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How To Determine That Ideal IUL Prospect

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Deciding which clients are a good match for IUL can be a difficult task for advisors.

The fact that it’s possible to stay closer to the risk profile of a savings account with the opportunity to earn returns closer to the stock market is what makes IUL appealing as a piece of a broader balanced allocation strategy.

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A new survey finds that too many Americans are taking loans and even hardship withdrawals from their retirement accounts.

33 percent of baby boomers, 32 percent of Gen Xers and 27 percent of millennials say paying off debt is their greatest financial priority now.

Thinking about divorce? If you are rich and know it, call your lawyer!

The new payment of alimony law means that the payer will no longer be able to reduce 
their taxable income and their taxes, which are almost always paid at a higher rate than that of the alimony receiver.

Envestnet gives annuities more exposure.

Envestnet is integrating annuities into its wealth management platform, giving advisors a more complete view of client retirement portfolios. The first insurer is offering annuities on the exchange, which one analysts says will spur others to follow.

The Department of Labor fiduciary rule might be history, but it leaves new interpretations behind, along with some paperwork, a leading regulatory law firm says. The rule’s impact is sure to be felt for some time to come.

Author Andy Weir, who wrote "The Martian" in 2011, has a new book out, "Artemis," that is garnering positive reviews.

Summer means vacations and vacations mean slipping off with a good book. We talked to several financial advisors to find out what they are reading for our annual summer reading list.

Senior citizens are having to stretch their Social Security checks further and further with each passing year, a new study finds.

General Electric was removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average this week in a move that signals transition within the company. Some experts say the Dow could withstand some reorganization of its own.

Advisors might not understand the reasoning, but high-net-worth clients are not satisfied with good returns, a new survey finds. They are looking for a more personal touch from advisors.

New survey data shows that high-net-worth clients want more personalized service from advisors, not just big returns. These clients want a personal touch that shows some concern and interest in the family’s lives, experts say.

Top advisors maintained their fee structures even as pricing for fee and commission product lines fell, new research finds. Only 30 percent of advisors lowered prices year over year, the study showed. What does it mean for the future?

A new Nationwide Retirement Institute survey reveals that 67 percent of older adults plan to use or currently use Medicare and 63 percent plan to use or currently use Social Security to pay for their health care costs in retirement. Even affluent adults say they fear health costs in retirement.

RIAs of all sizes continue to grow and continue to take market share from wirehouses. The market share for managed accounts held by wirehouses dropped below 50 percent last year for the first time, down from a peak of 71 percent in 2001.

Running out of money in retirement is the No. 1 fear for many Americans, according to surveys. The Alliance for Lifetime Income is tackling the issue.

Financial advisors need a new approach with which to engage clients about annuities, and a coalition of 24 insurers and asset managers has banded together to help.

Registered investment advisors are handling more money -- a lot more, according to Cerulli.

For the first time the market share for managed accounts held by wirehouses dropped below 50 percent last year, from a peak of 71 percent in 2001, according to Cerulli.

There are several things for advisors to be wary about as the new world economy chugs forward, according to a new Natixis survey.

A new survey yields revealing thoughts from 300 advisors, RIAs and broker-dealers on financial market challenges and managing client portfolios in a risk-laden market environment.

Divorced Americans are at greater risk of not being able to maintain their standard of living in retirement, according to new research conducted by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College with the support of Prudential Financial, Inc.

SEC Chairman Jay Clayton.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation Best Interest is drawing heated opposition from an interesting coalition of allies. But Chairman Jay Clayton insists that the agency will not be deterred in its rulemaking efforts.

Wall Street performance is beginning to fall short of some foreign markets, analysts say.

U.S. market returns have outpaced foreign equities since the 2007-08 economic recession. But that is changing, analysts say, with foreign market performance indices edging ahead in recent months. Many analysts expect that trend to continue.

Millennials are making up a larger and larger share of potential advisory clients, a new survey reports.

Millennials and GenXers are going to comprise a much larger piece of the client pie by 2023, according to a new survey. On the flip side, baby boomers and older clients will decline in numbers. Advisors need to learn strategies to appeal to the trending youth, experts say.

Cartagena, Columbia, one of many overseas countries where Americans are retiring to a far cheaper cost of living.

Americans can retire abroad for a fraction of the costs needed in the U.S., and many are doing just that. Advisors have an opportunity to be the indispensable partner while helping clients through the retire-abroad process.

Current pricing in federal funds futures markets suggests a 95 percent chance of a rate hike when the Fed committee meets Tuesday and Wednesday. Rising inflation and still-low interest rates are reasons another hike is likely.

