The principal for operations and strategy of an independent research firm explains the range of available products and ESG data.

Financial Planning

4 questions on the scope of gender lens investing

After obtaining documents through FOIA requests, FP’s Jessica Mathews explains the larger industry implications of one firm’s internal investigation.

5 questions about broker cold-calling at Merrill Lynch

Denika Tokunaga of Maven Wealth Management answered FP’s queries about challenges, opportunities and growing during the coronavirus.

4 questions for a financial advisor on pandemic practice management

Framework Homeownership CEO Danielle Samalin answered FP’s queries about advising clients who are buying their first homes.

3 questions for homeowner education expert Danielle Samalin

The chief of a major wealth manager and an influential industry advocacy group fielded FP’s queries about cryptocurrency, regulation and mutual funds.

4 questions for Kestra Financial CEO James Poer

Like in the industries its reporters cover, the lack of Black representation in business and financial media has created blind spots. Predominantly white newsrooms often miss stories about systemic racism or fail to reach an audience of more than one demographic. In the wake of this summer's Black Lives Matter protests, there are serious implications for financial services, the reporters covering them — and an emerging group of professionals creating their own media. What can journalists like us learn from these Black voices? 

Access Denied episode 5: The financial media

Asset and capital allocations often exacerbate systemic racism across the financial services in some surprising ways. Innovators in the fields of asset management, banking, impact investing and pensions suggest there are also many ways to disrupt the cycle. Shifting the flow of capital could help reduce or eliminate institutional barriers and racial discrimination.

Access Denied episode 4: Allocation and exacerbation

Planners and experts dive into wirehouse pay, charging clients at a higher rate, emerging business models and other key issues.

Financial advisor compensation: Grids, fees and conflicts

The lack of Black representation in the financial services stems from two interconnected problems. Black professionals face significant hurdles once they break into the industry. And the presence of nearly 175,000 Black financial professionals displays that their widespread absence at the upper executive ranks isn’t a product of there being an insufficient talent pool. 

Access Denied episode 3: Representation

Racism at the branch and in the workplace makes it harder for Black Americans to gain access to financial services. In the second episode of the Access Denied podcast, innovators and researchers from the fields of human resources, banking and wealth management explain how industries leave people out — and what needs to be done to change it.

Access Denied episode 2: Underserved or ignored?

In this featured episode from the Arizent special series, net worth disparities and the roles housing and mortgage discrimination play in Black homeownership show how it's impossible to close the gaps without eliminating racism.

Access Denied episode 1: The wealth effect

Wealth management firms should define success by how well their operations perform under pressure, Kestra Financial COO Kris Chester says in an episode of Financial Planning’s podcast.

Which BD services are more important during the coronavirus?

The pandemic is prompting financial advisors to use video messages, webinars and even board games to connect with clients and prospects, Hightower Chief Marketing Officer Abby Salameh says in an episode of Financial Planning’s Podcast.

New ways to deploy existing tech amid the coronavirus

Many financial advisors aren’t aware of serious conflicts of interest affecting the majority of retail clients, Northeastern University Professor Nicole Boyson says in a Financial Planning Podcast.

Are dual registrant firms the ‘worst of both worlds?’

An RIA platform launched by compliance professionals is growing by offering a smaller home for wirehouse and reverse breakaways, Advisory Services Network COO Cindy Halpern explains in an episode of Financial Planning’s Podcast.

In an era of scale, when is a more nimble firm a better fit?

Thoughtful, informed discussions about ideas, trends and developments in wealth management, moderated by Financial Planning editors.