If friends asked you to recommend an adviser, could you?

April 3, 2018

Good friends ask you for a referral to a financial adviser. You've known this couple for decades, and you and your spouse socialize with them regularly. In their mid-60s, they're do-it-yourselfers and seem to have made smart financial decisions...

4 things to remember when delivering bad news

March 30, 2018

Whether financial advisers are dealing with an existing client, or a prospective one, they are expected to provide an honest and objective view of the client's financial situation. As a financial adviser, being able to present bad news to a...

What advisers need to know about alternatives

April 4, 2018

Investing in alternatives isn't always easy, according to an InvestmentNews Innovators in Investing panel. The one-hour panel features insights from Kevin White, head of investment strategy at DFS, Tom Daley, managing director of custody services...

Advisers should make the most of volatility for clients

March 29, 2018

How did your clients do during this year's early volatility? I'm not talking about their portfolios — how did they handle it, as people? Did it surprise and rattle them? Did they want to react? Go to cash? Such responses are common, as markets'...

6 ways to leverage tax reform in your marketing strategy

March 26, 2018

After months of deliberation, our government passed the largest tax overhaul in over 30 years: the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Whether you agree with the changes or not, the public will need advice on how to manage their finances under the...

Marketing your practice with purpose

March 15, 2018

With the number of personal financial advisers expected to grow by 15% by 2026, effective marketing and communication strategies can make the difference when winning new clients. As the owner of an independent business, your time and resources...

Flash crash: The value of advisers in coping with uncertainty

February 14, 2018

A week ago Monday, the Dow fell 1,175 points. Although that was not anywhere near a record percentage decline, it turned out to be the biggest point decline in history. After 19 months without a 5% decline from the peaks (a record in itself),...

Guide Clients Through Emotional Ups and Downs To Prevent Costly Decisions

March 12, 2018

Even good people make bad decisions. The client who invests $8,000 in a late night TV real estate scam; quits a lucrative career to join in an ill-advised business venture; or has an out-of-control spending habit. When fueled by emotion or bad...

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The industrialization of asset management

February 20, 2018

Model marketplaces are popping up everywhere, like daffodils in springtime. They give advisers access to model portfolios built by asset management firms and "fund strategists." Advisers can implement the models exactly as built by their creators...

Your most important client meeting ever

January 22, 2018

A word of advice – don't look down. You'll only realize how far you could fall. That advice has never been more relevant for investors and advisers as equity markets soar to new heights. We've seen a long and steady rise in the market, fueled...

USAA, Edward Jones, Ameriprise ranked most understandable by clients

February 13, 2018

Investors don't just want low prices, they want financial services they can understand. A new study by Hearts & Wallets, which asked more than 5,000 households to rate their top two financial providers on service and pricing, found a firm that...

Gun violence hits investment strategies, sparks political debates with advisers

February 16, 2018

It is perhaps a sad sign of the times when the latest episode of deadly gun violence doesn't bring a fresh wave of calls from clients seeking to screen out investments in weapons manufacturers. Financial advisers who specialize in various forms...

Coach clients on salary negotiations

November 28, 2017

Individuals from the millennial generation are breaking money silence when it comes to their salaries, according to new research by Cashlorette.com and Bank Rate. Their study finds that 63% of people ages 18 to 36 have discussed their compensation...

Five financial resolutions your clients will keep

January 3, 2018

For many of us, the making — and breaking — of New Years' resolutions is an annual, time-honored tradition. Investment habits almost always make the list. Well-intentioned clients promise that from now on they're going to invest regularly,...

Advisers should spend less time with most of their clients

February 27, 2018

I have a new client facing a common challenge. The firm has over $2.5 million in revenue, but the founder is feeling overwhelmed and unable to successfully scale the business any further. I asked some questions about the firm's client service...

Finding common ground with clients from different ethnic groups

October 19, 2017

Investing involves money and money is personal. This business changes constantly, but what always remains the same is building trust and strong relationships with your clients. It's the key to growing your business. The best relationships are...

Ten years after the crisis, investors need advisers more than ever

December 20, 2017

Hartford Funds recently conducted a survey to uncover how investors were affected immediately after the financial crisis and how financial behaviors have changed in the years following, including now, a decade later. The resulting data suggests...

Morgan Stanley dropping some overseas wealth customers

February 16, 2018

Morgan Stanley told some of its international wealth-management clients to liquidate their accounts or shift to another financial institution within 30 days. "Serving the investment needs and opportunities unique to clients who reside outside...