Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 23, 2025

In this article, Senior Financial Planning Nerd Sydney Squires draws on research from Morningstar that identifies 11 core motivators that influence how prospects choose their particular advisor. These motivators fall into three categories: emotional, financial, and situational ("other").

Communication 231

Communication Retirement Planning Clients Financial Services 231

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 9, 2025

These results largely match results from the recent Kitces Research Study on Advisor Productivity, which found that the typical fee schedule for firms charging on a graduated basis remains at 100 basis points (bps) for client assets up to $1 million, then declines to 90 bps at $2 million, 75 bps at $5 million, and 60 bps at $10 million in assets.

Financial Planner 244

Financial Planner Financial Advice Clients Retirement Planning 244

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

Also in industry news this week: Why the announced acquisition of RIA custodian TradePMR by retail brokerage firm Robinhood could prove to be a boon for RIAs on TradePMR's platform, who could receive a wave of referrals from Robinhood's massive base of next-generation retail clients How Morningstar is cutting the "Medalist Ratings" of thousands of (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Retail Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

At the same time, CFP Board has noted that advisors pursue the certification voluntarily and that its standards, which cover the entire financial planning process (unlike SEC and FINRA regulations that largely focus on investment management), help to raise standards for the industry as a whole at a time when advisors increasingly offer comprehensive (..)

Financial Planner 188

Financial Planner CFP Certification Retirement Planning 188

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 28, 2025

Also in industry news this week: A recent survey indicates that younger "DIY" investors are more likely to be interested in working with a human advisor than their older counterparts, suggesting an opportunity for advisors to tap into this demographic (perhaps by setting minimum planning fees that ensure these clients can be served profitably today (..)

Financial Planner 212

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Clients 212

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

In the early days of financial planning, serving clients often meant developing transactional relationships focused on facilitating trades and selling insurance. Over time, advisors shifted toward more analytical approaches, such as investment management and retirement planning.

Clients 130

Clients Planning Financial Planner Financial Planning 130

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 25, 2023

Each week in Weekend Reading For Financial Planners, we seek to bring you synopses and commentaries on 12 articles covering news for financial advisors including topics covering technical planning, practice management, advisor marketing, career development, and more.

Financial Advisor 246

Financial Advisor Financial Planner Insurance Clients 246

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 30, 2025

Also in industry news this week: In the continued absence of formal SEC guidance on advisory firm use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), many firms are taking a curious, but cautious, approach toward adopting AI-powered tools A recent report identifies the growing total wealth controlled by women in the U.S.

Financial Planner 206

Financial Planner Risk Tolerance Retirement Retirement Planning 206

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 21, 2022

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that Congress appears poised to pass a series of changes affecting retirement planning, dubbed “SECURE ACT 2.0”, ”, by the end of the year. Social Security COLA for 2023.

Financial Planner 222

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Insurance 222

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Among other measures, the proposal would amend the current 5-part test that determines fiduciary status for retirement accounts by defining as a fiduciary act a one-time recommendation to roll funds from a company retirement plan to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), strengthen advice standards for independent insurance professionals, apply to (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Insurance 246

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 2, 2025

a ski chalet), assessing whether it will lead to greater overall wellbeing, or, alternatively, more stress, is more challenging Enjoy the 'light' reading! a ski chalet), assessing whether it will lead to greater overall wellbeing, or, alternatively, more stress, is more challenging Enjoy the 'light' reading!

Financial Planner 152

Financial Planner CFP Retirement Retirement Planning 152

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 10, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners"– this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent analysis from Morningstar suggests that the Department of Labor's (DoL's) new Retirement Security Rule (aka Fiduciary Rule 2.0)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Valuation 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 26, 2024

Also in industry news this week: A House committee has advanced a bill that would extend several expired business-related tax measures from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and would increase the value of the Child Tax Credit The SEC released its examination priorities for 2024, which include a focus on advisers' adherence to their duty of care and duty of (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Financial Advisor Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 13, 2024

Also in industry news this week: While the SEC has had the power to restrict mandatory arbitration clauses in RIA client agreements for more than a decade, an advisory committee meeting this week suggests support for such a measure isn't unanimous CFP Board saw a record number of exam-takers during 2024, reflecting recognition of the professional and (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Retirement Certification 246

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

From there, we have several articles on advisor marketing: Three tactics advisors can use to improve their ‘close’ rate with prospective clients. While “free” Medicare Advantage plans might sound enticing, advisors can help their clients assess whether a different plan might actually be more cost-efficient.

