Consumer demand and the emergence of new services and products have elevated advice-giving over the past 25 years. Trading costs came under intense scrutiny as discounters showed what a transaction was truly worth. In 1975, the Dow Jones...

If you're an investment management consultant whos just cracked the corporate market, you may be feeling uncomfortable. The tools you used to build your consulting business may not be good enough to compete for corporate assets. If you're lucky...

In May, Morgan Stanley distributed a memo outlining new guidelines for the distribution of house accounts and leads to brokers. As one criterion to qualify for the freebies, brokers must sign a noncompete agreement. The agreement covers assigned...

Imagine logging into a database that identifies wealthy investors, determines liquidity of individuals and spotlights leaders who work in publicly traded corporations. Imagine no more. The Golddigger Wealth Identification and Tracking System from...

The number of full-service clients with online account access jumped last year, and it's still growing. It definitely shot off like a rocket last year, says Steve Clifford, director of interactive marketing and services at Salomon Smith Barney. By...

Always go the extra mile for your clients. It's easier than you think. The road is never crowded. When we know what our clients like and dislike, we can develop client intimacy. No personal detail is too small. We should know their hobbies, where...

The vast majority of claims by investors against their stockbrokers are brought with the help of lawyers working for contingent fees. And since lawyers do not like to work for free, they usually will not take a case that appears unwinnable. How do...

Author Frank Maselli claims the techniques taught in his book, Seminars, The Emotional Dynamic, can triple brokers' client yield at seminars. The typical seminar has 30 attendees and nets appointments with 10% to 15% of the audience, according to...

Salomon Smith Barney will be dropping the name beginning next year. The firm's retail business in the United States will operate as Smith Barney. The goal is to better identify and brand the firm's retail and investment banking businesses, says a...

Robert Bagby took over as chairman and CEO of A.G. Edwards on March 1, 2001. Bagby, a former broker, was most recently vice chairman and director of branches. Registered Representative caught up with him in May. RR: Will the firm continue to...