When an Itch Creates a Niche
By Mike PattonDoes demand drive innovation or does innovation create demand? Or is it possible that both are true? When I look at the landscape in our...
June 01, 2008
What Will It Mean to Be an Independent Financial Advisor?With baby boomers moving into self-funded retirement, the advisor will need to become expert at risk analysis, risk management and financial life planning. There will...
May 30, 2008
A Battle Over Values, Not IdeasI recall my training from years ago. I was instructed to meet the client when they arrived, look them in the eye, shake their hand,...
May 06, 2008
LPL Makes New RIA, Hybrid-FA PushLPL Financial says it plans to introduce an integrated advisor solution platform, supporting independent Registered Investment Advisors (or RIAs) as well as hybrid ( or dually registered ) financial
May 05, 2008
Win Some, Lose SomeThis week I travel to North Carolina to speak at a national conference for Fiduciary 360, a company based in Pittsburgh that is dedicated to...
May 01, 2008
What Lurks BeneathWhen two of Bear Stearns's highly leveraged hedge funds that reportedly had invested in subprime loans imploded last summer, the firm stepped in with $1.6...
May 01, 2008
Watch ListOver the past five years, the focus has shifted for the independent advice community, a shift that has been reflected in the IA 25, our...
April 19, 2008
Freedom Without Ethics = DisasterI went to see the new movie Ben Stein co-wrote, entitled "Expelled.. What does this have to do with my journey to independence, you ask?...