The fastest growing broker-deal channel? Independents
'The wirehouses’ growth rates have lagged other broker-dealer channels’ over the past one and five years. However, this is for ‘retail’ assets. The opposite is true in the high...
Advisors/Planners/Reps
Ohio National Sued for Compensation Breach
So far in November, three variable annuity sellers, including Commonwealth Financial, have filed federal class action lawsuits against Ohio National Life, which this fall left the annuity business and...
Hybrid vigor: Many RIAs like support from broker-dealers
'Among advisors who switched to the hybrid model in the past one to five years, only 23% would choose to drop their broker/dealer affiliation and move fully to the...
What’s Up, Doc Huffman?
Ohio National Life's withdrawal from the annuity business continues to rile advisors and broker-dealers who carry a lot of the insurer's rich old living benefit products on their books--and...
Managed wealth exceeds $46 trillion in US: Cerulli
'As asset managers look to the future of product development and strategy, they should carefully evaluate... the increased demand for low-cost index options, fee pressure, and commoditization,' a Cerulli...
‘RIAs, You’ve Got to Try This’: Macchia
'A recent article said that high valuations make this the worst possible time to retire. I say, This is the perfect time to retire if your advisor has provided...
Are fewer people seeking financial advice?
'After an extended period of good economic news—and right before recessions—people tend to believe that they do not need financial advice,' according to this brief from MacroMonitor, a publication...
Jackson joins Envestnet Insurance Exchange
Envestnet will be offering a service called Guidance Desk that will allow unlicensed RIAs access to the consulting and fiduciary services that would enable them to use the Insurance...
Playing the ‘Newlywed Game’ with near-retirement couples
Couples on the brink of retirement often have different ideas about retirement but not know it, according to a new research paper from academics in Canada and the Netherlands....
Asset managers focus on advisor behavior: Cerulli
'Just 53% of practices with assets under management (AUM) between $50 million and $100 million in-source their investment decision making,' said Ed Louis, a senior analyst at Cerulli, in...
Making Annuities Easier for RIAs
It's no longer a minority report. We talk to executives at Envestnet, DPL Financial, RetireOne, Allianz Life and United Capital about new platforms for helping registered investment advisors integrate...
RIAs should beware the stress of success: Cerulli
'As firms surpass $1 billion in assets, they reach a new phase in their business lifecycle,' said Kenton Shirk, a director at Cerulli, in a release.
Merrill Lynch may bring back commissions on sales to IRA clients
The firm has launched a 60-day review of its individual retirement account policies and will consider keeping, relaxing or rolling them back, a source told Reuters.
How Not to Sell an Indexed Annuity
Five financial professionals commented on our April 5 story about my neighbor's encounter with an advisor who recommended an indexed annuity for lifetime income. She should 'run like hell,'...
Fiduciary rule litigation isn’t over
AARP wants the entire panel of Fifth Circuit judges to review the ruling by the three-judge panel, which ruled 2 to 1 against the DOL fiduciary rule.
The Bucket Brigade
Time-segmentation stands at the intersection of insurance and investments, of modern portfolio theory and asset/liability matching, and of behavioral finance and quantitative analysis.
Broker-dealers will need scale or specialization: Cerulli
'As advisors have adopted passive strategies, ETF structures, and institutional share classes, revenue-sharing to B/Ds has decreased,' a Cerulli analyst writes.
Great-West to distribute its new indexed VA to RIAs on the RetireOne platform
RIAs hate annuities--unless they can exchange a client's existing contract for something cheaper and more suitable. Great-West sees opportunity there.
Two new reports analyze advisor needs and job switching
Advisors are switching firms, Fidelity says, and broker-dealers with more tech and resources are best able to attract them, according to Cerulli.
InsurMark receives infusion from Simplicity
InsurMark now identifies as itself as ADO, or Advisor Development Organization. The repositioning reflects an emphasis on 'helping advisor-clients optimize the value of their business.'
