Advisors Weigh Pros and Cons of 529 Plans
Advisors are weighing the benefits and drawbacks of 529 college‑savings plans as "529 Day" approaches on May 29. The plans now serve roughly 17.7 million accounts with about $603 billion in assets, offering tax‑free growth and no income limits. Recent legislation expands qualified K‑12 expenses and permits rollovers to other 529s or ABLE accounts for disabled beneficiaries. However, state‑specific restrictions and the appeal of more flexible UGMA/UTMA accounts are prompting some families to consider alternatives.
No More Bad Bosses: How Training Programs Can Address the Leadership Gap
A recent BambooHR study found that nearly six in ten workers quit because of their boss’s management style, highlighting a pervasive leadership gap. Wealth‑management firms are feeling the pressure, and Merit Financial Advisors in Alpharetta, Georgia, announced a 12‑month leadership...
401(k) Convos Give Advisors Inroads with Next-Gen Clients
Financial advisors are turning parent‑client relationships into a channel for reaching recent college graduates, urging them to start 401(k) contributions immediately and capture employer matches. Advisors like Mitchell Kraus and Frani Feit emphasize educational conversations about benefits, contribution percentages, and...
FIS, InvestCloud Aim to Help Advisors Connect with Younger Clients
FIS announced a partnership with InvestCloud to deliver a client‑facing digital platform that blends FIS’s back‑end infrastructure with InvestCloud’s mobile‑first wealth‑tech applications. The solution, aimed at engaging younger investors, will debut in July with six pilot firms before scaling to...
An Industry Maverick's Latest Plan to Draw Advisors From the Giants
Independent Financial Partners (IFP) unveiled "Project 3.14," a compensation plan that promises to share 40 % of any future sale or private‑equity recapitalization with its advisors. The firm, which now manages $19.5 billion for 279 advisors, aims to trigger a transaction by 2036...
How Securities-Backed Loans Help Investors Avoid Capital Gains Taxes
Banks with wealth‑management arms are promoting securities‑backed loans as a tax‑efficient way for investors to tap liquidity without selling appreciated assets. Merrill Lynch, BMO and Charles Schwab now offer fast‑track loans using stocks, bonds and even private‑equity holdings as collateral, often...
Should Advisors Work with a Recruiter or Go It Alone?
Financial advisors navigating a hot talent market can choose to work with recruiters or go solo. Recruiters act as matchmakers, paid by hiring firms, and can streamline the search, benchmark compensation, and provide transition support. However, advisors must vet recruiters...
A Guide to Making Short Videos to Boost an RIA's Brand
Financial advisors are turning to short-form videos on LinkedIn and Instagram to attract prospects, reinforce their brand, and supplement referrals. Practitioners like Sathya Chey Patterson and Kelly Klingaman report increased client engagement and reduced ice‑breaker time after posting regular clips....
UBS to Pay $1.2M for Placing Client in Annuity, Securities-Backed Loan
UBS was ordered by a FINRA arbitration panel to pay more than $1.18 million in compensatory damages plus $37,000 in legal costs to former client Kelly Goldsmith. The award stems from alleged breaches of fiduciary duty after the advisor placed roughly...
To Gain Wallet Share, Citi to Add 400 U.S. Advisors and Personal Bankers
Citi will add more than 400 advisors and personal bankers to its U.S. branches and Citi Gold unit, targeting the $3 trillion in client assets currently held at rival banks. The rollout includes the AI‑driven Citi Sky advisor, built on Google Gemini, slated...
Can an AI Agent Help Financial Advisors Reel in Referrals?
WealthReach unveiled Multiply, an AI‑driven referral coaching tool priced at $150 per month per advisor, extending its Attract and Convert suite. The platform translates Dan Allison’s feedback‑marketing methodology into actionable prompts that guide advisors on how to solicit client referrals...
LPL Advisors in Ameriprise Recruiting Dispute No Longer Must Relinquish Devices
A U.S. district judge revised an earlier order that had required 30 advisors who moved from Ameriprise to LPL Financial to surrender personal devices for forensic analysis. The revision removes the device‑turnover mandate, citing factual changes such as nine advisors...
Why Advisors Must Understand Differences in Private Equity Benchmarks
Private‑equity is becoming a mainstream portfolio component, but advisors struggle with opaque performance data. HarbourVest’s Sofia Gertsberg outlines three critical questions for selecting a benchmark: whether it reflects fund‑level or investment‑level returns, whether it matches the fund structure such as...
With M&A on Record Pace, Steward Partners Scoops up Jazz Wealth RIA
Steward Partners announced the acquisition of Jazz Wealth, an eight‑member RIA in Largo, Florida, adding the firm’s $450 million in assets to Steward’s roughly $50 billion platform. The deal is Steward’s seventh purchase in 2026 and its fifth in the first quarter,...
401(k) Plan Credit May Need a Nudge From Financial Advisors and CPAs
President Trump signed an executive order on April 30 launching TrumpIRA.gov and previewing the 2027 “saver’s match” provision of Secure Act 2.0, aimed at expanding 401(k) access for workers whose employers don’t offer retirement plans. While recent Secure Act tax credits for...