Enjoy the current installment of “weekend reading for financial planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the details of the latest proposal to delay the DoL fiduciary rule by 60 days… which is shorter than the prior rumors that there would be a 180-day delay, and notably, is still only a proposal, that has to go through a public comment period and could take another month to be affirmed (which means a prospective delay in the April 10th applicability date may truly come down to the wire!).
Also in the news this week were a number of additional big announcements, including: a pricing war that erupted between Fidelity, Schwab, and TD Ameritrade, with each firm “voluntarily” imposing upon itself a 29%+ price cut in the cost to execute stock and ETF trades (down to $4.95 – $6.95 per trade); new guidance from the SEC on Standing Letters of Authorization (SLOA) and when they do and do not trigger custody or surprise audit requirements; an indication from the SEC that it may get more aggressive on trying to roll back the Accredited Investor requirements for private placements (kicking off a debate about whether limiting access to private placements is “unfair” to less affluent consumers who want to take some investment risks, or whether the bar to determine “financial sophistication” to invest in such opportunities should actually be higher); and a look at how the IRS is shifting its audit resources to increasingly focus on those with ultra-high incomes (e.g., $1,000,000+), in addition to doing far more correspondence-mail-based “lite audits” to ask for proof substantiating questionable line-item credits or deductions.
From there, we have a few more technical articles on financial planning topics, from a look at using Funded Ratios to evaluate retirement readiness, to how today’s low-return environment can drastically increase the amount of savings prospective retirees need (or how much accumulators must save to get there), the important differences between arithmetic and geometric means (and how to calculate them), and new IRS guidance to 401(k) plans on hardship withdrawals that some fear will make it even easier for people to take advantage of the rules by simply being able to “self-attest” that they really had a hardship (and gamble that they won’t be audited later to prove otherwise).
We wrap up with three interesting articles about supporting the success of younger financial advisors, including: ways to grow the financial planning talent pool, given that even with its recent growth, only about 6% of all four-year degree-granting institutions have a CFP Board registered program; career path advice for young financial planners trying to figure out how to put the right foot forward and get ahead (even while still a student); and a look at how just as financial success entails making investments for your future, advancing your financial planning career involves making investments into yourself, from advancing your formal and informal education (from CFP studies to post-CFP designations to reading books and industry news) to being certain that your own financial house is in order (both to ensure that you “practice what you preach” as a financial advisor, and because your personal financial stability is important if you want the flexibility to make job changes or someday launch your own advisory firm!).
Enjoy the “light” reading!
source https://www.kitces.com/blog/weekend-reading-for-financial-planners-mar-4-5/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weekend-reading-for-financial-planners-mar-4-5
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