Brian O'Connell is a former Wall Street bond trader and author of the best-selling books, such as The 401k Millionaire. He's a regular contributor to major media business platforms. He resides in Doylestown, Pa. Brian may be reached at brian.oconnell@innfeedback.com.
Money manager allocations to U.S. stocks are at the highest level in three years, research from Bank of America Merrill Lynch suggests. As professional investors turn their back on Europe and emerging market equities, it raises questions about what’s causing this sudden shift.
Increasingly, robotics-based money management firms are edging toward more customer access to human-based advisors.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Institute on Retirement Security, 57 percent of U.S. workers (approximately 100 million people) have zero dollars in either an employee defined contribution plan, an IRA, or a company pension.
In an IonTuition survey, 75 percent of respondents said they would prefer employer contributions to student loan payments over traditional 401(k) plan benefits.
Since 2010, Betterment has efficiently leveraged automated investing, relying on algorithms and automation technology to manage client investment portfolios. Increasingly, that success story is being rewritten to include actual human advisors to the Betterment line-up.
The executive orders, rolled out by the White House on August 31, focus on several main points, such as, adjusting the current requirement minimum distribution age and paving the way for more access to retirement plans for employees of small companies.
Only 47 percent of widowed couples planned for life after the death of a spouse, but more thatn three-quarters of them said the passing of their spouse was the most significant event of their life.
One in three of actively managed funds either performed at the same level or outperformed passively managed peer funds in 2017, according to a Morningstar study.
According to the latest Charles Schwab ETF Investor Study, three out of four exchange traded fund investors would invest more in SRI funds “if they had more education and professional guidance.”
A Trump impeachment on the economy, stock market and bond market. After all, there’s a lot at stake for Americans, regardless of political affiliation.
The usage of apps and fears over data privacy are two very different numbers – and represent two very different mindsets, according to The Clearing House, a banking association and payments company
The fact is most Americans have a combination of credit cards, student loans, mortgages, car loans and personal loans, which make it difficult to get ahead in paying off burgeoning debts
The S&P has spent 23 days at one percent movement or more in the first quarter of 2018. Yet, millions of American investors have the misconception that the current market is “stable” and “easy” leading them to make uniformed and risky financial decisions.
Americans are spending a ton of cash to support their kids’ sports efforts – up to $500 per month and more, says a TD Ameritrade Study. The fact is, most kids don’t get a college sports scholarship, let alone start at point guard in the NBA. So, how can advisors tamp down expectations of athletic greatness from client parents, and keep overspending in line?
Sooner or later, investment advisors are going to see their advice rejected, and they’ll need an action plan to deal with the issue.
Over the past five years, the Russell 1000 Growth has returned an annualized six percent in excess of the Russell 1000 Value, and that outcome has Wall Street talking growth stocks in 2018.
Outside of a true financial emergency, there’s no need to take 401(k) money out early – but that’s a message not getting through to retirement savers. So, how can advisors step in and save 401(k) cash out takers from themselves?
Financial institutions don’t seem to be taking the threat of cyber-theft as seriously as security experts advise.
just as great quarterbacks like Tom Brady have a coach to rely on and help manage their game plan, great investors do, too
Wall Street watchers who specialize in the technology sector say social media sites are losing trust with consumers and that’s negatively impacting stock prices.
Given the power of compound interest, the retirement savings gap will continue to widen if women aren’t conscious of and actively planning for retirement.
It’s been a good year for independent advisors. So, what worked in their favor? These five takeaways from the study reveal what went right for advisors in 2018.
Data shows that 81 percent of advisors use model portfolios at some level, as they look for help in managing client accounts in an environment where fees are sliding downward.
Retirees blame tax complexities and concerns about outliving their money for their reluctance to splurge.
Non-millionaires expressed growing concerns about investing, with nearly half (47.8 percent) indicating that they did not plan to increase their investment in the coming month, the highest level since July 2017.
The data, the company stated, pointed straight to geopolitics, especially increased angst among investors over global trade issues.
With trade and tariffs in the headlines, should advisors be taking a longer look at the impact of White House decisions on client portfolios, especially in high-profile industries like auto manufacturing and sales – both home and abroad?
Amidst increased buzz over robotics-based advice, machine-learning and artificial intelligence, human advisors may wonder what a future where financial consumers are spoon-fed the moves they need to make to optimize their savings on a 24-7 basis means for them.
Finance professionals are budgeting more and more time each passing year to filling out forms and documenting meetings — all part of compliance demands they say are “ruining” the industry.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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?
Financial advisors have the opportunity to grow their practice and gain name recognition by doing podcasts, either as a host, or a guest. Experts provide a few dos and don’ts for those thinking about it.
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?
Are Morningstar ratings a useful tool for investors, or an overrated tool of the past? Money managers weigh in and say the answer might be a little of both.
A new service intends to rank advisors against one another based on performance managing money. Is it a fair and worthwhile endeavor?
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.
Financial services firms are getting fed up with high compliance costs, as 90 percent said they expect such costs to…
Several things contribute to clients outgrowing their advisors. In particular, advisors should be wary of these six things as they could be signs their client is ready to move on from the relationship.
Traditional advisory payment models are steadily disappearing as younger clients expect flexibility and competitive fees. With that in mind, many advisors are creating new payment options that are gaining favor.
A new Chubb survey finds that clients want their advisor to deliver property & casualty solutions, but only 28 percent of advisors offer these coverages.
A peek at leading indicators are signaling that further economic growth and stock market gains lie ahead, economic analysts say. In particular, manufacturing production and consumer confidence.
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.
What if you have a client who needs to make a significant withdrawal during a bear market early in retirement? That scenario can devastate a nest egg, and avoiding it takes plenty of planning.
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.
A September agreement on a two-day deadline for completion of a securities’ transaction might not be in place very long. Some factions are pushing for a one-day cycle, analysts say.
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.
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 Dow Jones tanked badly over the first few days of February, spreading fear among investors. But analysts say the market is fine and the “correction” was much needed.
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.
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.
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.
