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- SEC survey reveals investor uncertainty on target-date funds
Many investors are largely unaware of how target-date funds work, according to a survey by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Only 3 out of 10 investors knew the funds don't provide guaranteed retirement income, and fewer than 30% were able to correctly explain the meaning of the term "target-date fund." That suggests that advisers could do more to educate investors, officials say. SEC.gov
(4/3), Financial-Planning.com
(4/4), AdvisorOne
(4/4)     
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Join the discussion: Have you found that this is an issue with your clients? How have you helped educate them on target-date funds? Join the Retirement Planning & Longevity community on FPA Connect to share your experiences. (FPA Members Only)
| Policy Watch | | |
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- U.S. corporate tax rate is now the highest in the OECD
The U.S. now has the highest corporate tax rate of any nation in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The U.S. took the top spot after a tax reduction by Japan at the beginning of April. Corporations in the U.S. face a combined 39.2% tax rate from federal and local taxes. Lawmakers are considering proposals to lower the rate to improve competitiveness among U.S. companies. Tax-News.com
(4/3)
- Stock Act limits insider trading by federal employees
President Barack Obama signed a bill into law last week to further restrict insider trading by lawmakers, their employees and members of the executive branch. The Stock Act bars members of Congress from making trades based on information received while in office and requires roughly 28,000 federal employees to disclose trades of at least $1,000. Financial Advisor online/Bloomberg
(4/5)
| Practice Management | | |
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- 2 steps to boosting your business success
The fear of failure keeps some planners from taking their practice to the next level, Advisor Solutions President Daniel Finley writes. What does it take to develop a will to succeed and overcome your fears? First, you need to build your technical knowledge. Then, you need to apply what you know to gain experience and build confidence. FPAnet.org/Practice Management Center blog
(4/6)
- Why planners should focus on their clients' short-term goals
Michael Kitces writes about how financial planners can help clients achieve long-term success by focusing on the short term. Planners often think about the future, but most clients are concerned with immediate outcomes. You can get the best of both worlds by helping clients tackle short-term goals, such as financial organization or savings. Your clients will feel good about your services while building important financial habits. Nerd's Eye View blog
(4/4)
- Legal knowledge cuts risks of trust litigation
Educating beneficiaries is an important step that can help avoid litigation over trusts, lawyer Jon Gallo writes. It's important for trustees and beneficiaries alike to understand their rights and responsibilities under the common law and state laws. Gallo provides an overview of the key topics that trustees and beneficiaries should cover to reduce the likelihood of disputes. Journal of Financial Planning
(4/2012)
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FPA Institutional membership benefits enhanced!
FPA's Institutional members are enjoying enhanced exposure to 24,000+ FPA members just by taking advantage of their member benefits. Institutional members can gain increased exposure via their individual complimentary memberships, monthly listing in the Journal of Financial Planning, online in the Products and Services Directory, and our white paper library. If your organization is not participating as an Institutional member, we encourage you to find out more. Also, check out the FPA Strategic Partnerships team blog and follow us on Twitter!
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May 15 deadline for P. Kemp Fain Jr. Award nominations
The deadline for nominations for FPA's P. Kemp Fain Jr. Award is May 15. Find out more about the award and how you can nominate a colleague.
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