Practice Management

One key M&A trend identified in a new PwC report is the growing prevalence of large asset management and/or private equity entities making minority-stake investments in wealth management firms.

Cerulli also sees opportunities for advisers in the 403(b), defined benefit (DB), and financial wellness markets.

Advisers and providers in the defined contribution plan arena want to take a bite out of banks’ dominance in the health savings account marketplace, and they are building solutions to make it happen.

Fidelity’s 2019 Wealth Management M&A Transaction Report shows there were 23 RIA deals inked during the year worth $1 billion or more.  

CFB Board sees decumulation as a likely driver of digital advice innovation, especially as an aging population creates a need for more efficient and effective services.

This year, we introduced a new column, Marketing Mechanics, to highlight novel ways retirement plan advisers are seeking new business.

This year, the Practice Development column in PLANADVISER print explored various ways retirement plan advisers can expand their practices beyond 401(k)s, with the goals of adding new revenue streams, better serving participants and solidifying client relationships.

From targeted education to utilizing investments, 2018 highlighted different areas of financial wellness. 

Data from Cerulli Associates shows advisory practices are migrating away from measuring their value based on their investment expertise.

Advisers discuss the software their firms currently use, how they access client information, and how succession planning figures into the future of their practices.

Cogent Reports’ latest analysis of the DC plan adviser industry shows most advisers touching this space still manage only a handful of plans—while those with more plans are growing much faster than the average firm. 

Pershing researchers warn that it is far harder for advisers to convey the uniqueness of their value propositions than is commonly assumed.

They are also offering a broader range of products, a survey by LIMRA and EY found.

How retirement plan advisers need to function as business owners in order to grow their practices.

Significant transformation is happening in the small business retirement plan market; what does this mean for the fiduciary adviser community?

In order to remain relevant, speakers said, the retirement plan industry must become more diverse.

It has become more common for plans with upwards of $20 million in assets to go through a formal RFP process to find a new adviser, but it can be a cumbersome process to respond.