Top 10 Financial Articles Of 2018

There’s been no shortage of financial news in 2018. From the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest to the ups and downs of the stock market, here are the most-read AdvisorNews articles of 2018.

1. Eight (Plus) Things Clients Want from Their Financial Advisors, Brian O’Connell

Based on a Natixis Individual Investor Survey, this article explores what clients want from their financial advisors. Among the priorities clients listed as most important were transparency, being a good listener and suggesting investments that reflect the client’s values.

2. Problem Child: When Clients Turn Their Back On Your Financial Advice, Brian O’Connell

Financial professionals are no stranger to difficult clients. This article explains how to deal with clients rejecting professional advice and knowing when the client-advisor relationship is no longer working.

3. Changes Coming In Trump’s Executive Order On Retirement Plans, Brian O’Connell

The Trump Administration has made several changes that impact advisors in 2018, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and President Trump’s Executive Order on retirement plans. The article highlights key changes the order implements such as changes on withdrawal rules and boosting multiple employment plans.

4. Lingering Effects Of DOL Rule Haunt Life Insurance, Cassie Miller

Centered on data from the Financial Planning Association’s 2018 Trends in Investing Survey, this article details how the ghost of the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule has affected the sale of life insurance.   

5. Advisors Debate Value of Long-Term Care Insurance, Brian O’Connell

Does long-term care insurance belong in an investment portfolio or a retirement portfolio? Advisors debate its usefulness and evaluate whether the risk is worth it in retirement.

6. The ‘Clunky’ Details of Fee-based Annuities, Cyril Tuohy

Regulators have pushed insurers to develop fee-based annuities, but there’s a problem. Fee-based annuities include a lot of extra steps making them a difficult sell.

7. Analyst: Firms May Need to Rethink DOL Rule After Scottrade Charges, John Hilton

Before the DOL rule was vacated, Massachusetts’ regulators filed charges against Scottrade, alleging that the brokerage engaged in improper sales practices and did not act in “good faith” to comply with the fiduciary rule.

8. Six Signs Clients Have Outgrown Their Financial Advisors, Brian O’Connell

Some clients demand more creative, sophisticated planning as their financial picture changes. As that picture changes, sometimes their original planner is no longer right for the job. This article lists some possible red flags that might mean clients are looking to move on.

9. Where to Draw the Line With Rude Clients, Brian O’Connell

This article offers tips on how to identify and unplug your practice from problem clients.

10. Five Times It’s OK to Collect Social Security Early, Brian O’Connell

It’s an important decision - one where advisors need to understand the contributing factors to time when a client should begin receiving Social Security benefits. Here’s five times it’s OK to collect early.

Thank you to all of our readers for making 2018 another great year at AdvisorNews! We look forward to providing you with the best financial news in the New Year. If there’s something you would like to see covered in 2018, please send suggestions to [email protected]