Nerd's Eye View

MAY 9, 2025

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent survey found that long-feared fee compression in the financial advice industry has yet to come to pass, though some advisors continue to see potential for small reductions in asset-based fees in the future.

Financial Planner 245

Financial Planner Financial Advice Clients Retirement Planning 245

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that the latest Fidelity RIA Benchmarking Study shows that while RIAs saw gains in AUM and revenue last year, their operating margins tightened, suggesting that rising expenses are cutting into firm profits.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Asset Allocation Taxes Tax Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 3, 2025

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with a recent survey indicating that a majority of advisors are viewing new client acquisition as their primary challenge in the current competitive environment for financial advice (followed by compliance and technology management) and suggests (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Financial Advice Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 28, 2025

Which suggests that, amidst ongoing debate over fiduciary-related regulations, an advisor's status as a fiduciary could both lead to greater client trust (both in their individual advisor relationship and perhaps in the financial advice industry as a whole) and, ultimately, higher client retention rates.

Financial Planner 229

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Clients 229

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

Read More.

Financial Planner 188

Financial Planner CFP Certification Retirement Planning 188

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 30, 2025

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent survey of financial advisory firm employees found that about half of respondents are currently working in the office five days a week, with the remainder divided among hybrid formats or full-time work from home.

Financial Planner 225

Financial Planner Risk Tolerance Retirement Retirement Planning 225

Nerd's Eye View

APRIL 18, 2025

Which could create opportunities for firms to seek opportunities to move 'upmarket' by trying to add new HNW clients who might not have an advice relationship (or whose current advisor doesn't provide sufficiently comprehensive service).

Financial Planner 196

Financial Planner Risk Tolerance Estate Planning Clients 196

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 183

Financial Planner CFP Financial Advisor Retirement 183

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Yet, despite the important role that charitable giving can play, studies show that many advisors hesitate to bring up the topic with clients. Advisors may worry about overstepping boundaries or feel uncertain about a client's interest in philanthropy. Introducing the subject of charitable giving may feel daunting.

Clients 242

Clients Education Financial Planner Planning 242

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 14, 2025

Which, if implemented under the new administration, could provide relief for investment advisers, particularly smaller firms that already have to balance compliance with client service, marketing, and the other duties that go into running a firm.

Financial Planner 163

Financial Planner Compliance Commission Retirement 163

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 13, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent study indicates that surveyed advisory firms that raised their fees in the last year saw almost identical 97% client retention rates as firms that lowered their fees (with the firms raising their fees bringing (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Retirement Certification 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the SEC this week fined 4 RIAs for violations of its marketing rule related to their claims that they offered 'conflict-free' financial advice.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Compliance Fee Only Communication 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 Financial Advisor 246

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 16, 2022

Also in industry news this week: While the FPA is going full steam ahead on its federal and state lobbying efforts to regulate the title “financial planner”, CFP Board is more focused on increasing recognition of the CFP marks. How individuals can best harness their willpower to achieve their biggest goals. Read More.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Retirement Planning Financial Advisor 246

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

AUGUST 16, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that a total of 26 broker-dealers, investment advisers, and dually-registered firms agreed to pay combined civil penalties of almost $400 million for failing to maintain (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Communication Retirement Commission 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent survey from Charles Schwab indicates that advisors see technology as the biggest driver of change in the RIA industry, with the growing number of AdvisorTech solutions as the most frequently cited tech-related driver (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Clients Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 30, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent benchmarking study suggests that a number of RIAs are looking to move 'upmarket' and work with wealthier clients by expanding their service menu to include family office services, investment banking, and/or trust (..)

Financial Planner 241

Financial Planner Financial Advisor Retirement Clients 241

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Also in industry news this week: 43% of wealth management firms are frustrated with the effectiveness of their CRM software, spurred on by challenges with integrations and workflows, according to a recent survey The Social Security Administration this week announced a 2.5%

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Risk Tolerance Financial Planning Clients 246

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 26, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news of a survey indicating that about 90% of financial advisors would switch firms based on bad technology at their current firm, and that 44% have already done so.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Financial Advisor Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the Department of Labor this week released its long-awaited "retirement security rule", its latest effort to curb conflicts of interest around retirement savings recommendations.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Insurance 246

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 5, 2022

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that the SEC has issued a new bulletin clarifying the responsibilities of brokers under Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI). How advisors can support clients in choosing a Medigap policy.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Compliance Insurance Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 6, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent survey found that clients across several countries who work with a CFP professional have better outcomes on a range of measures compared to those working with other advisors or no advisor at all, suggesting that the (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Certification Communication 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent survey indicates financial advisors are the most trusted source of financial advice for consumers across generations, and are particularly trusted among wealthier individuals.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Advertising 246

Nerd's Eye View

AUGUST 25, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent CFP Board survey indicates that consumers do not expect AI tools to replace human financial advisors, but rather supplement advisors' work.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Advertising 246

Nerd's Eye View

JULY 14, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that while the new social media app Threads, designed to compete with Twitter, has surpassed 100 million users in its first week alone, its potential utility for advisors remains unclear and has raised compliance concerns for advisors (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Compliance Media Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Read More.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Strategic Planning Retirement Planning Retirement 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

Why private placement life insurance policies could become an increasingly popular option for ultra-high-net-worth clients. The upcoming debut of a new tontine product could add another option for advisors looking to mitigate their clients’ longevity risk.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Strategic Planning Retirement Planning Retirement 246

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

MAY 26, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that while banks have been able to attract a younger and more diverse set of financial advisors compared to the rest of the industry, thanks in part to their built-in referral stream, a relative lack of independence (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Fiduciary Duty Retirement Clients 246

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that as enforcement of the SEC’s new marketing rule began on November 4, advisory firms are taking a variety of approaches.

Financial Planner 244

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Compliance Clients 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

MARCH 22, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the SEC has recently been cracking down on firms for recordkeeping failures related to electronic communications, including their use of text messaging with prospects and clients.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Communication Retirement Retirement Planning 246

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with a report from Future Proof, dubbed the “world’s largest wealth festival”, held this week on(!) Huntington Beach, California.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Retirement Planning Numbers 246

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 3, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that amid economic and market headwinds, the pace of RIA M&A activity was slower in January and February compared to the same period last year. Read More.

Financial Planner 241

Financial Planner Retirement Clients Numbers 241

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent study from Fidelity Institutional highlights the growing popularity of the RIA model and the success advisors have had after going independent.

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Retirement Planning Retirement Insurance 246

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 27, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the shift in financial advice from pure investment management to comprehensive financial planning continues, with more individuals becoming CFP professionals than CFAs in the past few years as consumers increasing the diversity (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Financial Advice Financial Advisor Tax Planning 246