Surveys indicate that between 40 and 60 percent of Americans list running out of retirement funds as their No. 1 fear. So what can an advisor for to help clients deal with that fear, and make sure it doesn’t come true?

Younger clients are counting wealth as more than money. RIAs who are really committed to holistic advising are going the next step and helping with clients’ well-being.

After the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates by 0.25 percent, banks, especially online financial institutions, started to move CD rates up toward 3 percent. Is it enough to move money?

Advisors are getting older and so are their clients. They both probably need to learn about succession planning for a secure retirement. Not only is it a service but also a lot of opportunity that comes with the liquidation of a business.

Millennials,’ silvers’ comprise largest groups using Investment vehicle. Boomers, ages 52-70, are in their peak investing years, but they lag behind their children and parents when it comes to using ETFs, according to ” BlackRock ETF Pulse Survey” data released by BlackRock Inc.

Russell Joseph Mutter, 48, of Curraghmore Road in Clemmons, was indicted by a Forsyth County grand jury on a total of 12 felonies- four counts of investment advisor fraud, four counts of financial exploitation and four counts of obtaining property by false pretenses.

Baby boomer assets are the current wealth management sweet spot 1, but a growing segment of independent registered investment advisors recognizes that embedding Gen-Xers and millennials as long-term clients requires a shift in business strategy now.

New evidence shows data thieves are increasingly targeting the financial services industry. Surveys show Americans have little trust in the safety of their personal data, something experts say financial services should be proactive to correct.

The global market selloff is sounding alarms for many investors who fear a bear market. But while experts say that could happen, indicators are not pointing toward anything but continued market growth at the present time.

Millennials want to hear more than just ‘pay debt, save money and plan for retirement’ from their financial advisors. Retaining those valuable young clients means listening to what they want, experts say.

But in a flash, he lost $2.5 million of their retirement savings by using it to bet on the volatility of U.S. stock markets. That’s what Joseph Daines, a retired orthopedic surgeon, and his wife Susan allege in a lawsuit against local investment adviser Mark Matsko and his firm Selway Asset Management.

First-quarter RIA mergers and acquisitions rocketed to a record 47 deals, bouncing back from 33 deals in the fourth quarter, according to new data.

Investment advice rules announced this week by the Securities and Exchange Commission, if finalized, will have a broad impact across the financial services industry. Here is who will be affected.

Exchange-traded funds are selling strong, a trend that is expected to continue into the future, analysts say.

U.S. stocks were broadly higher in afternoon trading, adding to the market’s gains last week. Technology companies, health care stocks and banks accounted for much of the rally.

Don't wait for the bear market to bare its teeth before you help clients protect themselves.

Someday the bear will come. How well are advisors preparing clients?

As he sits in the Erie County Prison, accused of fatally shooting his wife of five months on March 8, John Grazioli can no longer tend to his business, Grazioli Asset Management at 3614 W. 12th St., near Potomac Avenue in Millcreek Township.

Cory Redding

Kenneth Ray Cleveland, 64, a former financial adviser based in suburban Los Angeles, has agreed to plead guilty to defrauding former NFL player Cory Redding out of $4.7 million.

Planning experts offer advice on crafting a responsible retirement plan that takes into account sharply rising health care expenses. A retirement plan that shorts health care planning can leave a client high and dry, they say.

Advisors should give fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) a serious look because FIAs offer a compelling story in an era of low bond yields, according to Roger G. Ibbotson, one of the most recognizable names in finance.

Fee-based annuities could see a major growth spurt if registered investment advisors ever warm to the products.

Some industry observers say demographic, regulatory and technology trends have generated new momentum for many RIAs to consider offering fee-based annuities. The potential for mutual growth is high, some say.

Taxes, inflation and interest rates all concern high-net-worth investors going forward, analysts say.

Optimism in the U.S. economy remains up among high-net-worth investors, but concerns are creeping in, a new survey finds. Inflation, tax changes and interest rates are chief among them.

An SEC’s order found that Merrill Lynch sold almost three million shares of Longtop Financial Technological Limited’s securities into the market despite red flags indicating that the sales could be part of an unlawful unregistered distribution.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated the alimony tax deduction, which analysts say could prompt a spate of 2018 divorce filings, especially among high earners. Advisors should be prepared to untangle the finances.

Angry and rude clients are not worth the trouble in most cases, analysts say.

Most clients are great, but some are not. Where do you draw the line with rude, demanding and/or stress-causing clients? We offer five best-practice tips.

The fallout from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could be good news for advisors looking for clients.

