Darla Mercado writes about retirement issues and products, including taxes, annuities and 401(k) plans. She welcomes feedback and tips from readers on interesting topics. Outside of the newsroom, Darla spends her time inline skating, biking, running and swimming. She Tweets at: @Darla_Mercado
As clients acquire valuable digital assets, like Dan Ashbach (pictured) and his 1.6 million Pinterest followers, estate planners begin to see what happens when there are no contingency plans.
A few suggestions for retirement plan advisers who want to protect their clients and themselves as 401(k)s face legal and regulatory scrutiny.
Message to advisers: Mind recommended fund lineups, review plan sponsor contracts.
Deal with insurance marketer Producers Choice is expected to give the broker-dealer greater control over the way annuities are wholesaled to its advisers.
Accountants prepare clients to refile income tax returns for refund of county taxes.
Even as fiduciary duty becomes a common phrase in the parlance of financial advisers, insurance agents are still offered gold watches and other incentives for annuity sales.
With regulatory and marketplace changes, more clients nedd help navigating Medicare maze.
Insurer charged after agency found it deliberately delayed receipt of variable annuities and life insurance orders, resulting in a failure to price them in a timely manner.
Pair sold $4.3 million of Investments fraudulently marketed as "safe as CDs" and "federally insured," regulator says in suit.
Rest in peace and luxury: Average prices are expected to top $65,000 for crypts and $17,000 for niches for funerary urns.
