Financial planning

Care planning is complicated, but critical

The Financial Planning Association is encouraging its members to write to the Securities and Exchange Commission protesting a proposed regulation that will require investment advisors to undergo surprise annual accounting audits by an outside accounting firm.

The Investment Management Consultants Association implemented changes to its Certified Investment Management Analyst certification program yesterday, the organization said.

Salaries of financial advisors are rebounding after a soft 2008, according to a new survey.

As many as 9.5 million retired Americans are considering at least a partial return to the workforce, according to a new study by Charles Schwab.

The House Education and Labor Committee has approved a bill that would require 401(k) plan providers to provide clear, complete information about the fees they charge.

Cheshire Software has expanded the estate planning features in its wealth management software product, Cheshire Wealth Manager.

A new survey shows backing for 401(k) plans by senior finance and human resources executives, even though many of the plans have performed poorly during the financial crisis.

CPAs who also hold the AICPA’s Personal Financial Specialist credential are advising many of their high-net-worth clients to rebalance their portfolios, reassess their tax planning and control their expenses and cash flow, according to a new survey.

Retirement plan recordkeeping service provider ExpertPlan has acquired portions of ADP’s retirement plan recordkeeping business that service independent third-party administrators.

As workers experience large losses in their retirement funds, a significant number are planning to delay their retirement, according to a new survey.

The SEC and the Department of Labor convened a hearing Thursday to decide whether to tighten the rules for financial services companies that offer target-date funds in their 401(k) plans.

A “perfect storm” of demographic, individual and financial elements is poised to undermine people’s retirement plans unless they prepare properly, warns a new global survey.

Penn Mutual Life Insurance has created a Professional Advisors Alliance program with the aim of bringing together financial advisors and CPAs to expand their services, distribution channels and revenue.

COALITION SUPPORTS FINANCIAL PLANNING REGULATION

To take a phrase commonly used in general aviation, "flying blind" is not a good thing. With storm clouds all around and visibility severely limited, qualified pilots have to rely on a combination of instrument flight rules and the air traffic control system to safely arrive at their destination. In many respects, estate planning is similar to flying, as the goal of estate planning is to transport your client from one point to another safely and securely without experiencing any major financial problems. Successfully accomplishing this goal requires a formal plan and proper decision-making by the client.

Retirees will need far more money to cover their health care expenses than previously estimated, according to a new study.

BNA Software and Scivantage’s Financial Guidance division have released BNA Wealth Manager, a wealth management software product designed for use by CPAs.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner described a series of reforms that the Obama administration wants to make to executive compensation practices, including support for “say-on-pay” legislation that would give investors more input into executive pay packages at public companies.

The recession has not prompted many people to change their behavior and start saving more for retirement, according to a new survey by Charles Schwab.