May 21, 2012

Mary Beth Franklin: Will 401(k) fee disclosure boost index funds?

By Mary Beth Franklin

With plan fiduciaries looking at costs more closely, passively managed funds likely to be attractive

• 401(k),
• retirement planning

May 20, 2012

When handing off a practice, beware of fumbles and stumbles

By Lavonne Kuykendall

Karen Folk's transition of her advisory practice to a younger partner was going pretty smoothly. Then the nightmares began. “One thing I was supposed to complete was a workload transition plan, which spells out what you do, how much time you spend on it...

• commodities,
• succession planning

May 20, 2012

Dilemma for Ford retirees: Monthly check or lump sum?

By Darla Mercado

About 90,000 white-collar retirees of Ford Motor Co. and the financial advisers who help them are facing a major decision: continue to receive a monthly check from the defined-benefit pension plan or leave the plan by taking a lump sum that the auto giant will likely offer over the next 30 to 60...

• commodities,
• retirement planning

May 20, 2012

No easy fix to withdrawal rates in retirement

Some recent articles in InvestmentNews and SmartMoney, among other publications, have questioned the viability of the “4% rule,” which suggests that a long-term maximum withdrawal of 4% from a client's savings each year in retirement is a prudent rule of thumb....

• commodities,
• retirement planning

May 17, 2012

LPL taps new human capital officer

LPL Financial announced that Sallie Larsen was appointed managing director and chief human capital officer. Ms. Larsen, who is based in San Diego and reports to Mark Casady, chairman and CEO of LPL, started on May 1.In her new role, Ms. Larsen will be responsible for guiding the company's...

• independent broker-dealers,
• LPL Financial,
• staffing / personnel

May 15, 2012

Star adviser Evensky on board with retirement specialist designation

By Mary Beth Franklin

Joins Board of Governance of RIIA's retirement income designation program

• retirement & insurance,
• retirement planning

May 14, 2012

Young workers on 401(k) offerings: We want sure things

By Darla Mercado

Gun-shy employees keen on investments that provide guaranteed income; little interest in diversification

• 401(k),
• retirement & insurance,
• retirement planning,
• social security

May 13, 2012

Health becoming new focus of wealth

G uess which financial issue is uppermost in your preretiree clients' minds, yet one that they seldom will discuss with you? The answer — and a huge problem for society as a whole, as well as your clients, in particular — is health care....

• commodities,
• health care,
• retirement planning

May 13, 2012

Tuttle's successor at FPA will face challenges

By Dan Jamieson

The yet-to-be-named successor to Financial Planning Association executive director and chief executive Marvin W. Tuttle Jr. will have to figure out how to get the diverse — if not unwieldy — organization, back on a growth track. Mr. Tuttle, a 30-year veteran of the FPA,...

• commodities,
• financial planning,
• Financial Planning Association (FPA)

May 13, 2012

Selling to junior partners is not a piece of cake

By Lavonne Kuykendall

At a discussion panel last Tuesday at the NAPFA conference on selling a business to a junior partner, nearly every one of the 100 or so advisers in the audience said that they would like to buy or sell. But the audience raised questions about common obstacles. One...

• commodities,
• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA),
• succession planning