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A couple sits down to discuss estate planning with their advisor.
Firm Management

Estate Planning Intake Form Template for Financial Advisors

Estate planning can be a valuable addition to your firm’s scope of services, enabling you to increase wallet share with existing clients or attract prospects who need professional planning advice. An intake form or questionnaire is a straightforward way to collect the information you need in order to help shape their plans. Here’s how to… read more…

A notebook reading "lunch and learn" in front of a laptop and cup of coffee.
Marketing

20+ Lunch and Learn Ideas for Your Financial Advisor Firm

Marketing events offer an opportunity to connect with prospects and initiate conversations around financial planning. And hosting a mix of online and offline events can help broaden your firm’s reach and increase your visibility in the eyes of your ideal clients. If you’re hoping to make inroads in your local community, a lunch and learn… read more…

Trusts

What Rights Does a Trust Beneficiary Have?

When someone names you as a trust beneficiary, you receive certain legal protections and privileges. However, understanding a trust beneficiary’s exact rights can be confusing. Trusts are powerful estate planning tools allowing for the management and distribution of assets according to specific instructions. The level of control and information you receive depends on several factors.… read more…

Trusts

5 Reasons Why You May Want to Set Up a Trust Fund

Contrary to popular belief, trust funds are not just for the ultra-wealthy. They are versatile financial instruments that can help individuals across various income levels achieve specific estate planning goals. So, why set up a trust fund? It can provide a number of benefits, such as minimizing estate taxes, protecting assets from creditors, providing for… read more…

Editor's Picks

A couple determining whether they need a CFA vs. CFP®.
Certifications & Licenses

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…

Clients meeting with an advisor from a wealth management firm.
Brokerage

5 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…

A fee-only financial planner doesn't earn commissions for recommending certain products.
Advisor Fees & Costs

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…

Investment Property
Real Estate Investing

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

A paved pathway next to Mirror Pond in Drake Park, Bend, Oregon.
Income

Best Job Markets – 2025 Study

The demand for different career paths and qualifications varies widely from place to place, often depending on local economic features, including geography, infrastructure, politics, culture and resources. Similarly, what makes one job market more appealing than others can depend on a job-hunter’s financial and familial circumstances. Not only does the presence of jobs and a… read more…

Quality of Life

Best Places for New Families – 2025 Study

People with young children or those planning to start a family often have newfound priorities when it comes to picking a neighborhood to live in. Many families choose to trade the conveniences of the big city for more space and affordability as they grow. Other amenities – including childcare costs, access to parks, the presence… read more…

Demographics & Migration

Where Retirees Are Moving – 2025 Study

Nearly one million people aged 60 and over in the U.S. crossed state lines to make a new home in 2023, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. With a lower risk tolerance for market fluctuations, retirees may seek other ways to maximize their income and make the most out of life,… read more…

Cost of Living & Taxes

Cost of Raising a Child in Major U.S. Metros – 2025 Study

Common costs associated with raising a child – such as childcare, additional food, medical costs, housing and more – can add up to tens of thousands of dollars per year. This makes raising a child a relatively expensive line-item anywhere, but in some metro areas these costs can be double those in others, sometimes reaching… read more…

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