, “What exactly can I do with social media?” While the compliance constraints everyone talks about are real, there are a number of strategies you can implement that will have a tremendous effect on your bottom line
A shift in culture for investment advisers is overtaking regulatory reform in scope and significance
Newer models could offer attractive alternatives to wirehouses, but they're not making a huge dent in headcounts.
One day in September, “Ralph” was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer
A time-honored method of detecting cheap stocks is to look for ones that sell below book value.
