A decade ago, the independent broker/dealer firms were filled with part-time advisors, certified public accountants and insurance agents. The channel has moved on, but in many ways, its reputation hasn't. Some still see it as a place for those...
With its revamped discount trading platform, Merrill has, in effect, declared open warfare on Chuck Schwab and its discount brokerage peers.
Raymond James and Wells Fargo Advisors report decent results in a tough environment.
You’ve heard it before, ad nauseum. The way to boost revenues is by forming a team. Client needs and the demands of the market are too complex to be served adequately by a lone cowboy or even a loosely associated group of colleagues. “...
Often criticized for their high fees and their complexities, annuities are drawing renewed interest from investors who want security in the wake of the recent financial collapse.
The Certified Financial Planner designation is about to become more challenging to obtain. The Board of Standards this month approved a new prerequisite for its two-day certification exam: a 45-hour capstone course on financial planning. But...
Ameriprise has long been dismissed, by some, as a place for unsophisticated advisors to push proprietary products. A recent change in strategy may challenge that stubborn stereotype.
Family teams are common in the wealth management industry and getting more so. Hiring family members can be an easy solution to finding a trustworthy partner and a successor. But there are drawbacks.
Affluent investors rated Charles Schwab the number one “distributor” or brokerage firm, bumping Fidelity into second place, according to Cogent Research’s recently released 2010 Investor Brandscape report.
Each December analysts at Raymond James pick a list of stocks its will likely “produce above-average price appreciation over the next 55 weeks.” This year’s list contains 14 stocks that Raymond James analysts say should somehow...
