Financial Planning

Case for Starting or Joining a Registered Investment Advisor Firm

Making the change from a traditional broker-dealer model to full independence with the registered investment advisor model introduces a number of considerations. The registered investment advisor (RIA) model can not only offer you greater choice and flexibility, but also greater responsibility. Learn more about the RIA model, how it compares to a captive-hybrid or bank/brokerage environment and get an overview on the role of the RIA custodian. This report is designed to help you find out for yourself what a move to independence can involve—and learn from those who made the change.

Expanding Asset Allocation Programs with Next Generation Commodity Indices

Oil. Gas. Food. The great resource race is on and it may be time to gain exposure. Learn about new opportunities that are providing investors with the most efficient commodity exposure. In this white paper, Van Eck explains why next generation commodity indexes are a true alternative to traditional index investments. Download this report and examine how contango, backwardation and roll yield can impact returns of commodity funds and find out about innovative solutions that are helping investors.

College Savings Strategies

CollegeBoundfund®’s Practical Solutions for Emotional Goals
The key to successful long-term growth of your business isn’t simply getting more clients, it’s forging deeper relationships that lead to “stickier” business. When clients save for college, they’re putting away emotional money—it’s about dreams for their loved ones.
Our College Saving Strategies Brochure:

• Provides several ways you can incorporate 529 in your overall practice, and
• Demonstrates the benefits of education planning within the larger framework of wealth management

Advisor Of The Future: The Road Ahead

What will the advisor of the future need to survive and thrive through the years?

Eight thought leaders in the financial services profession presented their views in a roundtable discussion following the Financial Planning Association’s National Confer-ence in San Diego in September 2011. The 60-minute conversation was a spirited debate. A frequent contributor to Financial Planning magazine and Financial-Planning.com, Marie Swift moderated the discussion.

How the 2011 tax changes will affect you

Recent tax legislation extends tax cuts at every income level, renews unemployment benefits and enacts a one-year cut in Social Security taxes.