Financial Planner 241

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Compliance Clients 241

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a CFP Board ad campaign promoting a career in financial planning to high school and college students sparked an uproar in the planning community, as some advisors questioned whether the messages being sent in the ads – (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Financial Planning Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 26, 2024

The study also identified attributes of "top performing" firms across a range of metrics, finding that they are more likely than other firms to have a clear ideal client persona, client value proposition, and marketing plan.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Communication Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 23, 2022

”, a series of measures that will have significant impacts on the world of retirement planning. From there, we have several articles on advisor marketing: Five tactics advisors can use to make the most of the online referrals they receive. How ‘regifting’ can help save money and reduce waste.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Financial Planning Budgeting 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 30, 2022

” has brought a wide range of changes to the world of retirement planning. From there, we have several articles on advisor technology: A recent survey shows that many advisors at large firms are unhappy with their firm’s current tech stack and that client growth has suffered because of it.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Clients Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

From there, we have several articles on investments: How Morningstar plans to simplify its rating system amid continued concerns about its effectiveness. The variety of ways individuals approach retirement, from choosing where to live to finding purpose in their daily lives.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Strategic Planning Retirement Planning Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 28, 2023

House of Representatives committee this week approved legislation that would expand the pool of individuals who would qualify as accredited investors able to access certain private offerings Proposed bipartisan legislation would allow individuals to use funds in 529 plans for expenses associated with acquiring or maintaining postsecondary credentials, (..)

Financial Planner 245

Financial Planner Certification Retirement Planning CFP 245

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Further, Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the most cited factor driving industry growth during the next 3 years, with client data integration as a primary area for improvement, suggesting an opportunity for AI tools to help advisors make the most of the significant amount of client data they possess (possibly saving time in the process) and potentially (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Clients Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 14, 2023

Also in industry news this week: The SEC this week finalized a series of rules designed to discourage future runs on money-market funds, potentially reducing their liquidity risk A recent study suggests that advisor marketing messages that address prospective clients' emotional concerns, in addition to their technical questions, could be particularly (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Compliance Media Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 6, 2023

How planning specializations can help firms and their advisors stand out from the pack. From there, we have several articles on retirement planning: Why an individual’s portfolio of relationships could be just as important as their investment portfolio when it comes to happiness in retirement.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Commission Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 30, 2023

Also in industry news this week: Concerned about the (insufficient) frequency of its examinations of RIAs, an SEC committee has recommended that the regulator allow third parties to conduct these examinations and to request Congressional authorization to charge investment advisers under its purview a ‘user fee’ that would provide steady (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Fee Only Commission Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

Also in industry news this week: As broker-dealers increasingly offer fee-based planning services, RIAs are responding by enhancing their own service offerings, and offering alternative fee structures to differentiate themselves from the competition. How sequence of return risk can affect accumulators as well as retirees.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Education Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

FEBRUARY 17, 2023

Read More.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Fiduciary Duty Retirement Planning Compliance 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 16, 2022

From there, we have several articles on practice management: Why it is important for advisors charging on a fee-for-service basis to regularly reassess their pricing, and best practices for letting current clients know about a fee increase. How firms can best leverage their internal data to improve the number of client referrals they receive.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Retirement Planning Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 9, 2022

Also in industry news this week: A recent survey indicates that retirement plan sponsors currently using financial advisors to support their plan are overwhelmingly satisfied with the service they receive, which also leads to improved retirement savings for their employees.

Financial Planner 245

Financial Planner Recruitment Retirement Planning Retirement 245

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 30, 2025

We've also announced a Save-The-Date for a second IAR CE Intensive Day later this year – on Thursday, October 30th, we'll host an "IAR P&P CE Day" (covering the Products & Practice portion of the IAR CE requirement), with a particular focus on advanced tax and retirement planning.

Financial Planning 130

Financial Planning Financial Advice Clients Ethics 130

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 25, 2023

Also in industry news this week: The SEC settled its first charges related to its new marketing rule with a firm that advertised 2,700% annual returns A survey suggests that older Americans prefer the term "longevity" to "aging", perhaps informing the way advisors discuss related issues with their clients From there, we have several articles on retirement (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Advertising 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Also in industry news this week: A legal challenge to FINRA's operations as a self-regulatory organization has the potential to upend the current regulatory system for broker-dealers and their registered representatives A recent study indicates that while many consumers appear confident handling their finances on a 'DIY' basis during their careers, (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Strategic Planning Retirement Planning Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 1, 2022

From there, we have several articles on advisor marketing: How some of the biggest financial services firms are increasing their television advertising and how smaller firms can craft a scalable, cost-efficient marketing strategy. The potential advantages of taking RMDs in stock rather than in cash during the current market downturn.

Financial Planner 244

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Advertising Taxes 244

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 2, 2022

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with a research study suggesting that the market volatility experienced in 2022 could increase demand for financial planning services. Why some RIAs are converting their SMA strategies into ETFs.

Financial Planner 236

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Financial Planning 236

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 24, 2023

Also in industry news this week: Top Democratic Senators are urging the Treasury Department to crack down on a range of estate planning strategies for high-net-worth individuals, including GRATs and IDGTs Amid fallout from recent bank failures, both Republicans and Democrats are considering whether current FDIC insurance limits should be increased (..)

Financial Planner 244

Financial Planner CFP Certification Retirement Planning 244

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 26, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the Department of Labor released the final version of its Retirement Security Rule (a.k.a.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Commission Communication Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 14, 2024

Also in industry news this week: While an infusion of Private Equity (PE) capital has shaken up the RIA M&A market, the ultimate implications for advisors, their clients, and the PE firms themselves remain unclear A recent study has found that a significant portion of 'DIY' investors are open to working with a human advisor (and paying for the (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Compensation Planning Asset Allocation Retirement Planning 246