In Practice

According to a study by Fidelity, advisers who moved to an independent model saw the greatest increase in compensation. 

Most middle-class military families trust the financial planners they work with, according to a recent survey.

Seven out of ten pre-retirees surveyed say they would ideally like to include some work in their retirement years.

Terminations, retirements and those exiting the industry by choice have all taken their toll on the adviser headcount, which slipped 1.4% in the past year.

As part of its retirement study, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management developed an index to measure the current level of national retirement peace of mind.

Adult children get more details about the financial situation of Mom than Dad, according to Fidelity Investments research.

Just over half (56%) of Americans say they are financially prepared to live to the age of 75, according to findings from Northwestern Mutual. 

Institutional investors are using exchange-traded funds (ETFs) both tactically and strategically, according to a study from Greenwich Associates.

Financial advising as a career for women is projected to grow 32% from 2010 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Independent broker/dealers and RIAs continued outpacing wirehouse firms in long-term mutual fund asset growth in the first quarter, according to Access Data and Strategic Insight. 

Whether employees will have enough income in retirement is the hot topic of the industry.

Advisers believe the market is due for a pullback and the economy remains fragile, according to WealthManagement.com’s Advisor Confidence Index.

A recent Deloitte survey found employee retirement readiness continues to be a top priority among more than three-quarters (78%) of 401(k) plan sponsors.

The demand for managed accounts is increasing as plan sponsors seek to provide participants with more customized solutions, Fidelity Investments says.

A six-year analysis of small businesses’ retirement plans by Fidelity Investments shows both sponsor and participant commitment during the recession.

Service providers for defined contribution plans have increasingly taken on responsibility for the plans.

About half of retirees (49%) carry debt into retirement, says a survey conducted last month by Securian Financial Group.

An ICI research report on defined contribution (DC) participants’ activities found that the majority continued to save in their workplace retirement plans in 2012.

Registered investment adviser (RIA) assets are expected to account for approximately one-quarter of industry asset marketshare by the end of 2014, according to Cerulli Associates.

A survey of retirement plan advisers (called “consultants” in the study) said they must make changes if they want to increase sales and retain more business.