The GOP tax reform bill is prompting more U.S. companies to bring financial advisory help in-house to help workers maximize their 401(k) plan participation.

Fee-based indexed and variable annuities are still posting small sales, but the numbers are rising. A key to future sales is whether the products catch on with registered investment advisors (RIAs), analysts say.

Insurance company M&A deals fell sharply in 2017 and isn’t expected to rebound anytime soon. Several trends are impacting the potential for M&A deals, including tax reform and technology.

Jerome Powell

Wall Street players are happy with the steady hand promised by new Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The biggest issue by far is how the Fed handles interest rates and inflation and Powell is not pushing any drastic moves.

Jerome Powell

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told Congress that the outlook for the U.S. economy “remains strong” despite the recent stock market turbulence, keeping the central bank on track to gradually raise interest rates.

While millennials are big fans of robo-advice, older investors from the baby boomer generation are driving the concept, a new survey found. Aside from retirement services, older investors put fees and relaxation at the top of their list of concerns.

Advisors and brokers say fee-based compensation is a difficult transaction with many annuities. In addition, clients often save money over the long run sticking with the traditional commission-based model.

Forty seven percent of caregivers have had to tighten their belts financially because of their caregiving responsibilities, a report found. An alert financial advisor can help the caregiver avoid financial hardship.

Many millennials are looking to buy long-term care insurance for their parents.

One advisor is finding success selling long-term care insurance to millennials who want to make sure their parents have access to care if they need it.

Delaying Social Security us a time-honored strategy that can net a client up to 8 percent a year in benefits’ growth. But experts recognize there are times when an advisor must get on board with taking benefits early.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners wants to produce a annuity transactions best interest model law each state could then adopt. But its draft law is drawing fire from both sides who consider it both too weak and too strong.

Waiting longer to plan for long-term care expenses can be devastating to retirement finances, notes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

When it comes to planning for long-term care, advisors and clients have three main options — self-insure, long-term care insurance and life insurance with a long-term care rider. All have positives and negatives.

Even though many registered investment advisors offer insurance, a large percentage of them refer their clients to an outside insurance advisor, a survey found.

Investors are worried about the stock market correction. The challenge for advisors is to keep their clients on track with financial plans.

With Monday’s sharp downturn, the Dow Jones has lost about 2,200 points since Jan. 26, a decline of nearly 10 percent. But financial advisors say that is just a normal correction to recently explosive market growth that was unsustainable.

Fresh off a growth capital investment from Eldridge Industries, DPL Financial Partners announced the addition of 10 new professionals, including a half-dozen experienced insurance consultants, accelerating its initiative to bring low-cost, commission-free insurance products to RIAs and their clients.

Advisors across the industry are being given the go ahead to text clients. Companies such as Merrill Lynch and Voya have strict guidelines on texting, but executives say they must be active in a communication channel favored by so many Americans.

Morgan Stanley's decision to leave the broker protocol reportedly left some of its advisors unhappy.

The financial world could see an exodus of advisors from firms in the coming months, one analyst says. Advisors are expected to leave while they still can do so without penalty as more and more firms plan to exit the broker protocol agreement.

The home renovation market has become a $56 billion industry bolstered by several reality shows.

The stock market continues to hum along generating strong growth, but could a correction be around the corner? Some analysts say real estate lending offers investors correction protection while maintaining strong returns.

Survey data is finding that younger investors are not benefiting from the bull stock market nearly as much as they should. Moreover, many young people don’t have much knowledge, or pay much attention to their investments.

Some advisors are torn over the value of long-term care insurance. Since most recipients will end up using the insurance, some say price hikes are inevitable. Others say no product or strategy better protects clients from end-of-life risk.

Variable annuities with living benefits have drawn the attention of a pair of economists.

The pricing and hedging challenges that come with variable annuities with living benefits might make them a bad match for consumers in search of retirement income, a pair of economists say.

Investors are worried about the stock market correction. The challenge for advisors is to keep their clients on track with financial plans.

New investor confidence indices, along with the tax reform bill, point to another strong year on Wall Street. The key for advisors is to keep antsy investors from getting distracted by huge market gains.

Survey results indicate that investors want more from advisors and are prepared to move to their competitors if they don't get it.

The latest J.D. Power investor study found that nearly half of “emerging affluent investors” are likely to walk away from their current wealth management firm. What are advisors doing wrong?

Divorce filings are a third higher in January, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers reports.

A new survey confirms that divorce is highest in January, as couples look to move on after the holidays. More distressing is how many married people are unprepared for the financial burdens that come with splitting up.