Do Financial Advisors Need Annuity Suitability Training?
Annuities may prove a valuable addition to a client’s portfolio if they’re interested in guaranteed income for retirement. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) requires insurers and agents who recommend annuities to consumers to ensure that they’re aligned with client needs. Annuity suitability training, or equivalent best interest training, is required in every state… read more…
How Advisors Expand Their Business Through Centers of Influence
Centers of influence can help you grow your business if you’re making professional connections that lead to more referrals. Centers of influence marketing is something 62% of advisors rely on for referral generation, according to a 2024 Kitces report on how financial planners market their services. If you’re not utilizing this strategy yet, you may… read more…
Where Seniors Are Targeted by Scams — 2026 Study
Millions of older Americans are targeted by financial scams each year. One analysis published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury found $27 billion in suspected elder financial exploitation in just a 12-month period. As digital banking, payments and communication become more common, scammers have more ways to reach victims and impersonate trusted institutions. Phishing… read more…
Ask an Advisor: Can I Retire at 62? I’m 60 With a Pension, $700K Annuity and $100K in Cash
Can I retire at 62 ½? I have a pension that will be $1,300 a month. I will have $100,000 in cash and I have an annuity that’s currently worth $711,000. I’m currently 60. – James What you’re asking doesn’t sound unreasonable, but as always, it depends on your individual situation and what your specific… read more…
Editor's Picks
CFA vs. CFP®: Which Do You Need?
Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP) are common certifications for individuals working in finance, namely financial advisors. These are designed to tell a client (or employer) that the holder has received education in certain types of financial… read more…
6 Tips for Choosing a Wealth Management Firm
Wealth management firms are all different, with their own specializations and services. As a result, the process for choosing a wealth manager is a very personal one. Wealth managers work closely together with their clients to identify financial goals and… read more…
What Is a Fee-Only Financial Planner?
If a financial planner, financial advisor or another type of financial professional is fee-only, that means they receive compensation solely from the fees clients pay for their services. They do not earn commissions for recommending certain products. A fee-only structure… read more…
Why First Homes Could Be Investment Properties
If you’re young and looking to purchase a new home to live in, you may want to consider turning it into an investment property. While most people wait until after they’ve bought their first or second home to begin investing in… read more…
Data Articles and Studies
Where Seniors Are Targeted by Scams — 2026 Study
Millions of older Americans are targeted by financial scams each year. One analysis published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury found $27 billion in suspected elder financial exploitation in just a 12-month period. As digital banking, payments and communication become more common, scammers have more ways to reach victims and impersonate trusted institutions. Phishing… read more…
Where It Pays to Be in Nursing — 2026 Study
Nursing is a calling, but it’s also a paycheck, and location can have a major impact on that paycheck’s true value. While demand for nurses exists across the U.S., compensation does not factor evenly from state to state. After accounting for differences in local costs, some states offer nurses materially stronger earning power than others,… read more…
The Gas Price Burden — Where Gas Prices Hit Hardest
The average price of regular unleaded gasoline in California has topped $6 per gallon. However, while gas prices are posted by the gallon, they’re felt by the paycheck, and a tank of gas does not hit every household budget the same way. The same fill-up can be a minor errand in one area and a… read more…
America’s Most Active Seniors — 2026 Study
SmartAsset set out to identify the states that are home to America’s most active seniors. The study calculated the average daily time people ages 65 and older spend on four activities — exercise, gardening, travel and volunteering — and ranked states based on the totals.
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