When I was growing up, I was taught that only lazy people asked for "handouts" from the government in hard times. But I've learned public assistance isn't a handout at all— it's a service our tax dollars pay for. We purchase these promises in good times so we have something for rainy days.
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Could in-plan annuities head up a new asset class?
Creating a new asset class could help more Americans access the guaranteed lifetime income options studies show are needed to help avert a mass retirement crisis.
Social Security retroactive payments go out to more than 1M
More than 1 million Americans have received retroactive Social Security payments as a result of the Social Security Fairness Act that was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden on Jan. 5.
What you need to know to find success with women investors
Two recent studies provide some critical insights into the goals and challenges of women investors, and how they select financial advisors.
Office of Senator Gary Dahms. On Thursday, February 27, Governor Tim Walz announced a proposal to increase the Insurance Premium Tax, currently set at 0.6%, by adding an "assessment" to cover the funding gap between what insurance companies pay and what the federal government provides for Minnesota's reinsurance program. "When you look at the big picture on what is…
Social Security staff cuts could ‘significantly impact’ beneficiaries
Plans to slash the Social Security Administration workforce from 57,000 to 50,000 might not directly involve benefits, but many stakeholders are nervous nonetheless.
Building your business with generative AI
The business case of generative AI for the financial services profession is helping advisors speed up their processes to allow them to serve more clients with the same 24 hours in a day.
Study: key gaps advisors miss in retirement planning conversations
Alliance for Lifetime Income’s 2024 annual study finds significant gaps between financial professionals and investors.
T. Rowe Price: Trends that will shape retirement in 2025
T. Rowe Price offers their research-based insights on major themes they expect to shape the retirement landscape this year.
President Trump in his address to Congress on Tuesday revived a campaign pitch to create a tax deduction for interest payments on car loans, amid a broader push for sweeping tax cuts. Mr. Trump pitched the tax deduction for car loan interest during a few campaign stops last year— including one in Detroit, where many automakers are headquartered— but he has not…
While Washington maintains that the U.S. economy is well-positioned to withstand a trade war-given that exports account for just 11% of GDP-the same may not hold true for its stock market. This Report was prepared by National Bank Financial, Inc.,, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of National Bank of Canada. National Bank of Canada is a public company listed…
Does your investor client know how much they pay in fees?
Does your investor client understand the fees they are paying? A recent Hearts & Wallets study answers this question.
Get friends to do business: 2 distinct approaches
Broadcasting vs. narrowcasting: Which approach works best?
Unlocking hidden AUM: Prospecting from within your client base
How savvy advisors can effectively prospect within their own books of business.
In Washington, D.C., the People’ s Action Institute led protests Wednesday outside the headquarters of Blackstone, UnitedHealth and American Gas Association. All three stand to benefit from the GOP budget framework passed Tuesday, which would shower tax cuts on the wealthy while slashing essential services like Medicaid. Protester:“ Use our taxpayer dollars…
Charitable giving tools available for taxpayers; due to expire
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is due to expire at the end of this year, but clients who want to save money on their taxes through charitable giving still have some tools they can use,
Study: How should lawmakers fix the Social Security gap?
A recent study tries to capture Americans’ views on how lawmakers should address Social Security’s long-term financing gap.
Could Trump seek revenue via a sharp cut in 401(k) contribution limits?
The Trump administration needs revenue to offset planned trillion-dollar tax cuts. Could they look at retirement accounts?
The ‘guardrails approach’ to retirement income
Morningstar said a flexible strategy called the guardrails approach, when combined with delayed Social Security claiming, was found to yield the highest level of lifetime income.
Is there a mismatch between advisor marketing and consumer preferences?
There is a critical disconnect between how financial advisory firms market themselves and how consumers choose their advisors.
