When a rep is laid off or changes firms, there's often a disagreement about how much she is due for her final months of work. You might think you need to hire a lawyer to maximize compensation. But even if a broker doesn't know exactly what she's...
The Sears spin-off of Dean Witter applauded by securities industry observers and cheered by most Dean Witter brokers may well mark the end of one-stop financial shopping. RR, Dec. 1992
In your initial meetings with clients, an answer to one question will give you insight into their values, lives and dreams and create a healthy anxiety that will motivate them to enlist your services. As nonchalantly as possible, ask, When you die...
It is time to close what is perhaps one of the darkest chapters in the history of modern finance. It is time for us to move on. Dick Grasso, NYSE Chairman If only it were that simple. The global settlement is nice the firms pony up $900 million in...
One of Merrill Lynch's major initiatives in the coming year will be to continue to attract clients to the firm's expanded banking service, known as Beyond Banking. As firms seek to grab an increasing percentage of a client's assets, they have...
When you strike up a professional relationship, you may be pleased to make a new friend. But you'll be really happy if that friend brings you business. Which brings us to this month's topic: Why financial advisors should get to know estate...
It's been a good year for Michael Rice, president of retail brokerage at Prudential Securities. According to Rice, Prudential's beleaguered brokerage unit has seen improvements in productivity, advisor attrition and market share. In early December...
A Dallas-based client paid a financial planner I know $3,700 for a comprehensive financial plan including retirement, investment and estate planning. One day, the client mentioned that his broker, who works for a national firm, was steamed at him...
